Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Surry Hills
1 km²
High weekly incomes and a professional workforce define Surry Hills, an inner-city area where the typical personal income is far above the national figure. It is a youthful, highly educated hub where over half the adults hold a university degree. The community is largely made up of young professionals living in small apartments, with very few children and a high proportion of people living alone. This creates a distinct urban character centered on high-density living and professional careers.
Surry Hills's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
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The area is noticeably younger than most of Australia, with a typical resident aged 35 and very few children under 15. De facto relationships are far more common here than in the rest of the state.
A strong international presence is evident, with 44.2% of residents born overseas, which is far above the national average of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
About one in four people use a language other than English at home, a figure well above the national average. Mandarin and Cantonese are the most common non-English languages spoken.
People with no religion make up 56.6% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%.
The community is exceptionally well-qualified, with 54.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher, far above the national average of 26.3%. Most residents completed Year 12.
Earnings are very high, with the typical weekly personal income far exceeding the national figure. Over 30% of people earn $2,000 or more a week.
Residents generally report fewer long-term health conditions than the state average, although mental health conditions are a little more common here than in other areas.
Unpaid care for children and housework is far below the national average, consistent with the very small number of children living in the area.
The First Nations community here is older and has a higher Year 12 completion rate than the state average. Unemployment among First Nations people is also well below the national figure.
Living arrangements are small, with a typical home holding only 1.8 people. Nearly half of all households consist of just one person, far above the national average.
Renters make up 65.4% of the market, far above the state average, while separate houses are very rare. Typical weekly rents and mortgage payments are both well above the national figure.
Working from home is very common at 57%, and nearly half of all homes have no motor vehicle. Public transport use and accessibility are among the highest in the region.
The population is highly mobile, with 60% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals also make up a far higher share of the community than the national average.
Employment is strong, with a much higher rate of full-time work than the national average. Most residents work in professional, technical, or managerial roles.
This is a walker's paradise with a score of 9.8. Every single home is within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, parks, and public transport.