Surf Beach (NSW)

Surf Beach is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the population of the suburb of Surf Beach (NSW) is estimated to be around 1,854 people. This figure reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census population of 1,934 people, indicating a drop of 80 individuals or approximately 4.1%. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and their analysis of the resident population data released by the ABS in June 2024. This results in a population density ratio of 425 persons per square kilometer, suggesting ample space per person and potential for further development. Interstate migration has been the primary driver of population growth in Surf Beach (NSW), contributing around 68.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch's projections for the suburb are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia figures released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government SA2 level projections from 2022 with a 2021 base year are employed. Looking ahead, population projections indicate that Surf Beach (NSW) is expected to experience growth just below the median of non-metropolitan areas nationally. By 2041, the suburb's population is projected to increase by 166 persons, representing an overall rise of approximately 7.8% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Surf Beach according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Surf Beach had minimal residential development activity between 2016 and 2020 with fewer than five dwelling approvals annually. Over this five-year period, only four dwellings were approved. Such low development levels are typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is naturally limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

It should be noted that yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably due to the small number of approvals. Surf Beach had substantially lower development levels compared to Rest of NSW during this period. Development levels were also below national averages.

Surf Beach has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

No changes can significantly impact an area's performance like modifications to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that could potentially affect this area. Notable projects include the Greater Batemans Bay Structure Plan, Princes Highway Safety And Capacity: Nowra NSW To Victorian Border, Sydney-Canberra Rail Connectivity And Capacity, and Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.2%, Surf Beach has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Surf Beach has a skilled workforce with notable representation from essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.2% as of December 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In this month, 813 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.7% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Surf Beach was at 52.3%, significantly lagging behind Regional NSW's 61.3%. Census responses indicated that only 12.4% of residents worked from home, with Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Health care & social assistance shows particularly high concentration, with employment levels at 1.2 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.6% compared to Regional NSW's average of 5.3%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.2%, accompanied by a 3.8% decrease in employment, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point fall in unemployment rate. In comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2%, labour force decline of 0.8%, and a rise in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Surf Beach. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Surf Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Surf Beach had a median income among taxpayers of $41,729. The average income stood at $51,815. This was below the national average. Regional NSW had levels of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $45,426 (median) and $56,406 (average). From the 2021 Census, incomes in Surf Beach fell between the 7th and 13th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment comprised 29.9% earning $800 - $1,499 weekly, with 554 residents. This contrasted with the broader area where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket led at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 84.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 9th percentile.

Surf Beach is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Surf Beach, houses accounted for 71.4% of dwellings in the latest Census, with other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings making up the remaining 28.6%. This is compared to Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Surf Beach stood at 48.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.2% and rented ones at 29.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Surf Beach was recorded at $330, matching Regional NSW's figure but significantly lower than the national average of $375 per week and $1,863 per month for mortgage repayments.

Surf Beach features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 64.3% of all households, including 17.8% couples with children, 34.3% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up 35.7%, with lone person households at 34.7% and group households comprising 1.3%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Surf Beach shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's university qualification rate is 19.3%, 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 12.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 31.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 42 active stops operating within Surf Beach, offering a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 23 individual routes, collectively providing 269 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 149 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature, with car being the dominant mode at 97%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 12.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 38 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Surf Beach is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Surf Beach faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~880 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (12.6%) and mental health issues (9.1%). 57.1% of residents declare themselves 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 33.5% of residents aged 65 and over (621 people), higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW.

Surf Beach ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Surf Beach, found to have lower cultural diversity, has 87.3% citizens, 82.3% born in Australia, and 93.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 55.2%, slightly below Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestral groups are English (31.9%), Australian (27.5%), and Scottish (8.7%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 5.2% compared to Regional NSW's 4.6%, while French (0.6%) and Croatian (0.7%) also show higher percentages than the regional averages of 0.4% and 0.3% respectively.

Surf Beach ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Surf Beach is 52 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and also above the national norm of 38 years. Comparing with Regional NSW, the proportion of people aged 65-74 is notably higher at 18.5% locally compared to the regional average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 8.0%. The concentration of people aged 65-74 in Surf Beach is well above the national figure of 9.5%. Between 2021 and the present time, the proportion of people aged 15 to 24 has increased from 8.0% to 9.8%, while those aged 75 to 84 have risen from 10.2% to 11.9%. Conversely, the percentage of people aged 55 to 64 has decreased from 14.7% to 13.3%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Surf Beach. The number of residents aged 85 and above is projected to increase by 72%, adding 41 people to reach a total of 99. In contrast, population declines are forecasted for those aged 5-14 and 55-64 years.