Surry Hills
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Surry Hills reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Surry Hills' population is approximately 17,165 as of November 2025. This shows an increase of 1,337 people, representing an 8.4% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 15,828. The change is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 17,099 in June 2024 and an additional 59 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 13,003 persons per square kilometer, placing Surry Hills in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. The suburb's growth rate of 8.4% since the 2021 Census exceeds both the state (6.7%) and metropolitan area rates, positioning it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 99.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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. 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, representing a 15.3% total rise over the 17 years.

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

Surry Hills averaged approximately 8 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 40 homes. As of FY26, there has been 1 approval recorded so far. The area's population decline suggests that new supply has likely been keeping 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, indicating more affordable housing options.

In FY26, $178.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Surry Hills has significantly less development activity, with 92.0% fewer approvals per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Nationally, Surry Hills also reflects lower development activity, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent building activity consists entirely of townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

By 2041, Surry Hills is expected to grow by 2,628 residents. 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 10% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 63 projects potentially impacting the area. Notable projects include Crown Street Upgrade, The Rathbone, Crown Street Commercial Redevelopment, and Surry Hills Village. Below lists those likely 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.

Surry Hills has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Surry Hills has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. As of June 2025, its unemployment rate is 5.7%, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the past year.

In June 2025, 11,777 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.5% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Surry Hills is 70.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Leading employment industries among residents include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Professional & technical services have a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 2.0 times the regional average.

Meanwhile, construction has limited presence with 3.3% employment compared to 8.6% regionally. There are 2.0 workers for every resident in Surry Hills, indicating it functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 0.6%, while labour force increased by 0.4%, resulting in a unemployment fall of 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a rise of 0.3 percentage points in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that over five years employment could increase by approximately 7.4% and over ten years by approximately 14.7%.

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 2022 shows Surry Hills' median income among taxpayers is $70,916, with an average of $111,705. Nationally, this ranks in the top percentile. Comparing to Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856 highlights Surry Hills' higher incomes. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% suggest median income will be approximately $79,859 and average income $125,791. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Surry Hills rank between the 84th and 97th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 29.2% of locals (5,012 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to the surrounding region at 30.9%. High weekly earnings exceeding $3,000 are achieved by 39.6% of households, supporting elevated consumer spending. Despite high housing costs consuming 21.3% of income, strong earnings place disposable income at the 76th 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 per the latest Census, 1.1% of dwellings were houses while 98.9% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan area's figures which stood at 2.3% houses and 97.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Surry Hills was recorded at 14.1%, mirroring the Sydney metro average, with mortgaged properties at 18.9% and rented dwellings at 67.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Surry Hills was $2,839, higher than the Sydney metro average of $2,705. The median weekly rent in Surry Hills was $550, identical to the Sydney metro figure. Nationally, Surry Hills's median mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,839 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $550 versus the national average 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 comprise the remaining 59.1%, with lone person households at 46.8% and group households making up 12.2%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 1.9.

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 higher level of educational attainment than both national and state averages. 62.8% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. The most common qualification is the Bachelor degree, held by 41.1% of residents. Postgraduate qualifications are held by 18.1%, and graduate diplomas by 3.6%.

Vocational pathways account for 18.2% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.9% and certificates at 8.3%. A significant portion of the population is actively pursuing education, with 24.7% engaged in formal learning. This includes 10.9% in tertiary education, 3.1% in primary education, and 2.0% in secondary education. The five schools in Surry Hills have a combined enrollment of 1,900 students. The area has a high socio-educational advantage and academic achievement (ICSEA: 1120). Education provision is balanced with three primary and two secondary schools serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 11.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 7.7, indicating that Surry Hills serves as an educational hub for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

The analysis of public transportation in Surry Hills shows that there are currently 34 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. In total, these stops are serviced by 25 individual routes, collectively providing 14,902 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of public transportation in Surry Hills is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 118 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency across all routes amounts to 2,128 trips per day, which equates to approximately 438 weekly trips per individual stop.

Surry Hills's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes data shows excellent results in Surry Hills, with younger age groups exhibiting a very low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is notably high at approximately 76% of the total population (13,079 people), compared to 69.7% across Greater Sydney and 55.3% nationally. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 10.1 and 7.0% of residents respectively.

A significant majority, 74.6%, report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 77.4% across Greater Sydney. The area has 10.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,738 people), with health outcomes among seniors requiring particular attention despite the overall strength in this demographic.

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, making up 28.0% of people. Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 1.3% of Surry Hills' population.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.8%), Other (15.1%), and Australian (14.7%). Notably, French (1.6%) Spanish (1.2%) and Russian (0.9%) ethnicities are also overrepresented compared to regional averages.

Surry Hills's population is younger than the national pattern

Surry Hills's median age is 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Sydney's 37 and somewhat younger than Australia's national average of 38 years. The age group of 25-34 years old makes up 32.2% of Surry Hills' population, compared to Greater Sydney's percentage, while the age group of 5-14 years old is less prevalent at 2.8%. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above Australia's national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 9.4% to 11.4%, while the age group of 45 to 54 has declined from 12.7% to 11.3%. By 2041, demographic forecasts indicate that Surry Hills' population aged 45-54 will increase significantly by 770 people (40%), from 1,944 to 2,715. Meanwhile, the age group of 25-34 years old is projected to grow modestly by 0%, with an increase of only 7 people.