Biggera Waters vs Main Beach

Biggera Waters is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 57 in Main Beach. In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Biggera Waters, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Main Beach, most households own their home and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Main Beach: a median of $1.58 million, against $785,000 in Biggera Waters, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Biggera Waters tends to suit renters and buyers on a tighter budget, while Main Beach suits people living alone and 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

Biggera Waters

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (20% vs 3%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (42% vs 29%)
  • But Main Beach has more parks and reserves (16 vs 7)

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

First-home buyers

Biggera Waters

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,240,000 vs $3,400,000)
  • has cheaper units ($785,000 vs $1,577,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Biggera Waters

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Biggera Waters

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 22/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (60 min vs 68 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (70.7 km vs 79.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Biggera Waters is more walkable (79/100 vs 22/100)
  • Main Beach has more residents already 65 and over (35% vs 22%)

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

Investors

Biggera Waters

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (16.9% vs 3.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.7% vs 3.7%)
  • But Main Beach returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Biggera Waters Main Beach
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.

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Walkability 79 / 22
Biggera Waters — Walkability: 79/100 Main Beach — Walkability: 22/100
Safety 19 / 16
Biggera Waters — Safety: 19/100 Main Beach — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Biggera Waters — Low fire risk: 100/100 Main Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Biggera Waters has more residents (9,973 vs 3,998); Main Beach skews older (57 vs 44).

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Population 9,973
+60% vs other
 3,998
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.9% +3.0%
Median age 44 57
Median household income $68,328/yr $87,464/yr
+28% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk $500/wk
+16% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Biggera Waters Main Beach
0-4 3.9% / 1.9%
Biggera Waters — 0-4: 3.9% Main Beach — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 7.8% / 4.1%
Biggera Waters — 5-14: 7.8% Main Beach — 5-14: 4.1%
15-19 4.7% / 3.0%
Biggera Waters — 15-19: 4.7% Main Beach — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 7.1% / 5.4%
Biggera Waters — 20-24: 7.1% Main Beach — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 15.6% / 10.7%
Biggera Waters — 25-34: 15.6% Main Beach — 25-34: 10.7%
35-44 12.0% / 8.7%
Biggera Waters — 35-44: 12.0% Main Beach — 35-44: 8.7%
45-54 13.4% / 12.8%
Biggera Waters — 45-54: 13.4% Main Beach — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 13.7% / 19.1%
Biggera Waters — 55-64: 13.7% Main Beach — 55-64: 19.1%
65-74 12.3% / 19.9%
Biggera Waters — 65-74: 12.3% Main Beach — 65-74: 19.9%
75-84 6.8% / 12.6%
Biggera Waters — 75-84: 6.8% Main Beach — 75-84: 12.6%
85+ 2.7% / 2.4%
Biggera Waters — 85+: 2.7% Main Beach — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Biggera Waters 46.9% lone person
Biggera Waters — Lone Person: 46.9% Biggera Waters — Couple Families: 24.3% Biggera Waters — One Parent Families: 17.6% Biggera Waters — Group Household: 9.0% Biggera Waters — Other Families: 2.1%
Main Beach 60.1% lone person
Main Beach — Lone Person: 60.1% Main Beach — Couple Families: 18.9% Main Beach — One Parent Families: 10.1% Main Beach — Group Household: 9.6% Main Beach — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Biggera Waters 48.3% renting
Biggera Waters — Owned Outright: 26.9% Biggera Waters — Mortgage: 24.8% Biggera Waters — Renting: 48.3%
Main Beach 31.6% renting
Main Beach — Owned Outright: 47.7% Main Beach — Mortgage: 20.7% Main Beach — Renting: 31.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 18.0%
Biggera Waters — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Main Beach — Bachelor Degree: 18.0%
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 10.8%
Biggera Waters — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Main Beach — Certificate III & IV: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.2% / 10.6%
Biggera Waters — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2% Main Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 6.1%
Biggera Waters — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Main Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.3%
Biggera Waters — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Main Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

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.

Biggera Waters Main Beach
New Zealand 7.7% / 6.0%
Biggera Waters — New Zealand: 7.7% Main Beach — New Zealand: 6.0%
England 4.8% / 4.8%
Biggera Waters — England: 4.8% Main Beach — England: 4.8%
China 3.1% / —
Biggera Waters — China: 3.1% Main Beach — China: not among its largest
South Africa 0.9% / 1.6%
Biggera Waters — South Africa: 0.9% Main Beach — South Africa: 1.6%
Philippines 1.0% / 0.7%
Biggera Waters — Philippines: 1.0% Main Beach — Philippines: 0.7%
India 1.2% / —
Biggera Waters — India: 1.2% Main Beach — India: not among its largest
Brazil — / 0.9%
Biggera Waters — Brazil: not among its largest Main Beach — Brazil: 0.9%
Italy — / 0.8%
Biggera Waters — Italy: not among its largest Main Beach — Italy: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Biggera Waters 60.9% flats / apartments
Biggera Waters — Flats / Apartments: 60.9% Biggera Waters — Houses: 20.4% Biggera Waters — Townhouses: 18.7%
Main Beach 91.8% flats / apartments
Main Beach — Flats / Apartments: 91.8% Main Beach — Houses: 3.4% Main Beach — Townhouses: 4.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Median house price $1,240,000 $3,400,000
Median unit price $785,000 $1,577,000
Median land price $1,450,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 39 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.

Biggera Waters Main Beach
1 bed $554K / $729K
Biggera Waters — 1 bed: $554K (30 sales) Main Beach — 1 bed: $729K (22 sales)

30 vs 22 sales

2 bed $778K / $1.3M
Biggera Waters — 2 bed: $778K (153 sales) Main Beach — 2 bed: $1.3M (140 sales)

153 vs 140 sales

3 bed $900K / $2.23M
Biggera Waters — 3 bed: $900K (54 sales) Main Beach — 3 bed: $2.23M (76 sales)

54 vs 76 sales

4 bed $1.03M / $5.1M
Biggera Waters — 4 bed: $1.03M (6 sales) Main Beach — 4 bed: $5.1M (15 sales)

6 vs 15 sales

Development activity

Biggera Waters Main Beach
New dwellings approved 7,196
across Gold Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
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.

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Houses 3.0%
$865/wk on $1.49M
 3.8%
$2,550/wk on $3.5M
Units 4.7%
$760/wk on $849K
 3.7%
$1,200/wk on $1.69M

Ranking within QLD

Biggera Waters Main Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 35% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 75% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 11% of QLD Higher than 41% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 59% of QLD Higher than 20% of QLD

Liveability

Biggera Waters is more walkable (79 vs 22).

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
81/100
 High
84/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
14/100
 High
92/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast, 4.8 km
 1
Gold Coast, 3.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 2.2%

Schools in Biggera Waters

  • Biggera Waters State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Main Beach

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

Amenities in the suburb

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 9 39
Parks & reserves 7 16
Childcare 2 0
GPs 5 2
Pharmacies 3 2
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

Main Beach sits further from the CBD (79.4 km vs 70.7 km).

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Walkability score 79/100 22/100
Distance to Brisbane 70.7 km 79.4 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 60 min 68 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 106.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 105.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 4216
 2.1%
postcode 4217
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 4216
 19
postcode 4217

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.

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Car (driver) 75.0% / 59.4%
Biggera Waters — Car (driver): 75.0% Main Beach — Car (driver): 59.4%
Worked from Home 13.3% / 28.3%
Biggera Waters — Worked from Home: 13.3% Main Beach — Worked from Home: 28.3%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 2.5%
Biggera Waters — Car (passenger): 5.1% Main Beach — Car (passenger): 2.5%
Walked Only 2.8% / 3.5%
Biggera Waters — Walked Only: 2.8% Main Beach — Walked Only: 3.5%
Bus 1.6% / 1.1%
Biggera Waters — Bus: 1.6% Main Beach — Bus: 1.1%
Tram / Light Rail 0.1% / 2.5%
Biggera Waters — Tram / Light Rail: 0.1% Main Beach — Tram / Light Rail: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.0%).

Setting

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 1.2 km
1.9 km to a named beach
 51 m
485 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Connectivity score 75/100 64/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
4,819 premises
 9%
3,724 premises

Climate

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Annual rainfall 1,351 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 12.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Biggera Waters Main Beach
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.43 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Division Fadden Moncrieff
Member Cameron Caldwell Angie Bell
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Biggera Waters Main Beach
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Biggera Waters

Apartments Coastal Parks Regional Centre Urban

Main Beach

Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Luxury Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Biggera Waters

Biggera Waters vs Labrador Biggera Waters vs Arundel Biggera Waters vs Coombabah Biggera Waters vs Runaway Bay Biggera Waters vs South Stradbroke

Other comparisons with Main Beach

Main Beach vs Southport Main Beach vs Surfers Paradise Main Beach vs Labrador Main Beach vs South Stradbroke
Full data on Biggera Waters Full data on Main Beach
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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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