Surfers Paradise vs Broadbeach

Surfers Paradise is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 46 in Broadbeach. In both, about half of households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Broadbeach: a median of $1.09 million, against $797,000 in Surfers Paradise. On these figures, Surfers Paradise 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

Surfers Paradise

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (50 vs 12)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 2)
  • But Broadbeach has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Surfers Paradise has cheaper units ($797,000 vs $1,090,000)
  • Broadbeach has cheaper houses ($1,305,000 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

Surfers Paradise

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (76.7 km vs 83.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Surfers Paradise

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)

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

Investors

Broadbeach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (23.1% vs 11.5%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
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.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Walkability 87 / 81
Surfers Paradise — Walkability: 87/100 Broadbeach — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 10 / 7
Surfers Paradise — Safety: 10/100 Broadbeach — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Surfers Paradise — Low fire risk: 100/100 Broadbeach — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Surfers Paradise has more residents (26,412 vs 6,786); Broadbeach skews older (46 vs 42).

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Population 26,412
+74% vs other
 6,786
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.5% +23.1%
Median age 42 46
Median household income $68,796/yr $73,788/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk $420/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
0-4 2.9% / 2.8%
Surfers Paradise — 0-4: 2.9% Broadbeach — 0-4: 2.8%
5-14 4.9% / 4.2%
Surfers Paradise — 5-14: 4.9% Broadbeach — 5-14: 4.2%
15-19 3.0% / 2.3%
Surfers Paradise — 15-19: 3.0% Broadbeach — 15-19: 2.3%
20-24 7.8% / 6.9%
Surfers Paradise — 20-24: 7.8% Broadbeach — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 21.4% / 19.9%
Surfers Paradise — 25-34: 21.4% Broadbeach — 25-34: 19.9%
35-44 13.0% / 12.5%
Surfers Paradise — 35-44: 13.0% Broadbeach — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 12.3% / 10.9%
Surfers Paradise — 45-54: 12.3% Broadbeach — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 13.1% / 16.2%
Surfers Paradise — 55-64: 13.1% Broadbeach — 55-64: 16.2%
65-74 12.7% / 13.5%
Surfers Paradise — 65-74: 12.7% Broadbeach — 65-74: 13.5%
75-84 7.1% / 8.4%
Surfers Paradise — 75-84: 7.1% Broadbeach — 75-84: 8.4%
85+ 1.8% / 2.5%
Surfers Paradise — 85+: 1.8% Broadbeach — 85+: 2.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Broadbeach 60.8% lone person
Broadbeach — Lone Person: 60.8% Broadbeach — Couple Families: 13.4% Broadbeach — Group Household: 12.8% Broadbeach — One Parent Families: 10.9% Broadbeach — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Surfers Paradise 53.2% renting
Surfers Paradise — Owned Outright: 27.8% Surfers Paradise — Mortgage: 18.9% Surfers Paradise — Renting: 53.2%
Broadbeach 51.4% renting
Broadbeach — Owned Outright: 30.7% Broadbeach — Mortgage: 17.9% Broadbeach — Renting: 51.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Bachelor Degree 15.9% / 17.1%
Surfers Paradise — Bachelor Degree: 15.9% Broadbeach — Bachelor Degree: 17.1%
Certificate III & IV 13.0% / 12.4%
Surfers Paradise — Certificate III & IV: 13.0% Broadbeach — Certificate III & IV: 12.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.6% / 10.2%
Surfers Paradise — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6% Broadbeach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2%
Postgraduate Degree 5.1% / 5.4%
Surfers Paradise — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1% Broadbeach — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.0%
Surfers Paradise — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Broadbeach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

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.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
New Zealand 6.0% / 5.7%
Surfers Paradise — New Zealand: 6.0% Broadbeach — New Zealand: 5.7%
England 3.9% / 4.6%
Surfers Paradise — England: 3.9% Broadbeach — England: 4.6%
Brazil 4.0% / 2.9%
Surfers Paradise — Brazil: 4.0% Broadbeach — Brazil: 2.9%
India 3.0% / 1.1%
Surfers Paradise — India: 3.0% Broadbeach — India: 1.1%
China 1.3% / 1.3%
Surfers Paradise — China: 1.3% Broadbeach — China: 1.3%
Philippines 1.4% / 0.9%
Surfers Paradise — Philippines: 1.4% Broadbeach — Philippines: 0.9%
South Africa — / 1.1%
Surfers Paradise — South Africa: not among its largest Broadbeach — South Africa: 1.1%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Surfers Paradise 82.6% flats / apartments
Surfers Paradise — Flats / Apartments: 82.6% Surfers Paradise — Houses: 10.0% Surfers Paradise — Townhouses: 7.4%
Broadbeach 98.8% flats / apartments
Broadbeach — Flats / Apartments: 98.8% Broadbeach — Houses: 0.3% Broadbeach — Townhouses: 1.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Median house price $1,539,000 $1,305,000
Median unit price $797,000 $1,090,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 31 sales
 26 days
from 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.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
1 bed $608K / $700K
Surfers Paradise — 1 bed: $608K (320 sales) Broadbeach — 1 bed: $700K (104 sales)

320 vs 104 sales

2 bed $860K / $1.16M
Surfers Paradise — 2 bed: $860K (560 sales) Broadbeach — 2 bed: $1.16M (234 sales)

560 vs 234 sales

3 bed $1.42M / $2.19M
Surfers Paradise — 3 bed: $1.42M (114 sales) Broadbeach — 3 bed: $2.19M (58 sales)

114 vs 58 sales

4 bed $3M / $3.9M
Surfers Paradise — 4 bed: $3M (11 sales) Broadbeach — 4 bed: $3.9M (6 sales)

11 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
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.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Houses 3.8%
$1,100/wk on $1.5M
 —
Units 4.7%
$800/wk on $890K
 4.5%
$995/wk on $1.15M

Ranking within QLD

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
House price —
same for both
Income — Higher than 44% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 98% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 61% of QLD Higher than 53% of QLD

Liveability

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100
same for both
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
90/100
 High
93/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast, 3.8 km
 2
Gold Coast campus, 6.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 1.9%

Schools in Surfers Paradise

  • Surfers Paradise State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Broadbeach

  • Broadbeach State School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 108 73
Parks & reserves 50 12
Childcare 6 2
GPs 4 2
Pharmacies 7 5
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 3 1
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Broadbeach sits further from the CBD (83.2 km vs 76.7 km).

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Walkability score 87/100 81/100
Distance to Brisbane 76.7 km 83.2 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 65 min 68 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 238.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 126.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 4217
 1.7%
postcode 4218
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 4217
 32
postcode 4218

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.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Car (driver) 58.6% / 57.5%
Surfers Paradise — Car (driver): 58.6% Broadbeach — Car (driver): 57.5%
Worked from Home 16.4% / 19.5%
Surfers Paradise — Worked from Home: 16.4% Broadbeach — Worked from Home: 19.5%
Walked Only 9.9% / 10.9%
Surfers Paradise — Walked Only: 9.9% Broadbeach — Walked Only: 10.9%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.7%
Surfers Paradise — Car (passenger): 4.4% Broadbeach — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Tram / Light Rail 4.3% / 3.1%
Surfers Paradise — Tram / Light Rail: 4.3% Broadbeach — Tram / Light Rail: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.6%).

Setting

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 903 m
959 m to a named beach
 451 m
662 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Connectivity score 70/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
25,469 premises
 17%
7,947 premises

Climate

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
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)

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
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

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

Federal electorate

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Division Moncrieff
same for both
Member Angie Bell
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Surfers Paradise

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

Broadbeach

Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Parks Premium River Trams Urban

More comparisons

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Surfers Paradise vs Southport Surfers Paradise vs Broadbeach Waters Surfers Paradise vs Bundall Surfers Paradise vs Main Beach

Other comparisons with Broadbeach

Broadbeach vs Mermaid Waters Broadbeach vs Broadbeach Waters Broadbeach vs Mermaid Beach
Full data on Surfers Paradise Full data on Broadbeach
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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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