Sussex Inlet - Berrara
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Sussex Inlet - Berrara's population is around 5,031 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 337 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,694 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,881 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 239 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 124 persons per square kilometer. Sussex Inlet - Berrara's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (3.4%) and SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. 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 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 are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends, an above median population growth is projected outside capital cities, with Sussex Inlet - Berrara expected to expand by 1,032 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, indicating a total increase of 17.4% 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, 8 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.6 new residents arrive per year for each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand dynamic that supports stable market conditions. The average construction value of new properties is $478,000.

In FY-26, commercial approvals worth $1.5 million have been registered, suggesting a predominantly residential focus in the area. Compared to the rest of NSW, Sussex Inlet - Berrara has seen slightly more development, with 27.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years, which maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. Building activity has slowed in recent years, with 81.0% detached dwellings and 19.0% attached dwellings being constructed recently, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The location currently has approximately 194 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. By 2041, Sussex Inlet - Berrara is projected to grow by 878 residents. 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 emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

Eight projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. These include Sussex Inlet Golf Village, Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Berrara, Swan Lake Coastal Management Program, Seniors Housing Suncrest Avenue, Sussex Inlet, and Bay and Basin NSW Ambulance Station. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Sussex Inlet - Berrara has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Sussex Inlet - Berrara has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs. The unemployment rate is 3.4%, lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.7%.

Employment growth in the past year was estimated at 3.4%. As of June 2025, 1,570 residents are employed. Workforce participation lags at 36.2% compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food.

Construction is particularly strong with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 1.2% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data analysis. In the past year, employment increased by 3.4% while labour force grew by 2.5%, reducing unemployment by 0.8 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.1% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sussex Inlet - Berrara's industry mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Sussex Inlet - Berrara had a median taxpayer income of $37,779 and an average of $47,621 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was below the national average of $52,855 for median income and $70,188 for average income during the same period. The Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998 in 2022. By March 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $41,784 (median) and $52,669 (average), based on a 10.6% growth rate since the financial year 2022. The 2021 Census showed that household, family, and personal incomes in Sussex Inlet - Berrara fell between the 2nd and 4th percentiles nationally. The largest earnings segment comprised 35.7% of residents earning $400 - $799 weekly. Unlike trends in the region where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, economic circumstances reflected widespread financial pressure with 44.8% of households operating on modest budgets below $800 weekly. After housing costs, 85.8% of income remained, ranking at only the 4th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Sussex Inlet - Berrara, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.0% houses and 12.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is similar to Non-Metro NSW's composition of 87.8% houses and 12.2% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Sussex Inlet - Berrara was higher at 60.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.8% and rented ones at 18.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,504, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in the area was $310, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $350. Nationally, Sussex Inlet - Berrara's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,504 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 account for 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 make up 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, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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 at 12.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This 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%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 45.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificates (36.8%).

A substantial 20.1% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 7.2% in primary, 5.9% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education. Sussex Inlet Public School provides local educational services within Sussex Inlet - Berrara, with an enrollment of 260 students as of a recent report. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Limited local school capacity (5.2 places per 100 residents vs 12.8 regionally) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Transport analysis indicates 133 active stops operating within Sussex Inlet - Berrara, consisting of bus services. These stops are covered by 10 routes, offering a total of 172 weekly passenger trips. Residents' access to transport is rated excellent, with an average distance of 135 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 24 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Sussex Inlet - Berrara is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Sussex Inlet - Berrara faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. The private health cover rate stands at approximately 46%, covering around 2,314 people, compared to 49.3% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.3%. Arthritis and mental health issues are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 15.7% and 8.7% of residents respectively.

Conversely, 51.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 59.4% across Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 42.4% (2,134 people), compared to the 27.8% in Rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Sussex Inlet - Berrara are better than those of the general population in terms of health metrics.

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's population, in terms of cultural diversity, is below average. It has 89.4% citizens, with 86.5% born in Australia and 96.7% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion is Christianity, at 59.6%, compared to the Rest of NSW's 52.6%.

Regarding ancestry, the top groups are English (35.0%), Australian (31.2%), and Irish (9.0%). Notably, Maltese representation is higher at 0.8% than the regional average of 0.6%. Also, Australian Aboriginal is at 3.0%, lower than the regional average of 4.4%, and Scottish representation stands at 8.0%, slightly below the regional average of 8.1%.

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

Sussex Inlet - Berrara's median age in 2021 was 61 years, significantly higher than Rest of NSW's 43 and Australia's national average of 38. The 65-74 age group made up 22.3% of the local population, notably over-represented compared to Rest of NSW's average. Meanwhile, the 35-44 cohort was under-represented at 6.6%. Nationally, the 65-74 age group accounted for 9.4%. Post-2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 13.9% to 14.7%, while the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 9.7% to 8.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate a significant growth in the 85+ age cohort, expanding by 207 people (77%) from 269 to 477. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 53% of population growth, reflecting ongoing demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort is projected to decline by 30 people.