Moving to Smiths Beach VIC 3922
What the official numbers say about living in Smiths Beach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Budget around $870,000 for a median house (based on 2024 sales). Sale prices moved up about 123% between 2014 and 2024.
Renting? The census median is $330 a week, against a median household income of $1,181 a week.
About 78% of homes are owner-occupied and 19% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Smiths Beach grew 39% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (226 → 315 people).
Around 59% of households are families, averaging 2.1 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Poland; most spoken languages besides English: French, Greek, Polish.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Smiths Beach sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 8 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (62% of workers), while 31% work from home.
Nearest ferry wharf: Cowes Jetty, 6.2 km north.
Nearest airport: Moorabbin Airport, 59.6 km north.
The Melbourne CBD is roughly 81 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 3 schools · 2 cafes & restaurants · 1 park · 2 beaches — see them all on the Smiths Beach profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Newhaven College 1.6 km · Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School 4.1 km · Cowes Primary School 4.9 km
Parks and reserves: Wimbledon Heights Reserve 2.8 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Smiths Beach, most often seen first: Cape Barren Goose · Australian White Ibis · Australasian Purple Swamphen · Little Raven · Australian Magpie · Masked Lapwing.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Smiths Beach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smiths Beach here | 315 | $870,000 | 8/10 | 27% |
| Surf Beach | 670 | $716,500 | 7/10 | 9% |
| Silverleaves | 322 | $975,000 | 8/10 | 38% |
| Cowes | 6,593 | $801,000 | 3/10 | 15% |
| Rhyll | 836 | $970,000 | 7/10 | 17% |
| Ventnor | 982 | $880,000 | 7/10 | 7% |
| Cape Woolamai | 2,301 | — | 6/10 | 19% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Bass Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Monash — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 3922 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Smiths Beach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
A house in Smiths Beach has a median sale price of $870,000 (2024 sales). Renters pay a median $330 a week, and about 19% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 39% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 226 people to 315. It sits about 81 km from the Melbourne CBD in a straight line. Local government is Bass Coast council, and the federal seat is Monash.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Smiths Beach vs Surf Beach · Smiths Beach vs Silverleaves.
Nearby guides: Surf Beach · Silverleaves · Cowes · Rhyll · Ventnor · Cape Woolamai.
Keep an eye on Smiths Beach
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