Griffith Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

Griffith Surrounds is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Griffith Surrounds' population is approximately 13,297 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 537 people, a 4.2% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 12,760. The growth was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 13,019 in June 2024 and an additional 125 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 0.60 persons per square kilometer. Griffith Surrounds' 4.2% growth since the Census exceeded the SA4 region's 3.7%, indicating it as a growth leader. Natural growth accounted for approximately 51.7% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future demographic trends suggest a population increase just below Australia's non-metropolitan median, with Griffith Surrounds expected to grow by 720 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, recording a total gain of 3.3% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Griffith Surrounds is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Griffith Surrounds has received approximately 20 dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data is compiled by the ABS on a financial year basis, showing 103 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-20 to FY-25, with six approvals recorded so far in FY-26. The average construction cost value of new properties is $479,000. In this financial year, commercial approvals totalling $34.0 million have been registered, indicating strong local business investment.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Griffith Surrounds has significantly lower building activity, at 64.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports higher demand and values for established homes in the area, which is also below the national average, suggesting its established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent construction comprises 93.0% standalone homes and 7.0% medium to high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Griffith Surrounds is 773 people, reflecting its quiet and low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate the area will gain 442 residents by 2041.

Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Griffith Surrounds has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 38thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 56 projects that could impact the region. Notable ones include Wickham Hill Estate - Griffith, Maxus Estate - Griffith, Yambil Street Upgrade Stage 4, and Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment performance in Griffith Surrounds ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Griffith Surrounds has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 7.8% over the past year.

This compares favourably to Rest of NSW's unemployment rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Griffith Surrounds is 64.4%, higher than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment among residents is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing (5.8 times the regional average), manufacturing, and health care & social assistance (8% of local workers). During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 7.8%, labour force increased by 8.6%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points.

By comparison, Rest of NSW recorded employment decline of 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, with unemployment rising 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Griffith Surrounds's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 4.4%% over five years and 10.4% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Griffith Surrounds had a median income among taxpayers of $50,027 during financial year 2022. The average income stood at $56,249 in the same period. Both figures are below the national averages of $49,459 and $62,998 for Rest of NSW respectively. By March 2025, estimated median and average incomes would be approximately $55,330 and $62,211 based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022. According to census data, household, family and personal incomes in Griffith Surrounds rank modestly, between the 43rd and 56th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 34.8% of residents (4,627 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which is similar to patterns seen in the region where 29.9% of residents occupy this range. After accounting for housing costs, residents retain 91.3% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Griffith Surrounds is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Griffith Surrounds, as per the latest Census evaluation, 96.5% of dwellings were houses, with 3.4% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's figures of 87.5% houses and 12.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Griffith Surrounds stood at 43.8%, compared to mortgaged (31.9%) and rented (24.3%) dwellings. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,200, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,300. The median weekly rent was $220, below Non-Metro NSW's figure of $250. Nationally, Griffith Surrounds' mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,200 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $220 than the national figure of $375.

Griffith Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 73.6% of all households, including 32.8% couples with children, 30.0% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 26.4%, with lone person households at 24.3% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

Griffith Surrounds faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 14.6%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 8.9% and certificates at 30.6%. Educational participation is high, with 32.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 13.3% in primary, 9.8% in secondary, and 2.4% in tertiary education. Fourteen schools serve a total of 1,115 students in the area. The educational mix comprises 12 primary and 2 K-12 schools. There are 8.6 school places per 100 residents, which is below the regional average of 16.6%. Some students may attend schools outside the immediate area due to this disparity.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Griffith Surrounds has 683 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 62 individual routes, collectively providing 677 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is moderate, with residents typically located 419 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 96 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 0 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Griffith Surrounds is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Griffith Surrounds faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48%, covering around 6,382 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 10.8% and 8.9% of residents respectively. Around 67.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly lower than the 67.6% across Rest of NSW. The area has 18.3%, or approximately 2,428 people, aged 65 and over.

Griffith Surrounds ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Griffith Surrounds was found to have a cultural diversity level below average, with 82.8% of its population being citizens, 89.0% born in Australia, and 90.4% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Griffith Surrounds is Christianity, accounting for 69.4% of the population, compared to 66.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (29.6%), English (25.6%), and Italian (13.6%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal people are overrepresented in Griffith Surrounds at 4.8%, compared to the regional average of 5.1%. Samoan and Lebanese communities also show notable differences: Samoans comprise 0.3% of Griffith Surrounds' population versus 0.8% regionally, while Lebanese make up 0.3% compared to 0.2% regionally.

Griffith Surrounds's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Griffith Surrounds is 40 years, which is slightly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. In comparison with the Rest of NSW average, the 25-34 age cohort is notably higher at 12.9% locally, while the 75-84 year-olds are under-represented at 5.1%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 65 to 74 age group has increased from 10.1% to 11.3%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 14.2% to 12.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Griffith Surrounds. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 338 people (50%) from 683 to 1,022. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 53% of the population growth. Conversely, the 55-64 and 45-54 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.