Palm Beach vs Currumbin

Palm Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in Currumbin. In both, most households own their home.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Palm Beach has more parks and reserves (33 vs 10)
  • Currumbin carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 69/100)

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

Palm Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($445/wk vs $490/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Palm Beach

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (69 min vs 74 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (93 km vs 97.7 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

  • Palm Beach has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • Currumbin carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 69/100)

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

Investors

Currumbin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.7% vs 4.0%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Palm Beach Currumbin
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.

Palm Beach Currumbin
Walkability 61 / 62
Palm Beach — Walkability: 61/100 Currumbin — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 31 / 43
Palm Beach — Safety: 31/100 Currumbin — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Palm Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Currumbin — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Palm Beach has more residents (16,349 vs 3,278); Currumbin rents higher ($490/wk vs $445/wk).

Palm Beach Currumbin
Population 16,349
+80% vs other
 3,278
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.6% +12.3%
Median age 39 42
Median household income $89,492/yr $95,160/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $445/wk $490/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Palm Beach Currumbin
0-4 5.0% / 4.6%
Palm Beach — 0-4: 5.0% Currumbin — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 11.0% / 11.9%
Palm Beach — 5-14: 11.0% Currumbin — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 4.9% / 5.4%
Palm Beach — 15-19: 4.9% Currumbin — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 5.5% / 3.4%
Palm Beach — 20-24: 5.5% Currumbin — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 16.1% / 12.6%
Palm Beach — 25-34: 16.1% Currumbin — 25-34: 12.6%
35-44 14.4% / 15.3%
Palm Beach — 35-44: 14.4% Currumbin — 35-44: 15.3%
45-54 13.0% / 13.7%
Palm Beach — 45-54: 13.0% Currumbin — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 12.3% / 13.9%
Palm Beach — 55-64: 12.3% Currumbin — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 10.4% / 11.7%
Palm Beach — 65-74: 10.4% Currumbin — 65-74: 11.7%
75-84 5.3% / 5.8%
Palm Beach — 75-84: 5.3% Currumbin — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 2.0% / 1.9%
Palm Beach — 85+: 2.0% Currumbin — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Palm Beach 40.7% lone person
Palm Beach — Lone Person: 40.7% Palm Beach — Couple Families: 33.9% Palm Beach — One Parent Families: 14.4% Palm Beach — Group Household: 9.6% Palm Beach — Other Families: 1.4%
Currumbin 39.9% lone person
Currumbin — Lone Person: 39.9% Currumbin — Couple Families: 36.6% Currumbin — One Parent Families: 14.1% Currumbin — Group Household: 7.8% Currumbin — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Palm Beach 37.9% renting
Palm Beach — Owned Outright: 29.2% Palm Beach — Mortgage: 32.9% Palm Beach — Renting: 37.9%
Currumbin 30.8% renting
Currumbin — Owned Outright: 36.8% Currumbin — Mortgage: 32.4% Currumbin — Renting: 30.8%
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.

Palm Beach Currumbin
New Zealand 4.3% / 4.8%
Palm Beach — New Zealand: 4.3% Currumbin — New Zealand: 4.8%
England 3.8% / 3.7%
Palm Beach — England: 3.8% Currumbin — England: 3.7%
Brazil 1.3% / 0.6%
Palm Beach — Brazil: 1.3% Currumbin — Brazil: 0.6%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.9%
Palm Beach — South Africa: 0.8% Currumbin — South Africa: 0.9%
Canada 0.4% / 0.5%
Palm Beach — Canada: 0.4% Currumbin — Canada: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

Qualifications

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

Palm Beach Currumbin
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 18.9%
Palm Beach — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Currumbin — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 14.1%
Palm Beach — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% Currumbin — Certificate III & IV: 14.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 8.9%
Palm Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Currumbin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.9% / 4.5%
Palm Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9% Currumbin — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.4%
Palm Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Currumbin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Palm Beach 40.9% houses
Palm Beach — Houses: 40.9% Palm Beach — Flats / Apartments: 39.3% Palm Beach — Townhouses: 19.8%
Currumbin 45.8% houses
Currumbin — Houses: 45.8% Currumbin — Flats / Apartments: 40.9% Currumbin — Townhouses: 13.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Palm Beach Currumbin
Median house price $1,910,000 $2,000,000
Median unit price $1,180,000 $1,090,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 134 sales
 31 days
from 30 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.

Palm Beach Currumbin
2 bed $1.06M / $991K
Palm Beach — 2 bed: $1.06M (268 sales) Currumbin — 2 bed: $991K (34 sales)

268 vs 34 sales

3 bed $1.72M / $1.6M
Palm Beach — 3 bed: $1.72M (75 sales) Currumbin — 3 bed: $1.6M (15 sales)

75 vs 15 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.

Palm Beach Currumbin
3 bed $1.75M / $1.75M
Palm Beach — 3 bed: $1.75M (104 sales) Currumbin — 3 bed: $1.75M (15 sales)

104 vs 15 sales

4 bed $2.25M / $2.06M
Palm Beach — 4 bed: $2.25M (93 sales) Currumbin — 4 bed: $2.06M (21 sales)

93 vs 21 sales

5 bed $2.95M / $2.52M
Palm Beach — 5 bed: $2.95M (30 sales) Currumbin — 5 bed: $2.52M (8 sales)

30 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Palm Beach Currumbin
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.

Palm Beach Currumbin
Houses 3.6%
$1,325/wk on $1.9M
 —
Units 4.0%
$895/wk on $1.16M
 4.7%
$925/wk on $1.02M

Ranking within QLD

Palm Beach Currumbin
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 63% of QLD Higher than 68% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 32% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 32% of QLD Higher than 62% of QLD

Liveability

Currumbin scores higher overall (71 vs 64).

Palm Beach Currumbin
Grade B A
Score 64/100 71/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Palm Beach carries more crime risk (69 vs 57).

Palm Beach Currumbin
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
69/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion High
71/100
 Low
29/100
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 High
83/100
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Palm Beach Currumbin
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast Airport Development Park - Bilinga, 6.6 km
 1
Gold Coast Airport Development Park - Bilinga, 3.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.6% 1.8%

Schools in Palm Beach

  • Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Palm Beach State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Currumbin

  • Currumbin State School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Palm Beach Currumbin
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 39 10
Parks & reserves 33 10
Childcare 4 2
GPs 6 1
Pharmacies 4 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Beaches 2 0
Waterways 13 17

Mobility

Currumbin sits further from the CBD (97.7 km vs 93 km).

Palm Beach Currumbin
Walkability score 61/100 62/100
Distance to Brisbane 93 km 97.7 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 69 min 74 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 307.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 77.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4221
 1.4%
postcode 4223
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 4221
 64
postcode 4223

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.

Palm Beach Currumbin
Car (driver) 73.3% / 69.4%
Palm Beach — Car (driver): 73.3% Currumbin — Car (driver): 69.4%
Worked from Home 17.6% / 20.4%
Palm Beach — Worked from Home: 17.6% Currumbin — Worked from Home: 20.4%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 4.0%
Palm Beach — Car (passenger): 3.4% Currumbin — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 2.1% / 2.5%
Palm Beach — Walked Only: 2.1% Currumbin — Walked Only: 2.5%
Bicycle 1.4% / 2.1%
Palm Beach — Bicycle: 1.4% Currumbin — Bicycle: 2.1%
Bus 1.5% / 0.8%
Palm Beach — Bus: 1.5% Currumbin — Bus: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.3%).

Setting

Palm Beach Currumbin
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 43 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 760 m
766 m to a named beach
 824 m
887 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Palm Beach Currumbin
Connectivity score 78/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
9,048 premises
 7%
1,822 premises

Climate

Palm Beach Currumbin
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)

Palm Beach Currumbin
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

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

Federal electorate

Palm Beach Currumbin
Division McPherson
same for both
Member Leon Rebello
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Palm Beach

Apartments Beach Coastal Parks Premium Regional Centre River

Currumbin

Apartments Beach Coastal Luxury Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Palm Beach

Palm Beach vs Elanora Palm Beach vs Burleigh Heads Palm Beach vs Currumbin Waters Palm Beach vs Tallebudgera

Other comparisons with Currumbin

Currumbin vs Currumbin Waters Currumbin vs Tugun
Full data on Palm Beach Full data on Currumbin
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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