Port Stephens Council
Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay at a glance
Walk score
34
Car dependent
Population
6,141
Median age 51
The brief
What to know about Nelson Bay.
Nelson Bay (2315) sits in the Port Stephens region of NSW.
Nelson Bay has roughly 6,141 residents, with a retiree-heavy demographic. Households are mostly owner-occupied. Daily life is car-friendly: most residents drive to work, school and the shops.
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Day to day
What it’s like to live here.
Nelson Bay scores 34/100 on walkability, which makes it car-friendly with limited public transport. Plan for two cars in a typical household, especially if work isn't local.
Summer days here average around 25°C (mild), winter mornings around 8°C (mild). Annual rainfall lands at about 1143mm. Data comes from the Bureau of Meteorology's Newcastle Nobbys Signal station, 25.0km away.
Schooling within or near the suburb covers 5 government primary, 1 government secondary, 1 Catholic, 2 independent.
Who lives here
Demographics.
The 2021 Census put Nelson Bay's population at 6,141, with a median age of 51. That sits as a retiree-heavy demographic. Households are mostly owner-occupied (67% own, 31% rent), which shapes everything from school catchment stability to how often properties turn over. The household mix skews family-dominated (65% family households, 31% lone person), so amenity decisions tend to follow what families want: parks, schools, supermarkets.
Population
6,141
Median age
51
Family households
65%
Lone person
31%
Demographics data as of May 2026· ABS 2021 Census
Market
The price of a home here.
Median house price
Verified median pending
We don't yet have a verified suburb-level median for this market. We're working on a data partner; in the meantime, treat the state-level figures as a guide only. How we source data.
Sales data as of May 2026· rental-nsw
Rental and ownership
Weekly rent (house)
$390/wk
Weekly rent (unit)
$380/wk
Owner occupied
67%
Renter occupied
31%
At a deeper level
6,141
Median age: 51
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Safety
Crime and safety.
665
total offences in 2025
Top offence categories
Crime statistics are reported at LGA level and may cover a broader area than this suburb.
Source: State Police Open Data
Crime data as of January 2025· State Police Open Data
Getting around
Walkability.
34
10
100
Scores calculated from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL)
Walkability data as of May 2026· OpenStreetMap
Place
Location.
Amenities
Transport
Education
Schools in Nelson Bay.
Local schools for Nelson Bay
View the catchment for each school to find out more.
Government School Catchment
Shoal Bay Public School
Tomaree High School
Tomaree Public School
© ACARA, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Climate
Weather year-round.
Annual Rainfall
1143 mm
Hottest Month (avg max)
24.7°C
Coldest Month (avg min)
8.2°C
Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Weather data from BOM station Newcastle Nobbys Signal (25 km away)
Climate data as of May 2026· Bureau of Meteorology
Frequently asked
About Nelson Bay.
- What is the Nelson Bay postcode?
- Nelson Bay is in the 2315 postcode, in NSW, in the Port Stephens Council region.
- What is the average rent in Nelson Bay?
- The median weekly rent for houses is $390, for units it's $380.
- What schools are in Nelson Bay?
- There are 9 schools serving Nelson Bay on this page, including St Michael's Primary School, Shoal Bay Public School, Tomaree High School.
- How walkable is Nelson Bay?
- Nelson Bay has a Walk Score of 34 out of 100, car-dependent for most errands. transit score 10, bike score 100.
- What suburbs are near Nelson Bay?
- Nelson Bay is close to Shoal Bay, Corlette, Fingal Bay, Gan Gan, Salamander Bay.
- What is the population of Nelson Bay?
- Nelson Bay has approximately 6,141 residents. The median age is 51.
For Sale
Nelson Bay
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Surrounding Suburbs
Side by side
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Sources cited
Median, growth and rental data from state revenue offices and ABS. Census from ABS 2021. Climate from BoM. Hazard from Geoscience Australia. School data from ACARA. Crime from state police open data. Full methodology →
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