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 approximately 4,962 as of May 2026. This figure shows an increase of 268 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,694. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,962 in June 2025 and the addition of 242 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 122 persons per square kilometer. Sussex Inlet - Berrara's population grew by 5.7% between the 2021 Census and May 2026, outperforming both the SA4 region (3.1%) and the SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 93.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, Sussex Inlet - Berrara is projected to expand by 955 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 19.2% over the 16-year period.

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 over the past five financial years, totalling 206 homes. So far in FY-26, 38 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.6 new residents arrive per year for each new home built between FY-21 and FY-25. New properties are constructed at an average value of $352,000.

This financial year has seen $1.5 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating 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 past five years. Recent construction comprises 81.0% detached dwellings and 19.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature.

The location has approximately 194 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Sussex Inlet - Berrara is expected to grow by 955 residents through to 2041. 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 8 projects likely to affect this region. Key initiatives include Sussex Inlet Golf Village, St Georges Basin, Berrara, Swan Lake Coastal Management Program (commenced Feb-07), Seniors Housing Suncrest Avenue (completed Dec-06), and Bay and Basin NSW Ambulance Station (opened Jun-08).

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

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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 with white and blue collar employment. Essential services sectors are well represented, unemployment rate is 5.5%, and there's relative stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 1,596 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 7.4%.

Workforce participation lags at 38.1% compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Only 13.4% work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. Construction employment share is 1.8 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.2%.

Limited local opportunities are indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. Over a year, labour force increased by 2.7% but employment decreased by 0.3%, raising unemployment rate by 2.9 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 1.2%, labour force contract by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sussex Inlet - Berrara's mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple 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, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is below the national average of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) for Regional NSW. By March 2026, estimated median income would be approximately $43,857 and average income $54,178, based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes in Sussex Inlet - Berrara falling between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile had the largest segment at 35.7%, with 1,771 residents earning $400 to $799 weekly, unlike regional trends where 29.9% earned $1,500 to $2,999 weekly. Economic circumstances indicated financial pressure, with 44.8% of households operating on budgets below $800 weekly. After housing costs, 85.8% of income remained, ranking at 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 while 12.0% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments and other types. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sussex Inlet - Berrara stood at 60.7%, with mortgaged properties making up 20.8% and rented ones accounting for 18.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,504, significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in the area was recorded at $310, slightly below Regional NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Sussex Inlet - Berrara's mortgage repayments were considerably lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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% of the total. The median household size is 2.0 people, which 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's university qualification rate is 12.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 45.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificates (36.8%). Education is actively pursued by 20.1% of the population.

This includes primary education (7.2%), secondary education (5.9%), and tertiary education (1.8%).

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 serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 10 individual routes, offering a total of 172 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent access to transport, with an average distance of 134 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 95% of residents. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 13.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 24 trips per day, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, showing 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

Sussex Inlet - Berrara faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 46% of the total population (~2,287 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (15.7%) and mental health issues (8.7%). 51.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 43.1% (2,139 people), compared to 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are generally 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 had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 89.4% of its population being citizens, 86.5% born in Australia, and 96.7% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, practiced by 59.6% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (35.0%), Australian (31.2%), and Irish (9.0%).

Notably, Maltese representation was higher than the regional average at 0.8%, while Australian Aboriginal was lower at 3.0%. Scottish representation was equal to the regional average at 8.0%.

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

Sussex Inlet - Berrara has a median age of 60 years, which is notably higher than Regional NSW's median age of 43 and also well above the Australian median age of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65 to 74 make up a significant portion of the population at 22.4%, while those aged 35 to 44 are comparatively smaller at 6.6%. This concentration of those aged 65 to 74 is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the age group of 25 to 34 has grown from 6.9% to 7.9% of the population. Conversely, the age group of 55 to 64 has declined from 18.4% to 16.4%, and the age group of 45 to 54 has dropped from 9.7% to 8.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Sussex Inlet - Berrara's age structure. The age cohort of those aged 85 and above is projected to rise substantially, expanding by 214 people (73%) from 294 to 509. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 52% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. In contrast, the age cohort of those aged 55 to 64 shows minimal growth of just 2%, with an increase of only 15 people.