Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Surf Beach suburb profile
Surf Beach, NSW · Postcode 2536
This Surf Beach suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Surf Beach, NSW (postcode 2536). 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 Surf Beach with nearby suburbs.
Surf Beach at a glance
Population
1,934
Median rent
$330/wk
Household income
$1,099/wk
Median age
53
Surf Beach 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
-6.2% over 10 years
Population
1,934
was 1,874 in 2016
+60 · +3.2%
Median rent
$330/wk
was $265/wk in 2016
+$65 · +24.5%
Household income
$1,099/wk
was $907/wk in 2016
+$192 · +21.2%
Median age
53
was 53 in 2016
0 · 0%
Dig deeper: Surf Beach population growth · Surf Beach then and now
Surf Beach vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Surf Beach, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-21.4% vs area
- Surf Beach$330/wk
- Nearby$352.5/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-40.4% vs area
- Surf Beach$1,099/wk
- Nearby$1,153/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+32.5% vs area
- Surf Beach53
- Nearby52.5
- NSW40
Personal income
-24.3% vs area
- Surf Beach$612/wk
- Nearby$606/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Surf Beach compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Surf Beach 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 3968.1
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 3933.1
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 3965.1
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3918.7
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Surf Beach on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Surf Beach, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Surf Beach people
- Population
- 1,934
- Median age
- 53
- Born overseas
- 15.9%
- Average household size
- 2.1
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Surf Beach income
- Median household income
- $1,099/wk
- Median personal income
- $612/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Surf Beach housing
- Median rent
- $330/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,517/mo
- Separate houses
- 49%
- Flats & apartments
- 6.9%
- Owned outright
- 32.5%
- Mortgaged
- 14.6%
- Rented
- 19.7%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 31%
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
Surf Beach work
- Employment to population
- 42.3%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.8%
- Year 12 or above
- 38%
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 2536)
Compare Surf Beach with nearby suburbs
Surf Beach in numbers
Surf Beach had 1,934 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 53, 29% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.1 people. 15.9% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 32.5% own their home outright, 14.6% are paying a mortgage, 19.7% rent. Separate houses make up 49% of dwellings, with 6.9% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $330/wk, 17% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,099/wk, 39% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.8%. 38% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 3 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 3.2% (from 1,874 to 1,934). Median rent moved from $265/wk to $330/wk (+24.5%).
Surf Beach suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Surf Beach, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Surf Beach was $330/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Surf Beach, NSW?
- Surf Beach had 1,934 residents at the 2021 Census, up 3.2% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Surf Beach?
- Median household income in Surf Beach was $1,099/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Surf Beach?
- 19.7% of occupied homes in Surf Beach were rented, 32.5% were owned outright and 14.6% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Surf Beach suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Surf Beach (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