Sussex Inlet - Berrara

Population growth drivers in Sussex Inlet - Berrara are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Sussex Inlet - Berrara's population is around 4,905 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 211 people (4.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,694 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,877 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 241 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 121 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Over the past decade, Sussex Inlet - Berrara has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a 1.2% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 90.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Regarding demographic trends, an above-median population growth for locations outside of capital cities is projected, with the area expected to expand by 1,032 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 20.5% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Sussex Inlet - Berrara when compared nationally

Sussex Inlet - Berrara has seen around 41 new homes approved annually, totalling 206 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 21 approvals have been recorded. At an average of 1.6 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand appear well-balanced, creating stable market conditions, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $352,000. Additionally, $1.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting a predominantly residential focus.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Sussex Inlet - Berrara has slightly more development (27.0% above the regional average per person over the 5 year period), maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values, though building activity has slowed in recent years. Recent construction comprises 81.0% detached dwellings and 19.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The location has approximately 194 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

Looking ahead, Sussex Inlet - Berrara is expected to grow by 1,004 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Sussex Inlet - Berrara has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 8 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Sussex Inlet Golf Village, Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Berrara and Swan Lake Coastal Management Program, Seniors Housing Suncrest Avenue, Sussex Inlet, and Bay and Basin NSW Ambulance Station, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 drivers in Sussex Inlet - Berrara are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Sussex Inlet - Berrara has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 5.5%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 1,596 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.5% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation lags significantly (38.6% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a low 13.4% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. The area has particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.2% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw the labour force increasing by 2.7% combined with employment decreasing by 0.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 2.9 percentage points. This compares to Regional NSW, where employment fell by 1.2%, the labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Sussex Inlet - Berrara. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Sussex Inlet - Berrara's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The Sussex Inlet - Berrara SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $39,754 and an average of $49,110 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is below the national average, contrasting with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $43,276 (median) and $53,461 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Sussex Inlet - Berrara all fall between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the largest segment comprises 35.7% earning $400 - 799 weekly (1,751 residents), unlike trends in the region where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Economic circumstances reflect widespread financial pressure, with 44.8% of households operating within modest weekly budgets below $800. After housing, 85.8% of income remains, though this ranks at only the 3rd percentile nationally.

Sussex Inlet - Berrara is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Sussex Inlet - Berrara, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 88.0% houses and 12.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Sussex Inlet - Berrara was well beyond that of Regional NSW, at 60.7%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (20.8%) or rented (18.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional NSW average at $1,504, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $310, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Sussex Inlet - Berrara's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Sussex Inlet - Berrara features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 61.3% of all households, comprising 15.4% couples with children, 37.7% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 38.7%, with lone person households at 36.1% and group households comprising 2.5% of the total. The median household size of 2.0 people is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Sussex Inlet - Berrara faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (12.1%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 8.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 45.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificates (36.8%).

A substantial 20.1% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 7.2% in primary education, 5.9% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 158 active transport stops operating within Sussex Inlet - Berrara comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 10 individual routes, collectively providing 172 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 134 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward, and the car remains the dominant mode at 95%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 13.4% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 24 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 1 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health performance in Sussex Inlet - Berrara is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Sussex Inlet - Berrara, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~2,261 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW. The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 15.7 and 8.7% of residents, respectively, while 51.7% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 43.0% of residents aged 65 and over (2,108 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Sussex Inlet - Berrara is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Sussex Inlet - Berrara was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 89.4% of its population being citizens, 86.5% born in Australia, and 96.7% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Sussex Inlet - Berrara is Christianity, which makes up 59.6% of people in Sussex Inlet - Berrara, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Sussex Inlet - Berrara are English, comprising 35.0% of the population, Australian, comprising 31.2% of the population, and Irish, comprising 9.0% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Maltese is notably overrepresented at 0.8% of Sussex Inlet - Berrara (vs 0.4% regionally), Australian Aboriginal at 3.0% (vs 4.6%) and Scottish at 8.0% (vs 8.0%).

Sussex Inlet - Berrara ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Sussex Inlet - Berrara's median age of 61 years stands materially older than Regional NSW's 43 and is significantly higher than the 38-year national average. Compared to the Regional NSW average, the 65 - 74 cohort is notably over-represented (22.8% locally), while 35 - 44 year-olds are under-represented (6.7%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. Following the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 6.9% to 7.8% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 18.4% to 16.9% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 9.7% to 8.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Sussex Inlet - Berrara's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow significantly, expanding by 204 people (75%) from 272 to 477. Senior residents (65+) will drive 51% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. In contrast, the 55 to 64 cohort shows minimal growth of just 3% (26 people).