Surry Hills

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

Surry Hills' population, as of February 2026, is approximately 17,194. This figure represents an increase of 1,366 people, an 8.6% rise since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 15,828. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 17,099 in June 2024 and an additional 82 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 13,025 persons per square kilometer, placing Surry Hills in the top 10% of locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. The suburb's growth rate exceeded the state average of 7.8%, making it a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 99.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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. Based on projected demographic shifts, Surry Hills is expected to experience above median population growth nationally, with a projected increase of 2,694 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 15.1% over the 17-year period.

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

Surry Hills has averaged approximately 8 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 40 homes. As of FY26, 5 approvals have been recorded to date. The area's population decline suggests that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good options for buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $121,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing choices.

In the current financial year, $178.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Surry Hills has significantly less development activity, at 92.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, development activity is also lower, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent building activity consists entirely of townhouses or apartments, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers due to affordable entry pathways.

By 2041, Surry Hills is projected to grow by approximately 2,599 residents, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Surry Hills has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 63 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Sydney Jewish Museum Redevelopment, Marlborough House Redevelopment, The Post House, and Mariyung Fleet (New Intercity Fleet). Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Surry Hills has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Surry Hills has a highly educated workforce with the technology sector being well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 5.8%. As of September 2025, there are 11,289 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.8%, which is 1.6% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Surry Hills stands at 74.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 63.2% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries are professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Notably, the area has a high concentration in professional & technical jobs at twice the regional average.

Conversely, construction employment is limited at 3.3%, compared to the regional average of 8.6%. There are approximately two workers for every resident, indicating that Surry Hills serves as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the year leading up to September 2025, labour force levels in Surry Hills decreased by 1.6%, accompanied by a 1.1% decline in employment, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. This contrasts with Greater Sydney where employment rose by 2.1%, the labour force grew by 2.4%, and unemployment increased by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that overall employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Surry Hills' employment mix indicates that local employment should increase by approximately 7.4% over five years and 14.7% over ten years. These projections are illustrative and do not account for potential localized population changes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Surry Hills SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $72,371 and an average income of $110,107. These figures place Surry Hills in the top percentile nationally. In comparison, Greater Sydney's median income was $60,817 with an average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $78,783 (median) and $119,862 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Surry Hills rank highly nationally, between the 83rd and 97th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that 29.2% of locals (5,020 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to the surrounding region where this cohort represents 30.9%. Economic strength is evident with 39.6% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 21.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 75th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Surry Hills features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Surry Hills, as assessed in the most recent Census, 1.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 98.9% being semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan areas, where 55.9% of dwellings are houses and 44.1% are other dwellings. Home ownership in Surry Hills stood at 14.1%, lower than the Sydney metro average. The majority of dwellings were either mortgaged (18.9%) or rented (67.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Surry Hills was $2,839, higher than the Sydney metro average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Surry Hills was recorded at $550, compared to $470 in Sydney metropolitan areas. Nationally, Surry Hills' median monthly mortgage repayment is significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and its median weekly rent is substantially above the national figure of $375.

Surry Hills features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 40.9% of all households, including 7.4% couples with children, 29.3% couples without children, and 3.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 59.1%, with lone person households at 46.8% and group households comprising 12.2%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Surry Hills shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Surry Hills has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 62.8% holding university qualifications. This figure is significantly higher than the national average of 30.4% and the state average of 32.2%. The area's strong educational advantage is evident in various qualification levels. Bachelor degrees are the most common, held by 41.1% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 18.1%, and graduate diplomas at 3.6%.

Vocational pathways account for 18.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 9.9% and certificates 8.3%. Notably, a substantial 24.7% of the population is actively engaged in formal education. This includes 10.9% pursuing tertiary education, 3.1% in primary education, and 2.0% in secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 47 active transport stops operating in Surry Hills. These include train, light rail, and bus services. There are 28 individual routes serving these stops, collectively providing 23,681 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 114 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Surry Hills being primarily residential. Walking is common at 31%, while train use is 18%.

Vehicle ownership averages 0.2 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 63.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 3,383 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 503 weekly trips per stop.

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

Surry Hills faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 75% of the total population (12,947 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, impacting 10.1% and 7.0% of residents respectively. However, 74.6% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, comparable to the 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 10.4% of residents aged 65 and over (1,786 people), lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than those for the general population.

Surry Hills is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Surry Hills has a high level of cultural diversity, with 27.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 47.5% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Surry Hills, comprising 28.0% of people. Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 1.3% of Surry Hills' population versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.8%), Other (15.1%), and Australian (14.7%). French (1.6%) Spanish (1.2%), and Russian (0.9%) ethnicities are notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.5%, 0.6%, and 0.4% respectively.

Surry Hills's population is younger than the national pattern

Surry Hills' median age of 35 years is slightly younger than Greater Sydney's 37 and the national average of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 31.4%, higher than Greater Sydney, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 2.9%. This 25-34 concentration is well above the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 9.4% to 11.3%, while the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 32.6% to 31.4% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.7% to 11.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Surry Hills. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to increase by 717 people (36%) from 1,997 to 2,715. Meanwhile, the 0-4 cohort grows by a modest 4% (17 people).