Denhams Beach vs Surf Beach

Surf Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 53 against 61 in Denhams Beach. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Surf Beach, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Denhams Beach: a median of $895,000, against $777,000 in Surf Beach, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Denhams Beach tends to suit older residents, while Surf Beach suits people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Denhams Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 52/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Surf Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($545,000 vs $898,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($777,000 vs $895,000)
  • But Denhams Beach leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Surf Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $385/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Denhams Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 32/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (285.9 km vs 289.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Denhams Beach

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 52/100)
  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 32/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (46% vs 32%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Denhams Beach and Surf Beach drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Walkability 52 / 32
Denhams Beach — Walkability: 52/100 Surf Beach — Walkability: 32/100
Safety 80 / 48
Denhams Beach — Safety: 80/100 Surf Beach — Safety: 48/100
Low fire risk 100 / 10
Denhams Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Surf Beach — Low fire risk: 10/100

Demographics

Surf Beach has more residents (1,934 vs 650); Denhams Beach has higher household incomes ($68,796 vs $57,148).

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Population 650 1,934
+198% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.3% +3.2%
Median age 61 53
Median household income $68,796/yr
+17% vs other
 $57,148/yr
Median weekly rent $385/wk
+14% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
0-4 5.4% / 4.1%
Denhams Beach — 0-4: 5.4% Surf Beach — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 7.1% / 10.5%
Denhams Beach — 5-14: 7.1% Surf Beach — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 5.4% / 4.6%
Denhams Beach — 15-19: 5.4% Surf Beach — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 3.7% / 3.4%
Denhams Beach — 20-24: 3.7% Surf Beach — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 6.9% / 7.2%
Denhams Beach — 25-34: 6.9% Surf Beach — 25-34: 7.2%
35-44 6.6% / 10.0%
Denhams Beach — 35-44: 6.6% Surf Beach — 35-44: 10.0%
45-54 7.2% / 13.0%
Denhams Beach — 45-54: 7.2% Surf Beach — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 12.8% / 14.7%
Denhams Beach — 55-64: 12.8% Surf Beach — 55-64: 14.7%
65-74 20.3% / 19.2%
Denhams Beach — 65-74: 20.3% Surf Beach — 65-74: 19.2%
75-84 15.1% / 10.2%
Denhams Beach — 75-84: 15.1% Surf Beach — 75-84: 10.2%
85+ 10.2% / 2.9%
Denhams Beach — 85+: 10.2% Surf Beach — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Denhams Beach 42.0% lone person
Denhams Beach — Lone Person: 42.0% Denhams Beach — Couple Families: 29.3% Denhams Beach — One Parent Families: 22.0% Denhams Beach — Group Household: 4.7% Denhams Beach — Other Families: 2.0%
Surf Beach 52.4% lone person
Surf Beach — Lone Person: 52.4% Surf Beach — Couple Families: 27.2% Surf Beach — One Parent Families: 17.0% Surf Beach — Group Household: 2.0% Surf Beach — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Denhams Beach 29.6% renting
Denhams Beach — Owned Outright: 52.3% Denhams Beach — Mortgage: 18.1% Denhams Beach — Renting: 29.6%
Surf Beach 29.5% renting
Surf Beach — Owned Outright: 48.7% Surf Beach — Mortgage: 21.8% Surf Beach — Renting: 29.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Certificate III & IV 14.6% / 17.3%
Denhams Beach — Certificate III & IV: 14.6% Surf Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.3%
Bachelor Degree 8.2% / 8.3%
Denhams Beach — Bachelor Degree: 8.2% Surf Beach — Bachelor Degree: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 7.1%
Denhams Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Surf Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 3.6%
Denhams Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Surf Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.3%
Denhams Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Surf Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
England 5.8% / 4.2%
Denhams Beach — England: 5.8% Surf Beach — England: 4.2%
New Zealand 1.7% / 2.1%
Denhams Beach — New Zealand: 1.7% Surf Beach — New Zealand: 2.1%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.9%
Denhams Beach — Philippines: 0.9% Surf Beach — Philippines: 0.9%
Ireland 1.1% / —
Denhams Beach — Ireland: 1.1% Surf Beach — Ireland: not among its largest
South Africa 0.8% / 0.3%
Denhams Beach — South Africa: 0.8% Surf Beach — South Africa: 0.3%
India — / 0.9%
Denhams Beach — India: not among its largest Surf Beach — India: 0.9%
Italy — / 0.8%
Denhams Beach — Italy: not among its largest Surf Beach — Italy: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Denhams Beach 71.6% houses
Denhams Beach — Houses: 71.6% Denhams Beach — Townhouses: 17.3% Denhams Beach — Flats / Apartments: 11.1%
Surf Beach 70.9% houses
Surf Beach — Houses: 70.9% Surf Beach — Townhouses: 18.5% Surf Beach — Flats / Apartments: 10.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Median house price $895,000 $777,000
Median unit price $898,000 $545,000
Median land price — $600,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 100 days
from 4 sales
 47 days
from 49 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
3 bed $890K / $700K
Denhams Beach — 3 bed: $890K (13 sales) Surf Beach — 3 bed: $700K (43 sales)

13 vs 43 sales

4 bed $905K / $872K
Denhams Beach — 4 bed: $905K (10 sales) Surf Beach — 4 bed: $872K (26 sales)

10 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Denhams Beach has more land zoned for conservation (25% vs 12%).

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Residential 73% 57%
Environmental 25% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 20%
Industrial 0% 9%
Parks and recreation 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 97% of Denhams Beach and 100% of Surf Beach. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
New dwellings approved 211
across Eurobodalla
same for both
Approvals change year on year -9%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Houses — 3.3%
$600/wk on $954K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
House price Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Income Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 62% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 33% of NSW

Liveability

Denhams Beach scores higher overall (55 vs 22); Denhams Beach is more walkable (52 vs 32).

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Grade B D
Score 55/100 22/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Surf Beach carries more bushfire risk (90 vs 0); Surf Beach carries more crime risk (52 vs 20).

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
90/100
Crime Low
20/100
 Moderate
52/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
26/100
 Low
20/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Childcare 1 0
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

Surf Beach sits further from the CBD (289.6 km vs 285.9 km).

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Walkability score 52/100 32/100
Distance to Sydney 285.9 km 289.6 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 239 min 240 min
Public transport score 20/100
Bus
 56/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 4 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2536
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 2536
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Car (driver) 74.0% / 80.6%
Denhams Beach — Car (driver): 74.0% Surf Beach — Car (driver): 80.6%
Worked from Home 11.2% / 12.9%
Denhams Beach — Worked from Home: 11.2% Surf Beach — Worked from Home: 12.9%
Car (passenger) 11.2% / 4.4%
Denhams Beach — Car (passenger): 11.2% Surf Beach — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Bus 3.6% / 0.8%
Denhams Beach — Bus: 3.6% Surf Beach — Bus: 0.8%
Walked Only — / 1.3%
Denhams Beach — Walked Only: not among its largest Surf Beach — Walked Only: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.6%).

Setting

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 140 m
241 m to a named beach
 780 m
813 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Connectivity score 68/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
502 premises
 41%
1,399 premises

Climate

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Annual rainfall 914 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Average residential rate $1,246/yr
same for both
Council Eurobodalla
same for both

Federal electorate

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Division Gilmore
same for both
Member Fiona Phillips
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Denhams Beach Surf Beach
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Denhams Beach

Beach Beachfront Coastal Quiet Retirees

Surf Beach

Beach Coastal Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

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Full data on Denhams Beach Full data on Surf Beach
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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