Surf Beach vs Newhaven

Surf Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 59 in Newhaven. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Newhaven: a median of $780,000, against $712,000 in Surf Beach, though rent is higher in Surf Beach. On these figures, Newhaven tends to suit older residents.

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

Surf Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (99% vs 85%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house 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

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Surf Beach is more walkable (20/100 vs 10/100)
  • Newhaven sits closer to the CBD (128.7 km vs 131.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Newhaven

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (15% vs 2%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 17%)
  • But Surf Beach is more walkable (20/100 vs 10/100)

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

Where they sit

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

Surf Beach Newhaven
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.

Surf Beach Newhaven
Walkability 20 / 10
Surf Beach — Walkability: 20/100 Newhaven — Walkability: 10/100
Safety 24 / 33
Surf Beach — Safety: 24/100 Newhaven — Safety: 33/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Surf Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Newhaven — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 82 / 42
Surf Beach — Low flood risk: 82/100 Newhaven — Low flood risk: 42/100

Demographics

Newhaven skews older (59 vs 46).

Surf Beach Newhaven
Population 670
+18% vs other
 547
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — +21.8%
Median age 46 59
Median household income $73,528/yr
+6% vs other
 $69,056/yr
Median weekly rent $316/wk
+5% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Surf Beach Newhaven
0-4 4.5% / 2.9%
Surf Beach — 0-4: 4.5% Newhaven — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 13.0% / 7.1%
Surf Beach — 5-14: 13.0% Newhaven — 5-14: 7.1%
15-19 4.6% / 4.9%
Surf Beach — 15-19: 4.6% Newhaven — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 4.6% / 3.5%
Surf Beach — 20-24: 4.6% Newhaven — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 10.0% / 8.0%
Surf Beach — 25-34: 10.0% Newhaven — 25-34: 8.0%
35-44 11.8% / 7.5%
Surf Beach — 35-44: 11.8% Newhaven — 35-44: 7.5%
45-54 13.7% / 9.1%
Surf Beach — 45-54: 13.7% Newhaven — 45-54: 9.1%
55-64 20.6% / 22.1%
Surf Beach — 55-64: 20.6% Newhaven — 55-64: 22.1%
65-74 11.9% / 20.1%
Surf Beach — 65-74: 11.9% Newhaven — 65-74: 20.1%
75-84 4.3% / 9.0%
Surf Beach — 75-84: 4.3% Newhaven — 75-84: 9.0%
85+ 0.6% / 3.8%
Surf Beach — 85+: 0.6% Newhaven — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Newhaven 41.3% lone person
Newhaven — Lone Person: 41.3% Newhaven — Couple Families: 32.6% Newhaven — One Parent Families: 16.7% Newhaven — Group Household: 6.5% Newhaven — Other Families: 2.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Surf Beach 17.3% renting
Surf Beach — Owned Outright: 44.0% Surf Beach — Mortgage: 38.7% Surf Beach — Renting: 17.3%
Newhaven 15.6% renting
Newhaven — Owned Outright: 58.8% Newhaven — Mortgage: 25.6% Newhaven — Renting: 15.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Surf Beach Newhaven
Certificate III & IV 17.8% / 16.5%
Surf Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.8% Newhaven — Certificate III & IV: 16.5%
Bachelor Degree 13.6% / 13.2%
Surf Beach — Bachelor Degree: 13.6% Newhaven — Bachelor Degree: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 10.1%
Surf Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Newhaven — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 4.2%
Surf Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Newhaven — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 3.1%
Surf Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Newhaven — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%

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

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.

Surf Beach Newhaven
England 5.1% / 6.2%
Surf Beach — England: 5.1% Newhaven — England: 6.2%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.8%
Surf Beach — New Zealand: 0.6% Newhaven — New Zealand: 1.8%
Ireland 0.9% / 0.7%
Surf Beach — Ireland: 0.9% Newhaven — Ireland: 0.7%
Sri Lanka 0.6% / 0.7%
Surf Beach — Sri Lanka: 0.6% Newhaven — Sri Lanka: 0.7%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.5%
Surf Beach — Philippines: 0.7% Newhaven — Philippines: 0.5%
South Africa 0.9% / —
Surf Beach — South Africa: 0.9% Newhaven — South Africa: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.9%
Surf Beach — Netherlands: not among its largest Newhaven — Netherlands: 0.9%
Scotland — / 0.7%
Surf Beach — Scotland: not among its largest Newhaven — Scotland: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Surf Beach 99.2% houses
Surf Beach — Houses: 99.2% Surf Beach — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Surf Beach — Townhouses: 1.9%
Newhaven 85.1% houses
Newhaven — Houses: 85.1% Newhaven — Flats / Apartments: 9.3% Newhaven — Townhouses: 5.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Surf Beach Newhaven
Median house price $712,500 $780,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $399,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 50 days
from 13 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Newhaven has more rural and farming land (72% vs 0%).

Surf Beach Newhaven
Residential 74% 5%
Rural and farming 0% 72%
Parks and recreation 22% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 3%
Planning zones cover 99% of Surf Beach and 98% of Newhaven. 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

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

Ranking within VIC

Surf Beach Newhaven
House price Higher than 47% of VIC —
Income — Higher than 31% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC

Liveability

Surf Beach is more walkable (20 vs 10); Surf Beach scores higher overall (55 vs 44).

Surf Beach Newhaven
Grade B C
Score 55/100 44/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Newhaven carries more flood risk (58 vs 18).

Surf Beach Newhaven
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
76/100
 Moderate
67/100
Flood Low
18/100
 Moderate
58/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
72/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

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

Schools in Surf Beach

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Newhaven

  • Newhaven Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Surf Beach Newhaven
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 1 2
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 1

Mobility

Surf Beach sits further from the CBD (131.1 km vs 128.7 km).

Surf Beach Newhaven
Walkability score 20/100 10/100
Distance to Melbourne 131.1 km
+2% vs other
 128.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 104 min 103 min
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3922
 1.2%
postcode 3925
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 3922
 40
postcode 3925

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.

Surf Beach Newhaven
Car (driver) 67.6% / 64.8%
Surf Beach — Car (driver): 67.6% Newhaven — Car (driver): 64.8%
Worked from Home 25.9% / 22.3%
Surf Beach — Worked from Home: 25.9% Newhaven — Worked from Home: 22.3%
Walked Only 2.8% / 8.8%
Surf Beach — Walked Only: 2.8% Newhaven — Walked Only: 8.8%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 4.1%
Surf Beach — Car (passenger): 3.6% Newhaven — Car (passenger): 4.1%

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

Setting

Surf Beach Newhaven
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 307 m
3.3 km to a named beach
 918 m
1.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Surf Beach Newhaven
Connectivity score 83/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 70%
690 premises
 52%
390 premises

Climate

Surf Beach Newhaven
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Surf Beach

Coastal Large Blocks

Newhaven

Acreage Coastal Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Surf Beach

Surf Beach vs Rhyll Surf Beach vs Sunderland Bay

Other comparisons with Newhaven

Newhaven vs Cape Woolamai
Full data on Surf Beach Full data on Newhaven
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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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