Suburb in Woollahra

Watsons Bay, NSW

Watsons Bay had a population of 883 at the 2021 Census (+3.9% since 2016). Median age 40.0. Median weekly household income $2,924. Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. Census 2026 data arrives June 2027.

Watsons Bay at a glance

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

In Sydney - Eastern Suburbs

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Watsons Bay's population grew by 3.9% to 883, slower than New South Wales as a whole (+7.9%). Its median age of 40.0 is close to the NSW average (39.0). Children under 10 make up 7.7% of residents, and people aged 70 and over 13.0%.

28.5% of households rent, a smaller share than the NSW average of 33.1%. 42.2% own their home outright. Flats and apartments are more common than in New South Wales overall: 30.0% of homes, against 21.8%. The 2021 Census counted 270 households.

The median household earns $2,924 a week, above the NSW average of $1,829. Renters pay a median $674 a week, and households with a mortgage repay $3,384 a month.

29.0% of residents were born overseas, close to the NSW average of 31.0%. 10.2% use a language other than English at home. 39.9% report no religion, higher than the NSW average (35.7%).

Key figures

2021 Census, Watsons Bay beside NSW and Australia.

MeasureWatsons BayNSWAustralia
Population8838,072,16325,422,788
Growth since 2016+3.9%+7.9%+8.6%
Median age40.039.038.0
Households2702,900,4689,275,217
Flats and apartments30.0%21.8%14.3%
Renting28.5%33.1%31.1%
Owned outright42.2%32.0%31.4%
Median household income a week$2,924$1,829$1,746
Median rent a week$674$420$375
Median mortgage repayment a month$3,384$2,167$1,863
Born overseas29.0%31.0%29.3%
Other language at home10.2%28.2%23.6%
No religion39.9%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

+3.9% since 2016.

Population · each census
  1. 9182011
  2. 8502016
  3. 8832021

Age

Median age 40.0, against 39.0 for New South Wales.

Watsons Bay New South Wales
Share of people by age, Watsons Bay and New South Wales
0–97.7%
10–1916.1%
20–2917.9%
30–397.6%
40–4912.3%
50–5914.6%
60–6910.5%
70–797.4%
80+5.7%

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

Cultural background

The largest groups in Watsons Bay at the 2021 Census.

Ancestry

Top 5 · ancestry
  1. English42.3%
  2. Australian29.2%
  3. Irish16.5%
  4. Scottish12.1%
  5. German4.5%

Languages at home

Top 5 · languages at home
  1. Russian1.7%
  2. Serbian1.0%
  3. Arabic0.6%
  4. Greek0.6%
  5. Mandarin0.6%

Country of birth

Top 5 · country of birth
  1. England8.2%
  2. South Africa3.5%
  3. New Zealand2.6%
  4. the United States1.2%
  5. Hong Kong0.9%

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

Around Watsons Bay

The places it belongs to, sits beside and contains.

Explore Watsons Bay in Censible

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