New South Wales · Postcode 2281
Caves Beach postcode and suburb data
New South Wales · Phone area code 02 · 94 km from Sydney
Suburb snapshot
Caves Beach at a glance vs NSW
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against NSW
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Detailed comparison table
Caves Beach vs the NSW average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Caves Beach | NSW avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $1,628 -NSW | $1,931 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $420 ≈NSW | $445 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $2,090 ≈NSW | $2,247 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 49 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 7/10 ≈NSW | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 4.6% ≈NSW | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the NSW average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Caves Beach is a locality 94 km from Sydney in New South Wales, classified as inner regional by the ABS. The postcode is 2281. It falls within the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region. The local government area is Lake Macquarie.
According to the 2021 Census, Caves Beach has a population of 4,016 with a median age of 49. The median weekly household income is $1,628, below the NSW average. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. The Indigenous population is 129 (3.2% of residents).
Housing in Caves Beach includes a median weekly rent of $420, median monthly mortgage repayment of $2,090, with 1,496 total dwellings. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 81.6% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Caves Beach scores in decile 7 out of 10, which is above the national average.
Schools in Caves Beach include Swansea High School and Caves Beach Public School.
Caves Beach is part of the Lake Macquarie - East statistical area in New South Wales.
Caves Beach details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 2281 |
| State | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 4,016 |
| Median Age | 49 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $1,628/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $711/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $420 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $2,090 |
| Average Household Size | 2.6 persons |
| Area | 2.4 km² |
| Population Density | 1651/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 1,496 |
| Australian Citizens | 94.3% |
| Indigenous Population | 129 (3.2%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 7/10 (above average) |
| Latitude | -33.1063425 |
| Longitude | 151.6450391 |
| Distance from Sydney | 94 km |
| Region (SA4) | Newcastle and Lake Macquarie |
| Area (SA3) | Lake Macquarie - East |
| Local Government | Lake Macquarie |
| Federal Electorate | Shortland |
| State Electorate | Swansea |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 653 (16.3%) |
| 15–24 years | 460 (11.5%) |
| 25–44 years | 693 (17.3%) |
| 45–64 years | 1,113 (27.7%) |
| 65+ years | 1,103 (27.5%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Arthritis | 567 (14.1%) |
| Asthma | 390 (9.7%) |
| Heart Disease | 231 (5.8%) |
| Diabetes | 224 (5.6%) |
| Cancer | 168 (4.2%) |
| Lung Condition | 111 (2.8%) |
| Dementia | 39 (1.0%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 52 (3.5%) |
| 1 vehicle | 467 (31.6%) |
| 2 vehicles | 640 (43.3%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 320 (21.6%) |
Schools in Caves Beach
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Caves Beach. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Caves Beach
Same Postcode (2281)
More Caves Beach Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.