Surfside
With a vacancy rate of 25.0% and a median age of 47, Surfside is one of the South Coast's more unusual small suburbs. The 7-year age gap above the national median, combined with 43.1% of dwellings owned outright, points to a settled, older owner base that has largely paid off its mortgages. Household income sits in just the 23.2nd percentile nationally, yet housing stress is low because the $685,000 median price is offset by debt-free ownership. The suburb's 89.4% detached house rate is well above state averages, and only 1,456 residents occupy 2.77 square kilometres, giving it a low-density coastal character that attracts retirees and sea-changers rather than younger career-focused households.
Population
1,456
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,168/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$700K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Surfside sits at $685,000 as of 2025, down 5.2% from $722,500 in 2024, a correction that partly reflects the suburb's small transaction volume. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.7%, just below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers remain comfortable relative to income. Separate houses dominate at 89.4% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 54.3% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings making up 32.7%. Only 6.1% of stock is apartments, so buyers seeking a classic coastal house are choosing between a narrow range of detached options. The 43.1% outright ownership rate, higher than the national average, suggests many current owners acquired at lower prices and face no refinancing pressure.
For Buyers
The median house price in Surfside sits at $685,000 as of 2025, down 5.2% from $722,500 in 2024, a correction that partly reflects the suburb's small transaction volume. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.7%, just below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers remain comfortable relative to income. Separate houses dominate at 89.4% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 54.3% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings making up 32.7%. Only 6.1% of stock is apartments, so buyers seeking a classic coastal house are choosing between a narrow range of detached options. The 43.1% outright ownership rate, higher than the national average, suggests many current owners acquired at lower prices and face no refinancing pressure.
For Investors
Surfside's investment fundamentals are mixed. Weekly rent of $350 against a $685,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.7%, below most investor targets nationally. The 25.0% vacancy rate is a significant red flag, meaning one in four dwellings is unoccupied at any given time, which puts downward pressure on achievable rents and increases holding costs. The renter share is 27.2%, providing some tenant demand, but the low-income profile (23.2nd percentile) limits rent growth. Only 4 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, confirming this is a low-supply, low-activity market rather than a growth corridor. Investors should weigh the high vacancy against the mortgage-free ownership base, which reduces distressed-sale risk but also constrains resale liquidity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
45
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Surfside iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Batemans Bay Public School
P-6 · 494 students
Demographics
Surfside's median age of 47 is 7.0 years above the national figure, the clearest signal of an aging resident base. Overseas-born residents account for 12.7% of the population, which is 8.9 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting the Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile led by English (594 residents), Irish (139) and Scottish (133). University qualifications reach only 13.9%, which is 16.2 points below national, consistent with a community whose working years predate the university expansion era. Average household size is 2.4, marginally below national. The couples-without-children share is 36.1%, above the national norm, fitting the retiree and empty-nester profile. Volunteering at 14.4% and 8.1% needing daily assistance both reflect the older cohort's mix of community engagement and care needs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.4%
Houses
3.8%
Townhouse
6.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Surfside is firmly a detached-house suburb, with 89.4% of dwellings in that category compared to lower state and national averages. Three-bedroom homes make up 54.3% of stock and 4-plus bedroom homes 32.7%, leaving very few small dwellings. Tenure is split between outright owners (43.1%), mortgage holders (29.8%) and renters (27.2%). The high outright-ownership share, well above the national average, indicates long-established residents rather than recent leveraged buyers. The median price moved from $722,500 in 2024 to $685,000 in 2025, a 5.2% decline over one year. Rent-to-income sits at 30.0%, sitting at the stress threshold for renters. The 25.0% vacancy rate is the standout structural feature, meaning a large proportion of dwellings function as holiday homes or sit unused, which is common in coastal NSW towns.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$607
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
25.0%
Unoccupied
185
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.1%
Couples, no children
1,123
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Surfside's employment base at 16.5% of workers (55 people), closely followed by Construction at 16.2% (54 people). Education accounts for 9.9%, Retail 9.3% and Public Administration 8.7%. The top occupations are Community and Personal Service (79), Labourers (77) and Clerical and Admin (70), with Managers and Sales each at 69. The participation rate is 46.0%, well below the national average, primarily because 517 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older age profile. Unemployment is 5.1% and the full-time employment rate is 58.6%. Household income in the 23.2nd percentile nationally indicates that employed residents are concentrated in middle and lower-income roles rather than professional or managerial positions.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.6%
Part-time
36.3%
Participation
46.0%
Employed
517
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.9%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
12.7%
Dwellings
554
Transport to Work
Car dependence in Surfside is extreme, with 88.3% of residents driving to work, well above the national average, and only 1.4% using public transport. Walking and cycling account for 2.8% of trips. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in nearby towns such as Batemans Bay. Crime statistics are not available for the suburb. At 8.1%, the share of residents needing daily assistance is notable, tracking with the median age of 47 and reflecting a proportion of the population with significant health needs. The volunteering rate of 14.4% suggests meaningful community participation despite the sparse population. At 525 residents per square kilometre, the low density contributes to the quiet, low-traffic environment typical of coastal NSW holiday and retirement destinations.
Drive
88.3%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Surfside compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surfside a good suburb to live in?
Surfside suits retirees and sea-changers more than young professionals. The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, 89.4% of dwellings are detached houses and 43.1% of owners have paid off their mortgages. Household income sits in the 23.2nd percentile nationally, so it is not an affluent suburb, but housing stress is low because debt levels are modest.
What is the median house price in Surfside?
The median house price in Surfside is $685,000 as of 2025, down from $722,500 in 2024, a decline of 5.2% over one year. Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,500, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.7%.
What schools are in Surfside?
No schools are recorded within the Surfside suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of just 1,456, families rely on schools in neighbouring towns such as Batemans Bay. University qualifications among residents stand at 13.9%, which is 16.2 percentage points below the national average.
Is Surfside safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Surfside in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has very low population density at 525 residents per square kilometre and a stable community, with 77.2% of residents living in the same dwelling for five or more years, a retention rate that is notably higher than most urban areas.
Is Surfside good for property investment?
The outlook is cautious. Weekly rent of $350 against a $685,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.7%, below national investor benchmarks. The 25.0% vacancy rate is the key risk, indicating high holiday-home or unoccupied stock, which compresses rental demand. Only 4 development applications were lodged in 12 months, confirming a low-activity market.
How is Surfside's population changing?
Surfside's population is 1,456 across a 2.77 square kilometre area. The median age has risen to 47, which is 7 years above the national median, pointing to an aging trajectory. Community stability is high: 77.2% of residents stayed in the same dwelling over the five-year Census period, suggesting low in-migration from growth areas.
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.
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