Lilli Pilli vs Surf Beach

Surf Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 53 against 59 in Lilli Pilli. 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 Lilli Pilli: a median of $1.03 million, against $777,000 in Surf Beach, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Surf Beach tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Lilli Pilli

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 71%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (54% vs 44%)

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

First-home buyers

Surf Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($600,000 vs $871,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($777,000 vs $1,035,000)
  • But Lilli Pilli leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Surf Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $390/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Surf Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (32/100 vs 18/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Surf Beach

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (29% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (32/100 vs 18/100)

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

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

Lilli Pilli 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.

Lilli Pilli 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.

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Walkability 18 / 32
Lilli Pilli — Walkability: 18/100 Surf Beach — Walkability: 32/100
Low fire risk 8 / 10
Lilli Pilli — Low fire risk: 8/100 Surf Beach — Low fire risk: 10/100

Demographics

Surf Beach has more residents (1,934 vs 647); Lilli Pilli has higher household incomes ($70,460 vs $57,148).

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Population 647 1,934
+199% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.9% +3.2%
Median age 59 53
Median household income $70,460/yr
+19% vs other
 $57,148/yr
Median weekly rent $390/wk
+15% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
0-4 3.1% / 4.1%
Lilli Pilli — 0-4: 3.1% Surf Beach — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 10.2% / 10.5%
Lilli Pilli — 5-14: 10.2% Surf Beach — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 4.2% / 4.6%
Lilli Pilli — 15-19: 4.2% Surf Beach — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 2.0% / 3.4%
Lilli Pilli — 20-24: 2.0% Surf Beach — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 7.4% / 7.2%
Lilli Pilli — 25-34: 7.4% Surf Beach — 25-34: 7.2%
35-44 8.7% / 10.0%
Lilli Pilli — 35-44: 8.7% Surf Beach — 35-44: 10.0%
45-54 9.6% / 13.0%
Lilli Pilli — 45-54: 9.6% Surf Beach — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 17.2% / 14.7%
Lilli Pilli — 55-64: 17.2% Surf Beach — 55-64: 14.7%
65-74 22.4% / 19.2%
Lilli Pilli — 65-74: 22.4% Surf Beach — 65-74: 19.2%
75-84 10.8% / 10.2%
Lilli Pilli — 75-84: 10.8% Surf Beach — 75-84: 10.2%
85+ 3.7% / 2.9%
Lilli Pilli — 85+: 3.7% Surf Beach — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lilli Pilli 42.6% lone person
Lilli Pilli — Lone Person: 42.6% Lilli Pilli — Couple Families: 38.2% Lilli Pilli — One Parent Families: 16.2% Lilli Pilli — Group Household: 2.9% Lilli Pilli — Other Families: 0.0%
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.

Lilli Pilli 11.4% renting
Lilli Pilli — Owned Outright: 58.4% Lilli Pilli — Mortgage: 30.2% Lilli Pilli — Renting: 11.4%
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.

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Certificate III & IV 13.9% / 17.3%
Lilli Pilli — Certificate III & IV: 13.9% Surf Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.3%
Bachelor Degree 14.2% / 8.3%
Lilli Pilli — Bachelor Degree: 14.2% Surf Beach — Bachelor Degree: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.4% / 7.1%
Lilli Pilli — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.4% Surf Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.9% / 3.6%
Lilli Pilli — Postgraduate Degree: 5.9% Surf Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 1.3%
Lilli Pilli — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% 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.

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
England 4.8% / 4.2%
Lilli Pilli — England: 4.8% Surf Beach — England: 4.2%
New Zealand 1.1% / 2.1%
Lilli Pilli — New Zealand: 1.1% Surf Beach — New Zealand: 2.1%
Germany 1.1% / 0.6%
Lilli Pilli — Germany: 1.1% Surf Beach — Germany: 0.6%
India — / 0.9%
Lilli Pilli — India: not among its largest Surf Beach — India: 0.9%
Philippines — / 0.9%
Lilli Pilli — Philippines: not among its largest Surf Beach — Philippines: 0.9%
Italy — / 0.8%
Lilli Pilli — Italy: not among its largest Surf Beach — Italy: 0.8%
Japan 0.6% / —
Lilli Pilli — Japan: 0.6% Surf Beach — Japan: not among its largest
China 0.5% / —
Lilli Pilli — China: 0.5% Surf Beach — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lilli Pilli 98.1% houses
Lilli Pilli — Houses: 98.1% Lilli Pilli — Townhouses: 0.0% Lilli Pilli — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
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

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Median house price $1,035,000 $777,000
Median unit price — $545,000
Median land price $871,500 $600,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 46 days
from 13 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.

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
3 bed $785K / $700K
Lilli Pilli — 3 bed: $785K (12 sales) Surf Beach — 3 bed: $700K (43 sales)

12 vs 43 sales

4 bed $1.06M / $872K
Lilli Pilli — 4 bed: $1.06M (12 sales) Surf Beach — 4 bed: $872K (26 sales)

12 vs 26 sales

5 bed $1.2M / $910K
Lilli Pilli — 5 bed: $1.2M (6 sales) Surf Beach — 5 bed: $910K (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Lilli Pilli has more land zoned for conservation (80% vs 12%).

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Environmental 80% 12%
Residential 18% 57%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 20%
Industrial 0% 9%
Parks and recreation 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 99% of Lilli Pilli 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

Lilli Pilli 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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
House price Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Income Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 62% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 33% of NSW

Liveability

Surf Beach is more walkable (32 vs 18).

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Grade D
same for both
Score 26/100 22/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Bushfire High
92/100
 High
90/100
Crime — 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

Lilli Pilli 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

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Walkability score 18/100 32/100
Distance to Sydney 290.5 km 289.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 241 min 240 min
Public transport score 30/100
Bus
 56/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Car (driver) 77.2% / 80.6%
Lilli Pilli — Car (driver): 77.2% Surf Beach — Car (driver): 80.6%
Worked from Home 18.1% / 12.9%
Lilli Pilli — Worked from Home: 18.1% Surf Beach — Worked from Home: 12.9%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.4%
Lilli Pilli — Car (passenger): 4.7% Surf Beach — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only — / 1.3%
Lilli Pilli — Walked Only: not among its largest Surf Beach — Walked Only: 1.3%
Bus — / 0.8%
Lilli Pilli — Bus: not among its largest Surf Beach — Bus: 0.8%

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

Setting

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Elevation 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 498 m
510 m to a named beach
 780 m
813 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Lilli Pilli Surf Beach
Connectivity score 44/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
470 premises
 41%
1,399 premises

Climate

Lilli Pilli 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Lilli Pilli

Acreage Beach Coastal Retirees

Surf Beach

Beach Coastal Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lilli Pilli

Lilli Pilli vs Malua Bay

Other comparisons with Surf Beach

Surf Beach vs Malua Bay Surf Beach vs Batehaven Surf Beach vs Sunshine Bay Surf Beach vs Denhams Beach Surf Beach vs Mogo
Full data on Lilli Pilli 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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