Broadbeach vs Mermaid Beach

Mermaid Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 46 in Broadbeach. In both, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Broadbeach, most households are people living alone. In Mermaid Beach, about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Broadbeach: a median of $1.09 million, against $980,000 in Mermaid Beach, though rent is higher in Mermaid Beach. On these figures, Broadbeach tends to suit 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

Mermaid Beach

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (19% vs 0%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (36% vs 24%)
  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 93/100)
  • But Broadbeach has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

  • Broadbeach has cheaper houses ($1,305,000 vs $3,410,000)
  • Mermaid Beach has cheaper units ($980,000 vs $1,090,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Broadbeach has cheaper rent ($420/wk vs $460/wk)
  • Mermaid Beach leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 30%)

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

Commuting to the city

Broadbeach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 67/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Broadbeach

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 14%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 81%)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 67/100)
  • But Mermaid Beach carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Broadbeach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (23.1% vs 12.2%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Broadbeach and Mermaid 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.

Broadbeach Mermaid 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.

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Walkability 81 / 67
Broadbeach — Walkability: 81/100 Mermaid Beach — Walkability: 67/100
Safety 7 / 33
Broadbeach — Safety: 7/100 Mermaid Beach — Safety: 33/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Broadbeach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mermaid Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mermaid Beach has higher household incomes ($98,540 vs $73,788); Broadbeach skews older (46 vs 35).

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Population 6,786 7,329
+8% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +23.1% +12.2%
Median age 46 35
Median household income $73,788/yr $98,540/yr
+34% vs other
Median weekly rent $420/wk $460/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
0-4 2.8% / 3.7%
Broadbeach — 0-4: 2.8% Mermaid Beach — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 4.2% / 6.7%
Broadbeach — 5-14: 4.2% Mermaid Beach — 5-14: 6.7%
15-19 2.3% / 3.7%
Broadbeach — 15-19: 2.3% Mermaid Beach — 15-19: 3.7%
20-24 6.9% / 8.7%
Broadbeach — 20-24: 6.9% Mermaid Beach — 20-24: 8.7%
25-34 19.9% / 25.6%
Broadbeach — 25-34: 19.9% Mermaid Beach — 25-34: 25.6%
35-44 12.5% / 13.7%
Broadbeach — 35-44: 12.5% Mermaid Beach — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 10.9% / 12.3%
Broadbeach — 45-54: 10.9% Mermaid Beach — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 16.2% / 11.7%
Broadbeach — 55-64: 16.2% Mermaid Beach — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 13.5% / 8.1%
Broadbeach — 65-74: 13.5% Mermaid Beach — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 8.4% / 4.0%
Broadbeach — 75-84: 8.4% Mermaid Beach — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 2.5% / 1.7%
Broadbeach — 85+: 2.5% Mermaid Beach — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Broadbeach 60.8% lone person
Broadbeach — Lone Person: 60.8% Broadbeach — Couple Families: 13.4% Broadbeach — Group Household: 12.8% Broadbeach — One Parent Families: 10.9% Broadbeach — Other Families: 2.0%
Mermaid Beach 45.6% lone person
Mermaid Beach — Lone Person: 45.6% Mermaid Beach — Couple Families: 23.4% Mermaid Beach — Group Household: 16.5% Mermaid Beach — One Parent Families: 13.1% Mermaid Beach — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Broadbeach 51.4% renting
Broadbeach — Owned Outright: 30.7% Broadbeach — Mortgage: 17.9% Broadbeach — Renting: 51.4%
Mermaid Beach 47.8% renting
Mermaid Beach — Owned Outright: 24.6% Mermaid Beach — Mortgage: 27.6% Mermaid Beach — Renting: 47.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Bachelor Degree 17.1% / 21.3%
Broadbeach — Bachelor Degree: 17.1% Mermaid Beach — Bachelor Degree: 21.3%
Certificate III & IV 12.4% / 13.8%
Broadbeach — Certificate III & IV: 12.4% Mermaid Beach — Certificate III & IV: 13.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.2% / 9.7%
Broadbeach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2% Mermaid Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 5.3%
Broadbeach — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Mermaid Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.2%
Broadbeach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Mermaid Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.3%).

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.

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
New Zealand 5.7% / 5.8%
Broadbeach — New Zealand: 5.7% Mermaid Beach — New Zealand: 5.8%
England 4.6% / 3.8%
Broadbeach — England: 4.6% Mermaid Beach — England: 3.8%
Brazil 2.9% / 2.4%
Broadbeach — Brazil: 2.9% Mermaid Beach — Brazil: 2.4%
South Africa 1.1% / 1.4%
Broadbeach — South Africa: 1.1% Mermaid Beach — South Africa: 1.4%
Japan 1.0% / 1.0%
Broadbeach — Japan: 1.0% Mermaid Beach — Japan: 1.0%
China 1.3% / —
Broadbeach — China: 1.3% Mermaid Beach — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Broadbeach 98.8% flats / apartments
Broadbeach — Flats / Apartments: 98.8% Broadbeach — Townhouses: 1.0% Broadbeach — Houses: 0.3%
Mermaid Beach 62.2% flats / apartments
Mermaid Beach — Flats / Apartments: 62.2% Mermaid Beach — Townhouses: 18.9% Mermaid Beach — Houses: 18.9%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Median house price $1,305,000 $3,410,000
Median unit price $1,090,000 $980,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 5 sales
 28 days
from 51 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.

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
1 bed $700K / $689K
Broadbeach — 1 bed: $700K (104 sales) Mermaid Beach — 1 bed: $689K (41 sales)

104 vs 41 sales

2 bed $1.16M / $975K
Broadbeach — 2 bed: $1.16M (234 sales) Mermaid Beach — 2 bed: $975K (131 sales)

234 vs 131 sales

3 bed $2.19M / $1.69M
Broadbeach — 3 bed: $2.19M (58 sales) Mermaid Beach — 3 bed: $1.69M (30 sales)

58 vs 30 sales

4 bed $3.9M / $4.08M
Broadbeach — 4 bed: $3.9M (6 sales) Mermaid Beach — 4 bed: $4.08M (7 sales)

6 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Broadbeach Mermaid 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.

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Houses — 3.9%
$1,350/wk on $1.79M
Units 4.5%
$995/wk on $1.15M
 4.5%
$898/wk on $1.05M

Ranking within QLD

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 44% of QLD Higher than 73% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 91% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 92% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 50% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 53% of QLD Higher than 51% of QLD

Liveability

Mermaid Beach scores higher overall (69 vs 54); Broadbeach is more walkable (81 vs 67).

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Grade B A
Score 54/100 69/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Broadbeach carries more crime risk (93 vs 67).

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
67/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast campus, 6.1 km
 2
Gold Coast campus, 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 2.5%

Schools in Broadbeach

  • Broadbeach State School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Mermaid Beach

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

Amenities in the suburb

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 73 34
Parks & reserves 12 6
Childcare 2 1
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 5 3
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Walkability score 81/100 67/100
Distance to Brisbane 83.2 km 84.2 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 68 min 69 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 82/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 126.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 55.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 4218
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 32
postcode 4218
same for both

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.

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Car (driver) 57.5% / 68.0%
Broadbeach — Car (driver): 57.5% Mermaid Beach — Car (driver): 68.0%
Worked from Home 19.5% / 19.4%
Broadbeach — Worked from Home: 19.5% Mermaid Beach — Worked from Home: 19.4%
Walked Only 10.9% / 4.2%
Broadbeach — Walked Only: 10.9% Mermaid Beach — Walked Only: 4.2%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 2.6%
Broadbeach — Car (passenger): 3.7% Mermaid Beach — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Bicycle 1.7% / 2.2%
Broadbeach — Bicycle: 1.7% Mermaid Beach — Bicycle: 2.2%
Tram / Light Rail 3.1% / 0.7%
Broadbeach — Tram / Light Rail: 3.1% Mermaid Beach — Tram / Light Rail: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.0%).

Setting

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 451 m
662 m to a named beach
 343 m
363 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Connectivity score 74/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
7,947 premises
 13%
5,473 premises

Climate

Broadbeach Mermaid 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)

Broadbeach Mermaid 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

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Division Moncrieff
same for both
Member Angie Bell
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Broadbeach Mermaid Beach
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Broadbeach

Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Parks Premium River Trams Urban

Mermaid Beach

Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Parks Premium Urban

More comparisons

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Broadbeach vs Surfers Paradise Broadbeach vs Mermaid Waters Broadbeach vs Broadbeach Waters

Other comparisons with Mermaid Beach

Mermaid Beach vs Mermaid Waters Mermaid Beach vs Miami
Full data on Broadbeach Full data on Mermaid Beach
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.

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