Labrador vs Main Beach

Labrador is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 against 57 in Main Beach. In Labrador, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Main Beach, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Main Beach: a median of $3.4 million, against $955,000 in Labrador, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Labrador 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

Labrador

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (19% vs 3%)
  • has more parks and reserves (26 vs 16)

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

First-home buyers

Labrador

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($955,000 vs $3,400,000)
  • has cheaper units ($795,000 vs $1,577,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Labrador

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Labrador

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 22/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (57 min vs 68 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (73.1 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

  • Labrador is more walkable (69/100 vs 22/100)
  • Main Beach has more residents already 65 and over (35% vs 23%)

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

Investors

Labrador

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.0% vs 3.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Labrador 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.

Labrador 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.

Labrador Main Beach
Walkability 69 / 22
Labrador — Walkability: 69/100 Main Beach — Walkability: 22/100
Safety 22 / 16
Labrador — Safety: 22/100 Main Beach — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Labrador — Low fire risk: 100/100 Main Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Labrador has more residents (18,643 vs 3,998); Main Beach has higher household incomes ($87,464 vs $61,776).

Labrador Main Beach
Population 18,643
+79% vs other
 3,998
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.1% +3.0%
Median age 45 57
Median household income $61,776/yr $87,464/yr
+42% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $500/wk
+32% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Labrador Main Beach
0-4 4.2% / 1.9%
Labrador — 0-4: 4.2% Main Beach — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 8.3% / 4.1%
Labrador — 5-14: 8.3% Main Beach — 5-14: 4.1%
15-19 4.2% / 3.0%
Labrador — 15-19: 4.2% Main Beach — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 6.1% / 5.4%
Labrador — 20-24: 6.1% Main Beach — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 14.3% / 10.7%
Labrador — 25-34: 14.3% Main Beach — 25-34: 10.7%
35-44 12.8% / 8.7%
Labrador — 35-44: 12.8% Main Beach — 35-44: 8.7%
45-54 13.4% / 12.8%
Labrador — 45-54: 13.4% Main Beach — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 13.5% / 19.1%
Labrador — 55-64: 13.5% Main Beach — 55-64: 19.1%
65-74 12.6% / 19.9%
Labrador — 65-74: 12.6% Main Beach — 65-74: 19.9%
75-84 7.7% / 12.6%
Labrador — 75-84: 7.7% Main Beach — 75-84: 12.6%
85+ 3.1% / 2.4%
Labrador — 85+: 3.1% Main Beach — 85+: 2.4%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Labrador 50.5% lone person
Labrador — Lone Person: 50.5% Labrador — Couple Families: 21.0% Labrador — One Parent Families: 18.2% Labrador — Group Household: 8.4% Labrador — Other Families: 2.0%
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.

Labrador 47.8% renting
Labrador — Owned Outright: 25.2% Labrador — Mortgage: 27.0% Labrador — Renting: 47.8%
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.

Labrador Main Beach
Bachelor Degree 11.0% / 18.0%
Labrador — Bachelor Degree: 11.0% Main Beach — Bachelor Degree: 18.0%
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 10.8%
Labrador — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Main Beach — Certificate III & IV: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 10.6%
Labrador — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Main Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 6.1%
Labrador — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Main Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 2.3%
Labrador — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% 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.

Labrador Main Beach
New Zealand 8.2% / 6.0%
Labrador — New Zealand: 8.2% Main Beach — New Zealand: 6.0%
England 4.4% / 4.8%
Labrador — England: 4.4% Main Beach — England: 4.8%
South Africa 0.8% / 1.6%
Labrador — South Africa: 0.8% Main Beach — South Africa: 1.6%
Philippines 1.6% / 0.7%
Labrador — Philippines: 1.6% Main Beach — Philippines: 0.7%
India 1.6% / —
Labrador — India: 1.6% Main Beach — India: not among its largest
China 1.2% / —
Labrador — China: 1.2% Main Beach — China: not among its largest
Brazil — / 0.9%
Labrador — Brazil: not among its largest Main Beach — Brazil: 0.9%
Italy — / 0.8%
Labrador — Italy: not among its largest Main Beach — Italy: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Labrador 32.3% flats / apartments
Labrador — Flats / Apartments: 32.3% Labrador — Townhouses: 48.7% Labrador — Houses: 19.0%
Main Beach 91.8% flats / apartments
Main Beach — Flats / Apartments: 91.8% Main Beach — Townhouses: 4.8% Main Beach — Houses: 3.4%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Labrador Main Beach
Median house price $955,000 $3,400,000
Median unit price $795,000 $1,577,000
Median land price $1,320,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 86 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.

Labrador Main Beach
1 bed $630K / $729K
Labrador — 1 bed: $630K (35 sales) Main Beach — 1 bed: $729K (22 sales)

35 vs 22 sales

2 bed $781K / $1.3M
Labrador — 2 bed: $781K (163 sales) Main Beach — 2 bed: $1.3M (140 sales)

163 vs 140 sales

3 bed $1.02M / $2.23M
Labrador — 3 bed: $1.02M (54 sales) Main Beach — 3 bed: $2.23M (76 sales)

54 vs 76 sales

4 bed $1.1M / $5.1M
Labrador — 4 bed: $1.1M (6 sales) Main Beach — 4 bed: $5.1M (15 sales)

6 vs 15 sales

Development activity

Labrador 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.

Labrador Main Beach
Houses 4.9%
$822/wk on $864K
 3.8%
$2,550/wk on $3.5M
Units 5.0%
$750/wk on $780K
 3.7%
$1,200/wk on $1.69M

Ranking within QLD

Labrador Main Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 27% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 75% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 41% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 73% of QLD Higher than 20% of QLD

Liveability

Labrador is more walkable (69 vs 22); Main Beach scores higher overall (55 vs 47).

Labrador Main Beach
Grade C B
Score 47/100 55/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Labrador Main Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
78/100
 High
84/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
52/100
 High
92/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Labrador Main Beach
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast, 3.0 km
 1
Gold Coast, 3.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 2.2%

Schools in Labrador

  • Labrador State School Government · Primary below 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

Labrador Main Beach
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 28 39
Parks & reserves 26 16
Childcare 7 0
GPs 5 2
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 4 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 8 4

Mobility

Main Beach sits further from the CBD (79.4 km vs 73.1 km).

Labrador Main Beach
Walkability score 69/100 22/100
Distance to Brisbane 73.1 km 79.4 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 57 min 68 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 202.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 105.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 4215
 2.1%
postcode 4217
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 4215
 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.

Labrador Main Beach
Car (driver) 74.1% / 59.4%
Labrador — Car (driver): 74.1% Main Beach — Car (driver): 59.4%
Worked from Home 12.6% / 28.3%
Labrador — Worked from Home: 12.6% Main Beach — Worked from Home: 28.3%
Car (passenger) 5.6% / 2.5%
Labrador — Car (passenger): 5.6% Main Beach — Car (passenger): 2.5%
Walked Only 2.6% / 3.5%
Labrador — Walked Only: 2.6% Main Beach — Walked Only: 3.5%
Bus 2.5% / 1.1%
Labrador — Bus: 2.5% Main Beach — Bus: 1.1%
Tram / Light Rail 0.4% / 2.5%
Labrador — Tram / Light Rail: 0.4% Main Beach — Tram / Light Rail: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.1%).

Setting

Labrador Main Beach
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.0 km
1.1 km to a named beach
 51 m
485 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Labrador Main Beach
Connectivity score 76/100 64/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 10%
11,070 premises
 9%
3,724 premises

Climate

Labrador 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)

Labrador 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Labrador

Apartments Beach Coastal Parks Regional Centre River Townhouses Urban

Main Beach

Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Luxury Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Labrador

Labrador vs Southport Labrador vs Arundel Labrador vs Biggera Waters

Other comparisons with Main Beach

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