Burrill Lake
A 20.8% vacancy rate in a suburb of 1,782 people tells the real story of Burrill Lake: this is a holiday-oriented coastal community where most dwellings sit empty outside peak season. The median age of 48 is 8 years above the national figure, and 48.5% of households own their homes outright, pointing to a settled, older owner base rather than a transient renter population. Weekly household income averages $1,183, placing the suburb at the 23.7th percentile nationally, below most coastal markets of comparable house prices. The $800,000 median house price sits high relative to those incomes, a gap that reflects demand driven by lifestyle buyers and holiday purchasers rather than local wage growth.
Population
1,782
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,183/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$800K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $800,000, the median house price is high relative to local incomes, which sit at just the 23.7th percentile nationally. The mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 30.7%, above the standard stress threshold of 30%, which means buyers relying on local wages will face a stretch. Separate houses dominate at 90.4% of the housing stock, with apartments making up only 1.0%, so purchasers get land and space at the trade-off of price. Three-bedroom homes account for 43.3% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes for 33.9%, giving the suburb a family-sized stock profile. Price history shows a modest softening from $800,000 in 2024 to $795,000 in 2025, a 0.6% decline, which is modest compared to larger coastal markets that saw steeper corrections.
For Buyers
At $800,000, the median house price is high relative to local incomes, which sit at just the 23.7th percentile nationally. The mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 30.7%, above the standard stress threshold of 30%, which means buyers relying on local wages will face a stretch. Separate houses dominate at 90.4% of the housing stock, with apartments making up only 1.0%, so purchasers get land and space at the trade-off of price. Three-bedroom homes account for 43.3% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes for 33.9%, giving the suburb a family-sized stock profile. Price history shows a modest softening from $800,000 in 2024 to $795,000 in 2025, a 0.6% decline, which is modest compared to larger coastal markets that saw steeper corrections.
For Investors
A 20.8% vacancy rate is the key number for investors: at roughly 1 in 5 dwellings sitting empty, the suburb behaves more like a holiday market than a stable rental one. Weekly rent of $350 against an $800,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.3%, below most yield thresholds for positive cash flow. The renter share is low at 20.5%, meaning most dwellings are owner-occupied or left vacant rather than tenanted. Development activity is modest at 18 applications in the past 12 months, predominantly alterations and new dwelling houses rather than new subdivisions. Only 18 development approvals suggests supply additions are slow, which can support prices, but the low rental demand base limits income returns compared to urban rental markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
152
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-4.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 48 sits 8 years above the national average, the clearest signal that Burrill Lake draws retirees and pre-retirees rather than young families. Overseas-born residents make up only 10.1%, which is 11.5 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (794 residents), Irish (204) and Scottish (196). University qualifications at 19.4% run 10.7 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a blue-collar and trades-based workforce. Volunteering is active at 15.9%, above many comparable communities, and average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national 2.5, reflecting the high proportion of couples without children at 36.5% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.4%
Houses
7.5%
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership without a mortgage is the dominant tenure at 48.5%, roughly double the proportion of mortgage holders at 31.0% and well above renters at 20.5%. This outright-ownership profile is consistent with the older resident base and holiday-home buyers who have already paid down debt elsewhere. Separate houses account for 90.4% of all dwellings, the highest end of detached housing prevalence, with semi-detached at 7.5% and apartments at just 1.0%. Four-plus bedroom homes represent 33.9% of dwellings, above the national share, because holiday houses tend to be built large to accommodate extended families. The vacancy rate of 20.8% is far above the national average, confirming a substantial proportion of dwellings are not primary residences.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,571
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$605
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.8%
Unoccupied
192
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.7% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.5%
Couples, no children
1,362
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 21.4% of workers (89 people), followed by Construction at 19.5% (81) and Education at 12.0% (50). The Hospitality sector at 9.9% reflects the seasonal tourist economy, while Public Admin at 7.2% provides steadier government employment. By occupation, Professionals (119) and Community/Personal service workers (113) are the two largest groups, followed by Labourers (84). The unemployment rate is 5.2%, above the national rate, and the participation rate of 44.5% is low because 668 residents are not in the labour force, a consequence of the retired and semi-retired age profile. Household income at the 23.7th percentile nationally reflects this part-time and low-participation workforce rather than a depressed wage base.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
48.6%
Part-time
46.2%
Participation
44.5%
Employed
623
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.4%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
10.1%
Dwellings
730
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total at 89.9% of commuters driving, compared to national averages where alternative modes account for a larger share, and public transport usage is not recorded. Walking or cycling accounts for 4.3% of trips, plausible given the low-density lakeside layout. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families with children rely on nearby Ulladulla and surrounds. Need for assistance is at 7.0% (118 residents), above what might be expected, consistent with the older median age of 48. Rent-to-income sits at 29.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold, keeping renters in a manageable but not comfortable position given the 23.7th-percentile household income base.
Drive
89.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Burrill Lake compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burrill Lake a good suburb to live in?
Burrill Lake suits retirees and lifestyle buyers well. The median age of 48 is 8 years above the national average, 48.5% of homes are owned outright, and 74.9% of residents have stayed in the same address, pointing to a stable, settled community. The trade-offs are limited public transport, no recorded schools within the suburb, and a household income level at the 23.7th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Burrill Lake?
The median house price is $800,000 based on 2024 data, softening slightly to $795,000 in 2025, a 0.6% decline. Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,571, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.7% sits above the standard 30% stress threshold relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Burrill Lake?
No schools are recorded within the Burrill Lake suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Ulladulla and Milton. The local university qualification rate is 19.4%, which is 10.7 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a trades and services workforce rather than a highly credentialled population.
Is Burrill Lake safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Burrill Lake in this dataset. As a broader indicator, 7.0% of residents (118 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the older median age of 48. The low population density of 414 people per square kilometre and high outright ownership rate of 48.5% are typical of settled, low-transience communities.
Is Burrill Lake good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. The 20.8% vacancy rate is well above national norms, signalling a holiday-market dynamic where rental demand is seasonal. Weekly rent of $350 against an $800,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.3%, below most cash-flow thresholds. Prices dipped 0.6% from 2024 to 2025. Long-term capital growth depends on sustained lifestyle demand from an aging national population rather than local employment drivers.
How is Burrill Lake's population changing?
Burrill Lake has 1,782 residents across 4.3 square kilometres, giving a density of 414 people per square kilometre. The aging profile, with a median age of 48 and 48.5% outright ownership, suggests slow natural growth. With 25.1% residential turnover and a high vacancy rate of 20.8%, the suburb's population is stable but not growing rapidly, consistent with coastal retirement markets nationally.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Burrill Lake on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map