Sydney vs Surry Hills

Sydney is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 35 in Surry Hills. In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Sydney: a median of $1.05 million, against $935,000 in Surry Hills, and rent is higher there too. Sydney is closer to the city centre: 1.1 km, against 2.9 km. On these figures, Sydney tends to suit young adults, while Surry Hills suits people living alone.

Sydney and Surry Hills are neighbouring inner-city suburbs with similar populations and walkability, but distinct property markets. Sydney sits just 1.1 km from the CBD compared to Surry Hills at 2.9 km, and offers significantly higher median house prices at $7,437,500 versus $2,407,500—though unit prices are comparable. Surry Hills has a higher liveability score of 78 to Sydney's 70, and slightly higher median household income at $120,016. Both suburbs are equally walkable and carry no bushfire or flood risk, making either a strong fit depending on whether you prioritise proximity to the CBD or a broader range of amenities and community feel.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Sydney

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (36 vs 15)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Sydney has cheaper houses ($650,000 vs $2,432,500)
  • Surry Hills has cheaper units ($935,000 vs $1,050,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Surry Hills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sydney

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (4 min vs 10 min)
  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (14% vs 7%)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Sydney

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (27 vs 10)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sydney Surry Hills
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.

Sydney Surry Hills
Walkability 100 / 100
Sydney — Walkability: 100/100 Surry Hills — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 2 / 6
Sydney — Safety: 2/100 Surry Hills — Safety: 6/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sydney — Low fire risk: 100/100 Surry Hills — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Surry Hills skews older (35 vs 32).

Sydney Surry Hills
Population 16,667
+5% vs other
 15,828
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.4% -3.6%
Median age 32 35
Median household income $115,804/yr $120,016/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+8% vs other
 $550/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sydney Surry Hills
0-4 2.5% / 2.4%
Sydney — 0-4: 2.5% Surry Hills — 0-4: 2.4%
5-14 2.6% / 3.2%
Sydney — 5-14: 2.6% Surry Hills — 5-14: 3.2%
15-19 1.8% / 1.3%
Sydney — 15-19: 1.8% Surry Hills — 15-19: 1.3%
20-24 11.0% / 8.1%
Sydney — 20-24: 11.0% Surry Hills — 20-24: 8.1%
25-34 39.3% / 32.6%
Sydney — 25-34: 39.3% Surry Hills — 25-34: 32.6%
35-44 20.6% / 19.7%
Sydney — 35-44: 20.6% Surry Hills — 35-44: 19.7%
45-54 8.9% / 12.7%
Sydney — 45-54: 8.9% Surry Hills — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 6.2% / 9.5%
Sydney — 55-64: 6.2% Surry Hills — 55-64: 9.5%
65-74 4.2% / 5.7%
Sydney — 65-74: 4.2% Surry Hills — 65-74: 5.7%
75-84 2.2% / 3.3%
Sydney — 75-84: 2.2% Surry Hills — 75-84: 3.3%
85+ 0.7% / 1.5%
Sydney — 85+: 0.7% Surry Hills — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (39.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sydney 56.1% lone person
Sydney — Lone Person: 56.1% Sydney — Group Household: 21.0% Sydney — Couple Families: 13.0% Sydney — One Parent Families: 6.2% Sydney — Other Families: 3.8%
Surry Hills 66.1% lone person
Surry Hills — Lone Person: 66.1% Surry Hills — Group Household: 17.2% Surry Hills — Couple Families: 10.6% Surry Hills — One Parent Families: 4.4% Surry Hills — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sydney 74.8% renting
Sydney — Owned Outright: 13.8% Sydney — Mortgage: 11.4% Sydney — Renting: 74.8%
Surry Hills 67.1% renting
Surry Hills — Owned Outright: 14.1% Surry Hills — Mortgage: 18.8% Surry Hills — Renting: 67.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sydney Surry Hills
Bachelor Degree 31.3% / 34.0%
Sydney — Bachelor Degree: 31.3% Surry Hills — Bachelor Degree: 34.0%
Postgraduate Degree 13.5% / 14.9%
Sydney — Postgraduate Degree: 13.5% Surry Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 14.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 14.5% / 8.2%
Sydney — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 14.5% Surry Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Certificate III & IV 4.3% / 5.2%
Sydney — Certificate III & IV: 4.3% Surry Hills — Certificate III & IV: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 3.0%
Sydney — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Surry Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.0%).

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.

Sydney Surry Hills
Thailand 12.4% / 3.0%
Sydney — Thailand: 12.4% Surry Hills — Thailand: 3.0%
Indonesia 12.9% / 1.4%
Sydney — Indonesia: 12.9% Surry Hills — Indonesia: 1.4%
China 9.7% / 3.3%
Sydney — China: 9.7% Surry Hills — China: 3.3%
England 2.4% / 6.4%
Sydney — England: 2.4% Surry Hills — England: 6.4%
India 3.5% / —
Sydney — India: 3.5% Surry Hills — India: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 3.4%
Sydney — New Zealand: not among its largest Surry Hills — New Zealand: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sydney 99.9% flats / apartments
Sydney — Flats / Apartments: 99.9% Sydney — Townhouses: 0.0% Sydney — Houses: 0.1%
Surry Hills 69.8% flats / apartments
Surry Hills — Flats / Apartments: 69.8% Surry Hills — Townhouses: 29.1% Surry Hills — Houses: 1.1%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Sydney Surry Hills
Median house price $650,000 $2,432,500
Median unit price $1,050,000 $935,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 22 days
from 68 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Sydney Surry Hills
1 bed $790K / $795K
Sydney — 1 bed: $790K (145 sales) Surry Hills — 1 bed: $795K (163 sales)

145 vs 163 sales

2 bed $1.26M / $1.47M
Sydney — 2 bed: $1.26M (125 sales) Surry Hills — 2 bed: $1.47M (104 sales)

125 vs 104 sales

3 bed $2.81M / $2.06M
Sydney — 3 bed: $2.81M (33 sales) Surry Hills — 3 bed: $2.06M (7 sales)

33 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Sydney has more commercially zoned land (51% vs 3%).

Sydney Surry Hills
Residential 1% 84%
Commercial 51% 3%
Parks and recreation 30% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 4%
same for both
Planning zones cover 85% of Sydney and 100% of Surry Hills. 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

Sydney Surry Hills
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
same for both
Approvals change year on year +929%
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.

Sydney Surry Hills
Houses — 3.1%
$1,272/wk on $2.1M
Units 4.0%
$1,050/wk on $1.35M
 4.4%
$810/wk on $950K

Ranking within NSW

Sydney Surry Hills
House price Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Income Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Schools Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 1% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 27% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW

Liveability

Surry Hills scores higher overall (78 vs 71).

Sydney Surry Hills
Grade A
same for both
Score 71/100 78/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Sydney Surry Hills
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
94/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Sydney Surry Hills
Inside the suburb 7 5
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 3 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 0.0 km
 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 2.6%

Schools in Sydney

  • St Andrew's Cathedral Gawura School Independent · Primary above peers
  • St Andrew's Cathedral School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Conservatorium High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Macquarie Grammar School Independent · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's Cathedral College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Australian International High School Independent · Secondary

Schools in Surry Hills

  • Crown Street Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Sydney Distance Education Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Bourke Street Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Inner Sydney High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Oasis College Surry Hills Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Sydney Surry Hills
Supermarkets 17 8
Cafes & restaurants 465 155
Parks & reserves 36 15
Childcare 11 10
GPs 27 10
Pharmacies 33 5
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 48 4
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Sydney Surry Hills
Walkability score 100/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 1.1 km 2.9 km
+164% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 4 min 10 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus · Ferry
 94/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2139.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 414.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 7.1%
postcode 2000
 3.1%
postcode 2010
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 2000
 2
postcode 2010

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.

Sydney Surry Hills
Worked from Home 46.7% / 64.8%
Sydney — Worked from Home: 46.7% Surry Hills — Worked from Home: 64.8%
Walked Only 21.1% / 12.5%
Sydney — Walked Only: 21.1% Surry Hills — Walked Only: 12.5%
Train 13.0% / 5.6%
Sydney — Train: 13.0% Surry Hills — Train: 5.6%
Car (driver) 8.2% / 10.0%
Sydney — Car (driver): 8.2% Surry Hills — Car (driver): 10.0%
Bus 6.7% / 3.1%
Sydney — Bus: 6.7% Surry Hills — Bus: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.8%).

Setting

Sydney Surry Hills
Elevation 66 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 47 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km
3.0 km to a named beach
 5.6 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Sydney Surry Hills
Connectivity score 68/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
33,598 premises
 10%
14,268 premises

Climate

Sydney Surry Hills
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Sydney Surry Hills
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.84 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Sydney Surry Hills
Average residential rate $875/yr
same for both
Council Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Sydney Surry Hills
Division Sydney
same for both
Member Tanya Plibersek
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sydney Surry Hills
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sydney

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals River Trains Trams Transport Hub Urban

Surry Hills

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sydney

Sydney vs Pyrmont Sydney vs Darlinghurst Sydney vs Haymarket Sydney vs Ultimo Sydney vs Woolloomooloo Sydney vs Millers Point

Other comparisons with Surry Hills

Surry Hills vs Redfern Surry Hills vs Paddington Surry Hills vs Darlinghurst Surry Hills vs Haymarket Surry Hills vs Chippendale
Full data on Sydney Full data on Surry Hills
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or