Moving to Byron Bay NSW 2481
What the official numbers say about living in Byron Bay — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $600 a week, against a median household income of $1,561 a week.
About 57% of homes are owner-occupied and 41% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Byron Bay grew 28% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (4,959 → 6,330 people).
Around 53% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Brazil; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, French, Portuguese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Byron Bay sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 8 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (53% of workers), while 31% work from home.
Nearest train station: Byron Beach, 700 m north-east.
Nearest bus interchange: Greyhound Bus Stop Byron Bay, 550 m east.
Nearest airport: Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, 21.5 km south.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 624 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 5 schools · 64 cafes & restaurants · 5 supermarkets · 9 parks · 6 beaches — see them all on the Byron Bay profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Byron Bay Public School 900 m · Byron Community Primary School 1 km · St Finbarr's Primary School 2.4 km · Byron Bay High School 2.5 km · Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School 3.9 km
Groceries: Woolworths 600 m · Santo's Organic 700 m · The Source Organics Byron Bay 700 m · ALDI 750 m · Bay Grocer 1 km
Parks and reserves: Railway Park 600 m · Apex Park 950 m · Jarjumirr Park 1 km · Dening Park 1.1 km · Clarkes Beach Park 1.4 km · Paterson Street Hilltop Reserve 1.4 km · McKellar Court Park 1.7 km · Sunrise Park 2.1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Byron Bay, most often seen first: Australian White Ibis · Pacific Black Duck · Rainbow Lorikeet · Australasian Purple Swamphen · Rainbow Bee-eater · Welcome Swallow.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Byron Bay, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byron Bay here | 6,330 | — | 8/10 | 50% |
| Suffolk Park | 4,222 | — | 9/10 | 51% |
| Ewingsdale | 1,025 | — | 9/10 | 21% |
| Bangalow | 2,752 | — | 10/10 | 33% |
| Myocum | 1,217 | — | 8/10 | 21% |
| Brunswick Heads | 1,905 | — | 5/10 | 51% |
| Mullumbimby | 4,180 | — | 5/10 | 34% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Byron — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Richmond — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2481 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Byron Bay profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $600 a week, and about 41% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 28% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 4,959 people to 6,330. It sits about 624 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Byron Beach station is roughly 0.7 km away. Local government is Byron council, and the federal seat is Richmond.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Byron Bay vs Mullumbimby.
Nearby guides: Suffolk Park · Ewingsdale · Bangalow · Myocum · Brunswick Heads · Mullumbimby.
Keep an eye on Byron Bay
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