Surf Beach, NSW: suburb profile

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 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Surf Beach is England. The most common religion is No religion (37.7% 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).

Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Surf Beach Map

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Surf Beach Population

1,934 residents at the 2021 Census.

Surf Beach Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$612/wk

$31,824 per year

Ranked 6,898 of 14,663

Median Rent

$330/wk

$1,430 per month

Ranked 3,803 of 14,663

Median Age

53years

15 years older than the 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

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 and Locality (SAL)

Surf Beach Home Ownership

Of owner-occupied homes in Surf Beach, 69.0% are owned outright and 31.0% have a mortgage.

Owned outright

69.0%

Owned with mortgage

31.0%

Rented homes are not included in this breakdown.

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
India
Germany
China

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

Surf Beach Religion

No religion

37.7%

Catholic

19.8%

Anglican

16.3%

Not stated

10.3%

Christian (other)

2.5%

Uniting Church

2.4%

Presbyterian and Reformed

2.2%

Baptist

1.3%

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%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Vietnamese
Italian
Malayalam
Mandarin
Croatian
Macedonian
Australian Indigenous languages
German

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

40.7%

Australian

35.2%

Scottish

11.1%

Irish

10.0%

Australian Aboriginal

6.7%

German

4.2%

Italian

2.9%

Dutch

1.8%

Filipino

1.0%

Croatian

0.9%

New Zealander

0.9%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. 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%

No need for assistance

93.3%

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

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

25 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Assault

Theft

Other Against Person

Property Damage

Other Against Property

Drug Offences

Total offences 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: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Surf Beach, with a map

Surf Beach Rent Prices & Affordability

30% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,099/wk

Median rent $330/wk

Rent to income 30.0%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Surf Beach against your income

Your weekly income

About $4,762 a 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 $60/wk less rent

Mulwala

Income: $638/wk Rent: $270/wk $60/wk less rent

Batemans Bay

Income: $539/wk Rent: $285/wk $45/wk less rent

Grenfell

Income: $554/wk Rent: $200/wk $130/wk less rent

Harden

Income: $550/wk Rent: $220/wk $110/wk less rent

Crookwell

Income: $639/wk Rent: $280/wk $50/wk less rent

Bulahdelah

Income: $514/wk Rent: $295/wk $35/wk less rent

Dungog

Income: $582/wk Rent: $300/wk $30/wk less rent

Surf Beach vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Surf Beach is $612 a week, 20% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,697th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $330 a week, $55 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 30.0% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 53, 10 years older than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
Measure	Surf Beach	Typical NSW	Typical Australia
Personal income	$612/wk	$765/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$1,099/wk	$1,704/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$330/wk	$385/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$1,517/mo	$1,965/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	53	43	42
Rent share of household income	30.0%	22.6%	20.3%

Suburbs near Surf Beach

The closest suburb to Surf Beach is Sunshine Bay, 2.0 km away.

Sunshine Bay

2.0 km away · income $605/wk · rent $370/wk

Batehaven

3.0 km away · income $595/wk · rent $320/wk

Malua Bay

3.1 km away · income $716/wk · rent $418/wk

Catalina

4.0 km away · income $564/wk · rent $355/wk

Tomakin

6.8 km away · income $685/wk · rent $350/wk

Batemans Bay

7.1 km away · income $539/wk · rent $285/wk

Compare Surf Beach (NSW)

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 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 typical NSW suburb ($765/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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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

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