New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Watsons Bay NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Watsons Bay, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Watsons Bay NSW is 883 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Watsons Bay is $1,225 per week ($63,700 per year). Median rent in Watsons Bay is $674 per week ($2,921 per month). Watsons Bay has a median age of 40 years, older than the national median of 38. Watsons Bay has a population density of 1451.6 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Watsons Bay is England. The most common religion is No Religion (35% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Watsons Bay is $3,384.

There were 17 recorded offences in Watsons Bay in 2025-26, a rate of 19 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (4 offences).

Watsons Bay Map

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Watsons Bay Population

residents (Census 2021)

Watsons Bay Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$1,225/wk

$63,700 per year

#377 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$674/wk

$2,921 per month

#110 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

40years

2 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$3,384/mo

Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.8 per bedroom

Watsons Bay Demographics

Gender Split

Male 53.7% (472) Female 46.3% (407)

Population Density

1451.6

people per km²

883 people · 0.6 km²

Households

2.4

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$4,083

Family income/wk

Watsons Bay 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 & Locality (SAL)

Watsons Bay Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

64.4% 114 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

35.6% 63 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Watsons Bay Country of Birth

Australia

84.7%

England

11.2%

Germany

1.7%

Hong Kong

1.2%

India

1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Watsons Bay Religion

No Religion

35.1%

Catholic

20.7%

Not stated

13.9%

Anglican

12.3%

Judaism

12.0%

Eastern Orthodox

3.3%

Christian (other)

1.9%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Watsons Bay Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

87.5%

Year 10 or equivalent

8.1%

Year 11 or equivalent

3.0%

Year 9 or equivalent

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Watsons Bay Languages Spoken at Home

Other

41.2%

Greek

20.6%

Italian

11.8%

Mandarin

8.8%

Macedon

8.8%

Russian

8.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Watsons Bay Employment

💼

Employed full-time

46.9% 305 people

⏰

Employed part-time

16.2% 105 people

🔍

Unemployed

1.8% 12 people

🏠

Not in labour force

35.1% 228 people

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

Watsons Bay Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

52.2%

Postgraduate Degree

21.6%

Certificate III/IV

12.3%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

11.4%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

1.6%

Certificate I/II

0.9%

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

Watsons Bay Occupation

Professionals

45.3%

Managers

34.6%

Community & Personal Service

6.0%

Clerical & Administrative

6.0%

Technicians & Trade Workers

4.7%

Sales Workers

2.0%

Labourers

1.3%

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

Watsons Bay Field of Study

Management & Commerce

29.9%

Society & Culture

19.8%

Health

14.8%

Creative Arts

9.4%

Architecture & Building

5.0%

Education

5.0%

Engineering

4.4%

Natural & Physical Sciences

3.7%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

3.4%

Agriculture & Environment

3.0%

Information Technology

1.7%

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

Watsons Bay Dwelling Types

Separate house

75.3%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

18.5%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

6.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Watsons Bay Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.2%

$300-$399/wk

1.6%

$400-$499/wk

3.3%

$500-$649/wk

3.7%

$650-$799/wk

3.3%

$800-$999/wk

5.8%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

1.6%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

3.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.2%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

2.9%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

9.9%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

3.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

7.0%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

4.5%

$4,000+/wk

41.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Watsons Bay Marital Status

💍

Married

46.7% 355

↔️

Separated

2.8% 21

📋

Divorced

5.3% 40

🕊️

Widowed

3.7% 28

👤

Never married

41.6% 316

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Watsons Bay Ancestry

English

30.8%

Australian

21.3%

Other

13.7%

Irish

12.0%

Scottish

8.8%

German

3.3%

South African

2.5%

Russian

1.8%

Italian

1.7%

Greek

1.6%

Hungarian

1.4%

New Zealander

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Watsons Bay School & University Attendance

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

29.4%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

21.6%

Primary — Government

14.4%

Pre-school

13.1%

Secondary — Government

7.2%

Primary — Catholic

5.2%

Secondary — Catholic

4.6%

Vocational Education

4.6%

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

Watsons Bay Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

2.5% 39

✅

No need for assistance

97.5% 1,526

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

Watsons Bay Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

22.3% 150

—

Not a volunteer

77.7% 524

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Watsons Bay Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

16.1%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

16.1%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

9.7%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

22.6%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

35.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Watsons Bay How People Get to Work

Walked only

37.6%

Car (driver)

36.8%

Did not go to work

11.5%

Other

7.3%

Car (passenger)

2.1%

Motorbike/Scooter

1.7%

Ferry

1.7%

Bus

1.3%

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

Watsons Bay Car Ownership

0 vehicles

9.7%

1 vehicle

42.5%

2 vehicles

32.5%

3 vehicles

7.8%

4+ vehicles

7.5%

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

Watsons Bay Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

9.5%

2 bedrooms

30.4%

3 bedrooms

30.4%

4 bedrooms

17.9%

5 bedrooms

8.1%

6+ bedrooms

3.7%

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

Watsons Bay Population Mobility

24.1%

moved in the last year

48.3%

moved in the last 5 years

2.3%

unemployment rate (Census)

58.6%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Watsons Bay Indigenous Population

0.8%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Indigenous residents

1,546

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Watsons Bay Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

Asthma

Heart disease

Cancer

Arthritis

Lung condition

Diabetes

Kidney disease

Dementia

Stroke

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

Watsons Bay Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

10.4%

$1-$149/wk

2.5%

$150-$299/wk

3.0%

$300-$399/wk

1.1%

$400-$499/wk

1.1%

$500-$649/wk

2.4%

$650-$799/wk

6.0%

$800-$999/wk

9.4%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

11.6%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

6.0%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

8.3%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.2%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

10.1%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

3.6%

$3,500+/wk

20.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Watsons Bay Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

37.9%

Couple — no children

27.7%

Couple — no children under 15

24.0%

One parent — children under 15

5.4%

One parent — no children under 15

5.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Watsons Bay Military Service

🎖️

Current ADF — Regular

18.5% 124

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.7% 5

🏅

Previously served

0.6% 4

👤

Never served

80.2% 538

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Watsons Bay Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

10.7% 72

—

Did not provide

89.3% 600

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Watsons Bay Children Ever Born

No children

41.8%

1 child

7.0%

2 children

31.8%

3 children

16.7%

4 children

2.7%

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

Watsons Bay When Migrants Arrived

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2017

2018

2019

2020

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

Watsons Bay Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

28.9%

5–14 hours

28.8%

15–29 hours

12.2%

30+ hours

6.6%

Did not do domestic work

23.5%

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

Watsons Bay Household Size

1 person

32.2%

2 persons

31.5%

3 persons

13.1%

4 persons

14.2%

5 persons

7.9%

6+ persons

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Watsons Bay Where Residents Moved From

Same address

593

Moved from NSW

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from QLD

Moved from WA

Moved from ACT

Moved from VIC

Moved from SA

Moved from overseas

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

Watsons Bay Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

91.0%

Step family — no other children

9.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Watsons Bay Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 17 total

Other Against Property

Assault

Theft

Property Damage

Sexual Offences

Drug Offences

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Watsons Bay Schools

schools nearby

government

1158

avg ICSEA score

2,054

total students

Kambala Independent

Combined · K-12 · 986 students

1169

ICSEA

Kincoppal - Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart Independent

Combined · K-12 · 851 students

1160

ICSEA

Vaucluse Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 217 students

1145

ICSEA

Kambala, Fernbank Campus Independent

Secondary

Farmhouse Montessori School, North Head Independent

Primary

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

View all schools in Watsons Bay with map →

Watsons Bay Rent Prices & Affordability

23%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $2,924/wk

Median Rent $674/wk

Rent-to-Income 23.1%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Watsons Bay

Your weekly income

≈ $12,671/month

Median rent $674/wk

Left after rent $2,250/wk

Rent share 23.1%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Canada Bay

Income: $1,056/wk Rent: $550/wk Save: $124/wk

Mount Pleasant (NSW)

Income: $1,160/wk Rent: $550/wk Save: $124/wk

Bar Beach

Income: $1,196/wk Rent: $393/wk Save: $281/wk

Abercrombie

Income: $1,029/wk Rent: $393/wk Save: $281/wk

Maryville

Income: $1,021/wk Rent: $505/wk Save: $169/wk

Royalla

Income: $1,285/wk Rent: $530/wk Save: $144/wk

Merewether Heights

Income: $1,159/wk Rent: $580/wk Save: $94/wk

Macquarie Links

Income: $1,047/wk Rent: $580/wk Save: $94/wk

Watsons Bay vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Fernmount

Pop: 444 Income: $769/wk Rent: $350/wk

Ravenswood (NSW)

Pop: 444 Income: $520/wk Rent: $200/wk

Arakoon

Pop: 445 Income: $596/wk Rent: $400/wk

Warral

Pop: 445 Income: $824/wk Rent: $263/wk

Lord Howe Island

Pop: 445 Income: $961/wk Rent: $310/wk

Yarrawonga (NSW)

Pop: 445 Income: $490/wk Rent: $320/wk

Compare Watsons Bay

Watsons Bay vs Fernmount →Watsons Bay vs Ravenswood (NSW) →Watsons Bay vs Arakoon →Watsons Bay vs Warral →

Frequently Asked Questions About Watsons Bay

What is the population of Watsons Bay NSW?

The population of Watsons Bay NSW is 883 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 1451.6 people per km².Watsons Bay is ranked #4,151 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Watsons Bay?

The median personal income in Watsons Bay NSW is $1,225 per week, or $63,700 per year.The median household income is $2,924 per week.Family income is $4,083 per week.Watsons Bay is ranked #377 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Watsons Bay?

Median rent in Watsons Bay NSW is $674 per week ($2,921 per month).Rent represents 23.1% of household income, which is considered affordable.Watsons Bay ranks #110 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Watsons Bay?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Watsons Bay NSW is $3,384. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Watsons Bay?

The median age in Watsons Bay NSW is 40 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Watsons Bay a good suburb to live in?

Watsons Bay is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 883.The median income is $1,225/wk, which is above the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (23.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 14205. All dollar figures in AUD.