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Byron Bay vs Ocean Shores

Name: Byron Bay vs Ocean Shores — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Urban Centre comparison ≈ 17 km apart · Byron Bay profile · Ocean Shores profile

Byron Bay Ocean Shores

Byron Bay and Ocean Shores are two nearby New South Wales areas with very different layouts and lifestyles. Byron Bay is very walkable, with 74.6% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed, while Ocean Shores is mostly car-dependent at just 0.8%. This is reflected in the housing and income gaps; Byron Bay has a much higher share of renters (37.4%) and a larger group of high earners, with 22.4% of households making $3,000 or more a week compared to 11.5% in Ocean Shores. Ocean Shores is more focused on home ownership, with detached houses making up 82.2% of dwellings, far higher than the 60.8% seen in Byron Bay.

The gap in overseas arrivals has widened since 2011, with 29.4% of Byron Bay residents now arriving recently from abroad compared to 10.5% in Ocean Shores. Despite this, the two areas share a similar feel in other ways. Both have the same share of people who identify as having no religion (59.7%) and the same number of people per home. They also have nearly identical rates of volunteering and unemployment, with both sitting around 5% to 6%.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 21.4 pts higher in Ocean Shores Recent arrivals: 18.9 pts higher in Byron Bay Population: 5,720 larger in Byron Bay Unpaid carers: 4.4 pts higher in Ocean Shores Renting: 10.1 pts higher in Byron Bay

Demographics & Identity

Population in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +5,720 larger in Byron Bay gap narrowing

10,538 86th pct 4,818 86th pct

Median age in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +5 yrs older in Ocean Shores gap narrowing

39 yrs 29th pct 44 yrs 46th pct

Age structure

35.2% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +9.1 pts 26.1%

25.3% Older adults (45–64) +3.6 pts ▸ 29.0%

17.1% Seniors (65+) +2.7 pts ▸ 19.8%

13.5% Children (0–14) +2.6 pts ▸ 16.1%

8.9% Youth (15–24) even 8.9%

Marital status

51.9% Never married ◂ +8.1 pts 43.7%

30.1% Married +2.9 pts ▸ 32.9%

11.9% Divorced +3.1 pts ▸ 15.0%

3.6% Widowed +1.1 pts ▸ 4.7%

2.5% Separated +0.9 pts ▸ 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Byron Bay Ocean Shores

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

63.4% Australia +9.0 pts ▸ 72.4%

5.7% England ◂ +1.6 pts 4.1%

2.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.5 pts 2.1%

1.3% Italy ◂ +0.7 pts 0.6%

0.7% South Africa even 0.6%

0.2% India +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Philippines even 0.4%

0.2% China even 0.2%

0.1% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

39.3% English +0.8 pts ▸ 40.1%

27.1% Australian +5.3 pts ▸ 32.4%

14.7% Irish +0.8 pts ▸ 15.5%

11.4% Scottish +0.2 pts ▸ 11.5%

5.9% German even 6.0%

5.6% Italian ◂ +1.5 pts 4.0%

2.0% Dutch +0.2 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.9% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.8% Chinese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.6%

0.6% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% Indian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Language

Language used at home

77.7% English only +4.8 pts ▸ 82.5%

1.5% Italian ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

0.1% Punjabi +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Mandarin ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Tagalog even 0.1%

0.1% Arabic even 0.1%

0.0% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.1% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

59.7% No religion even 59.7%

25.1% Christianity ◂ +0.9 pts 24.2%

10.9% Not stated +0.4 pts ▸ 11.3%

2.2% Buddhism even 2.2%

1.0% Judaism +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.5% Other religions +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Hinduism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.2% Islam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

66.7% Year 12 ◂ +9.1 pts 57.7%

14.4% Year 10 +6.6 pts ▸ 21.0%

5.3% Year 11 +1.5 pts ▸ 6.8%

3.6% Year 9 or below +1.7 pts ▸ 5.3%

Highest qualification level

33.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +7.4 pts 26.1%

18.3% Certificate III / IV +6.4 pts ▸ 24.7%

15.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.2 pts ▸ 16.4%

9.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.0 pts 7.1%

2.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.8 pts ▸ 4.7%

1.4% Certificate I / II +0.4 pts ▸ 1.8%

Field of qualification

16.7% Management & commerce ◂ +3.6 pts 13.1%

13.8% Society & culture ◂ +0.3 pts 13.5%

10.2% Health +1.3 pts ▸ 11.5%

10.8% Creative arts ◂ +2.3 pts 8.5%

6.8% Education +3.4 pts ▸ 10.2%

6.7% Engineering & related +1.2 pts ▸ 7.8%

6.5% Architecture & building +0.5 pts ▸ 7.0%

6.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.5 pts 5.6%

2.0% Agriculture & environment +1.0 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.3 pts 2.5%

1.2% Information technology +0.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +$136 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$839 81st pct $703 58th pct

Household income in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +$304 higher in Byron Bay gap steady

$1,750 78th pct $1,446 63rd pct

Family income in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +$372 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$2,091 80th pct $1,719 59th pct

Household income distribution

28.3% $1,500–$2,999 +4.8 pts ▸ 33.0%

23.4% $650–$1,499 +5.7 pts ▸ 29.1%

16.9% Under $650 +2.5 pts ▸ 19.4%

13.4% $4,000 or more ◂ +8.9 pts 4.5%

9.0% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.0 pts 7.0%

Personal income distribution

33.3% Under $650 +8.8 pts ▸ 42.2%

35.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.7 pts 33.9%

14.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.8 pts 12.7%

5.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.0 pts 1.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.1% Mental health +1.5 pts ▸ 8.7%

6.2% Arthritis +2.3 pts ▸ 8.5%

6.8% Other condition +0.8 pts ▸ 7.6%

5.9% Asthma +0.6 pts ▸ 6.5%

2.9% Heart disease +0.8 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.7% Cancer +0.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.8% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.5% Lung condition +0.7 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.8% Stroke +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.1% None ◂ +5.1 pts 62.0%

15.9% One condition +2.2 pts ▸ 18.1%

4.2% Two conditions +1.1 pts ▸ 5.2%

1.7% Three or more +0.7 pts ▸ 2.4%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores even gap narrowing

2.4 57th pct 2.4 57th pct

Family composition

49.7% Couples with children ◂ +0.8 pts 48.9%

34.9% Couples without children ◂ +5.8 pts 29.1%

14.5% One-parent families +6.6 pts ▸ 21.1%

0.9% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

Household size

33.6% 2 people +2.4 pts ▸ 36.0%

29.2% 1 person ◂ +1.8 pts 27.4%

16.4% 3 people +0.7 pts ▸ 17.0%

13.9% 4 people ◂ +0.6 pts 13.3%

5.1% 5 people ◂ +0.8 pts 4.3%

1.8% 6 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 2.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +$120 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$620 100th pct $500 97th pct

Mortgage in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +$399 higher in Byron Bay gap widening

$2,299 95th pct $1,900 86th pct

People / bedroom in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores even gap narrowing

0.80 57th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

37.4% Rented ◂ +10.1 pts 27.2%

34.2% Owned outright +2.9 pts ▸ 37.1%

24.2% Owned with a mortgage +7.3 pts ▸ 31.5%

2.1% Other tenure ◂ +0.3 pts 1.8%

2.0% Not stated ◂ +0.2 pts 1.8%

Types of homes

60.8% Separate house +21.4 pts ▸ 82.2%

26.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +16.9 pts 9.2%

8.3% Flat or apartment ◂ +0.3 pts 8.0%

3.9% Other dwelling ◂ +3.9 pts 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

40.8% 3 bedrooms +9.8 pts ▸ 50.6%

22.1% 4 bedrooms +0.5 pts ▸ 22.6%

18.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +3.7 pts 14.3%

9.3% 1 bedroom ◂ +4.3 pts 5.0%

6.1% 5 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 4.3%

1.8% Studio / none ◂ +1.0 pts 0.8%

Weekly rent distribution

16.2% $350–$549 +24.6 pts ▸ 40.8%

31.0% $750 or more ◂ +18.9 pts 12.1%

28.7% $550–$749 ◂ +0.6 pts 28.1%

11.8% $200–$349 +1.5 pts ▸ 13.3%

7.9% Under $200 ◂ +4.7 pts 3.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

27.0% $1,800–$2,999 +8.4 pts ▸ 35.4%

32.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +16.2 pts 15.9%

18.6% $1,000–$1,799 +7.7 pts ▸ 26.3%

14.4% Under $1,000 +1.5 pts ▸ 15.9%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

44.1% Car (driver) +10.9 pts ▸ 55.0%

25.6% Worked at home ◂ +4.7 pts 20.9%

5.2% Walked ◂ +3.5 pts 1.8%

4.0% Bicycle ◂ +3.7 pts 0.3%

2.4% Car (passenger) +1.4 pts ▸ 3.9%

0.2% Bus even 0.2%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

36.5% 2 vehicles +3.5 pts ▸ 40.0%

38.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.9 pts 35.7%

12.4% 3 vehicles +3.0 pts ▸ 15.4%

6.9% 4 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 5.7%

5.5% No vehicle ◂ +2.4 pts 3.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

20.4% Accommodation & food ◂ +9.4 pts 11.0%

12.1% Health care & social assistance +5.5 pts ▸ 17.6%

8.6% Retail trade +2.2 pts ▸ 10.8%

7.2% Education & training +2.6 pts ▸ 9.9%

9.6% Professional & technical ◂ +2.7 pts 6.9%

8.1% Construction +1.5 pts ▸ 9.5%

4.4% Administrative & support ◂ +0.7 pts 3.7%

3.4% Manufacturing +1.0 pts ▸ 4.4%

3.3% Other services +0.1 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.2% Public administration & safety +0.9 pts ▸ 3.1%

2.0% Transport & warehousing +0.7 pts ▸ 2.7%

2.5% Arts & recreation ◂ +0.4 pts 2.1%

Occupations people work in

25.0% Professionals ◂ +0.5 pts 24.5%

17.5% Managers ◂ +5.4 pts 12.1%

13.8% Technicians & trades +1.2 pts ▸ 15.0%

14.0% Community & personal service +0.4 pts ▸ 14.4%

7.3% Clerical & administrative +2.5 pts ▸ 9.7%

9.2% Labourers +0.2 pts ▸ 9.4%

8.4% Sales workers +0.8 pts ▸ 9.2%

2.4% Machinery operators & drivers +1.0 pts ▸ 3.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +3.9 higher in Byron Bay

6.8 96th pct 2.9 29th pct

Types ≤15 min in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +4.1 more in Byron Bay

6.4 84th pct 2.3 21st pct

15-min city in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +73.8 pts higher in Byron Bay

74.6% 64th pct 0.8% 29th pct

Walk to shops in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +35.3 pts higher in Byron Bay

80.7% 70th pct 45.4% 42nd pct

Walk to transit in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +13.6 pts higher in Byron Bay

94.4% 90th pct 80.7% 72nd pct

Walk to school in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +62.4 pts higher in Byron Bay

62.5% 44th pct 0.1% 14th pct

Walk to a park in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +80.7 pts higher in Byron Bay

96.7% 65th pct 16.0% 5th pct

Walk to health in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +72.1 pts higher in Byron Bay

72.1% 76th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Amenities/1k in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +20.7 more in Byron Bay

27.0 69th pct 6.2 13th pct

Intersections/km² in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +34 higher in Byron Bay

56 77th pct 22 34th pct

Mean slope in Byron Bay in Ocean Shores +4.3 pts higher in Ocean Shores

4.5% 48th pct 8.7% 87th pct

Compare Byron Bay with nearby areas

Ewingsdale Bangalow Brunswick Heads Lennox Head - West Ocean Shores Lennox Head Mullumbimby South Golden Beach

Compare Ocean Shores with nearby areas

South Golden Beach Brunswick Heads Mullumbimby Burringbar Ewingsdale Pottsville Byron Bay Hastings Point

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Byron Bay vs Ocean Shores [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ucl/UCL113004/byron-bay/vs/UCL115115/ocean-shores