Surfers Paradise vs Broadbeach Waters

In Surfers Paradise, about half of households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Broadbeach Waters, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Broadbeach Waters: a median of $2.59 million, against $1.54 million in Surfers Paradise, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Surfers Paradise tends to suit renters, young adults, and 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

They split

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

  • Surfers Paradise has more parks and reserves (50 vs 19)
  • Broadbeach Waters has more separate houses rather than flats (78% vs 10%)

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

First-home buyers

Surfers Paradise

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,539,000 vs $2,591,000)
  • has cheaper units ($797,000 vs $920,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Surfers Paradise

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (53% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Surfers Paradise

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 57/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (76.7 km vs 82.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Surfers Paradise

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (90% vs 22%)
  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 57/100)

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

Investors

Surfers Paradise

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (11.5% vs 4.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach 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.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach 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.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Walkability 87 / 57
Surfers Paradise — Walkability: 87/100 Broadbeach Waters — Walkability: 57/100
Safety 10 / 9
Surfers Paradise — Safety: 10/100 Broadbeach Waters — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Surfers Paradise — Low fire risk: 100/100 Broadbeach Waters — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Surfers Paradise has more residents (26,412 vs 8,164); Broadbeach Waters has higher household incomes ($107,744 vs $68,796).

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Population 26,412
+69% vs other
 8,164
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.5% +4.9%
Median age 42 43
Median household income $68,796/yr $107,744/yr
+57% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk $600/wk
+46% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
0-4 2.9% / 4.1%
Surfers Paradise — 0-4: 2.9% Broadbeach Waters — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 4.9% / 11.1%
Surfers Paradise — 5-14: 4.9% Broadbeach Waters — 5-14: 11.1%
15-19 3.0% / 5.9%
Surfers Paradise — 15-19: 3.0% Broadbeach Waters — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 7.8% / 6.1%
Surfers Paradise — 20-24: 7.8% Broadbeach Waters — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 21.4% / 12.1%
Surfers Paradise — 25-34: 21.4% Broadbeach Waters — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 13.0% / 12.7%
Surfers Paradise — 35-44: 13.0% Broadbeach Waters — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 12.3% / 15.4%
Surfers Paradise — 45-54: 12.3% Broadbeach Waters — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 13.1% / 13.2%
Surfers Paradise — 55-64: 13.1% Broadbeach Waters — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 12.7% / 11.0%
Surfers Paradise — 65-74: 12.7% Broadbeach Waters — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 7.1% / 5.9%
Surfers Paradise — 75-84: 7.1% Broadbeach Waters — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 1.8% / 2.5%
Surfers Paradise — 85+: 1.8% Broadbeach Waters — 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 — One Parent Families: 10.4% Surfers Paradise — Group Household: 13.4% Surfers Paradise — Other Families: 1.9%
Broadbeach Waters 30.6% lone person
Broadbeach Waters — Lone Person: 30.6% Broadbeach Waters — Couple Families: 44.3% Broadbeach Waters — One Parent Families: 13.3% Broadbeach Waters — Group Household: 9.8% Broadbeach Waters — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household 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 Waters 23.2% renting
Broadbeach Waters — Owned Outright: 40.4% Broadbeach Waters — Mortgage: 36.5% Broadbeach Waters — Renting: 23.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Bachelor Degree 15.9% / 16.1%
Surfers Paradise — Bachelor Degree: 15.9% Broadbeach Waters — Bachelor Degree: 16.1%
Certificate III & IV 13.0% / 14.0%
Surfers Paradise — Certificate III & IV: 13.0% Broadbeach Waters — Certificate III & IV: 14.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.6% / 9.9%
Surfers Paradise — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6% Broadbeach Waters — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 5.1% / 4.4%
Surfers Paradise — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1% Broadbeach Waters — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.7%
Surfers Paradise — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Broadbeach Waters — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

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

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 Waters
New Zealand 6.0% / 6.3%
Surfers Paradise — New Zealand: 6.0% Broadbeach Waters — New Zealand: 6.3%
England 3.9% / 4.9%
Surfers Paradise — England: 3.9% Broadbeach Waters — England: 4.9%
Brazil 4.0% / 1.3%
Surfers Paradise — Brazil: 4.0% Broadbeach Waters — Brazil: 1.3%
India 3.0% / —
Surfers Paradise — India: 3.0% Broadbeach Waters — India: not among its largest
China 1.3% / 1.7%
Surfers Paradise — China: 1.3% Broadbeach Waters — China: 1.7%
Philippines 1.4% / 0.6%
Surfers Paradise — Philippines: 1.4% Broadbeach Waters — Philippines: 0.6%
South Africa — / 1.2%
Surfers Paradise — South Africa: not among its largest Broadbeach Waters — South Africa: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

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 Waters 15.2% flats / apartments
Broadbeach Waters — Flats / Apartments: 15.2% Broadbeach Waters — Houses: 78.3% Broadbeach Waters — Townhouses: 6.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Median house price $1,539,000 $2,591,000
Median unit price $797,000 $920,000
Median land price — $2,550,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 31 sales
 30 days
from 150 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 Waters
1 bed $608K / $731K
Surfers Paradise — 1 bed: $608K (320 sales) Broadbeach Waters — 1 bed: $731K (7 sales)

320 vs 7 sales

2 bed $860K / $920K
Surfers Paradise — 2 bed: $860K (560 sales) Broadbeach Waters — 2 bed: $920K (19 sales)

560 vs 19 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.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
3 bed $1.58M / $1.95M
Surfers Paradise — 3 bed: $1.58M (13 sales) Broadbeach Waters — 3 bed: $1.95M (45 sales)

13 vs 45 sales

4 bed $3.25M / $2.49M
Surfers Paradise — 4 bed: $3.25M (8 sales) Broadbeach Waters — 4 bed: $2.49M (108 sales)

8 vs 108 sales

5 bed $6.2M / $3.71M
Surfers Paradise — 5 bed: $6.2M (5 sales) Broadbeach Waters — 5 bed: $3.71M (44 sales)

5 vs 44 sales

Development activity

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach 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.

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Houses 3.8%
$1,100/wk on $1.5M
 2.9%
$1,515/wk on $2.75M
Units 4.7%
$800/wk on $890K
 4.8%
$800/wk on $870K

Ranking within QLD

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
House price —
same for both
Income — Higher than 80% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 98% of QLD Higher than 89% 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 Higher than 9% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 61% of QLD Higher than 65% of QLD

Liveability

Surfers Paradise is more walkable (87 vs 57).

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 58/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
90/100
 High
91/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
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, 5.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 2.4%

Schools in Surfers Paradise

  • Surfers Paradise State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Broadbeach Waters

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Supermarkets 4 2
Cafes & restaurants 108 5
Parks & reserves 50 19
Childcare 6 3
GPs 4 3
Pharmacies 7 4
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 6
Fuel stations 3 1
EV chargers 1 2
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Broadbeach Waters sits further from the CBD (82.4 km vs 76.7 km).

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Walkability score 87/100 57/100
Distance to Brisbane 76.7 km 82.4 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 65 min 66 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 238.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 126.2
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 Waters
Car (driver) 58.6% / 67.9%
Surfers Paradise — Car (driver): 58.6% Broadbeach Waters — Car (driver): 67.9%
Worked from Home 16.4% / 21.2%
Surfers Paradise — Worked from Home: 16.4% Broadbeach Waters — Worked from Home: 21.2%
Walked Only 9.9% / 2.5%
Surfers Paradise — Walked Only: 9.9% Broadbeach Waters — Walked Only: 2.5%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 4.3%
Surfers Paradise — Car (passenger): 4.4% Broadbeach Waters — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Tram / Light Rail 4.3% / 0.5%
Surfers Paradise — Tram / Light Rail: 4.3% Broadbeach Waters — Tram / Light Rail: 0.5%
Bicycle 1.7% / 1.5%
Surfers Paradise — Bicycle: 1.7% Broadbeach Waters — Bicycle: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.9%).

Setting

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 903 m
959 m to a named beach
 2.0 km
2.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
Connectivity score 70/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
25,469 premises
 2%
4,320 premises

Climate

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
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 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

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

Federal electorate

Surfers Paradise Broadbeach Waters
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 Waters
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 Waters

Coastal Luxury Parks Quiet Regional Centre

More comparisons

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

Other comparisons with Broadbeach Waters

Broadbeach Waters vs Carrara Broadbeach Waters vs Mermaid Waters Broadbeach Waters vs Benowa Broadbeach Waters vs Broadbeach Broadbeach Waters vs Bundall Broadbeach Waters vs Clear Island Waters
Full data on Surfers Paradise Full data on Broadbeach 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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