Shoal Bay at a glance
Walk score
6
Very car dependent
Population
1,815
Median age 59
The brief
What to know about Shoal Bay.
The postcode for Shoal Bay is 2315 (NSW).
Shoal Bay (2315) sits in the Port Stephens region of NSW.
Shoal Bay has roughly 1,815 residents, with a retiree-heavy demographic. Households are a roughly even mix of owners and renters. Daily life is car-dependent: most residents drive to work, school and the shops.
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What it’s like to live here.
Shoal Bay scores 6/100 on walkability, which makes it car-dependent 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 4 government primary, 1 government secondary, 1 Catholic, 2 independent.
Who lives here
Demographics.
The 2021 Census put Shoal Bay's population at 1,815, with a median age of 59. That sits as a retiree-heavy demographic. Households are a roughly even mix of owners and renters (55% own, 33% rent), which shapes everything from school catchment stability to how often properties turn over. Lone-person households are notable here (42%), often a marker of unit-heavy stock and walkable infrastructure.
Population
1,815
Median age
59
Family households
55%
Lone person
42%
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)
$338/wk
Owner occupied
55%
Renter occupied
33%
At a deeper level
1,815
Median age: 59
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Safety
Crime and safety.
201
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.
6
10
100
Scores calculated from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL)
Walkability data as of May 2026· OpenStreetMap
Place
Location.
Amenities
Transport
Nearby suburbs
Education
Schools in Shoal Bay.
Local schools for Shoal Bay
View the catchment for each school to find out more.
Government School Catchment
Shoal Bay Public School
Tomaree Public School
Tomaree High 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 Shoal Bay.
- What is the Shoal Bay postcode?
- Shoal Bay is in the 2315 postcode, in NSW, in the Port Stephens Council region.
- Where is Shoal Bay?
- Shoal Bay is a regional suburb in NSW, postcode 2315, in the Port Stephens Council region.
- What is the average rent in Shoal Bay?
- The median weekly rent for houses is $390, for units it's $338.
- What schools are in Shoal Bay?
- There are 8 schools serving Shoal Bay on this page, including Shoal Bay Public School, St Michael's Primary School, Tomaree Public School.
- How walkable is Shoal Bay?
- Shoal Bay has a Walk Score of 6 out of 100, highly car-dependent. transit score 10, bike score 100.
- What suburbs are near Shoal Bay?
- Shoal Bay is close to Nelson Bay, Fingal Bay, Corlette, Gan Gan, One Mile.
- What is the population of Shoal Bay?
- The population of Shoal Bay is approximately 1,815 (2021 Census). The median age is 59.
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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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