Surry Hills is well-off — but expensive to rent
Surry Hills 2010 · Sydney Inner City, Greater Sydney, NSW
Surry Hills is among the more advantaged parts of Australia (SEIFA decile 10 of 10); a young, family-heavy area (median age 35). The trade-offs: renting is expensive, a median of $835 a week (DCJ, 2026-Q1); the population is barely moving.
Mostly apartments, with a median age of 35 and households on a median $2,308 a week at the 2021 Census.
Compiled from ABS regional population (SA2), the 2021 Census, SEIFA 2021, NSW DCJ median rents, NSW DCJ median sale prices, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research reported offences, OpenStreetMap and ACARA Schools NSW / NSW Dept of Education · figures current to September 2026.
What it costs to buy
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2025-Q4Median sale price from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's recorded property sales. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2025-Q4 quarter
| Type | Median sale price |
|---|---|
| House | $2,865,000n=56 |
| Unit / flat | $950,000n=167 |
The median sale price across all dwellings in Surry Hills was $1,110,000, based on sales in postcode 2010, for the 2025-Q4 quarter. That is $90,000 below the Greater Sydney median. By type: a house $2,865,000 and a unit / flat $950,000.
This is the median price of properties recorded as sold this quarter — settlement can lag a purchase decision by weeks, so the most recent quarter can revise slightly as more sales are recorded.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median price | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q4 | $1,110,000 | — | $1,200,000 |
Sale price data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on sales in postcode 2010, December 2025 release. Figures are the median for properties sold in the quarter. DCJ suppresses a median where too few properties sold.
What it costs to rent
NSW DCJ Rent and Sales Report · 2026-Q1Median weekly rent for new tenancies, from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice's bond lodgements. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
By dwelling type — 2026-Q1 quarter
| Type | Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | — | $710low sample | $1,100low sample | $1,445low sample | — |
| Townhouse | — | — | $950low sample | $1,450low sample | — |
| Unit / flat | $550n=38 | $750n=346 | $1,100n=147 | $1,500low sample | — |
n is the number of new bonds behind each median — treat a figure marked low sample as indicative only.
The median weekly rent across all dwellings in Surry Hills was $835, based on new bonds lodged in postcode 2010, for the 2026-Q1 quarter. That is $55 a week above the Greater Sydney median. By type: a 3-bedroom house $1,445 and a 2-bedroom unit $1,100.
This is the median rent on new leases signed this quarter, not what existing tenants pay. It usually runs higher than the Census figure.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Median rent | Year on year | Greater Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | $835 | — | $930 |
Rent data © NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report, based on new bonds in postcode 2010, March 2026 release. Figures are the median for new bonds lodged in the quarter, not all tenancies. DCJ suppresses a median where too few bonds were lodged.
Surry Hills on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Surry Hills, NSW.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary: ABS SA2 (ASGS 2021), simplified — an SA2 can differ from the gazetted suburb, and detached parts such as islands may not all be shown.
How the population has changed
Surry Hills against the New South Wales average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Surry Hills population grew from 17,746 in 2016 to 17,184 in 2025, a change of -3.2% over the period, against the New South Wales average.
Show the data table
| Year | Surry Hills | New South Wales average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 17,746 | 7,732,858 |
| 2017 | 17,821 | 7,855,316 |
| 2018 | 17,591 | 7,954,476 |
| 2019 | 17,346 | 8,046,748 |
| 2020 | 17,039 | 8,110,610 |
| 2021 | 16,060 | 8,097,062 |
| 2022 | 16,013 | 8,182,098 |
| 2023 | 16,843 | 8,356,387 |
| 2024 | 17,122 | 8,492,050 |
| 2025 | 17,184 | 8,592,524 |
Where the growth is coming from
Surry Hills gained 1,494 residents from internal migration and 1,417 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 2,873 people moved away — a net addition of 38 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+1,494
- Internal migration out+1,936
- Overseas migration in+1,417
- Natural increase+24
Components of population change over the sample year. Natural increase is shown apart from migration so the two are not read as one figure.
How it has changed
Census · five-yearlyThe 2016 Census against 2021. Older figures are mapped onto today's boundaries via the ABS Time Series Profile, so comparisons are approximate where borders moved.
| Measure | 2016 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,416 | 15,828 | -3.6% |
| Median age | 34 | 35 | +1 yr |
| Median household income | $2,144/wk | $2,308/wk | +7.6% |
| Median weekly rent | $555/wk | $550/wk | -0.9% |
| Born overseas | 51.6% | 47.5% | -4.0 pts |
Who lives here
Census · five-yearlyFrom the 2021 Census — the most recent available; 2026 Census data isn't expected until mid-2027. Each figure carries its definition, so you know what is being counted.
People
Income
Housing
Work
Household
Country of birth
Language at home
How homes are held
- Owned outright 13.8%
- Mortgaged 18.4%
- Rented 65.4%
- Other / not stated 2.4%
How well-off the area is
Census · five-yearlyThe ABS SEIFA indexes rank every area by relative advantage and disadvantage. Decile 1 is the lowest tenth of Australia; decile 10 is the highest.
- Relative disadvantage (IRSD)Lower decile means more relative disadvantageDecile 7score 1,034
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 10score 1,138
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 1score 879
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 10score 1,164
Safety context
NSW BOCSAR · June 2026How much crime is reported in Surry Hills, from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Most-reported offences · Surry Hills, last 12 months
- Intimidation, stalking and harassment1,187 /100k+281% vs Greater Sydney
- Malicious damage to property1,100 /100k+284% vs Greater Sydney
- Theft419 /100k+989% vs Greater Sydney
- Assault396 /100k+650% vs Greater Sydney
- Drug offences297 /100k+1712% vs Greater Sydney
- Robbery93 /100k+3178% vs Greater Sydney
Rate per 100,000 people in Surry Hills.
Of these categories, intimidation, stalking and harassment is reported most in Surry Hills over the last 12 months, running 281% above the Greater Sydney rate.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Suburb | Greater Sydney | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 1,187 per 100k | 312 per 100k | — |
| Malicious damage to property | 1,100 per 100k | 287 per 100k | — |
| Theft | 419 per 100k | 38 per 100k | — |
| Assault | 396 per 100k | 53 per 100k | — |
| Drug offences | 297 per 100k | 16 per 100k | — |
| Robbery | 93 per 100k | 3 per 100k | — |
Crime statistics © State of New South Wales (NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research), used under CC BY 4.0, updated June 2026. Matched to this suburb from BOCSAR’s own locality-level data — see the safest/highest-crime rankings’ methodology for the locality-to-suburb matching used. Monthly counts are volatile — the 12-month figures above smooth that noise.
Getting around, and what's nearby
OpenStreetMap · quarterlyWhat OpenStreetMap records inside the suburb boundary. Counts reflect what is tagged in OSM and can undercount a real but less-mapped area. The park count here is OpenStreetMap green space of any kind, including privately held land — it is a different measure from the council parks below.
Within the Surry Hills SA2, OpenStreetMap records 4 schools, 3 childcare and kindergarten centres, 1 hospital, 3 GP or clinic locations, 8 supermarkets and 15 green spaces. For families: 1 library and 7 playgrounds. Eating out and socialising: 72 cafés, 86 restaurants and 48 pubs and bars. Staying active: 6 gyms and 9 sports fields. Also 1 cinema. The nearest train station, Surry Hills, is about 300 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 34 bus stops here.
List every mapped place
Schools
- Sydney Distance Education Primary School
- Crown Street Public School
- Bourke Street Public School
- Inner Sydney High School
Childcare & kindergartens
- Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre Long Day Care
- KU John J. Carroll Preschool
- Surry Hills Childcare Centre
Libraries
- Surry Hills Library
Gyms & fitness
- Chi Sau Club - Wing Chun Kung Fu
- Body Mind Life
- OnePlayground
- Hiscoes Gym
- Prime Strength
- Fitness First Darlinghurst Platnum
Cinemas
- Golden Age Cinema & Bar
Hospitals
- Surry Hills Day Hospital
GPs & clinics
- Crown St Medical Centre
- Dr Alex Phoon
- Surry Hills Medical Centre
Supermarkets
- Maloney's
- Woolworths Metro
- About Life
- MGM Spices
- ALDI
- IGA
Green spaces
- Cooper Street Reserve
- Adelaide Street Reserve
- Shannon Reserve
- Tudor Street Reserve
- Frog Hollow Reserve
- Foveaux Street Reserve
- Ward Park
Train stations
- Surry Hills
Schools
Every open NSW school whose campus sits inside the SA2 boundary, with the average ICSEA across them. Open a school for its own ICSEA, student background and a link to My School.
The Surry Hills SA2 contains 5 schools — 3 primary schools, 1 secondary school and 1 special school, of which 4 are government and 1 non-government. Its 4 schools with a published ICSEA average 1112 (1000 is the national average); each school's own figure and student background are on its page. NAPLAN results for each school are on its My School profile (ACARA). For area context, Surry Hills sits in decile 10 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 88% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
The centre of this SA2 is zoned for Crown Street Public School (primary).
Parts of this SA2 also fall in the catchment of Fort Street Public School (primary), Bourke Street Public School (primary), Kensington Public School (primary), Alexandria Park Community School (primary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Want another suburb? Search the catchment finder.
Show school list
- Bourke Street Public School · State
- Crown Street Public School · State
- Sydney Distance Education Primary School · State
- Inner Sydney High School · State
- Oasis College Surry Hills · Non-Government
School list: NSW Government open data — ACARA Schools NSW, via the NSW data portal, CC BY 4.0. Catchments: NSW Department of Education “School intake zones” dataset, CC BY 4.0. ICSEA: ACARA School Profile. NAPLAN: myschool.edu.au (ACARA).
Nearby, in Sydney Inner City
Others in the same ABS district, by population growth. If this one doesn't fit, one of these might.
- HereSurry Hills+0.4%
- 01Ultimo+4.9%
- 02Zetland+4.8%
- 03Sydney (South) - Haymarket+4.3%
- 04Sydney (North) - Millers Point+4.2%
- 05Rosebery - Beaconsfield+2.9%
- 06Redfern+2.3%
- 07Waterloo+1.8%
- 08Erskineville - Alexandria+1.7%
- 09Camperdown - Darlington+1.4%
- 10Potts Point - Woolloomooloo+0.9%
- 11Darlinghurst+0.2%
- 12Chippendale+0.2%
- 13Newtown (NSW)+0.0%
- 14Glebe - Forest Lodge-0.1%
- 15Pyrmont-0.2%
Dots place each suburb's growth on the same scale, slowest at left.
Surry Hills: common questions
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Is Surry Hills an advantaged area?
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