Fingal Bay vs Nelson Bay
The verdict
Nelson Bay is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.15M versus $1.46M in Fingal Bay. Nelson Bay rates higher for liveability (65 vs 27). Fingal Bay is closer to the coast (800 m vs 1.8 km). On the separate residential safety score, Fingal Bay rates higher (68 vs 43/100 in Nelson Bay).
Scores
| Fingal Bay | Nelson Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 31 | 47 |
| Transport | 26 | 28 |
| Education | 43 | 47 |
| Liveability | 27 | 65 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Fingal Bay | Nelson Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,635 | 6,141 |
| Median age | 63 | 51 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,114 | $1,305 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 23.1% | 28.9% |
| Born in Australia | 80.4% | 76.2% |
| Avg household size | 2.1 | 2.2 |
Growth: Fingal Bay Moderate Growth · Nelson Bay Moderate Growth
Property
| Fingal Bay | Nelson Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.46M | $1.15M |
| Median unit price | $863K | $690K |
| House price YoY | 30.5% | 10.2% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $730 | $730 |
| Rental yield (house) | 1.9% | 3.0% |
| Days on market (house) | 52 | 50 |
Median price history
Safety
| Fingal Bay | Nelson Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 68 | 43 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 183 | 309 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 61 | 261 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 306 | 619 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 4,220 | 8,679 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Fingal Bay | Nelson Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 0 | 2 |
| Government | 0 | 0 |
| Independent | 0 | 1 |
| Average ICSEA | Data not available | 1,040 |
See the full school list on each profile: Fingal Bay · Nelson Bay
Transport
| Fingal Bay | Nelson Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 26 | 28 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 20 | 64 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Nearest train station (km) | 29.7 km | 26.9 km |
Liveability
| Fingal Bay | Nelson Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 27.5°C | 27.5°C |
| Winter max temp | 18.0°C | 18.0°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Supermarkets | 0 | 1 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 0 | 19 |
| Parks | 2 | 20 |
| Playgrounds | 1 | 4 |
| Swimming pools | 1 | 10 |
| Medical GPs | 0 | 0 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 800 m | 1.8 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 153.2 km | 153.3 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 1.0 km | 1.8 km |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 3.4 km | 2.5 km |
Population & growth
| Fingal Bay | Nelson Bay | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 1,635 | 6,141 |
| Estimated 2025 | 1,653 | 6,207 |
| Projected 2041 | 1,882 | 7,071 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.27% | 0.27% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Fingal Bay or Nelson Bay?
Fingal Bay has the higher residential safety score (Fingal Bay 68/100 vs Nelson Bay 43/100).
Which is more affordable, Fingal Bay or Nelson Bay?
Nelson Bay is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.15M versus $1.46M.
Which has better public transport, Fingal Bay or Nelson Bay?
Nelson Bay has the higher transport score (Fingal Bay 26/100 vs Nelson Bay 28/100).
Try another comparison
Compare two suburbs