Palm Beach vs Currumbin Waters

Palm Beach 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. Houses cost more in Palm Beach: a median of $1.91 million, against $1.49 million in Currumbin Waters. On these figures, Palm Beach tends to suit people living alone, while Currumbin Waters suits couples and 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

Currumbin Waters

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (71% vs 41%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 48%)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 69/100)
  • But Palm Beach has more parks and reserves (33 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Currumbin Waters

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($850,000 vs $1,180,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,490,000 vs $1,910,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Palm Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Palm Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (93 km vs 97.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Palm Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (59% vs 29%)
  • But Currumbin Waters carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 69/100)

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

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

Demographics

Palm Beach has more residents (16,349 vs 9,797); Currumbin Waters skews older (42 vs 39).

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
Population 16,349
+40% vs other
 9,797
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.6% +7.4%
Median age 39 42
Median household income $89,492/yr
+5% vs other
 $85,072/yr
Median weekly rent $445/wk $468/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
0-4 5.0% / 5.9%
Palm Beach — 0-4: 5.0% Currumbin Waters — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 11.0% / 13.3%
Palm Beach — 5-14: 11.0% Currumbin Waters — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 4.9% / 6.1%
Palm Beach — 15-19: 4.9% Currumbin Waters — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 5.5% / 4.9%
Palm Beach — 20-24: 5.5% Currumbin Waters — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 16.1% / 9.5%
Palm Beach — 25-34: 16.1% Currumbin Waters — 25-34: 9.5%
35-44 14.4% / 12.6%
Palm Beach — 35-44: 14.4% Currumbin Waters — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 13.0% / 14.1%
Palm Beach — 45-54: 13.0% Currumbin Waters — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 12.3% / 13.0%
Palm Beach — 55-64: 12.3% Currumbin Waters — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 10.4% / 10.7%
Palm Beach — 65-74: 10.4% Currumbin Waters — 65-74: 10.7%
75-84 5.3% / 6.6%
Palm Beach — 75-84: 5.3% Currumbin Waters — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 2.0% / 3.3%
Palm Beach — 85+: 2.0% Currumbin Waters — 85+: 3.3%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Palm Beach 33.9% couple families
Palm Beach — Couple Families: 33.9% Palm Beach — Lone Person: 40.7% Palm Beach — One Parent Families: 14.4% Palm Beach — Group Household: 9.6% Palm Beach — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person 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 Waters 22.4% renting
Currumbin Waters — Owned Outright: 35.3% Currumbin Waters — Mortgage: 42.4% Currumbin Waters — Renting: 22.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 18.1%
Palm Beach — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% Currumbin Waters — Certificate III & IV: 18.1%
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 10.4%
Palm Beach — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Currumbin Waters — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 9.1%
Palm Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Currumbin Waters — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.9% / 2.6%
Palm Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9% Currumbin Waters — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.7%
Palm Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Currumbin Waters — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

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.

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
New Zealand 4.3% / 4.3%
Palm Beach — New Zealand: 4.3% Currumbin Waters — New Zealand: 4.3%
England 3.8% / 4.6%
Palm Beach — England: 3.8% Currumbin Waters — England: 4.6%
Brazil 1.3% / 0.6%
Palm Beach — Brazil: 1.3% Currumbin Waters — Brazil: 0.6%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.6%
Palm Beach — South Africa: 0.8% Currumbin Waters — South Africa: 0.6%
Germany — / 0.6%
Palm Beach — Germany: not among its largest Currumbin Waters — Germany: 0.6%
Canada 0.4% / —
Palm Beach — Canada: 0.4% Currumbin Waters — Canada: 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.

Palm Beach 40.9% houses
Palm Beach — Houses: 40.9% Palm Beach — Townhouses: 19.8% Palm Beach — Flats / Apartments: 39.3%
Currumbin Waters 71.3% houses
Currumbin Waters — Houses: 71.3% Currumbin Waters — Townhouses: 27.6% Currumbin Waters — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
Median house price $1,910,000 $1,490,000
Median unit price $1,180,000 $850,000
Median land price — $965,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 134 sales
 26 days
from 98 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 Waters
2 bed $1.06M / $858K
Palm Beach — 2 bed: $1.06M (268 sales) Currumbin Waters — 2 bed: $858K (10 sales)

268 vs 10 sales

3 bed $1.72M / $850K
Palm Beach — 3 bed: $1.72M (75 sales) Currumbin Waters — 3 bed: $850K (7 sales)

75 vs 7 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 Waters
2 bed $1.26M / $900K
Palm Beach — 2 bed: $1.26M (23 sales) Currumbin Waters — 2 bed: $900K (5 sales)

23 vs 5 sales

3 bed $1.75M / $1.32M
Palm Beach — 3 bed: $1.75M (104 sales) Currumbin Waters — 3 bed: $1.32M (63 sales)

104 vs 63 sales

4 bed $2.25M / $1.6M
Palm Beach — 4 bed: $2.25M (93 sales) Currumbin Waters — 4 bed: $1.6M (76 sales)

93 vs 76 sales

5 bed $2.95M / $2.35M
Palm Beach — 5 bed: $2.95M (30 sales) Currumbin Waters — 5 bed: $2.35M (21 sales)

30 vs 21 sales

Development activity

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
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 Waters
Houses 3.6%
$1,325/wk on $1.9M
 4.5%
$1,200/wk on $1.39M
Units 4.0%
$895/wk on $1.16M
 —

Ranking within QLD

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 63% of QLD Higher than 58% 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 80% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 32% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 32% of QLD —

Liveability

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

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

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

Schools

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
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, 4.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.6% 1.3%

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 Waters

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

Amenities in the suburb

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 39 9
Parks & reserves 33 2
Childcare 4 5
GPs 6 2
Pharmacies 4 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 3
Beaches 2 0
Waterways 13 7

Mobility

Currumbin Waters sits further from the CBD (97.3 km vs 93 km).

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
Walkability score 61/100 62/100
Distance to Brisbane 93 km 97.3 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 69 min 73 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 75/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 307.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 48.0
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 Waters
Car (driver) 73.3% / 76.9%
Palm Beach — Car (driver): 73.3% Currumbin Waters — Car (driver): 76.9%
Worked from Home 17.6% / 15.4%
Palm Beach — Worked from Home: 17.6% Currumbin Waters — Worked from Home: 15.4%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 4.0%
Palm Beach — Car (passenger): 3.4% Currumbin Waters — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 2.1% / 1.6%
Palm Beach — Walked Only: 2.1% Currumbin Waters — Walked Only: 1.6%
Bicycle 1.4% / 1.5%
Palm Beach — Bicycle: 1.4% Currumbin Waters — Bicycle: 1.5%
Bus 1.5% / 0.4%
Palm Beach — Bus: 1.5% Currumbin Waters — Bus: 0.4%

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

Setting

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 760 m
766 m to a named beach
 3.3 km
3.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
Connectivity score 78/100 71/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
9,048 premises
 28%
4,632 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Palm Beach Currumbin Waters
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 Waters
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 Waters

Premium Regional Centre River Townhouses

More comparisons

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

Other comparisons with Currumbin Waters

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