Sunderland Bay vs Surf Beach

Sunderland Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 46 in Surf Beach. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Sunderland Bay carries lower crime risk (52/100 vs 76/100)
  • Surf Beach has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Surf Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($399,000 vs $995,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Surf Beach

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (20/100 vs 10/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (104 min vs 110 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (131.1 km vs 133.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Sunderland Bay carries lower crime risk (52/100 vs 76/100)
  • Surf Beach is more walkable (20/100 vs 10/100)

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

Where they sit

Sunderland Bay 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.

Sunderland Bay 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.

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Walkability 10 / 20
Sunderland Bay — Walkability: 10/100 Surf Beach — Walkability: 20/100
Safety 48 / 24
Sunderland Bay — Safety: 48/100 Surf Beach — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sunderland Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Surf Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 79 / 82
Sunderland Bay — Low flood risk: 79/100 Surf Beach — Low flood risk: 82/100

Demographics

Surf Beach has more residents (670 vs 306); Surf Beach skews older (46 vs 41).

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Population 306 670
+119% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +30.8% —
Median age 41 46
Median household income $65,728/yr $73,528/yr
+12% vs other
Median weekly rent $316/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
0-4 5.2% / 4.5%
Sunderland Bay — 0-4: 5.2% Surf Beach — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 16.0% / 13.0%
Sunderland Bay — 5-14: 16.0% Surf Beach — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 6.5% / 4.6%
Sunderland Bay — 15-19: 6.5% Surf Beach — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 4.6% / 4.6%
Sunderland Bay — 20-24: 4.6% Surf Beach — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 11.1% / 10.0%
Sunderland Bay — 25-34: 11.1% Surf Beach — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 11.4% / 11.8%
Sunderland Bay — 35-44: 11.4% Surf Beach — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 14.7% / 13.7%
Sunderland Bay — 45-54: 14.7% Surf Beach — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 14.7% / 20.6%
Sunderland Bay — 55-64: 14.7% Surf Beach — 55-64: 20.6%
65-74 10.1% / 11.9%
Sunderland Bay — 65-74: 10.1% Surf Beach — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 6.5% / 4.3%
Sunderland Bay — 75-84: 6.5% Surf Beach — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ — / 0.6%
Sunderland Bay — 85+: not among its largest Surf Beach — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sunderland Bay 42.3% lone person
Sunderland Bay — Lone Person: 42.3% Sunderland Bay — Couple Families: 28.9% Sunderland Bay — One Parent Families: 24.7% Sunderland Bay — Group Household: 4.1% Sunderland Bay — Other Families: 0.0%
Surf Beach 42.5% lone person
Surf Beach — Lone Person: 42.5% Surf Beach — Couple Families: 32.8% Surf Beach — One Parent Families: 16.7% Surf Beach — Group Household: 5.4% Surf Beach — Other Families: 2.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sunderland Bay 21.6% renting
Sunderland Bay — Owned Outright: 45.7% Sunderland Bay — Mortgage: 32.8% Sunderland Bay — Renting: 21.6%
Surf Beach 17.3% renting
Surf Beach — Owned Outright: 44.0% Surf Beach — Mortgage: 38.7% Surf Beach — Renting: 17.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
England 3.9% / 5.1%
Sunderland Bay — England: 3.9% Surf Beach — England: 5.1%
Philippines 1.3% / 0.7%
Sunderland Bay — Philippines: 1.3% Surf Beach — Philippines: 0.7%
New Zealand 1.3% / 0.6%
Sunderland Bay — New Zealand: 1.3% Surf Beach — New Zealand: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.9%
Sunderland Bay — South Africa: not among its largest Surf Beach — South Africa: 0.9%
Ireland — / 0.9%
Sunderland Bay — Ireland: not among its largest Surf Beach — Ireland: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

Qualifications

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

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 17.8%
Sunderland Bay — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Surf Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Bachelor Degree 12.1% / 13.6%
Sunderland Bay — Bachelor Degree: 12.1% Surf Beach — Bachelor Degree: 13.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.6% / 8.8%
Sunderland Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.6% Surf Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 3.7%
Sunderland Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Surf Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 3.6%
Sunderland Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Surf Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sunderland Bay 100.0% houses
Sunderland Bay — Houses: 100.0% Sunderland Bay — Townhouses: 0.0%
Surf Beach 99.2% houses
Surf Beach — Houses: 99.2% Surf Beach — Townhouses: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses

Property market

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Median house price $662,000 $712,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $995,000 $399,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 116 days
from 4 sales
 50 days
from 13 sales

Zoning mix

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Residential 84% 74%
Parks and recreation 13% 22%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 4%
Planning zones cover 99% of Sunderland Bay and 99% 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

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
New dwellings approved 393
across Bass Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
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.

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Houses 5.4%
$575/wk on $549K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
House price Higher than 41% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC
Income —
same for both
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 99% of VIC —

Liveability

Surf Beach is more walkable (20 vs 10).

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Grade — B
Score — 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Surf Beach carries more crime risk (76 vs 52).

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
52/100
 High
76/100
Flood Low
21/100
 Low
18/100
Coastal erosion Low
17/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Parks & reserves 0 1

Mobility

Sunderland Bay sits further from the CBD (133.9 km vs 131.1 km).

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Walkability score 10/100 20/100
Distance to Melbourne 133.9 km
+2% vs other
 131.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 110 min 104 min
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3922
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 3922
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.

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Car (driver) 66.1% / 67.6%
Sunderland Bay — Car (driver): 66.1% Surf Beach — Car (driver): 67.6%
Worked from Home 25.2% / 25.9%
Sunderland Bay — Worked from Home: 25.2% Surf Beach — Worked from Home: 25.9%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 3.6%
Sunderland Bay — Car (passenger): 6.1% Surf Beach — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only 2.6% / 2.8%
Sunderland Bay — Walked Only: 2.6% Surf Beach — Walked Only: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.6%).

Setting

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 236 m
1.3 km to a named beach
 307 m
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Connectivity score 77/100 83/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 59%
323 premises
 70%
690 premises

Climate

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Annual rainfall 704 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 24.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Average residential rate $1,727/yr
same for both
Council Bass Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sunderland Bay Surf Beach
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sunderland Bay

Beach Coastal Large Blocks

Surf Beach

Coastal Large Blocks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sunderland Bay

Sunderland Bay vs Rhyll Sunderland Bay vs Sunset Strip Sunderland Bay vs Smiths Beach

Other comparisons with Surf Beach

Surf Beach vs Rhyll Surf Beach vs Newhaven
Full data on Sunderland Bay 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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