Moving to Swansea NSW 2281
What the official numbers say about living in Swansea — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $330 a week, against a median household income of $1,037 a week.
About 68% of homes are owner-occupied and 29% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Swansea grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (4,835 → 5,044 people).
Around 62% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Indonesian, Tagalog, Italian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Swansea scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (76% of workers), while 20% work from home.
Nearest airport: Lake Macquarie Airport, 2.7 km north-east.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 95 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 7 schools · 3 cafes & restaurants · 4 supermarkets · 13 parks · 8 beaches — see them all on the Swansea profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Swansea Primary School 450 m · Saint Patrick's Primary School - Swansea 1.3 km · Caves Beach Primary School 1.8 km · Swansea High School 1.8 km · Pelican Primary School 1.9 km · Blacksmiths Primary School 2.5 km · Marks Point Public School 3.6 km
Groceries: Woolworths 300 m · Coles 450 m · Spar Express 2.1 km · IGA 2.1 km
Parks and reserves: Toby Park 100 m · Talbot Park 400 m · Eddie Charlton Reserve 550 m · Parbury Park 800 m · Richards Road Reserve 1.1 km · Humphreys Reserve 1.4 km · Boat Rowers Reserve 1.7 km · Aitchison Reserve 1.8 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Swansea, most often seen first: Silver Gull · Crested Tern · Australian Pelican · Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian Magpie · Noisy Miner.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Swansea, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swansea here | 5,044 | — | 2/10 | 32% |
| Blacksmiths | 1,881 | — | 3/10 | 28% |
| Caves Beach | 4,016 | — | 7/10 | 15% |
| Marks Point | 1,861 | — | 2/10 | 27% |
| Murrays Beach | 882 | — | 10/10 | 82% |
| Belmont South | 1,053 | — | 2/10 | 30% |
| Wangi Wangi | 2,920 | — | 5/10 | 47% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Lake Macquarie — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Shortland — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2281 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Swansea profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $330 a week, and about 29% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 4,835 people to 5,044. It sits about 95 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Lake Macquarie council, and the federal seat is Shortland.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Swansea vs Caves Beach · Swansea vs Wangi Wangi.
Nearby guides: Blacksmiths · Caves Beach · Marks Point · Murrays Beach · Belmont South · Wangi Wangi.
Keep an eye on Swansea
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