Shoal Bay
NSW 2315 · Port Stephens
1,815 (2021) → 1,834 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Port Stephens local government area (est. 79,727 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Shoal Bay is a moderate growth suburb in Port Stephens, NSW 2315, about 156km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.27M is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 30/100, and is right by the coast. Shoal Bay has an overall score of 40/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 35/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2315 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (5.29%), New Zealand (1.87%), Nepal (1.43%), Scotland (1.1%), Germany (1.05%)
Top languages: Nepali (1.38%), Italian (0.66%), Malayalam (0.61%), Greek (0.39%), Thai (0.39%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Small population (under 3,000) — crime rates may be volatile due to low sample size.
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Limited school choices
Below average for school access — fewer schools nearby, and families may need to travel for preferred options.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 992 (below the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Shoal Bay Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 962
Nearby (within 10km)
- Alesco Secondary College - Tomaree CampusSecondary · Independent · 2km
- St Michael's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.7kmICSEA 1040
- Tomaree Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 5.9kmICSEA 981
- Tomaree High SchoolSecondary · Government · 6kmICSEA 970
- St Philip's Christian College - Port StephensCombined · Independent · 6.2kmICSEA 1072
- St Philip's Christian College Dynamic Learning - Port StephensCombined · Independent · 6.2km
- St Philip's Christian College GilibaaPrimary · Independent · 6.3kmICSEA 763
- Edmondson Park CollegePrimary · Independent · 6.3km
- Tea Gardens Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.6kmICSEA 934
- Anna Bay Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 9.7kmICSEA 962
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Some green space
Around the national average — a reasonable amount of parks and outdoor space nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Cultural hotspot
Top 20% nationally — theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and landmarks all within reach. A genuinely vibrant cultural scene.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Solid scene
Well above average for licensed venues — you won't struggle for a night out or a good meal.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Limited options
Below average for childcare access — fewer services nearby, and families may need to travel further for preferred options.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Port Stephens
Compare Shoal Bay with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Shoal Bay
Is Shoal Bay safe?
Shoal Bay has a residential safety score of 35/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 10,248 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Shoal Bay?
In Shoal Bay, the median house price is $1.27M and the median unit price is $779K. Median weekly house rent is $730.
How far is Shoal Bay from Sydney CBD?
Shoal Bay is about 156.1 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in Shoal Bay?
Shoal Bay has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 962 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Shoal Bay?
Shoal Bay has a transport score of 30/100 and 19 bus stops.