🔍

Bega

NSW 2550 • Rest of NSW

5,013
Population (2021)
$62,192
Median Household Income
31.17 km²
Area
$320/wk
Median Rent
RuralHistoricCoastal HinterlandRetirement-FriendlyAgricultural

About Bega

Bega is a historic country town on the Far South Coast of New South Wales, situated along the Bega River approximately 400 km south of Sydney. With a population of around 5,000, it serves as the commercial and service centre of the Bega Valley Shire. The median age is 43, reflecting a mix of retirees, families, and workers in agriculture and services.

Bega is renowned as the home of Bega Cheese, one of Australia's most recognised dairy brands. The town offers a relaxed rural lifestyle with access to both mountain and coastal environments, with popular beaches like Tathra just 20 minutes away. It features a well-equipped town centre with supermarkets, schools, a hospital, and sporting facilities, making it attractive to tree-changers and retirees.

Bega falls under postcode 2550 and is governed by Bega Valley Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Bega electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2550
Urban Area
Bega
LGA / Council
Bega Valley
Federal Electorate
Eden-monaro
State Electorate
Bega
Type
Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-36.69°, 149.84°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
31.17 km²
Elevation
37m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Bega for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$615K
108 sales · ▲ 0.2% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$475K
12 sales · ▼ 19.1% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$320
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,408
Avg Household Size
2.3 people
Median Age
43 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
8.1%

126 state housing + 35 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • 741 — Bega to Eden via Merimbula 50 min to Eden
  • 740 — Bega to Narooma via Bermagui 1 hr 20 min to Narooma
  • V/Line coach — Bega to Canberra 3 hr 30 min

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
400 km
By Train
N/A — no rail service
By Bus
7-8 hours (coach)
By Car (Peak)
5-6 hours
By Car (Off-Peak)
5 hours

🛣️ Regional town. Nearest city is Canberra (3 hrs drive). Local bus services connect to surrounding towns.

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Town centre is walkable with shops and services along Carp Street, but a car is needed for most trips beyond the centre.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Coles
    Cnr Parker Street & Carp Street Bega 2550 NSW
  • Woolworths
    Cnr of Auckland and Carp Street Bega 2550 NSW

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There is 1 heritage-listed place in or near Bega, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

CBC Bank (former)
21 Auckland Street Bega • SHR #00588

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Bega Valley Local Government Area, which contains Bega. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
106.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 7.5%
Motor vehicle theft
84.7 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr —
Non-DV assault
311.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
nc / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
136.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 12.3%
View all 62 offence types for Bega Valley →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
4,668
Census 2021
5,013
▲ 7.4% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$28,132
Personal Income 2021
$34,320
▲ 22.0% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$34,320 / yr
$660/wk
Household
$62,192 / yr
$1196/wk
Family
$81,328 / yr
$1564/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 4,128
Born Overseas 442

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 111
  • 2. New Zealand 38
  • 3. India 29
  • 4. Germany 27
  • 5. United States 22
  • 6. Netherlands 21
  • 7. Thailand 20
  • 8. Philippines 16
  • 9. Canada 12
  • 10. Nepal 12

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 2,171
English 2,007
Irish 614
Scottish 446
Australian Aboriginal 315
German 269
Dutch 79
Italian 71
Indian 43
Chinese 39

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

3,519
Both parents born in Australia
530
Both parents born overseas
534
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

No Religion
44.6%
Christianity
43.1%
Buddhism
1.1%
Hinduism
0.5%
Islam
0.2%
Judaism
0.1%
Sikhism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
278 (5.5%)
5-14 years
672 (13.4%)
15-19 years
278 (5.5%)
20-24 years
256 (5.1%)
25-34 years
549 (11.0%)
35-44 years
546 (10.9%)
45-54 years
558 (11.1%)
55-64 years
683 (13.6%)
65-74 years
572 (11.4%)
75-84 years
413 (8.2%)
85+ years
198 (3.9%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bega known for? +

Bega is renowned as the home of Bega Cheese, one of Australia's most recognised dairy brands.

How far is Bega from Sydney CBD? +

Bega is approximately 400 kilometres from Sydney CBD. The drive takes approximately 5-6 hours in peak hour and 5 hours off-peak.

Does Bega have public transport? +

Bus services include 741, running to Bega to Eden via Merimbula in approximately 50 min to Eden.

What is the population of Bega? +

According to the 2021 Census, Bega has a population of 5,013 residents. The suburb is part of the broader NSW metropolitan area.

Is Bega a good place to live? +

Bega is well-suited to a range of residents, offering a comfortable suburban lifestyle in NSW. The town offers a relaxed rural lifestyle with access to both mountain and coastal environments, with popular beaches like Tathra just 20 minutes away.

What is the postcode for Bega? +

The postcode for Bega is 2550. It is located in New South Wales (NSW).

What is the average income in Bega? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Bega is about $660 per week (around $34,300 per year). The median household income is $1,196 per week and the median family income is $1,564 per week.

What is the median house price in Bega? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $615,000, up 0.2% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $475,000, down 19.1% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Bega? +

The median age in Bega is 43. The largest age group is 55–64 (683 residents, around 14%). Around 24% of residents are under 20 and about 24% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Bega a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Bega is part of the Bega Valley LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Bega? +

In Bega, the median weekly rent is $320, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,408 (2021 Census).