Southport vs Surfers Paradise

Southport is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Surfers Paradise. In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Southport, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Surfers Paradise, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Surfers Paradise: a median of $797,000, against $726,000 in Southport. On these figures, Surfers Paradise tends to suit people living alone.

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 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (14 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (21 vs 6)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (24% vs 10%)

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

First-home buyers

Southport

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,150,000 vs $1,539,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Southport

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (57 min vs 65 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (73.1 km vs 76.7 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

  • Southport has more GPs (21 vs 4)
  • Surfers Paradise has more units and townhouses to downsize into (90% vs 76%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Southport and Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise
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 Surfers Paradise
Walkability 91 / 87
Southport — Walkability: 91/100 Surfers Paradise — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 12 / 10
Southport — Safety: 12/100 Surfers Paradise — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Southport — Low fire risk: 100/100 Surfers Paradise — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Southport has more residents (36,786 vs 26,412); Surfers Paradise skews older (42 vs 37).

Southport Surfers Paradise
Population 36,786
+28% vs other
 26,412
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.3% +11.5%
Median age 37 42
Median household income $65,936/yr $68,796/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Southport Surfers Paradise
0-4 3.7% / 2.9%
Southport — 0-4: 3.7% Surfers Paradise — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 7.7% / 4.9%
Southport — 5-14: 7.7% Surfers Paradise — 5-14: 4.9%
15-19 5.7% / 3.0%
Southport — 15-19: 5.7% Surfers Paradise — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 10.6% / 7.8%
Southport — 20-24: 10.6% Surfers Paradise — 20-24: 7.8%
25-34 19.1% / 21.4%
Southport — 25-34: 19.1% Surfers Paradise — 25-34: 21.4%
35-44 11.9% / 13.0%
Southport — 35-44: 11.9% Surfers Paradise — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 11.5% / 12.3%
Southport — 45-54: 11.5% Surfers Paradise — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 10.5% / 13.1%
Southport — 55-64: 10.5% Surfers Paradise — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 9.4% / 12.7%
Southport — 65-74: 9.4% Surfers Paradise — 65-74: 12.7%
75-84 6.7% / 7.1%
Southport — 75-84: 6.7% Surfers Paradise — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 3.1% / 1.8%
Southport — 85+: 3.1% Surfers Paradise — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Southport 47.3% lone person
Southport — Lone Person: 47.3% Southport — Couple Families: 20.1% Southport — Group Household: 13.8% Southport — One Parent Families: 16.4% Southport — Other Families: 2.4%
Surfers Paradise 58.2% lone person
Surfers Paradise — Lone Person: 58.2% Surfers Paradise — Couple Families: 16.1% Surfers Paradise — Group Household: 13.4% Surfers Paradise — One Parent Families: 10.4% Surfers Paradise — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families 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%
Surfers Paradise 53.2% renting
Surfers Paradise — Owned Outright: 27.8% Surfers Paradise — Mortgage: 18.9% Surfers Paradise — Renting: 53.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Southport Surfers Paradise
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 15.9%
Southport — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% Surfers Paradise — Bachelor Degree: 15.9%
Certificate III & IV 12.8% / 13.0%
Southport — Certificate III & IV: 12.8% Surfers Paradise — Certificate III & IV: 13.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 10.6%
Southport — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Surfers Paradise — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 5.1%
Southport — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Surfers Paradise — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.8%
Southport — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Surfers Paradise — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

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 Surfers Paradise
New Zealand 5.9% / 6.0%
Southport — New Zealand: 5.9% Surfers Paradise — New Zealand: 6.0%
England 3.8% / 3.9%
Southport — England: 3.8% Surfers Paradise — England: 3.9%
India 2.4% / 3.0%
Southport — India: 2.4% Surfers Paradise — India: 3.0%
China 3.1% / 1.3%
Southport — China: 3.1% Surfers Paradise — China: 1.3%
Brazil — / 4.0%
Southport — Brazil: not among its largest Surfers Paradise — Brazil: 4.0%
Philippines 2.1% / 1.4%
Southport — Philippines: 2.1% Surfers Paradise — Philippines: 1.4%

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%
Surfers Paradise 82.6% flats / apartments
Surfers Paradise — Flats / Apartments: 82.6% Surfers Paradise — Houses: 10.0% Surfers Paradise — Townhouses: 7.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Southport Surfers Paradise
Median house price $1,150,000 $1,539,000
Median unit price $726,000 $797,000
Median land price $1,085,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 208 sales
 36 days
from 31 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.

Southport Surfers Paradise
2 bed $880K / $850K
Southport — 2 bed: $880K (47 sales) Surfers Paradise — 2 bed: $850K (11 sales)

47 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.08M / $1.58M
Southport — 3 bed: $1.08M (187 sales) Surfers Paradise — 3 bed: $1.58M (13 sales)

187 vs 13 sales

4 bed $1.4M / $3.25M
Southport — 4 bed: $1.4M (96 sales) Surfers Paradise — 4 bed: $3.25M (8 sales)

96 vs 8 sales

5 bed $1.6M / $6.2M
Southport — 5 bed: $1.6M (23 sales) Surfers Paradise — 5 bed: $6.2M (5 sales)

23 vs 5 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 Surfers Paradise
1 bed $592K / $608K
Southport — 1 bed: $592K (204 sales) Surfers Paradise — 1 bed: $608K (320 sales)

204 vs 320 sales

2 bed $760K / $860K
Southport — 2 bed: $760K (419 sales) Surfers Paradise — 2 bed: $860K (560 sales)

419 vs 560 sales

3 bed $1.11M / $1.42M
Southport — 3 bed: $1.11M (100 sales) Surfers Paradise — 3 bed: $1.42M (114 sales)

100 vs 114 sales

4 bed $1.32M / $3M
Southport — 4 bed: $1.32M (7 sales) Surfers Paradise — 4 bed: $3M (11 sales)

7 vs 11 sales

Development activity

Southport Surfers Paradise
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 Surfers Paradise
Houses 4.0%
$900/wk on $1.17M
 3.8%
$1,100/wk on $1.5M
Units 4.9%
$750/wk on $800K
 4.7%
$800/wk on $890K

Ranking within QLD

Southport Surfers Paradise
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 31% of QLD —
Schools Higher than 47% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 98% 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 79% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 55% of QLD Higher than 42% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 71% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD

Liveability

Southport Surfers Paradise
Grade B
same for both
Score 50/100 54/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Southport Surfers Paradise
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
88/100
 High
90/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
69/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Southport Surfers Paradise
Inside the suburb 14 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 5 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast, 0.0 km
 2
Gold Coast, 3.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.9% 1.8%

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 Surfers Paradise

  • Surfers Paradise State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Southport Surfers Paradise
Supermarkets 9 4
Cafes & restaurants 101 108
Parks & reserves 62 50
Childcare 21 6
GPs 21 4
Pharmacies 16 7
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 7 5
Fuel stations 12 3
EV chargers 2 1
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 16 1

Mobility

Surfers Paradise sits further from the CBD (76.7 km vs 73.1 km).

Southport Surfers Paradise
Walkability score 91/100 87/100
Distance to Brisbane 73.1 km 76.7 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 57 min 65 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 497.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 238.8
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 Surfers Paradise
Car (driver) 66.5% / 58.6%
Southport — Car (driver): 66.5% Surfers Paradise — Car (driver): 58.6%
Worked from Home 11.9% / 16.4%
Southport — Worked from Home: 11.9% Surfers Paradise — Worked from Home: 16.4%
Walked Only 6.9% / 9.9%
Southport — Walked Only: 6.9% Surfers Paradise — Walked Only: 9.9%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 4.4%
Southport — Car (passenger): 5.4% Surfers Paradise — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Tram / Light Rail 4.0% / 4.3%
Southport — Tram / Light Rail: 4.0% Surfers Paradise — Tram / Light Rail: 4.3%

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

Setting

Southport Surfers Paradise
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
1.7 km to a named beach
 903 m
959 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Southport Surfers Paradise
Connectivity score 75/100 70/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
22,827 premises
 9%
25,469 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Southport Surfers Paradise
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 Surfers Paradise
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

Surfers Paradise

Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Nightlife Parks Regional Centre River Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Southport

Southport vs Labrador Southport vs Ashmore Southport vs Arundel Southport vs Parkwood Southport vs Molendinar Southport vs Bundall

Other comparisons with Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise vs Broadbeach Waters Surfers Paradise vs Broadbeach Surfers Paradise vs Bundall Surfers Paradise vs Main Beach
Full data on Southport Full data on Surfers Paradise
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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