Suburb in Port Stephens

Fern Bay, NSW

Fern Bay had a population of 4,046 at the 2021 Census (+46.4% since 2016). Median age 42.8. Median weekly household income $1,440. Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. Census 2026 data arrives June 2027.

Fern Bay at a glance

What the 2021 Census says, compared with New South Wales.

In Newcastle and Lake Macquarie

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Fern Bay's population grew by 46.4% to 4,046, faster than New South Wales as a whole (+7.9%). With a median age of 42.8, it is older than the NSW average (38.4). Children under 10 make up 13.8% of residents, and people aged 70 and over 22.2%.

24.1% of households rent, a smaller share than the NSW average of 33.1%. 47.1% own their home outright. Almost every home is a house; flats and apartments are 0.2% of homes. The 2021 Census counted 1,641 households.

The median household earns $1,440 a week, below the NSW average of $1,829. Renters pay a median $502 a week, and households with a mortgage repay $2,269 a month.

12.5% of residents were born overseas, fewer than the NSW average of 31.0%. 4.8% use a language other than English at home. 41.0% report no religion, higher than the NSW average (35.7%).

Key figures

2021 Census, Fern Bay beside NSW and Australia.

MeasureFern BayNSWAustralia
Population4,0468,072,17125,422,828
Growth since 2016+46.4%+7.9%+8.6%
Median age42.838.438.2
Households1,6412,900,4569,275,123
Flats and apartments0.2%21.8%14.3%
Renting24.1%33.1%31.1%
Owned outright47.1%32.0%31.4%
Median household income a week$1,440$1,829$1,747
Median rent a week$502$423$376
Median mortgage repayment a month$2,269$2,142$1,866
Born overseas12.5%31.0%29.3%
Other language at home4.8%28.2%23.6%
No religion41.0%35.7%41.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Population and age

Each census since 2011, and the age profile in 2021.

Population

+46.4% since 2016.

Population · each census
  1. 1,6252011
  2. 2,7632016
  3. 4,0462021

Age

Median age 42.8, against 38.4 for New South Wales.

Fern Bay New South Wales
Share of people by age, Fern Bay and New South Wales
0–913.8%
10–1910.3%
20–297.8%
30–3914.2%
40–4910.1%
50–598.6%
60–6912.8%
70–7916.3%
80+5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Cultural background

The largest groups in Fern Bay at the 2021 Census.

Ancestry

Top 5 · ancestry
  1. English45.9%
  2. Australian43.1%
  3. Irish12.9%
  4. Scottish11.5%
  5. Australian Aboriginal5.3%

Languages at home

Top 5 · languages at home
  1. Afrikaans0.4%
  2. Spanish0.4%
  3. Mandarin0.3%
  4. Korean0.3%
  5. Cantonese0.3%

Country of birth

Top 5 · country of birth
  1. England4.2%
  2. New Zealand1.3%
  3. the Philippines0.6%
  4. South Africa0.5%
  5. Ireland0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Around Fern Bay

The places it belongs to, sits beside and contains.

Explore Fern Bay in Censible

Every census figure for Fern Bay, mapped and compared with any other place. A free account takes a minute.