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Nelson Bay, Australia

New South Wales · Australia

Nelson Bay is a small city in New South Wales, Australia with a population of 6,096. Elevation: 43 ft (13 m). Average temperature: 64°F (18°C).

2.0 /5.0
C Fair
6,096 Population 13/sq mi density
43 ft Elevation 13 meters
64°F Avg Temperature 18°C
29.2 in Annual Rain
Australia / Sydney Timezone
$23,288 Median Income
C
Overall
2.0 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.6 / 5.0
$23,288 median income, 5.2% unemployment
F
Affordability
1.5 / 5.0
$214,000 home value, $1,070/mo rent

Discover Nelson Bay, Australia

Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
Use the tabs and dropdown menus below to navigate every data point we track for this city.

Full City Profile

About Nelson Bay

Nelson Bay is a significant township of the Port Stephens local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on a bay of the same name on the southern shore of Port Stephens about 60 kilometres (37 mi) by road north-east of Newcastle, its nearest rail link. At the 2021 census, Nelson Bay had a population of 6,141.

People

Population6,096
Median Age51.0 yrs
Density13/mi²

Economy

C+
Median Income$23,288
Per Capita$23,288
Unemployment5.2%

Housing

F
Home Value$214,000
Rent$1,070
Ownership68.5%
Housing Units2,438

Climate

Avg Temp64°F (18°C)
Rain29.2 in/yr
Sunny Days342/yr
Elevation43 ft (13 m)
Population6,096
Population Density13 / sq mi
Elevation43 ft (13 m)
Coordinates-32.7204°, 152.1440°
TimezoneAustralia/Sydney
Country🇦🇺 Australia
State / ProvinceNew South Wales
Average Temperature64°F (18°C)
January Average71°F (21°C)
July Average55°F (13°C)
Annual Precipitation29.2 inches (740 mm)
Annual Snowfall0.0 inches (0 cm)
Median Household Income$23,288
Median Age51.0 years

About Nelson Bay

Nelson Bay is a small city in Australia (New South Wales) with a population of 6,096. The city sits at an elevation of 43 feet (13 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 64°F (18°C). Temperatures range from 71°F in January to 55°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.2 inches. The timezone is Australia/Sydney.

Nelson Bay has a population of 6,096 with a density of 13 people per square mile, spread across 478.7 square miles. The median age is 51.0 years, 31% older than the national median of 38.9.

Population

6,096
Total Population
13
People / sq mi
51.0yrs
Median Age
31% above Australia avg
478.7mi²
Land Area

Language Spoken at Home

Other Languages 100.0%

Social Characteristics

Nelson Bay vs Australia Average

The median household income in Nelson Bay is $23,288, which is 69% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $23,288 (below the $39,052 national figure). The average weekly wage is $448, 69% lower than the U.S. average. The unemployment rate is 5.2% (above the 3.6% US average). The area has 579 business establishments.

Income: Nelson Bay vs Australia

Commute Mode

Income

Median HH Income$23,288
69% below Australia avg
Per Capita Income$23,288
Avg Weekly Wage$448

Employment & Poverty

Unemployment5.2%
44% above Australia avg
Establishments (County)579

Business (County)

Tax & Cost of Living

Commute & Transportation

Walkability

The median home value in Nelson Bay is $214,000, 24% below the national median of $281,900. Monthly rent averages $1,070 (8% below the national average of $1,163). 68.5% of housing units are owner-occupied. There are 2,438 total housing units in the city. The home price-to-income ratio is 9.2x, making homeownership a significant financial stretch for most families.

Home Value Sources

Ownership Split

Home Values

Census Median$214,000
24% below Australia avg

Real Estate Market (Redfin)

Rental Costs

Census Median Rent$1,070
8% below Australia avg

Ownership & Property

Homeownership68.5%
Owner-Occupied68.5%
Renter-Occupied31.5%
Housing Units2,438

Property Tax

Climate in Nelson Bay

Nelson Bay has an average annual temperature of 19.3°C (67°F). The hottest month is Feb (23.7°C), the coldest is Jul (14.1°C). Average annual precipitation is 1353 mm.

Month Avg °C / °F Min / Max °C Rain (mm)
Jan 23.6°C / 74°F 20.2° / 27.1° 88.1
Feb 23.7°C / 75°F 20.3° / 27.1° 123.3
Mar 22.6°C / 73°F 19.3° / 25.8° 117.4
Apr 20°C / 68°F 16.6° / 23.4° 136.2
May 17.2°C / 63°F 13.7° / 20.7° 163.0
Jun 14.8°C / 59°F 11.6° / 18° 179.3
Jul 14.1°C / 57°F 10.5° / 17.7° 117.1
Aug 15°C / 59°F 11.1° / 18.9° 80.9
Sep 17.5°C / 64°F 13.5° / 21.5° 83.3
Oct 19.3°C / 67°F 15.5° / 23.1° 76.1
Nov 20.9°C / 70°F 17.2° / 24.6° 101.1
Dec 22.4°C / 72°F 18.8° / 25.9° 86.7
Nelson Bay enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C). Winters average 71°F in January while summers reach 55°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 342 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 29.2 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 43 feet, near sea level.

Temperature

71°F Jan (21°C) 55°F Jul (13°C)
Annual Average64.0°F
19% above Australia avg
January Average71°F (21°C)
July Average55°F (13°C)
Sunny Days342 days/yr

Geography

Elevation43 ft (13 m)
Area478.7 sq mi (1,239.9 km²)
Population Density13/sq mi
Coordinates-32.7204°N, 152.1440°W
TimezoneAustralia/Sydney

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 29.2"
23% below Australia avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Jun) 5.79"
Driest Month (Sep) 2.76"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

15 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M5.3. Most recent: M5.1 on Apr 22, 2025.

Aug 6, 1994 9 km WSW of Ellalong, Australia M5.3 90 km
Apr 22, 2025 18 km SW of Singleton, Australia M5.1 102 km
Aug 23, 2024 7 km ENE of Denman, Australia M4.8 136 km
Aug 24, 2024 8 km NE of Denman, Australia M4.5 138 km
Sep 6, 2024 New South Wales, Australia M4.4 141 km
May 2, 2020 11 km ENE of Denman, Australia M4.0 132 km
Apr 19, 2017 62 km ESE of Forster, Australia M3.9 106 km
Mar 1, 2025 12 km N of Denman, Australia M3.3 147 km
Mar 11, 2010 8 km NE of Hawks Nest, Australia M3.3 15 km
Sep 10, 2012 33 km ESE of Blue Bay, Australia M3.2 86 km
Feb 23, 1990 49 km S of Denman, Australia M3.0 136 km
Jul 2, 2006 9 km SSW of Muswellbrook, Australia M2.8 127 km
May 15, 2004 23 km ENE of Dungog, Australia M2.8 48 km
Jan 14, 2025 13 km ESE of Denman, Australia M2.7 128 km
Aug 26, 2024 12 km SSW of Muswellbrook, Australia M2.7 127 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 71°F (21°C) 4.2 in
February 73°F (23°C) 4.3 in Warmest
March 70°F (21°C) 5.6 in
April 66°F (19°C) 5.1 in
May 61°F (16°C) 5.3 in
June 56°F (13°C) 5.8 in Wettest
July 55°F (13°C) 3.9 in Coldest
August 56°F (13°C) 3.0 in
September 60°F (16°C) 2.8 in Driest
October 64°F (18°C) 3.5 in
November 67°F (20°C) 3.6 in
December 71°F (22°C) 3.1 in

Nelson Bay has a seasonal temperature swing of 18°F / from 55°F in July to 73°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 50.2 inches, with June being the wettest month (5.8") and September the driest (2.8").

View full weather details →

Schools in Nelson Bay

1 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).

School Level Enrollment Teachers Student/Teacher
St Michael's Primary School
View full schools details →

Radio Stations near Nelson Bay

3 stations within ~55 km.

Station Genre Quality
2GB 873 Sydney news, sport AAC+ 48 kbps
2NURFM easy listening MP3 128 kbps
2BOB Radio 104.7FM MP3 128 kbps

Libraries in Nelson Bay

NameAddressStaffAnnual VisitsCirculationCollectionPrograms
Tea Gardens Library0.0
Tilligerry Library0.0
Tomaree Library0.0

Hotels in Nelson Bay

2 hotels within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Cote D Azur
Mantra (Nelson Bay)

Restaurants in Nelson Bay

9 restaurants within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Blueys
Chinos
Hog's Australia's Steakhouse
Mod Thai
Nelson Bay Golf Club
Nigronis Pizza Restaurant, Nelson Bay
Sienna Pizzeria Bar & Restaurant
The Wharf Bar & Grill
The Wood Oven

Cafes in Nelson Bay

6 cafes within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Cafe on the Bay
Dolphin Watch Cafe
Essence On Donald
Little Beach Boathouse
Marina Ice Creamery
Michel's Patisserie

Veterinaries in Nelson Bay

1 veterinaries within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Nelson Bay Vet

Gas Stations in Nelson Bay

2 gas stations within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Coles Express
D'Albora Marine

Golf Courses in Nelson Bay

1 golf courses within city radius — OpenStreetMap data

Nelson Bay Golf Club

Breweries in Nelson Bay

NameTypeAddressPhoneWebsite
Murrays

Airports Near Nelson Bay

7 airports within the area.

AirportIATAType
Newcastle AirportNTLLarge Airport
Forster (Wallis Is) AirportFOTSmall Airport
Gloucester AirportSmall Airport
Lake Macquarie AirportBEOSmall Airport
Luskintyre AirfieldSmall Airport
Maitland AirportMTLSmall Airport
Warnervale AirportSmall Airport

Churches & Religious Organizations in Nelson Bay

2 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).

NameAddress
All Saints
Saint Michael's

Quick Facts

Timezone
Australia/Sydney

🇦🇺 About Australia

Capital Canberra
Population 24,992,369
Area 7,686,850 km²
GDP (USD) $1,734,451,264,656
GDP per capita $65,058
HDI 0.946
Life expectancy 83.1 years
Internet users 97.1%
Urban population 87.5%
Currency AUD (Dollar)
Languages English
Calling code +61
TLD .au
Driving side left

Public Holidays in Australia

25 public holidays this year

Date Holiday Local Name
Jan 1 New Year's Day New Year's Day
Jan 26 Australia Day Australia Day
Mar 2 Labour Day Labour Day
Mar 9 Adelaide Cup Day Adelaide Cup Day
Mar 9 Canberra Day Canberra Day
Mar 9 Eight Hours Day Eight Hours Day
Mar 9 Labour Day Labour Day
Apr 3 Good Friday Good Friday
Apr 4 Holy Saturday Easter Eve
Apr 5 Easter Sunday Easter Sunday
Apr 6 Easter Monday Easter Monday
Apr 25 Anzac Day Anzac Day
Apr 27 Anzac Day Anzac Day
May 4 Labour Day Labour Day
May 4 May Day May Day
Jun 1 Reconciliation Day Reconciliation Day
Jun 1 Western Australia Day Western Australia Day
Jun 8 King's Birthday King's Birthday
Aug 3 Picnic Day Picnic Day
Sep 28 King's Birthday King's Birthday
Oct 5 King's Birthday King's Birthday
Oct 5 Labour Day Labour Day
Nov 3 Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup
Dec 25 Christmas Day Christmas Day
Dec 28 St. Stephen's Day Boxing Day

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Get a comprehensive, print-ready PDF with all data for Nelson Bay.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Nelson Bay

What is the population of Nelson Bay?

Nelson Bay has a population of 6,096 residents and is located in Australia. The population density is 13 people per square mile, spread across 478.7 square miles. The median age of residents is 51.0 years, which is older than the national median of 38.9 years.

Is Nelson Bay expensive to live in?

The median household income is $23,288, 69% below the national average of $75,149. The median home value is $214,000 (24% below the U.S. median). Renters pay a median of $1,070 per month. The home price-to-income ratio is 9.2x, which means housing is a stretch relative to local earnings.

What is the weather like in Nelson Bay?

Nelson Bay enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C). Winter temperatures average 71°F in January, while summers reach an average of 55°F in July. The area receives 342 sunny days per year, well above the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 29.2 inches.

How is the job market in Nelson Bay?

The unemployment rate in Nelson Bay is 5.2%, somewhat above the national average of 3.6%. Job seekers may face moderate competition. The average weekly wage is $448. There are 579 business establishments in the area.

How much does housing cost in Nelson Bay?

The median home value in Nelson Bay is $214,000. For renters, the median monthly rent is $1,070. The homeownership rate is 68.5%.

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