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

Sussex Inlet - Berrara's population is around 4,905 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 211 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,694 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,877 in June 2024 and an additional 241 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 121 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Sussex Inlet - Berrara has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.2%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 90.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends, the area is projected to expand by 1,032 persons to 2041, 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 approximately 41 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 206 homes. As of FY-26, 21 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.6 new residents arrive per year for each new home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand creating stable market conditions. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $352,000.

This financial year has seen $1.5 million in commercial approvals, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the rest of NSW, Sussex Inlet - Berrara has slightly more development, with 27.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

Recent construction comprises 81.0% detached dwellings and 19.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The location has approximately 194 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Sussex Inlet - Berrara is expected to grow by 1,004 residents through to 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely affecting the region. Key projects include Sussex Inlet Golf Village, St Georges Basin, Berrara, Swan Lake Coastal Management Program, Seniors Housing Suncrest Avenue, and Bay and Basin NSW Ambulance Station. The following list details 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 Sussex Inlet - Berrara has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Sussex Inlet - Berrara has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs. Its unemployment rate is 4.8%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.0% over the past year as of September 2025. There are 1,602 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation is significantly lower at 38.5%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. A low 13.4% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. Construction is particularly strong with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.2%, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 2.0% while labour force increased by 3.8%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these 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, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

The Sussex Inlet - Berrara SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $39,754 and an average of $49,110 in the financial year 2023. This was below the national average, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, estimated incomes would be approximately $43,276 (median) and $53,461 (average). The 2021 Census showed household, family and personal incomes in Sussex Inlet - Berrara falling between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. The largest earnings segment comprised 35.7% earning $400 - $799 weekly, with 1,751 residents, unlike regional trends where 29.9% fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Economic circumstances indicated widespread financial pressure, with 44.8% of households operating on modest weekly budgets below $800. After housing costs, 85.8% of income remained, ranking 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

In Sussex Inlet - Berrara, as per the latest Census, 88.0% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 12.0% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sussex Inlet - Berrara stood at 60.7%, with mortgaged properties at 20.8% and rented dwellings at 18.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,504, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in the area was $310, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,504 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were 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 constitute 61.3% of all households, including 15.4% couples with children, 37.7% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.7%, with lone person households at 36.1% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Rest of 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's university qualification rate is 12.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 8.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 45.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas comprise 8.6%, while certificates account for 36.8%.

A total of 20.1% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 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

Sussex Inlet - Berrara has 158 active public transport stops, served by 10 routes offering 172 weekly trips. Residents enjoy excellent accessibility, with an average distance of 134 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, predominantly using cars (95%). The area has a lower than average vehicle ownership rate of 1.2 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 13.4% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 24 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly one weekly trip per stop.

The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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 indicates significant health challenges in Sussex Inlet - Berrara. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46% of the total population (~2,261 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (15.7%) and mental health issues (8.7%). Conversely, 51.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents face notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 43.0% (2,108 people), compared to 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly in line with national rankings.

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, surveyed in 2016, had low cultural diversity: 89.4% were citizens, 86.5% born in Australia, and 96.7% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion (59.6%), slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups were English (35.0%), Australian (31.2%), and Irish (9.0%).

Notable differences existed for Maltese (0.8% vs regional 0.4%), Australian Aboriginal (3.0% vs 4.6%), and Scottish (8.0% each).

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

Sussex Inlet - Berrara's median age is 61 years, which is significantly older than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 and higher than the national average of 38 years. The 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Sussex Inlet - Berrara at 22.8%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while the 35-44 age cohort is under-represented at 6.7%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has grown from 6.9% to 7.8% of the population, while the 55-64 cohort has declined from 18.4% to 16.9%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 9.7% to 8.4%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Sussex Inlet - Berrara's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow significantly by 204 people (75%), from 272 to 477. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 51% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. In contrast, the 55-64 age cohort shows minimal growth of just 3%, with an increase of 26 people.