Carrara vs Merrimac

Merrimac is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 42 in Carrara. In both, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Carrara: a median of $1.24 million, against $1.1 million in Merrimac.

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

Merrimac

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 63/100)

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

First-home buyers

Merrimac

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,100,000 vs $1,237,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Carrara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (74.8 km vs 78.8 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

  • Carrara has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • Merrimac carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 63/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Carrara is growing faster (8.9% vs 2.0%)
  • Merrimac returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.7% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Carrara Merrimac
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.

Carrara Merrimac
Walkability 51 / 58
Carrara — Walkability: 51/100 Merrimac — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 37 / 57
Carrara — Safety: 37/100 Merrimac — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Carrara — Low fire risk: 100/100 Merrimac — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Carrara has more residents (13,138 vs 7,212); Carrara skews older (42 vs 38).

Carrara Merrimac
Population 13,138
+45% vs other
 7,212
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +2.0%
Median age 42 38
Median household income $81,224/yr $87,776/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk $463/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carrara Merrimac
0-4 5.0% / 5.5%
Carrara — 0-4: 5.0% Merrimac — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 11.6% / 13.3%
Carrara — 5-14: 11.6% Merrimac — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 5.4% / 5.8%
Carrara — 15-19: 5.4% Merrimac — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 5.0% / 6.1%
Carrara — 20-24: 5.0% Merrimac — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 12.6% / 13.6%
Carrara — 25-34: 12.6% Merrimac — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 13.1% / 14.7%
Carrara — 35-44: 13.1% Merrimac — 35-44: 14.7%
45-54 13.6% / 12.9%
Carrara — 45-54: 13.6% Merrimac — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 12.9% / 10.9%
Carrara — 55-64: 12.9% Merrimac — 55-64: 10.9%
65-74 12.0% / 8.5%
Carrara — 65-74: 12.0% Merrimac — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 7.1% / 5.3%
Carrara — 75-84: 7.1% Merrimac — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 1.7% / 3.4%
Carrara — 85+: 1.7% Merrimac — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Carrara 39.8% couple families
Carrara — Couple Families: 39.8% Carrara — Lone Person: 34.6% Carrara — One Parent Families: 18.0% Carrara — Group Household: 6.0% Carrara — Other Families: 1.6%
Merrimac 42.2% couple families
Merrimac — Couple Families: 42.2% Merrimac — Lone Person: 28.4% Merrimac — One Parent Families: 22.2% Merrimac — Group Household: 6.1% Merrimac — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Carrara 28.2% renting
Carrara — Owned Outright: 32.4% Carrara — Mortgage: 39.5% Carrara — Renting: 28.2%
Merrimac 35.3% renting
Merrimac — Owned Outright: 20.2% Merrimac — Mortgage: 44.5% Merrimac — Renting: 35.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Carrara Merrimac
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 15.8%
Carrara — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Merrimac — Certificate III & IV: 15.8%
Bachelor Degree 11.9% / 11.7%
Carrara — Bachelor Degree: 11.9% Merrimac — Bachelor Degree: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 9.9%
Carrara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Merrimac — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 2.9%
Carrara — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Merrimac — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.5%
Carrara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Merrimac — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

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.

Carrara Merrimac
New Zealand 7.2% / 7.4%
Carrara — New Zealand: 7.2% Merrimac — New Zealand: 7.4%
England 5.0% / 4.2%
Carrara — England: 5.0% Merrimac — England: 4.2%
South Africa 1.6% / 1.5%
Carrara — South Africa: 1.6% Merrimac — South Africa: 1.5%
China 1.2% / 1.3%
Carrara — China: 1.2% Merrimac — China: 1.3%
Japan 0.8% / 1.7%
Carrara — Japan: 0.8% Merrimac — Japan: 1.7%
Philippines 0.8% / 1.0%
Carrara — Philippines: 0.8% Merrimac — Philippines: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Carrara 52.1% houses
Carrara — Houses: 52.1% Carrara — Townhouses: 33.7% Carrara — Flats / Apartments: 14.2%
Merrimac 48.1% houses
Merrimac — Houses: 48.1% Merrimac — Townhouses: 41.6% Merrimac — Flats / Apartments: 10.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Carrara Merrimac
Median house price $1,237,500 $1,100,000
Median unit price $867,500 $810,000
Median land price $871,666 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 108 sales
 30 days
from 45 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.

Carrara Merrimac
2 bed $820K / $760K
Carrara — 2 bed: $820K (26 sales) Merrimac — 2 bed: $760K (20 sales)

26 vs 20 sales

3 bed $1.06M / $820K
Carrara — 3 bed: $1.06M (20 sales) Merrimac — 3 bed: $820K (17 sales)

20 vs 17 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Carrara Merrimac
3 bed $1.12M / $1.05M
Carrara — 3 bed: $1.12M (95 sales) Merrimac — 3 bed: $1.05M (48 sales)

95 vs 48 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $1.22M
Carrara — 4 bed: $1.3M (79 sales) Merrimac — 4 bed: $1.22M (24 sales)

79 vs 24 sales

5 bed $1.66M / $2.16M
Carrara — 5 bed: $1.66M (22 sales) Merrimac — 5 bed: $2.16M (8 sales)

22 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Carrara Merrimac
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.

Carrara Merrimac
Houses 4.2%
$950/wk on $1.18M
 4.7%
$895/wk on $995K
Units 5.6%
$950/wk on $874K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Carrara Merrimac
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 53% of QLD Higher than 62% of QLD
Schools Higher than 42% of QLD Higher than 62% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 84% of QLD —

Liveability

Merrimac scores higher overall (64 vs 51).

Carrara Merrimac
Grade B
same for both
Score 51/100 64/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Carrara carries more crime risk (63 vs 43).

Carrara Merrimac
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
63/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Carrara Merrimac
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast campus, 6.2 km
 2
Gold Coast campus, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.0%

Schools in Carrara

  • Josiah College Independent · Combined · Special school at peers
  • Emmanuel College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Australian International Islamic College - Carrara Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Merrimac

  • Star of the Sea School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • All Saints Anglican School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Merrimac State School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Michael's College Catholic · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carrara Merrimac
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 8 4
Parks & reserves 2 5
Childcare 6
same for both
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 13 7

Mobility

Merrimac sits further from the CBD (78.8 km vs 74.8 km).

Carrara Merrimac
Walkability score 51/100 58/100
Distance to Brisbane 74.8 km 78.8 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 58 min 61 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 60/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 50.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 15.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 4211
 1.7%
postcode 4226
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 4211
 51
postcode 4226

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.

Carrara Merrimac
Car (driver) 76.9% / 79.8%
Carrara — Car (driver): 76.9% Merrimac — Car (driver): 79.8%
Worked from Home 15.4% / 12.5%
Carrara — Worked from Home: 15.4% Merrimac — Worked from Home: 12.5%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.2%
Carrara — Car (passenger): 4.5% Merrimac — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 1.3% / 1.2%
Carrara — Walked Only: 1.3% Merrimac — Walked Only: 1.2%
Bus 0.9% / 1.0%
Carrara — Bus: 0.9% Merrimac — Bus: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.8%).

Setting

Carrara Merrimac
Elevation -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km
same for both

NBN connectivity

Carrara Merrimac
Connectivity score 77/100 86/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
5,398 premises
 43%
3,127 premises

Climate

Carrara Merrimac
Annual rainfall 1,556 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Carrara Merrimac
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

Carrara Merrimac
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Carrara Merrimac
Division Moncrieff McPherson
Member Angie Bell Leon Rebello
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Carrara Merrimac
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Carrara

Regional Centre Townhouses

Merrimac

Quiet River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carrara

Carrara vs Nerang Carrara vs Ashmore Carrara vs Benowa Carrara vs Broadbeach Waters Carrara vs Highland Park Carrara vs Worongary

Other comparisons with Merrimac

Merrimac vs Robina Merrimac vs Mudgeeraba Merrimac vs Worongary Merrimac vs Clear Island Waters
Full data on Carrara Full data on Merrimac
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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