Suffolk Park
A $1,650,000 median house price and an 11.3% vacancy rate together define Suffolk Park's character. The premium coastal suburb south of Byron Bay draws owner-occupiers with capital, yet its high vacancy reflects second-home and holiday-let demand rather than a thin rental market. Household income sits in the 75.6th percentile nationally, and university qualifications reach 44.1%, which is 14 points above the national figure. With 69.2% separate houses and only 1.4% apartments, detached living dominates, and 4-plus bedroom homes account for 34.5% of stock, well above the national average for coastal suburbs of similar density.
Population
4,222
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,020/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
63
Median House
$1.6M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1,650,000 is the defining entry barrier. Prices rose 6.9% from $1,600,000 in 2024 to $1,710,000 in 2025, tracking above average annual gains for regional NSW. Stock is strongly tilted toward detached houses at 69.2%, with semi-detached dwellings at 28.2% and apartments at just 1.4%. Three-bedroom homes lead at 45.8% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 34.5%, so larger family properties dominate. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 27.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means buyers with sufficient deposit face serviceable ongoing costs relative to median incomes. Outright owners at 34.4% outnumber mortgage holders at 31.8%, signalling substantial long-held wealth in the owner base.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,650,000 is the defining entry barrier. Prices rose 6.9% from $1,600,000 in 2024 to $1,710,000 in 2025, tracking above average annual gains for regional NSW. Stock is strongly tilted toward detached houses at 69.2%, with semi-detached dwellings at 28.2% and apartments at just 1.4%. Three-bedroom homes lead at 45.8% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 34.5%, so larger family properties dominate. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 27.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means buyers with sufficient deposit face serviceable ongoing costs relative to median incomes. Outright owners at 34.4% outnumber mortgage holders at 31.8%, signalling substantial long-held wealth in the owner base.
For Investors
Renters make up 33.8% of households and weekly rent averages $700, but the 11.3% vacancy rate is a material risk flag. Against the $1,650,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield below 2.2%, low even compared to coastal NSW standards. The vacancy rate, well above the national threshold of around 2-3%, reflects the strong holiday-let and second-home component in a premium coastal postcode. Development activity is moderate at 60 applications over 12 months, mostly dwelling alterations consistent with an established suburb. Rent-to-income at 34.7% puts tenants in mild stress territory, which may cap rent growth. The investment case relies on capital appreciation rather than yield, supported by the 6.9% price gain over the past year.
Development Activity
Total DAs
333
Last 12 Months
63
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 39 sits 1 year below the national figure, which is unusual for a premium coastal suburb often dominated by retirees. Overseas-born residents account for 27.3%, which is 5.7 points above the national average. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,714), Irish (630) and Scottish (505). University qualifications at 44.1% run 14 points above the national average, reflecting a professional and knowledge-sector resident base. Average household size is 2.6, compared to the national 2.5, and couples with children (1,142) outnumber couples without children (799), suggesting the suburb attracts families rather than retirees alone. Volunteering at 19.4% is above typical suburban rates, consistent with high social engagement.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.2%
Houses
28.2%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is broadly split: 34.4% own outright, 31.8% carry a mortgage and 33.8% rent. The near-equal thirds reflect a mix of established owners, recent buyers and a tenant base that includes short and long-term renters. Separate houses dominate at 69.2%, far above the national apartment-heavy trend in coastal NSW, while semi-detached dwellings at 28.2% fill the mid-market. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.8% and 4-plus bedroom homes 34.5%, giving the suburb a family-sized profile compared to more apartment-dense coastal markets. The median house price rose from $1,600,000 to $1,710,000 across 2024-2025, a 6.9% gain. Mortgage-to-income at 27.2% stays below the stress threshold while rent-to-income at 34.7% puts renters above it, a divergence explained by the steep gap between purchase prices and rental yields.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,383
Rent / wk
$700
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$894
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.3%
Unoccupied
186
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.7% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.2%
Couples, no children
2,732
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.5% (267 workers), followed by Hospitality at 14.2% (216) and Professional/Technical services at 12.1% (185), with Construction and Education each at 10.2% (156 workers each). The hospitality share reflects the Byron Bay tourism economy spilling south into Suffolk Park. By occupation, Professionals (599) and Managers (378) top the workforce, consistent with the 44.1% university qualification rate, which is 14 points above national. The unemployment rate is 5.3%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 59.7% is moderate. Part-time employment (1,051 workers) slightly exceeds full-time (936), suggesting lifestyle-adjusted work patterns common in sea-change destinations. Income at the 75.6th percentile nationally reflects knowledge-sector dominance.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
47.1%
Part-time
47.6%
Participation
59.7%
Employed
1,987
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.1%
Postgraduate
9.7%
Born Overseas
27.3%
Dwellings
1,456
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 87.9% of commuters, with public transport at just 0.5%, well below the national average for comparable-sized coastal towns. Walking and cycling accounts for 7.8%, reasonable for a low-density suburb. No schools are recorded within the Suffolk Park boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Byron Bay and surrounding areas. Crime data is not available for this suburb. Rent-to-income at 34.7% places tenants above the affordability threshold, a livability concern for the renter third of households. Volunteering at 19.4% and only 4.1% of residents (158 people) needing daily assistance both point to a healthy, engaged community. The 4.16 km2 area at 1,014 residents per km2 gives a low-density, open feel compared to the national average.
Drive
87.9%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
7.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Suffolk Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suffolk Park a good suburb to live in?
Suffolk Park suits buyers who can meet a $1,650,000 median house price and value low-density coastal living. Household income sits in the 75.6th percentile nationally, university qualifications reach 44.1% (14 points above national), and 69.2% of dwellings are separate houses. The main trade-offs are no recorded schools within the boundary, very limited public transport at 0.5%, and a high 11.3% vacancy rate driven by second homes.
What is the median house price in Suffolk Park?
The median house price is $1,650,000. Prices rose 6.9% from $1,600,000 in 2024 to $1,710,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $700 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,383, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.2%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Suffolk Park?
No schools are recorded inside the Suffolk Park boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Byron Bay and surrounding areas. Locally, university qualifications reach 44.1% of residents, which is 14 points above the national average, suggesting most families are actively engaged with education options.
Is Suffolk Park safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Suffolk Park in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income sits in the 75.6th percentile nationally and only 4.1% of the 4,222 residents (158 people) require daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, well-resourced area. Volunteering at 19.4% is above typical suburban rates, indicating strong community engagement.
Is Suffolk Park good for property investment?
Rent of $700 a week against a $1,650,000 median implies a gross yield below 2.2%, and the 11.3% vacancy rate signals significant second-home and holiday-let demand rather than a tight rental market. Prices rose 6.9% in one year. The investment case rests on capital growth in a premium coastal market rather than rental yield.
How is Suffolk Park's population changing?
The current population is 4,222 with no long-run forecast data available in this dataset. Resident turnover is 29.1%, meaning 70.9% of residents stayed in place, indicating a stable core. Development activity runs at 60 applications over 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new dwellings, pointing to slow supply growth in an established suburb.
How much development is happening in Suffolk Park?
There were 60 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include complying development certificates for dwelling houses and decks, and modifications. This activity level is consistent with an established, low-density suburb where renovation and extension work on existing homes is the dominant pattern rather than new residential supply.
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 Suffolk Park on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map