Currumbin Waters vs Tugun

Tugun is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in Currumbin Waters. In both, most households own their home. In Currumbin Waters, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families.

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

Currumbin Waters

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (71% vs 46%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 55%)
  • But Tugun has more parks and reserves (11 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Tugun

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (54% vs 29%)

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

Investors

Currumbin Waters

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.5% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Currumbin Waters Tugun
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.

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Walkability 62 / 69
Currumbin Waters — Walkability: 62/100 Tugun — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 43 / 35
Currumbin Waters — Safety: 43/100 Tugun — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Currumbin Waters — Low fire risk: 100/100 Tugun — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Currumbin Waters has more residents (9,797 vs 7,175); Currumbin Waters skews older (42 vs 39).

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Population 9,797
+27% vs other
 7,175
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.4% +8.9%
Median age 42 39
Median household income $85,072/yr $90,324/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $468/wk
+2% vs other
 $460/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Currumbin Waters Tugun
0-4 5.9% / 5.9%
Currumbin Waters — 0-4: 5.9% Tugun — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 13.3% / 11.7%
Currumbin Waters — 5-14: 13.3% Tugun — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 6.1% / 4.8%
Currumbin Waters — 15-19: 6.1% Tugun — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 4.9% / 5.0%
Currumbin Waters — 20-24: 4.9% Tugun — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 9.5% / 15.6%
Currumbin Waters — 25-34: 9.5% Tugun — 25-34: 15.6%
35-44 12.6% / 14.1%
Currumbin Waters — 35-44: 12.6% Tugun — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 14.1% / 12.9%
Currumbin Waters — 45-54: 14.1% Tugun — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 13.0% / 12.3%
Currumbin Waters — 55-64: 13.0% Tugun — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 10.7% / 9.8%
Currumbin Waters — 65-74: 10.7% Tugun — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 6.6% / 5.2%
Currumbin Waters — 75-84: 6.6% Tugun — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 3.3% / 2.8%
Currumbin Waters — 85+: 3.3% Tugun — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Currumbin Waters 45.9% couple families
Currumbin Waters — Couple Families: 45.9% Currumbin Waters — Lone Person: 30.2% Currumbin Waters — One Parent Families: 18.0% Currumbin Waters — Group Household: 4.3% Currumbin Waters — Other Families: 1.7%
Tugun 38.2% couple families
Tugun — Couple Families: 38.2% Tugun — Lone Person: 35.6% Tugun — One Parent Families: 16.7% Tugun — Group Household: 8.0% Tugun — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Currumbin Waters 22.4% renting
Currumbin Waters — Owned Outright: 35.3% Currumbin Waters — Mortgage: 42.4% Currumbin Waters — Renting: 22.4%
Tugun 30.9% renting
Tugun — Owned Outright: 29.3% Tugun — Mortgage: 39.8% Tugun — Renting: 30.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Certificate III & IV 18.1% / 16.1%
Currumbin Waters — Certificate III & IV: 18.1% Tugun — Certificate III & IV: 16.1%
Bachelor Degree 10.4% / 13.4%
Currumbin Waters — Bachelor Degree: 10.4% Tugun — Bachelor Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 9.3%
Currumbin Waters — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Tugun — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 3.4%
Currumbin Waters — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Tugun — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 2.0%
Currumbin Waters — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Tugun — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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.

Currumbin Waters Tugun
New Zealand 4.3% / 4.5%
Currumbin Waters — New Zealand: 4.3% Tugun — New Zealand: 4.5%
England 4.6% / 3.2%
Currumbin Waters — England: 4.6% Tugun — England: 3.2%
Brazil 0.6% / 1.4%
Currumbin Waters — Brazil: 0.6% Tugun — Brazil: 1.4%
South Africa 0.6% / 0.7%
Currumbin Waters — South Africa: 0.6% Tugun — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.7%
Currumbin Waters — Scotland: 0.5% Tugun — Scotland: 0.7%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.7%
Currumbin Waters — Philippines: 0.3% Tugun — Philippines: 0.7%
Germany 0.6% / —
Currumbin Waters — Germany: 0.6% Tugun — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Currumbin Waters 71.3% houses
Currumbin Waters — Houses: 71.3% Currumbin Waters — Townhouses: 27.6% Currumbin Waters — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Tugun 46.2% houses
Tugun — Houses: 46.2% Tugun — Townhouses: 30.2% Tugun — Flats / Apartments: 23.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Median house price $1,490,000 $1,505,000
Median unit price $850,000 $921,000
Median land price $965,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 98 sales
 23 days
from 69 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.

Currumbin Waters Tugun
2 bed $858K / $890K
Currumbin Waters — 2 bed: $858K (10 sales) Tugun — 2 bed: $890K (72 sales)

10 vs 72 sales

3 bed $850K / $1.98M
Currumbin Waters — 3 bed: $850K (7 sales) Tugun — 3 bed: $1.98M (17 sales)

7 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.

Currumbin Waters Tugun
2 bed $900K / $1M
Currumbin Waters — 2 bed: $900K (5 sales) Tugun — 2 bed: $1M (9 sales)

5 vs 9 sales

3 bed $1.32M / $1.49M
Currumbin Waters — 3 bed: $1.32M (63 sales) Tugun — 3 bed: $1.49M (40 sales)

63 vs 40 sales

4 bed $1.6M / $1.68M
Currumbin Waters — 4 bed: $1.6M (76 sales) Tugun — 4 bed: $1.68M (31 sales)

76 vs 31 sales

5 bed $2.35M / $1.45M
Currumbin Waters — 5 bed: $2.35M (21 sales) Tugun — 5 bed: $1.45M (5 sales)

21 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Currumbin Waters Tugun
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.

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Houses 4.5%
$1,200/wk on $1.39M
 3.6%
$1,050/wk on $1.51M
Units — 5.0%
$850/wk on $880K

Ranking within QLD

Currumbin Waters Tugun
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 58% of QLD Higher than 63% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 91% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 76% of QLD Higher than 30% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 73% of QLD

Liveability

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
91/100
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Inside the suburb 2 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 Airport Development Park - Bilinga, 4.4 km
 1
Gold Coast Airport Development Park - Bilinga, 2.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.3% 1.6%

Schools in Currumbin Waters

  • St Augustine's Parish Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Currumbin Community Special School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Tugun

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

Amenities in the suburb

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 9 13
Parks & reserves 2 11
Childcare 5 3
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 2 3
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 3 4
Waterways 7 3

Mobility

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Walkability score 62/100 69/100
Distance to Brisbane 97.3 km 97.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 73 min 72 min
Public transport score 75/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 48.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 91.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 4223
 0.6%
postcode 4224
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 4223
 36
postcode 4224

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.

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Car (driver) 76.9% / 74.2%
Currumbin Waters — Car (driver): 76.9% Tugun — Car (driver): 74.2%
Worked from Home 15.4% / 16.4%
Currumbin Waters — Worked from Home: 15.4% Tugun — Worked from Home: 16.4%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 3.8%
Currumbin Waters — Car (passenger): 4.0% Tugun — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Walked Only 1.6% / 1.9%
Currumbin Waters — Walked Only: 1.6% Tugun — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bicycle 1.5% / 1.5%
Currumbin Waters — Bicycle: 1.5% Tugun — Bicycle: 1.5%
Bus 0.4% / 1.5%
Currumbin Waters — Bus: 0.4% Tugun — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.9%).

Setting

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Elevation -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.5 km to a named beach
 913 m
927 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Connectivity score 71/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
4,632 premises
 7%
3,657 premises

Climate

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Annual rainfall 1,637 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Currumbin Waters Tugun
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

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Division McPherson
same for both
Member Leon Rebello
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Currumbin Waters Tugun
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Currumbin Waters

Premium Regional Centre River Townhouses

Tugun

Beach Coastal Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Currumbin Waters

Currumbin Waters vs Palm Beach Currumbin Waters vs Elanora Currumbin Waters vs Currumbin Currumbin Waters vs Currumbin Valley

Other comparisons with Tugun

Tugun vs Currumbin Tugun vs Bilinga
Full data on Currumbin Waters Full data on Tugun
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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