Fingal Bay vs Nelson Bay

Nelson Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 51 against 63 in Fingal Bay. In both, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. In Nelson Bay, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Fingal Bay: a median of $1.25 million, against $1.04 million in Nelson Bay. On these figures, Fingal Bay tends to suit older residents, while Nelson Bay suits buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Nelson Bay

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • But Fingal Bay carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 79/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Nelson Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($672,500 vs $830,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,042,500 vs $1,250,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nelson Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (29% vs 35%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Nelson Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (164 min vs 171 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (207.4 km vs 215.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Fingal Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (47% vs 29%)
  • carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 79/100)
  • But Nelson Bay has more GPs (5 vs 0)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Fingal Bay and Nelson Bay drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Walkability 25 / 26
Fingal Bay — Walkability: 25/100 Nelson Bay — Walkability: 26/100
Safety 47 / 21
Fingal Bay — Safety: 47/100 Nelson Bay — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 23 / 25
Fingal Bay — Low fire risk: 23/100 Nelson Bay — Low fire risk: 25/100

Demographics

Nelson Bay has more residents (6,141 vs 1,635); Fingal Bay skews older (63 vs 51).

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Population 1,635 6,141
+276% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.3% +5.5%
Median age 63 51
Median household income $57,928/yr $67,860/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk
+3% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
0-4 2.4% / 3.7%
Fingal Bay — 0-4: 2.4% Nelson Bay — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 8.0% / 9.6%
Fingal Bay — 5-14: 8.0% Nelson Bay — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 3.2% / 5.3%
Fingal Bay — 15-19: 3.2% Nelson Bay — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 2.6% / 4.3%
Fingal Bay — 20-24: 2.6% Nelson Bay — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 5.4% / 8.8%
Fingal Bay — 25-34: 5.4% Nelson Bay — 25-34: 8.8%
35-44 6.4% / 9.5%
Fingal Bay — 35-44: 6.4% Nelson Bay — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 8.4% / 12.6%
Fingal Bay — 45-54: 8.4% Nelson Bay — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 17.0% / 16.7%
Fingal Bay — 55-64: 17.0% Nelson Bay — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 23.1% / 17.8%
Fingal Bay — 65-74: 23.1% Nelson Bay — 65-74: 17.8%
75-84 17.1% / 9.1%
Fingal Bay — 75-84: 17.1% Nelson Bay — 75-84: 9.1%
85+ 6.7% / 2.4%
Fingal Bay — 85+: 6.7% Nelson Bay — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fingal Bay 54.3% lone person
Fingal Bay — Lone Person: 54.3% Fingal Bay — Couple Families: 27.6% Fingal Bay — One Parent Families: 15.0% Fingal Bay — Group Household: 3.1% Fingal Bay — Other Families: 0.0%
Nelson Bay 48.1% lone person
Nelson Bay — Lone Person: 48.1% Nelson Bay — Couple Families: 28.9% Nelson Bay — One Parent Families: 16.9% Nelson Bay — Group Household: 5.1% Nelson Bay — Other Families: 1.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fingal Bay 26.4% renting
Fingal Bay — Owned Outright: 56.6% Fingal Bay — Mortgage: 17.0% Fingal Bay — Renting: 26.4%
Nelson Bay 31.5% renting
Nelson Bay — Owned Outright: 43.7% Nelson Bay — Mortgage: 24.8% Nelson Bay — Renting: 31.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Certificate III & IV 18.2% / 17.8%
Fingal Bay — Certificate III & IV: 18.2% Nelson Bay — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Bachelor Degree 9.0% / 10.7%
Fingal Bay — Bachelor Degree: 9.0% Nelson Bay — Bachelor Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 10.1%
Fingal Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Nelson Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 3.3%
Fingal Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Nelson Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.8%
Fingal Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Nelson Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
England 4.8% / 5.0%
Fingal Bay — England: 4.8% Nelson Bay — England: 5.0%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.5%
Fingal Bay — New Zealand: 1.0% Nelson Bay — New Zealand: 1.5%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.7%
Fingal Bay — Scotland: 0.8% Nelson Bay — Scotland: 0.7%
South Africa 0.6% / 0.5%
Fingal Bay — South Africa: 0.6% Nelson Bay — South Africa: 0.5%
Nepal 0.3% / 0.8%
Fingal Bay — Nepal: 0.3% Nelson Bay — Nepal: 0.8%
Germany 1.0% / —
Fingal Bay — Germany: 1.0% Nelson Bay — Germany: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.9%
Fingal Bay — Philippines: not among its largest Nelson Bay — Philippines: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fingal Bay 51.5% houses
Fingal Bay — Houses: 51.5% Fingal Bay — Townhouses: 45.5% Fingal Bay — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Nelson Bay 59.1% houses
Nelson Bay — Houses: 59.1% Nelson Bay — Townhouses: 20.8% Nelson Bay — Flats / Apartments: 20.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Median house price $1,250,000 $1,042,500
Median unit price $830,000 $672,500
Median land price — $750,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 22 sales
 36 days
from 98 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
3 bed $1.03M / $992K
Fingal Bay — 3 bed: $1.03M (29 sales) Nelson Bay — 3 bed: $992K (64 sales)

29 vs 64 sales

4 bed $1.67M / $1.18M
Fingal Bay — 4 bed: $1.67M (13 sales) Nelson Bay — 4 bed: $1.18M (52 sales)

13 vs 52 sales

5 bed $1.65M / $1.34M
Fingal Bay — 5 bed: $1.65M (6 sales) Nelson Bay — 5 bed: $1.34M (10 sales)

6 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Fingal Bay has more land zoned for conservation (85% vs 59%).

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Environmental 85% 59%
Residential 8% 19%
Parks and recreation 5% 18%
Rural and farming 0% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 1%
same for both
Commercial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Fingal Bay and 100% of Nelson Bay. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
New dwellings approved 495
across Port Stephens
same for both
Approvals change year on year -72%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Houses 3.4%
$600/wk on $914K
 3.2%
$735/wk on $1.19M
Units — 4.6%
$550/wk on $620K

Ranking within NSW

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
House price Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
Income Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 50% of NSW

Liveability

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Grade D
same for both
Score 25/100 24/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Nelson Bay carries more crime risk (79 vs 53).

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Bushfire High
77/100
 High
75/100
Crime Moderate
53/100
 High
79/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
45/100
 Low
35/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Fingal Bay

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Nelson Bay

  • St Michael's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Alesco Secondary College - Tomaree Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 22
Parks & reserves 2 8
Childcare 0 7
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Beaches 2 0

Mobility

Fingal Bay sits further from the CBD (215.4 km vs 207.4 km).

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Walkability score 25/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 215.4 km
+4% vs other
 207.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 171 min 164 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 37.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 87.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2315
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 2315
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Car (driver) 68.5% / 65.9%
Fingal Bay — Car (driver): 68.5% Nelson Bay — Car (driver): 65.9%
Worked from Home 22.1% / 21.7%
Fingal Bay — Worked from Home: 22.1% Nelson Bay — Worked from Home: 21.7%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 5.2%
Fingal Bay — Car (passenger): 5.5% Nelson Bay — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Walked Only 3.2% / 5.8%
Fingal Bay — Walked Only: 3.2% Nelson Bay — Walked Only: 5.8%
Bicycle 0.7% / 0.4%
Fingal Bay — Bicycle: 0.7% Nelson Bay — Bicycle: 0.4%
Bus — / 1.0%
Fingal Bay — Bus: not among its largest Nelson Bay — Bus: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.5%).

Setting

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 769 m
1.3 km to a named beach
 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Connectivity score 67/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
1,261 premises
 31%
4,940 premises

Climate

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Annual rainfall 1,181 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Average residential rate $1,359/yr
same for both
Council Port Stephens
same for both

Federal electorate

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Fingal Bay Nelson Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Fingal Bay

Beach Coastal Retirees Townhouses

Nelson Bay

Coastal Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Nelson Bay

Nelson Bay vs Corlette Nelson Bay vs Salamander Bay Nelson Bay vs Anna Bay Nelson Bay vs Shoal Bay Nelson Bay vs One Mile
Full data on Fingal Bay Full data on Nelson Bay
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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