Council (LGA) · Area profile
Surf Coast
1,553 km²
Much higher incomes and education levels set Surf Coast apart from the rest of the state. This is a wealthy, well-qualified community that has grown by 46% since 2011, adding nearly 12,000 people. It is a place of large family homes and high professional employment, where more than half of the residents identify as having no religion. The area is notably more affluent than the national average, blending a high standard of living with a strong preference for detached housing.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
A family-heavy area that's short on schools per child.
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The typical resident is 42, making the area noticeably older than the state and national figures. It is a growing community with a higher-than-usual proportion of children under 15, and the number of seniors has risen by 5.5 points since 2011.
The population is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 11.8% born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, with only 4.1% of people using another tongue at home. This is far below the national average, and very few residents speak little or no English.
A majority of residents report no religion, at 53.6%, which is far above the national figure. This represents a significant increase of 21 points since 2011.
The area is highly qualified, with 33.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the national average, and 64.7% of residents have completed Year 12.
Typical weekly household income is $2,088, which is a little above the national figure. Wealth is high here, with 29.5% of households earning $3,000 or more per week, a huge increase since 2011.
Residents are generally healthy, with a lower rate of long-term health conditions than most areas. Only 3.7% of people need help with daily activities, which is a little below the national average.
Volunteer rates are higher than most areas at 21.0%. There is also a high level of unpaid work, with 31.5% of people caring for children and 25.2% doing significant housework.
First Nations residents in this area have a much higher typical personal income and Year 12 completion rate than most other areas. The unemployment rate for this group is also well below the national figure.
Families tend to be larger here, with 2.6 people per home and a high number of couples with children. Very few people live alone compared to the state average.
The area is dominated by separate houses, with 93.2% of homes being detached. These homes are typically large, and 87.6% have three or more bedrooms, though rents and mortgages are higher than usual.
Most people rely on cars, as only 0.4% commute by public transport. However, working from home is very common, with 27.9% of the workforce doing so.
The community is quite mobile, with 43.7% of people moving in the last five years. This is well above the national average, though recent overseas arrivals have fallen since 2011.
The unemployment rate is very low at 2.8%, much lower than the state average. Many residents work in professional roles or within health and construction.
The area ranks among the most advantaged in the country for both overall resources and job skills. It continues to grow quickly, with a 7% population increase since 2021.
The climate is slightly cooler than the state average, with a typical maximum temperature of 18.5 degrees. Rainfall is well above the Victorian average.
This is a very safe area, with crime rates for assault, burglary, and theft among the lowest at this level. The overall crime rate has fallen by over 15% recently.
While most homes are within a short walk of a park, the area is less walkable than the state average. Access to groceries, health services, and schools is far below the Victorian figure.