Moving to Nelson Bay NSW 2315
What the official numbers say about living in Nelson Bay — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $380 a week, against a median household income of $1,305 a week.
About 68% of homes are owner-occupied and 31% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Nelson Bay grew 14% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (5,396 → 6,141 people).
Around 65% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Nepali, Greek, Italian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Nelson Bay sits around the national average (decile 4 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (71% of workers), while 22% work from home.
Nearest ferry wharf: Port Stephens Ferry Terminal, 300 m north.
Nearest airport: RAAF Base Williamtown, 29.9 km west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 155 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 5 schools · 18 cafes & restaurants · 2 supermarkets · 6 parks · 7 beaches — see them all on the Nelson Bay profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: St Michael's Primary School 900 m · Shoal Bay Public School 2.7 km · Tomaree Public School 3.6 km · Tomaree High School 3.6 km · St Phillips Christian College Port Stephens 4 km
Groceries: Woolworths 350 m · IGA 2.6 km
Parks and reserves: Tom Odwyer Memorial Oval 600 m · Anzac Park 1.9 km · Passchendaele Park 2.5 km · Garden Place 2.9 km · Cove Reserve 2.9 km · Pantowora Reserve 2.9 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Nelson Bay, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian Pelican · Laughing Kookaburra · Australian Magpie · Noisy Miner · Silver Gull.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Nelson Bay, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Bay here | 6,141 | — | 4/10 | 72% |
| Shoal Bay | 1,815 | — | 3/10 | 59% |
| Corlette | 5,699 | — | 7/10 | 24% |
| Fingal Bay | 1,635 | — | 3/10 | 66% |
| Hawks Nest | 1,413 | — | 4/10 | 57% |
| One Mile | 501 | — | 6/10 | 40% |
| Salamander Bay | 4,991 | — | 4/10 | 44% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Port Stephens — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Paterson — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2315 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Nelson Bay profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $380 a week, and about 31% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 14% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 5,396 people to 6,141. It sits about 155 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Port Stephens council, and the federal seat is Paterson.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Nelson Bay vs Shoal Bay · Nelson Bay vs Corlette.
Nearby guides: Shoal Bay · Corlette · Fingal Bay · Hawks Nest · One Mile · Salamander Bay.
Keep an eye on Nelson Bay
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