Worongary vs Merrimac

In both, most households own their home. In Worongary, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Worongary: a median of $1.45 million, against $1.1 million in Merrimac. On these figures, Worongary tends to suit couples, while Merrimac suits 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

Worongary

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 5)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 48%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 64%)
  • But Merrimac has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Merrimac

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,100,000 vs $1,450,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Worongary leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 27%)
  • Merrimac has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 13%)

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

Commuting to the city

Merrimac

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 0/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Merrimac

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (52% vs 2%)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 58/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Worongary is growing faster (7.3% vs 2.0%)
  • Merrimac returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.7% vs 4.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Worongary Merrimac
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.

Worongary Merrimac
Walkability 0 / 58
Worongary — Walkability: 0/100 Merrimac — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 42 / 57
Worongary — Safety: 42/100 Merrimac — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Worongary — Low fire risk: 100/100 Merrimac — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Worongary has higher household incomes ($112,320 vs $87,776); Worongary skews older (40 vs 38).

Worongary Merrimac
Population 6,021 7,212
+20% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.3% +2.0%
Median age 40 38
Median household income $112,320/yr
+22% vs other
 $87,776/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk $463/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Worongary Merrimac
0-4 5.8% / 5.5%
Worongary — 0-4: 5.8% Merrimac — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 13.5% / 13.3%
Worongary — 5-14: 13.5% Merrimac — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 7.6% / 5.8%
Worongary — 15-19: 7.6% Merrimac — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 5.7% / 6.1%
Worongary — 20-24: 5.7% Merrimac — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 10.1% / 13.6%
Worongary — 25-34: 10.1% Merrimac — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 14.1% / 14.7%
Worongary — 35-44: 14.1% Merrimac — 35-44: 14.7%
45-54 15.3% / 12.9%
Worongary — 45-54: 15.3% Merrimac — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 13.5% / 10.9%
Worongary — 55-64: 13.5% Merrimac — 55-64: 10.9%
65-74 9.0% / 8.5%
Worongary — 65-74: 9.0% Merrimac — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 4.4% / 5.3%
Worongary — 75-84: 4.4% Merrimac — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 1.0% / 3.4%
Worongary — 85+: 1.0% Merrimac — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Worongary 61.2% couple families
Worongary — Couple Families: 61.2% Worongary — Lone Person: 15.1% Worongary — One Parent Families: 19.0% Worongary — Group Household: 3.8% Worongary — Other Families: 0.9%
Merrimac 42.2% couple families
Merrimac — Couple Families: 42.2% Merrimac — Lone Person: 28.4% Merrimac — One Parent Families: 22.2% Merrimac — Group Household: 6.1% Merrimac — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Worongary 13.4% renting
Worongary — Owned Outright: 30.8% Worongary — Mortgage: 55.8% Worongary — Renting: 13.4%
Merrimac 35.3% renting
Merrimac — Owned Outright: 20.2% Merrimac — Mortgage: 44.5% Merrimac — Renting: 35.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Worongary Merrimac
Certificate III & IV 18.8% / 15.8%
Worongary — Certificate III & IV: 18.8% Merrimac — Certificate III & IV: 15.8%
Bachelor Degree 10.3% / 11.7%
Worongary — Bachelor Degree: 10.3% Merrimac — Bachelor Degree: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 9.9%
Worongary — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Merrimac — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 2.9%
Worongary — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Merrimac — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.5%
Worongary — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Merrimac — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

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.

Worongary Merrimac
New Zealand 6.2% / 7.4%
Worongary — New Zealand: 6.2% Merrimac — New Zealand: 7.4%
England 5.1% / 4.2%
Worongary — England: 5.1% Merrimac — England: 4.2%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.5%
Worongary — South Africa: 1.4% Merrimac — South Africa: 1.5%
Japan 0.5% / 1.7%
Worongary — Japan: 0.5% Merrimac — Japan: 1.7%
China 0.5% / 1.3%
Worongary — China: 0.5% Merrimac — China: 1.3%
Germany 0.5% / —
Worongary — Germany: 0.5% Merrimac — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Worongary 98.2% houses
Worongary — Houses: 98.2% Worongary — Townhouses: 0.0% Worongary — Flats / Apartments: 1.8%
Merrimac 48.1% houses
Merrimac — Houses: 48.1% Merrimac — Townhouses: 41.6% Merrimac — Flats / Apartments: 10.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Worongary Merrimac
Median house price $1,450,000 $1,100,000
Median unit price — $810,000
Median land price $1,002,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 87 sales
 30 days
from 45 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.

Worongary Merrimac
2 bed $895K / $775K
Worongary — 2 bed: $895K (5 sales) Merrimac — 2 bed: $775K (6 sales)

5 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.14M / $1.05M
Worongary — 3 bed: $1.14M (36 sales) Merrimac — 3 bed: $1.05M (48 sales)

36 vs 48 sales

4 bed $1.38M / $1.22M
Worongary — 4 bed: $1.38M (51 sales) Merrimac — 4 bed: $1.22M (24 sales)

51 vs 24 sales

5 bed $1.92M / $2.16M
Worongary — 5 bed: $1.92M (32 sales) Merrimac — 5 bed: $2.16M (8 sales)

32 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Worongary Merrimac
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.

Worongary Merrimac
Houses 4.0%
$1,375/wk on $1.8M
 4.7%
$895/wk on $995K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Worongary Merrimac
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 62% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 62% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 32% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 53% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD

Liveability

Merrimac is more walkable (58 vs 0); Merrimac scores higher overall (64 vs 56).

Worongary Merrimac
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 64/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Worongary carries more crime risk (58 vs 43).

Worongary Merrimac
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
58/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Worongary Merrimac
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast campus, 6.4 km
 2
Gold Coast campus, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.0%

Schools in Worongary

  • Worongary State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Merrimac

  • Star of the Sea School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • All Saints Anglican School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Merrimac State School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Michael's College Catholic · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Worongary Merrimac
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 4
Parks & reserves 12 5
Childcare 5 6
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1 2
Fuel stations 1 2
Waterways 4 7

Mobility

Worongary Merrimac
Walkability score 0/100 58/100
Distance to Brisbane 77 km 78.8 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 59 min 61 min
Public transport score 50/100
Bus
 60/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 11.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 15.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 4213
 1.7%
postcode 4226
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 85
postcode 4213
 51
postcode 4226

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.

Worongary Merrimac
Car (driver) 77.4% / 79.8%
Worongary — Car (driver): 77.4% Merrimac — Car (driver): 79.8%
Worked from Home 15.6% / 12.5%
Worongary — Worked from Home: 15.6% Merrimac — Worked from Home: 12.5%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 4.2%
Worongary — Car (passenger): 4.4% Merrimac — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 0.8% / 1.2%
Worongary — Walked Only: 0.8% Merrimac — Walked Only: 1.2%
Train 0.8% / 0.9%
Worongary — Train: 0.8% Merrimac — Train: 0.9%
Bus 0.5% / 1.0%
Worongary — Bus: 0.5% Merrimac — Bus: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.8%).

Setting

Worongary Merrimac
Elevation 61 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.8 km 6.6 km

NBN connectivity

Worongary Merrimac
Connectivity score 74/100 86/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 26%
2,061 premises
 43%
3,127 premises

Climate

Worongary Merrimac
Annual rainfall 1,556 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Worongary Merrimac
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 4.9 µg/m³
PM10 19.3 µg/m³ 14.3 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.91 pphm 0.43 pphm

Council rates

Worongary Merrimac
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Worongary Merrimac
Division Wright McPherson
Member Scott Buchholz Leon Rebello
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Worongary Merrimac
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Worongary

Acreage

Merrimac

Quiet River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Worongary

Worongary vs Mudgeeraba Worongary vs Carrara Worongary vs Highland Park Worongary vs Tallai Worongary vs Gilston

Other comparisons with Merrimac

Merrimac vs Robina Merrimac vs Mudgeeraba Merrimac vs Carrara Merrimac vs Clear Island Waters
Full data on Worongary Full data on Merrimac
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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