Southport vs Main Beach

Southport is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 57 in Main Beach. In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Southport, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Main Beach, most households own their home and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Main Beach: a median of $1.58 million, against $726,000 in Southport, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Southport tends to suit renters, young adults, 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

Southport

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (21 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (14 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (24% vs 3%)

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

First-home buyers

Southport

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,150,000 vs $3,400,000)
  • has cheaper units ($726,000 vs $1,577,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Southport

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (60% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Southport

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (91/100 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

  • Southport has more GPs (21 vs 2)
  • Main Beach has more residents already 65 and over (35% vs 19%)

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

Investors

Southport

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (15.3% vs 3.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.9% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Southport 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.

Southport 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.

Southport Main Beach
Walkability 91 / 22
Southport — Walkability: 91/100 Main Beach — Walkability: 22/100
Safety 12 / 16
Southport — Safety: 12/100 Main Beach — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Southport — Low fire risk: 100/100 Main Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Southport has more residents (36,786 vs 3,998); Main Beach skews older (57 vs 37).

Southport Main Beach
Population 36,786
+89% vs other
 3,998
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.3% +3.0%
Median age 37 57
Median household income $65,936/yr $87,464/yr
+33% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk $500/wk
+22% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Southport Main Beach
0-4 3.7% / 1.9%
Southport — 0-4: 3.7% Main Beach — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 7.7% / 4.1%
Southport — 5-14: 7.7% Main Beach — 5-14: 4.1%
15-19 5.7% / 3.0%
Southport — 15-19: 5.7% Main Beach — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 10.6% / 5.4%
Southport — 20-24: 10.6% Main Beach — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 19.1% / 10.7%
Southport — 25-34: 19.1% Main Beach — 25-34: 10.7%
35-44 11.9% / 8.7%
Southport — 35-44: 11.9% Main Beach — 35-44: 8.7%
45-54 11.5% / 12.8%
Southport — 45-54: 11.5% Main Beach — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 10.5% / 19.1%
Southport — 55-64: 10.5% Main Beach — 55-64: 19.1%
65-74 9.4% / 19.9%
Southport — 65-74: 9.4% Main Beach — 65-74: 19.9%
75-84 6.7% / 12.6%
Southport — 75-84: 6.7% Main Beach — 75-84: 12.6%
85+ 3.1% / 2.4%
Southport — 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.

Southport 47.3% lone person
Southport — Lone Person: 47.3% Southport — Couple Families: 20.1% Southport — One Parent Families: 16.4% Southport — Group Household: 13.8% Southport — Other Families: 2.4%
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.

Southport 60.2% renting
Southport — Owned Outright: 21.2% Southport — Mortgage: 18.6% Southport — Renting: 60.2%
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.

Southport Main Beach
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 18.0%
Southport — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% Main Beach — Bachelor Degree: 18.0%
Certificate III & IV 12.8% / 10.8%
Southport — Certificate III & IV: 12.8% Main Beach — Certificate III & IV: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 10.6%
Southport — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Main Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 6.1%
Southport — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Main Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.3%
Southport — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% 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.

Southport Main Beach
New Zealand 5.9% / 6.0%
Southport — New Zealand: 5.9% Main Beach — New Zealand: 6.0%
England 3.8% / 4.8%
Southport — England: 3.8% Main Beach — England: 4.8%
China 3.1% / —
Southport — China: 3.1% Main Beach — China: not among its largest
Philippines 2.1% / 0.7%
Southport — Philippines: 2.1% Main Beach — Philippines: 0.7%
India 2.4% / —
Southport — India: 2.4% Main Beach — India: not among its largest
South Africa 0.7% / 1.6%
Southport — South Africa: 0.7% Main Beach — South Africa: 1.6%
Brazil — / 0.9%
Southport — Brazil: not among its largest Main Beach — Brazil: 0.9%
Italy — / 0.8%
Southport — Italy: not among its largest Main Beach — Italy: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Southport 55.2% flats / apartments
Southport — Flats / Apartments: 55.2% Southport — Houses: 23.8% Southport — Townhouses: 20.9%
Main Beach 91.8% flats / apartments
Main Beach — Flats / Apartments: 91.8% Main Beach — Houses: 3.4% Main Beach — Townhouses: 4.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Southport Main Beach
Median house price $1,150,000 $3,400,000
Median unit price $726,000 $1,577,000
Median land price $1,085,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 208 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.

Southport Main Beach
1 bed $592K / $729K
Southport — 1 bed: $592K (204 sales) Main Beach — 1 bed: $729K (22 sales)

204 vs 22 sales

2 bed $760K / $1.3M
Southport — 2 bed: $760K (419 sales) Main Beach — 2 bed: $1.3M (140 sales)

419 vs 140 sales

3 bed $1.11M / $2.23M
Southport — 3 bed: $1.11M (100 sales) Main Beach — 3 bed: $2.23M (76 sales)

100 vs 76 sales

4 bed $1.32M / $5.1M
Southport — 4 bed: $1.32M (7 sales) Main Beach — 4 bed: $5.1M (15 sales)

7 vs 15 sales

Development activity

Southport 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.

Southport Main Beach
Houses 4.0%
$900/wk on $1.17M
 3.8%
$2,550/wk on $3.5M
Units 4.9%
$750/wk on $800K
 3.7%
$1,200/wk on $1.69M

Ranking within QLD

Southport Main Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 31% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Schools Higher than 47% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 99% 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 85% of QLD Higher than 75% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 55% of QLD Higher than 41% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 71% of QLD Higher than 20% of QLD

Liveability

Southport is more walkable (91 vs 22); Main Beach scores higher overall (55 vs 50).

Southport Main Beach
Grade B
same for both
Score 50/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Southport Main Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
88/100
 High
84/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
69/100
 High
92/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Southport Main Beach
Inside the suburb 14 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 5 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast, 0.0 km
 1
Gold Coast, 3.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.9% 2.2%

Schools in Southport

  • Southport State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • The Southport School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Aquinas College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Guardian Angels' Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Musgrave Hill State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Southport State School Government · Primary at 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

Southport Main Beach
Supermarkets 9 0
Cafes & restaurants 101 39
Parks & reserves 62 16
Childcare 21 0
GPs 21 2
Pharmacies 16 2
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 1
Fuel stations 12 1
EV chargers 2 0
Beaches 1
same for both
Waterways 16 4

Mobility

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

Southport Main Beach
Walkability score 91/100 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 80/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 497.5
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.

Southport Main Beach
Car (driver) 66.5% / 59.4%
Southport — Car (driver): 66.5% Main Beach — Car (driver): 59.4%
Worked from Home 11.9% / 28.3%
Southport — Worked from Home: 11.9% Main Beach — Worked from Home: 28.3%
Walked Only 6.9% / 3.5%
Southport — Walked Only: 6.9% Main Beach — Walked Only: 3.5%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 2.5%
Southport — Car (passenger): 5.4% Main Beach — Car (passenger): 2.5%
Tram / Light Rail 4.0% / 2.5%
Southport — Tram / Light Rail: 4.0% Main Beach — Tram / Light Rail: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.5%).

Setting

Southport Main Beach
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
1.7 km to a named beach
 51 m
485 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Southport Main Beach
Connectivity score 75/100 64/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
22,827 premises
 9%
3,724 premises

Climate

Southport 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)

Southport 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

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

Federal electorate

Southport Main Beach
Division Moncrieff
same for both
Member Angie Bell
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Southport

Apartments Coastal Parks Regional Centre Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

Main Beach

Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Luxury Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Southport

Southport vs Surfers Paradise Southport vs Labrador Southport vs Ashmore Southport vs Arundel Southport vs Parkwood Southport vs Molendinar

Other comparisons with Main Beach

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