Byron Bay, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Byron Bay NSW is 6,330 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Byron Bay is $805 per week ($41,860 per year). Median rent in Byron Bay is $600 per week ($2,600 per month). Byron Bay has a median age of 39 years, older than the national median of 38. Byron Bay has a population density of 331 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Byron Bay is England. The most common religion is No religion (57.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Spanish. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Byron Bay is $2,167.

There were 251 recorded offences in Byron Bay in 2025-26, a rate of 40 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (96 offences).

Population
6,330
Census 2021
Median income
$805/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$600/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
39years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Byron Bay vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Byron Bay is $805 a week, 5% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 923rd of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $600 a week, $215 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 38.4% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 39, 4 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureByron BayTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$805/wk$765/wk +5%$766/wk
Household income$1,561/wk$1,704/wk −8%$1,637/wk
Rent$600/wk$385/wk +56%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,167/mo$1,965/mo +10%$1,733/mo
Median age3943 −4 yrs42
Rent share of household income38.4%22.6% +15.8 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Byron Bay, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Byron Bay Population

6,330 residents at the 2021 Census.

Byron Bay Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$805/wk
$41,860 per year
Ranked 3,540 of 14,663
Median Rent
$600/wk
$2,600 per month
Ranked 202 of 14,663
Median Age
39years
1 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$2,167/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.9 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Byron Bay Rent Prices & Affordability

38% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: stressed.

Household income $1,561/wk
Median rent $600/wk
Rent to income 38.4%

Rent is more than 35% of household income, a level often described as housing stress.

Median rent in Byron Bay against your income

About $6,764 a month
Median rent $600/wk
Left after rent $961/wk
Rent share 38.4%

Byron Bay Schools

4
schools nearby
2
government
1077
avg ICSEA score
1,701
total students
St Finbarr's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 325 students
1096
ICSEA
Byron Community Primary School Independent
Primary · K-6 · 95 students
1094
ICSEA
Byron Bay Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 461 students
1067
ICSEA
Byron Bay High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 820 students
1050
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Byron Bay, with a map

Byron Bay Map

Byron Bay, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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Byron Bay, New South Wales: 28.6470°S, 153.6028°E

Byron Bay Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (4)

People in Byron Bay

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.6% (3,081) Female 51.4% (3,253)

Population Density

331
people per km²
6,330 people · 19.1 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$2,029
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
6.1%
New Zealand
2.5%
Brazil
1.8%
United States of America
1.6%
Germany
1.5%
France
1.4%
Italy
1.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Spanish
3.9%
French
1.7%
Portuguese
1.6%
Italian
1.5%
German
1.2%
Japanese
1.0%
Thai
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
38.4%
Australian
26.0%
Irish
14.5%
Scottish
11.0%
German
6.2%
Italian
5.9%
Spanish
2.4%
French
2.4%
Dutch
2.0%
Australian Aboriginal
1.8%
Greek
1.1%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
57.6%
Catholic
12.0%
Not stated
11.6%
Anglican
7.0%
Buddhism
2.4%
Uniting Church
1.6%
Judaism
1.2%
Christian (other)
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

2.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
27.7% 1,556
Separated
2.4% 134
Divorced
12.4% 699
Widowed
3.5% 197
Never married
54.0% 3,040

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
40.0%
Couple: children under 15
36.2%
Couple: no children under 15
9.5%
One parent: children under 15
8.3%
One parent: no children under 15
6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
33.8%
2 persons
33.1%
3 persons
15.2%
4 persons
11.4%
5 persons
4.4%
6+ persons
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Byron Bay

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,364 occupied private dwellings in Byron Bay at the 2021 Census, 40.1% were rented, 35.1% owned outright and 20.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.2% 52 dwellings
Owned outright
35.1% 830 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
20.1% 476 dwellings
Rented
40.1% 949 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.4% 56 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
69.4%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
21.8%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
8.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
12.9%
2 bedrooms
21.3%
3 bedrooms
40.0%
4 bedrooms
19.6%
5 bedrooms
4.4%
6+ bedrooms
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
10.1%
$300-$449/mo
1.7%
$450-$599/mo
2.3%
$600-$799/mo
2.6%
$800-$999/mo
2.3%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
12.8%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
13.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
22.3%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
15.9%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
16.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
6.9%
1 vehicle
42.6%
2 vehicles
33.7%
3 vehicles
10.6%
4+ vehicles
6.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Byron Bay

Employment

Employed full-time
25.0% 1,191 people
Employed part-time
35.1% 1,673 people
Unemployed
3.9% 188 people
Not in labour force
36.0% 1,719 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
28.3%
Managers
18.8%
Community & Personal Service
15.2%
Technicians & Trade Workers
14.0%
Labourers
8.8%
Clerical & Administrative
6.7%
Sales Workers
6.6%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.6%
$1-$149/wk
0.8%
$150-$299/wk
1.2%
$300-$399/wk
3.1%
$400-$499/wk
7.1%
$500-$649/wk
6.8%
$650-$799/wk
6.0%
$800-$999/wk
6.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.8%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.8%
$4,000+/wk
14.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
6.7%
$1-$149/wk
3.0%
$150-$299/wk
4.9%
$300-$399/wk
3.8%
$400-$499/wk
4.0%
$500-$649/wk
5.7%
$650-$799/wk
13.0%
$800-$999/wk
13.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.0%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.1%
$3,500+/wk
5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
55.0%
Did not go to work
21.4%
Walked only
10.4%
Bicycle
6.7%
Car (passenger)
3.4%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.3%
Other
1.1%
Truck
0.6%
Bus
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
75.3%
Year 10 or equivalent
16.0%
Year 11 or equivalent
6.0%
Year 9 or equivalent
2.7%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
41.2%
Certificate III/IV
21.6%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.0%
Postgraduate Degree
11.2%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.9%
Certificate I/II
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
21.5%
Society & Culture
16.2%
Creative Arts
14.0%
Health
11.4%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
8.6%
Architecture & Building
7.7%
Engineering
7.2%
Education
6.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.6%
Agriculture & Environment
2.1%
Information Technology
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Vocational Education
27.8%
Primary: Government
21.7%
Secondary: Government
15.5%
Pre-school
7.8%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
7.5%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
7.3%
Secondary: Catholic
6.6%
Primary: Catholic
5.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
86.4%
Has need for assistance
4.1%
Need for assistance not stated
9.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
463
Asthma
186
Arthritis
172
Heart disease
118
Lung condition
107
Diabetes
69
Cancer
69
Stroke
43
Kidney disease
38
Dementia
9

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
9.3% 467
Did not provide
90.7% 4,557

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
19.6% 988
Not a volunteer
80.4% 4,058

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 3
Previously served
1.5% 78
Never served
98.4% 4,993

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
53.0%
1 child
12.1%
2 children
21.1%
3 children
9.5%
4 children
3.4%
5+ children
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
10
1951: 1960
45
1961: 1970
89
1971: 1980
128
1981: 1990
155
1991: 2000
139
2001: 2010
269
2011: 2015
272
2016
83
2017
99
2018
161
2019
242
2020
132
2021
6

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

25.7%
moved in the last year
55.3%
moved in the last 5 years
5.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
59.6%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
4,225
Moved from NSW
532
Moved: same area (SA2)
486
Moved from QLD
134
Moved from VIC
132
Moved from overseas
83
Moved from WA
19
Moved from SA
16
Moved from ACT
5
Moved from TAS
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
24.9%
5: 14 hours
29.4%
15: 29 hours
11.7%
30+ hours
6.5%
Did not do domestic work
27.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
84.3%
Step family: no other children
11.6%
Blended family: no other children
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Byron Bay Crime Statistics

251 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
96
Other Against Property
50
Assault
33
Property Damage
26
Drug Offences
18
Sexual Offences
12
Other Against Person
8
Weapons
7
Robbery
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Condobolin
Income: $668/wk Rent: $200/wk $400/wk less rent
Narromine
Income: $710/wk Rent: $250/wk $350/wk less rent
Yenda (NSW)
Income: $821/wk Rent: $250/wk $350/wk less rent
Parkes (NSW)
Income: $731/wk Rent: $260/wk $340/wk less rent
Narrabri
Income: $826/wk Rent: $260/wk $340/wk less rent
Junee
Income: $729/wk Rent: $260/wk $340/wk less rent
Hanwood
Income: $825/wk Rent: $275/wk $325/wk less rent
Wallerawang
Income: $666/wk Rent: $275/wk $325/wk less rent

Suburbs near Byron Bay

The closest suburb to Byron Bay is Suffolk Park, 4.4 km away.

Suffolk Park
4.4 km away · income $894/wk · rent $700/wk
Ewingsdale
5.2 km away · income $958/wk · rent $600/wk
Bangalow
8.6 km away · income $920/wk · rent $650/wk
Myocum
11.0 km away · income $738/wk · rent $380/wk
Brunswick Heads
11.5 km away · income $732/wk · rent $440/wk
Mullumbimby
14.9 km away · income $660/wk · rent $500/wk

Compare Byron Bay

Frequently Asked Questions About Byron Bay

What is the population of Byron Bay NSW?

The population of Byron Bay NSW is 6,330 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 331 people per km². Byron Bay is ranked #1,228 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Byron Bay?

The median personal income in Byron Bay NSW is $805 per week, or $41,860 per year. The median household income is $1,561 per week. Family income is $2,029 per week. Byron Bay is ranked #3,540 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Byron Bay?

Median rent in Byron Bay NSW is $600 per week ($2,600 per month). Rent represents 38.4% of household income, which is considered stressed. Byron Bay ranks #202 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Byron Bay?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Byron Bay NSW is $2,167. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Byron Bay?

The median age in Byron Bay NSW is 39 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Byron Bay a good suburb to live in?

Byron Bay is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 6,330. The median income is $805/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as stressed (38.4% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10731. All dollar figures in AUD.