Malua Bay vs Surf Beach
The verdict
Surf Beach is more affordable, with a median house price of $778K versus $945K in Malua Bay. Malua Bay rates higher for education (43 vs 36). Surf Beach is closer to the coast (800 m vs 1.9 km). On the separate residential safety score, Surf Beach rates higher (67 vs 60/100 in Malua Bay).
Scores
| Malua Bay | Surf Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 24 | 22 |
| Transport | 0 | 0 |
| Education | 43 | 36 |
| Liveability | 33 | 33 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Malua Bay | Surf Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,071 | 1,934 |
| Median age | 52 | 53 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,423 | $1,099 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 29.8% | 25.2% |
| Born in Australia | 78.5% | 74.0% |
| Avg household size | 2.3 | 2.1 |
Growth: Malua Bay Moderate Growth · Surf Beach Moderate Growth
Property
| Malua Bay | Surf Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $945K | $778K |
| Median unit price | $712K | $547K |
| House price YoY | -0.8% | 1.4% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $580 | $580 |
| Rental yield (house) | 3.1% | 3.9% |
| Days on market (house) | 31 | 24 |
Median price history
Safety
| Malua Bay | Surf Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 60 | 67 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 290 | 207 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 48 | 155 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 435 | 362 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 2,801 | 4,292 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Malua Bay | Surf Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 0 | 0 |
| Government | 0 | 0 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 |
| Average ICSEA | Data not available | Data not available |
See the full school list on each profile: Malua Bay · Surf Beach
Transport
| Malua Bay | Surf Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 0 | 0 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 0 | 0 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Nearest train station (km) | 91.2 km | 88.7 km |
Liveability
| Malua Bay | Surf Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 26.5°C | 26.5°C |
| Winter max temp | 17.0°C | 17.0°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Supermarkets | 1 | 0 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 2 | 2 |
| Parks | 1 | 1 |
| Playgrounds | 1 | 1 |
| Swimming pools | 10 | 19 |
| Medical GPs | 0 | 2 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 1.9 km | 800 m |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 231.8 km | 229.2 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 2.1 km | 820 m |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 8.9 km | 5.7 km |
Population & growth
| Malua Bay | Surf Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 2,071 | 1,934 |
| Estimated 2025 | 2,132 | 1,991 |
| Projected 2041 | 2,296 | 2,144 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.73% | 0.73% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Malua Bay or Surf Beach?
Surf Beach has the higher residential safety score (Malua Bay 60/100 vs Surf Beach 67/100).
Which is more affordable, Malua Bay or Surf Beach?
Surf Beach is more affordable, with a median house price of $778K versus $945K.
Which has better public transport, Malua Bay or Surf Beach?
Malua Bay and Surf Beach have similar transport scores.
Try another comparison
Compare two suburbs