Merrimac vs Robina

In both, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Robina: a median of $1.41 million, against $1.1 million in Merrimac, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Merrimac tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Robina

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (112 vs 5)
  • has more childcare (13 vs 6)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • But Merrimac carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 72/100)

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 $1,410,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Merrimac

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($463/wk vs $540/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Merrimac sits closer to the CBD (78.8 km vs 83.5 km)
  • Robina is more walkable (74/100 vs 58/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Robina

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (16 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 58/100)
  • But Merrimac carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 72/100)

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

  • Merrimac returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.7% vs 3.9%)
  • Robina is growing faster (11.0% vs 2.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Merrimac Robina
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.

Merrimac Robina
Walkability 58 / 74
Merrimac — Walkability: 58/100 Robina — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 57 / 28
Merrimac — Safety: 57/100 Robina — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Merrimac — Low fire risk: 100/100 Robina — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Robina has more residents (25,659 vs 7,212); Robina rents higher ($540/wk vs $463/wk).

Merrimac Robina
Population 7,212 25,659
+256% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.0% +11.0%
Median age 38 39
Median household income $87,776/yr $91,416/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $463/wk $540/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Merrimac Robina
0-4 5.5% / 4.7%
Merrimac — 0-4: 5.5% Robina — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 13.3% / 11.8%
Merrimac — 5-14: 13.3% Robina — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 5.8% / 6.6%
Merrimac — 15-19: 5.8% Robina — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 6.1% / 7.2%
Merrimac — 20-24: 6.1% Robina — 20-24: 7.2%
25-34 13.6% / 13.0%
Merrimac — 25-34: 13.6% Robina — 25-34: 13.0%
35-44 14.7% / 13.7%
Merrimac — 35-44: 14.7% Robina — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 12.9% / 12.4%
Merrimac — 45-54: 12.9% Robina — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 10.9% / 11.2%
Merrimac — 55-64: 10.9% Robina — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 8.5% / 10.4%
Merrimac — 65-74: 8.5% Robina — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 5.3% / 6.6%
Merrimac — 75-84: 5.3% Robina — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 3.4% / 2.5%
Merrimac — 85+: 3.4% Robina — 85+: 2.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Robina 43.9% couple families
Robina — Couple Families: 43.9% Robina — Lone Person: 29.0% Robina — One Parent Families: 19.0% Robina — Group Household: 6.9% Robina — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Merrimac 35.3% renting
Merrimac — Owned Outright: 20.2% Merrimac — Mortgage: 44.5% Merrimac — Renting: 35.3%
Robina 33.9% renting
Robina — Owned Outright: 32.6% Robina — Mortgage: 33.5% Robina — Renting: 33.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Merrimac Robina
New Zealand 7.4% / 6.7%
Merrimac — New Zealand: 7.4% Robina — New Zealand: 6.7%
England 4.2% / 6.0%
Merrimac — England: 4.2% Robina — England: 6.0%
China 1.3% / 2.9%
Merrimac — China: 1.3% Robina — China: 2.9%
South Africa 1.5% / 1.9%
Merrimac — South Africa: 1.5% Robina — South Africa: 1.9%
Japan 1.7% / 1.1%
Merrimac — Japan: 1.7% Robina — Japan: 1.1%

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

Qualifications

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

Merrimac Robina
Certificate III & IV 15.8% / 13.5%
Merrimac — Certificate III & IV: 15.8% Robina — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Bachelor Degree 11.7% / 14.5%
Merrimac — Bachelor Degree: 11.7% Robina — Bachelor Degree: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.9% / 9.9%
Merrimac — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9% Robina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 4.9%
Merrimac — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Robina — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 2.0%
Merrimac — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Robina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Merrimac 48.1% houses
Merrimac — Houses: 48.1% Merrimac — Townhouses: 41.6% Merrimac — Flats / Apartments: 10.3%
Robina 54.6% houses
Robina — Houses: 54.6% Robina — Townhouses: 31.6% Robina — Flats / Apartments: 13.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Merrimac Robina
Median house price $1,100,000 $1,410,000
Median unit price $810,000 $870,000
Median land price — $1,750,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 45 sales
 27 days
from 292 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.

Merrimac Robina
2 bed $760K / $820K
Merrimac — 2 bed: $760K (20 sales) Robina — 2 bed: $820K (81 sales)

20 vs 81 sales

3 bed $820K / $1M
Merrimac — 3 bed: $820K (17 sales) Robina — 3 bed: $1M (60 sales)

17 vs 60 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.

Merrimac Robina
2 bed $775K / $955K
Merrimac — 2 bed: $775K (6 sales) Robina — 2 bed: $955K (11 sales)

6 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.05M / $1.27M
Merrimac — 3 bed: $1.05M (48 sales) Robina — 3 bed: $1.27M (188 sales)

48 vs 188 sales

4 bed $1.22M / $1.56M
Merrimac — 4 bed: $1.22M (24 sales) Robina — 4 bed: $1.56M (211 sales)

24 vs 211 sales

5 bed $2.16M / $1.65M
Merrimac — 5 bed: $2.16M (8 sales) Robina — 5 bed: $1.65M (45 sales)

8 vs 45 sales

Development activity

Merrimac Robina
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.

Merrimac Robina
Houses 4.7%
$895/wk on $995K
 3.9%
$960/wk on $1.28M
Units — 4.8%
$830/wk on $899K

Ranking within QLD

Merrimac Robina
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 62% of QLD Higher than 64% of QLD
Schools Higher than 62% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 92% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 48% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 66% of QLD

Liveability

Robina is more walkable (74 vs 58); Robina scores higher overall (69 vs 64).

Merrimac Robina
Grade B A
Score 64/100 69/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Robina carries more crime risk (72 vs 43).

Merrimac Robina
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
43/100
 High
72/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Merrimac Robina
Inside the suburb 4 5
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast campus, 3.1 km
 1
Gold Coast campus, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 3.9%

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

Schools in Robina

  • Robina State School Government · Primary above peers
  • Arcadia College Independent · Secondary · Special school above peers
  • Robina State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Silkwood School - Robina Campus Independent · Combined
  • The Industry School - Gold Coast Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Merrimac Robina
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 4 35
Parks & reserves 5 112
Childcare 6 13
GPs 1 16
Pharmacies 2 10
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 10
Fuel stations 2 7
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 7 14

Mobility

Robina sits further from the CBD (83.5 km vs 78.8 km).

Merrimac Robina
Walkability score 58/100 74/100
Distance to Brisbane 78.8 km 83.5 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 61 min 65 min
Public transport score 60/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 15.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 295.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 4226
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 4226
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.

Merrimac Robina
Car (driver) 79.8% / 72.8%
Merrimac — Car (driver): 79.8% Robina — Car (driver): 72.8%
Worked from Home 12.5% / 17.6%
Merrimac — Worked from Home: 12.5% Robina — Worked from Home: 17.6%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 4.5%
Merrimac — Car (passenger): 4.2% Robina — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 1.2% / 2.1%
Merrimac — Walked Only: 1.2% Robina — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bus 1.0% / 1.1%
Merrimac — Bus: 1.0% Robina — Bus: 1.1%
Train 0.9% / 1.2%
Merrimac — Train: 0.9% Robina — Train: 1.2%

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

Setting

Merrimac Robina
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km 5.0 km

NBN connectivity

Merrimac Robina
Connectivity score 86/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
3,127 premises
 24%
11,155 premises

Climate

Merrimac Robina
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)

Merrimac Robina
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

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

Federal electorate

Merrimac Robina
Division McPherson
same for both
Member Leon Rebello
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Merrimac

Quiet River Townhouses

Robina

Parks Regional Centre Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Merrimac

Merrimac vs Mudgeeraba Merrimac vs Carrara Merrimac vs Worongary Merrimac vs Clear Island Waters

Other comparisons with Robina

Robina vs Varsity Lakes Robina vs Mudgeeraba Robina vs Burleigh Waters Robina vs Mermaid Waters Robina vs Reedy Creek Robina vs Clear Island Waters
Full data on Merrimac Full data on Robina
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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