Bateau Bay
Home to two beautiful beaches, Bateau Bay is a haven for relocators seeking a coastal retreat. With some more affordable options on the western side of the main road, this suburb opens doors for families and individuals looking to live by the sea without breaking the bank.
Bateau Bay's charm lies in its proximity to popular amenities and neighbouring suburbs like Long Jetty and The Entrance, ensuring convenience and easy access to all the essentials, with numerous shops, cafes and restaurants throughout the suburb.
At a glance
- Population: 12,516
- Area size: 6.94 km²
- Median weekly household income: $1,645
- Median monthly mortgage repayments: $2,426
Living on the Central Coast
What it's like to live in Bateau Bay
Bateau Bay is one of the larger suburbs on this part of the Coast, with 12,516 people across 6.94 square kilometres, about 58 kilometres from the Sydney CBD. Population has grown at every Census since 2001, from 11,139 to 12,516 in 2021.
Bateau Bay Population & Household Growth Over Time
| 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,139 | 11,599 | 11,759 | 12,146 | 12,516 |
| Median weekly household income | No data | $774 | $938 | $1,245 | $1,475 |
| Medial Monthly Mortgage Repayments | No Data | $1,500 | $1,800 | $1,820 | $2,058 |
| Percentage of Owner Occupier | 70% | 68% | 70% | 70% | 71% |
| Percentage of Renter | 30% | 32% | 31% | 30% | 29% |
| Total Dwellings | 4,752 | 4,931 | 5,097 | 5,122 | 5,204 |
| Average People per Household | No Data | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 |
Owner-occupiers make up 71% of households and renters 29%, a split that has held steady for two decades. The leading occupations locally are Professionals (20%), Technicians and Trades Workers (16%) and Community and Personal Service Workers (14%), and the top employing industries are Hospitals, Secondary Education and Primary Education.
Housing options for owner-occupiers
Like many other Central Coast suburbs, the majority of Bateau Bay is free-standing homes, close to 80% of dwellings. You will however find townhouses and a few apartments, as well as a number of retirement villages. If you are searching for a Central Coast acreage, you unfortunately won't find an acreage property in Bateau Bay.
Current property snapshot (October 2026)
| Metric | Houses | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Median Price | $796,000 | $767,500 |
| Median Rent (per week) | $720 | $640 |
| Typical time to sell | ~23 days | ~18 days |
| Gross rental yield | 3.01% | 4.18% |
How Prices Have Moved Over Time (Houses)
| Period | Change |
|---|---|
| 3 Months | 2.38% ($29,000) |
| 12 Months | 6.87% ($80,000) |
| 3 Years | 28.35% ($275,000) |
| 5 Years | 41.48% ($365,000) |
| 5-year average annual growth | 7.19% |
| 10-year average annual growth | 6.98% |
| 20-year average annual growth | 6.44% |
| 30-year average annual growth | 7.08% |
Renting in Bateau Bay
Median rent for a house in Bateau Bay is $720 a week, flat over the past quarter but up 2.86% over the year and 15.20% over three years. Units rent for $640 a week, up 10.34% over the year and 21.21% over three years. The vacancy rate is a tight 1.23%, well under the 3% generally considered a healthy balance between tenants and owners, so well-priced rentals tend to go quickly.
Bateau Bay Schools and childcare
Depending on where you live in Bateau Bay will determine the primary school you are zoned for. Currently, properties in Bateau Bay are zoned for Bateau Bay Public School, Brooke Avenue Public School and Wamberal Public School. For high school, Bateau Bay is zoned for either Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Tumbi Umbi Campus (Years 7-10) or Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Berkeley Vale Campus (Years 7-10). For Years 11 and 12, both flow into Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, The Entrance Campus.
There are a number of private schools near Bateau Bay, including Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School Shelly Beach (K-6), St John Fisher Tumbi Umbi (K-6), St Peter's Catholic College Tuggerah (7-12) and Central Coast Grammar School Erina Heights (K-12). Further out towards Gosford you'll find more private school options for primary school and high school.
Families are well served for early learning and care, with Bright Start Preschool, Brooke Avenue Early Learning Centre, Family Tree Learning Centre and Goodstart Early Learning all in the suburb, along with before and after school care at Bateau Bay Public School and out of school hours care through PCYC on The Entrance Road.
Health and everyday amenities
Everyday needs are well covered in Bateau Bay, with numerous shops, cafes and restaurants throughout the suburb and the large Bateau Bay Square shopping centre on the main road. Wyong Hospital and Gosford Hospital are the nearest major public hospitals.
Getting around
Bateau Bay is 20 minutes drive from Gosford train station or 15 minutes drive from Ourimbah train station. The M1 motorway (which connects Sydney and Newcastle) will take you 30 minutes to the Gosford entry or 18 minutes to the Ourimbah entry.
Our local favourite
A Sharp Property Buyers favourite in Bateau Bay is pizza from 3 Peppers or coffee from Bateau Beach cafe.
Are you ready to experience the coastal allure of Bateau Bay? Let Sharp Property Buyers, your trusted Central Coast Buyers Agent, guide you in finding your ideal property in this vibrant beachside suburb. Contact us today, and together, we'll make your dream of coastal living a reality in the welcoming community of Bateau Bay.
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