New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Surf Beach NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Surf Beach, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Surf Beach NSW is 1,934 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Surf Beach is $612 per week ($31,824 per year). Median rent in Surf Beach is $330 per week ($1,430 per month). Surf Beach has a median age of 53 years, older than the national median of 38. Surf Beach has a population density of 443.3 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Surf Beach is England. The most common religion is No Religion (41% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Vietnamese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Surf Beach is $1,517.

There were 25 recorded offences in Surf Beach in 2025-26, a rate of 13 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was assault (6 offences).

Surf Beach Map

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Surf Beach Population

residents (Census 2021)

Surf Beach Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$612/wk

$31,824 per year

#6898 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$330/wk

$1,430 per month

#3803 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

53years

15 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,517/mo

Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.7 per bedroom

Surf Beach Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.2% (931) Female 51.8% (1,001)

Population Density

443.3

people per km²

1,934 people · 4.4 km²

Households

2.1

Avg household size

0.7

Persons per bedroom

$1,395

Family income/wk

Surf Beach Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Surf Beach Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

69.0% 388 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

31.0% 174 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Surf Beach Country of Birth

Australia

91.3%

England

5.8%

India

1.3%

Germany

1.2%

China

0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Surf Beach Religion

No Religion

40.8%

Catholic

21.4%

Anglican

17.6%

Not stated

11.1%

Christian (other)

2.7%

Uniting Church

2.6%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

2.4%

Baptist

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Surf Beach Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

45.0%

Year 10 or equivalent

38.3%

Year 9 or equivalent

9.6%

Year 11 or equivalent

7.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Surf Beach Languages Spoken at Home

Vietnamese

17.0%

Italian

14.9%

Malayalam

14.9%

Other

12.8%

Mandarin

8.5%

Croatian

8.5%

Macedon

8.5%

Australian Indigenous

8.5%

German

6.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Surf Beach Employment

💼

Employed full-time

24.7% 357 people

⏰

Employed part-time

19.9% 288 people

🔍

Unemployed

2.5% 36 people

🏠

Not in labour force

52.9% 766 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Surf Beach Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

44.2%

Bachelor Degree

21.5%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

18.5%

Postgraduate Degree

9.2%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

3.3%

Certificate I/II

3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Surf Beach Occupation

Professionals

25.2%

Community & Personal Service

17.0%

Technicians & Trade Workers

13.7%

Managers

12.8%

Clerical & Administrative

12.8%

Labourers

8.2%

Sales Workers

7.4%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Surf Beach Field of Study

Management & Commerce

20.0%

Society & Culture

16.8%

Health

14.5%

Engineering

12.4%

Education

11.4%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

9.7%

Architecture & Building

7.8%

Agriculture & Environment

2.7%

Natural & Physical Sciences

1.9%

Creative Arts

1.7%

Information Technology

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Surf Beach Dwelling Types

Separate house

79.0%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

10.6%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

10.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Surf Beach Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.5%

$1-$149/wk

1.5%

$150-$299/wk

1.3%

$300-$399/wk

4.4%

$400-$499/wk

11.3%

$500-$649/wk

6.4%

$650-$799/wk

11.2%

$800-$999/wk

9.6%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

9.8%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

10.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

4.3%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.0%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

9.0%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

4.4%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

2.5%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

2.5%

$4,000+/wk

3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Surf Beach Marital Status

💍

Married

47.4% 779

↔️

Separated

4.7% 78

📋

Divorced

11.2% 184

🕊️

Widowed

7.8% 128

👤

Never married

28.9% 476

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Surf Beach Ancestry

English

33.5%

Australian

28.9%

Scottish

9.1%

Irish

8.3%

Aboriginal Australianralian

5.5%

Other

5.0%

German

3.5%

Italian

2.4%

Dutch

1.5%

Filipino

0.9%

Croatian

0.8%

New Zealander

0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Surf Beach School & University Attendance

Secondary — Government

26.3%

Primary — Government

25.3%

Vocational Education

13.8%

Primary — Catholic

11.4%

Pre-school

9.3%

Secondary — Catholic

8.0%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

3.8%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Surf Beach Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

6.7% 235

✅

No need for assistance

93.3% 3,270

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Surf Beach Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

17.2% 257

—

Not a volunteer

82.8% 1,240

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Surf Beach Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

8.9%

$300-$449/mo

4.2%

$450-$599/mo

2.4%

$600-$799/mo

6.5%

$800-$999/mo

6.0%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

17.3%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

19.0%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

17.9%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

9.5%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

8.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Surf Beach How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

78.7%

Did not go to work

13.1%

Car (passenger)

4.3%

Truck

1.3%

Walked only

1.3%

Bus

0.8%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Surf Beach Car Ownership

0 vehicles

4.5%

1 vehicle

43.1%

2 vehicles

36.6%

3 vehicles

9.2%

4+ vehicles

6.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Surf Beach Number of Bedrooms

2 bedrooms

21.6%

3 bedrooms

46.1%

4 bedrooms

23.3%

5 bedrooms

7.5%

6+ bedrooms

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Surf Beach Population Mobility

12.9%

moved in the last year

39.9%

moved in the last 5 years

4.9%

unemployment rate (Census)

44.5%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Surf Beach Indigenous Population

7.4%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

261

Indigenous residents

3,278

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Surf Beach Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

203

Arthritis

117

Heart disease

Asthma

Diabetes

Lung condition

Cancer

Kidney disease

Stroke

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Surf Beach Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

6.8%

$1-$149/wk

4.5%

$150-$299/wk

8.5%

$300-$399/wk

7.6%

$400-$499/wk

6.4%

$500-$649/wk

6.8%

$650-$799/wk

12.6%

$800-$999/wk

10.9%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

10.8%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

4.8%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.8%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

4.8%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.7%

$3,500+/wk

1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Surf Beach Family Structure

Couple — no children

42.6%

Couple — children under 15

29.2%

Couple — no children under 15

11.6%

One parent — children under 15

10.3%

One parent — no children under 15

6.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Surf Beach Military Service

🏅

Previously served

4.5% 67

👤

Never served

95.5% 1,427

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Surf Beach Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

14.4% 213

—

Did not provide

85.6% 1,264

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Surf Beach Children Ever Born

No children

23.1%

1 child

12.3%

2 children

32.3%

3 children

20.4%

4 children

9.0%

5+ children

2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Surf Beach When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Surf Beach Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

16.0%

5–14 hours

28.6%

15–29 hours

18.4%

30+ hours

12.6%

Did not do domestic work

24.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Surf Beach Household Size

1 person

34.5%

2 persons

40.7%

3 persons

11.1%

4 persons

8.1%

5 persons

3.5%

6+ persons

2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Surf Beach Where Residents Moved From

Same address

1,506

Moved from NSW

125

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from ACT

Moved from WA

Moved from QLD

Moved from VIC

Moved from overseas

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Surf Beach Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

82.8%

Step family — no other children

11.0%

Blended family — no other children

6.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Surf Beach Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 25 total

Assault

Theft

Other Against Person

Property Damage

Other Against Property

Drug Offences

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Surf Beach Schools

schools nearby

government

948

avg ICSEA score

597

total students

St Bernard's Primary School, Batemans Bay Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 394 students

993

ICSEA

Sunshine Bay Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 203 students

903

ICSEA

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Surf Beach with map →

Surf Beach Rent Prices & Affordability

30%

of income

Moderate

Household Income $1,099/wk

Median Rent $330/wk

Rent-to-Income 30.0%

Rent is between 25–35% of household income — moderate housing costs.

If you earn X in Surf Beach

Your weekly income

≈ $4,762/month

Median rent $330/wk

Left after rent $769/wk

Rent share 30.0%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Eden

Income: $577/wk Rent: $270/wk Save: $60/wk

Mulwala

Income: $638/wk Rent: $270/wk Save: $60/wk

Batemans Bay

Income: $539/wk Rent: $285/wk Save: $45/wk

Grenfell

Income: $554/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $130/wk

Harden

Income: $550/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $110/wk

Crookwell

Income: $639/wk Rent: $280/wk Save: $50/wk

Bulahdelah

Income: $514/wk Rent: $295/wk Save: $35/wk

Dungog

Income: $582/wk Rent: $300/wk Save: $30/wk

Surf Beach vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Black Head

Pop: 972 Income: $598/wk Rent: $375/wk

Scotts Head

Pop: 986 Income: $581/wk Rent: $330/wk

Fernhill

Pop: 987 Income: $595/wk Rent: $190/wk

Stroud

Pop: 988 Income: $606/wk Rent: $320/wk

Townsend

Pop: 991 Income: $575/wk Rent: $365/wk

Boat Harbour (Port Stephens - NSW)

Pop: 993 Income: $755/wk Rent: $470/wk

Compare Surf Beach (NSW)

Surf Beach (NSW) vs Black Head →Surf Beach (NSW) vs Scotts Head →Surf Beach (NSW) vs Fernhill →Surf Beach (NSW) vs Stroud →

Frequently Asked Questions About Surf Beach

What is the population of Surf Beach NSW?

The population of Surf Beach NSW is 1,934 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 443.3 people per km².Surf Beach is ranked #3,082 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Surf Beach?

The median personal income in Surf Beach NSW is $612 per week, or $31,824 per year.The median household income is $1,099 per week.Family income is $1,395 per week.Surf Beach is ranked #6,898 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Surf Beach?

Median rent in Surf Beach NSW is $330 per week ($1,430 per month).Rent represents 30.0% of household income, which is considered moderate.Surf Beach ranks #3,803 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Surf Beach?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Surf Beach NSW is $1,517. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Surf Beach?

The median age in Surf Beach NSW is 53 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Surf Beach a good suburb to live in?

Surf Beach is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,934.The median income is $612/wk, which is below the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as moderate (30.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13712. All dollar figures in AUD.