Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
South Arm suburb profile
South Arm, NSW · Postcode 2449
This South Arm suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for South Arm, NSW (postcode 2449). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare South Arm with nearby suburbs.
South Arm at a glance
Population
311
Median rent
$178/wk
Household income
$900/wk
Median age
49
South Arm trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+48.1% over 10 years
Population
311
was 313 in 2016
-2 · -0.6%
Median rent
$178/wk
was $150/wk in 2016
+$28 · +18.7%
Household income
$900/wk
was $764/wk in 2016
+$136 · +17.8%
Median age
49
was 47 in 2016
+2 · +4.3%
Dig deeper: South Arm population growth · South Arm then and now
South Arm vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for South Arm, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-57.6% vs area
- South Arm$178/wk
- Nearby$450/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-51.2% vs area
- South Arm$900/wk
- Nearby$1,621.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+22.5% vs area
- South Arm49
- Nearby45
- NSW40
Personal income
-44.3% vs area
- South Arm$450/wk
- Nearby$694/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How South Arm compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
South Arm sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 1899.5
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 2896.7
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1874.8
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3936.7
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
South Arm on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for South Arm, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
South Arm people
- Population
- 311
- Median age
- 49
- Born overseas
- 2.9%
- Average household size
- 2.5
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
South Arm income
- Median household income
- $900/wk
- Median personal income
- $450/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
South Arm housing
- Median rent
- $178/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $921/mo
- Separate houses
- 85.7%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 40.5%
- Mortgaged
- 15.1%
- Rented
- 24.6%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 15.1%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
South Arm work
- Employment to population
- 34.1%
- Unemployment rate
- 17.6%
- Year 12 or above
- 29.3%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2449)
Compare South Arm with nearby suburbs
South Arm in numbers
South Arm had 311 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 49, 20% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.5 people. 2.9% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 40.5% own their home outright, 15.1% are paying a mortgage, 24.6% rent. Separate houses make up 85.7% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $178/wk, 56% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $900/wk, 50% below the typical NSW suburb. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 1 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 0.6% (from 313 to 311). Median rent moved from $150/wk to $178/wk (+18.7%).
South Arm suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in South Arm, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in South Arm was $178/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in South Arm, NSW?
- South Arm had 311 residents at the 2021 Census, down 0.6% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in South Arm?
- Median household income in South Arm was $900/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in South Arm?
- 24.6% of occupied homes in South Arm were rented, 40.5% were owned outright and 15.1% were owned with a mortgage.
About this South Arm suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching South Arm (Nambucca Valley - NSW). Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology