Compare

Broadbeach Waters vs Merrimac

Name: Broadbeach Waters vs Merrimac — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 5.1 km apart · Broadbeach Waters profile · Merrimac profile

Broadbeach Waters Merrimac

Broadbeach Waters and Merrimac are neighbouring areas on the Gold Coast with very different housing and income profiles. Broadbeach Waters is far wealthier, with 29.7% of households earning $3,000 or more a week compared to 14.5% in Merrimac. Home ownership is also much more common in Broadbeach Waters, where 39.3% of homes are owned outright. In contrast, Merrimac has a far higher share of renters at 34.2%. The two areas differ in their layout; 78.3% of homes in Broadbeach Waters are separate houses, while Merrimac has a much higher proportion of townhouses and semi-detached homes.

Since 2011, these two neighbours have seen several of their gaps widen. The difference in typical family income has grown to $485, and the gap in separate house ownership has increased significantly. Despite these diverging trends, the areas remain alike in some ways. Both have about 30% of their population born overseas and share an identical average annual rainfall. They also have similar unemployment rates and a nearly identical number of people per home.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Separate houses: 30.2 pts higher in Broadbeach Waters Owned outright: 19.5 pts higher in Broadbeach Waters One-parent: 8.7 pts higher in Merrimac Renting: 11.7 pts higher in Merrimac Mortgage: $867 higher in Broadbeach Waters

Demographics & Identity

Population in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +954 larger in Broadbeach Waters gap narrowing

8,164 41st pct 7,210 36th pct

Median age in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +5 yrs older in Broadbeach Waters gap narrowing

43 yrs 71st pct 38 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

28.7% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.8 pts 23.9%

24.9% Young adults (25–44) +3.5 pts ▸ 28.3%

19.5% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.2 pts 17.3%

15.2% Children (0–14) +3.6 pts ▸ 18.8%

12.0% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.1 pts 11.9%

Marital status

45.6% Married ◂ +5.4 pts 40.2%

36.6% Never married +0.3 pts ▸ 36.9%

10.5% Divorced +2.1 pts ▸ 12.6%

4.5% Widowed +1.4 pts ▸ 5.9%

2.8% Separated +1.5 pts ▸ 4.3%

Age & sex structure

Broadbeach Waters Merrimac

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

65.5% Australia ◂ +1.5 pts 63.9%

6.3% New Zealand +1.1 pts ▸ 7.4%

4.9% England ◂ +0.7 pts 4.2%

1.7% China ◂ +0.5 pts 1.3%

1.2% South Africa +0.4 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.6% Philippines +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.3% India +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% Vietnam ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.5% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.1% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Ancestry

40.2% English ◂ +1.4 pts 38.8%

28.5% Australian +0.7 pts ▸ 29.2%

11.7% Irish ◂ +2.2 pts 9.6%

10.4% Scottish ◂ +0.3 pts 10.1%

4.8% Italian ◂ +1.2 pts 3.6%

4.5% German ◂ +0.3 pts 4.2%

3.9% Chinese even 3.9%

1.8% Greek ◂ +1.0 pts 0.8%

1.0% Filipino +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.3% Dutch ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

0.8% Indian +0.4 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.8% Vietnamese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

81.1% English only ◂ +3.7 pts 77.4%

2.3% Mandarin ◂ +0.9 pts 1.4%

0.4% Cantonese +1.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.7% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.7% Vietnamese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.4% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% Tagalog even 0.3%

0.1% Arabic +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Punjabi even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

49.7% Christianity ◂ +6.5 pts 43.2%

40.3% No religion +4.3 pts ▸ 44.7%

6.8% Not stated +1.3 pts ▸ 8.1%

1.2% Buddhism +0.4 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.5% Hinduism +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% Islam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Judaism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.3% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac

— 4 57th pct

Schools/1k kids in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac

— 2.96 68th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +5 more in Merrimac

14 37th pct 19 49th pct

Students in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac

— 3,484 85th pct

Avg size in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac

— 871 88th pct

ICSEA in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac

— 1,090 80th pct

Highest year of school

65.0% Year 12 ◂ +5.6 pts 59.4%

17.1% Year 10 +1.6 pts ▸ 18.8%

6.7% Year 11 +0.7 pts ▸ 7.4%

5.3% Year 9 or below +1.6 pts ▸ 6.9%

Highest qualification level

25.2% Certificate III / IV +5.2 pts ▸ 30.3%

28.9% Bachelor degree ◂ +6.5 pts 22.3%

17.7% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.3 pts ▸ 19.0%

8.0% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.5 pts 5.5%

3.0% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.1 pts 2.8%

1.4% Certificate I / II +0.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

Field of qualification

24.3% Management & commerce ◂ +4.3 pts 20.0%

10.2% Society & culture +3.1 pts ▸ 13.3%

11.8% Health ◂ +1.2 pts 10.6%

11.0% Engineering & related ◂ +0.7 pts 10.3%

8.3% Architecture & building ◂ +2.3 pts 6.0%

6.0% Education +2.0 pts ▸ 8.0%

6.7% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.0 pts ▸ 7.7%

4.2% Creative arts ◂ +0.2 pts 4.0%

1.9% Information technology +0.3 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.9% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.4 pts 1.5%

1.0% Agriculture & environment +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

Income

Personal income in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +$101 higher in Broadbeach Waters gap widening

$889 65th pct $788 46th pct

Household income in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +$383 higher in Broadbeach Waters gap widening

$2,072 71st pct $1,689 47th pct

Family income in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +$485 higher in Broadbeach Waters gap widening

$2,376 69th pct $1,891 37th pct

Household income distribution

27.3% $1,500–$2,999 +10.3 pts ▸ 37.6%

21.6% $650–$1,499 +5.5 pts ▸ 27.1%

19.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +14.8 pts 5.1%

13.7% Under $650 ◂ +0.3 pts 13.4%

9.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.4 pts 9.5%

Personal income distribution

36.0% Under $650 +1.6 pts ▸ 37.6%

30.6% $650–$1,499 +6.1 pts ▸ 36.7%

17.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.9 pts 15.0%

8.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +7.0 pts 1.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.2% Mental health +3.0 pts ▸ 9.1%

6.6% Other condition +1.2 pts ▸ 7.8%

7.3% Arthritis +0.1 pts ▸ 7.4%

5.9% Asthma +1.4 pts ▸ 7.4%

3.6% Heart disease +0.1 pts ▸ 3.6%

3.6% Cancer ◂ +1.0 pts 2.6%

3.0% Diabetes +0.5 pts ▸ 3.5%

1.5% Lung condition +0.4 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.6% Dementia +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.8% Stroke +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.7% None ◂ +3.1 pts 64.6%

17.8% One condition ◂ +0.6 pts 17.3%

4.5% Two conditions +0.8 pts ▸ 5.3%

1.8% Three or more +1.3 pts ▸ 3.0%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +21 larger in Merrimac

110 34th pct 131 40th pct

Median age in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +3 yrs older in Broadbeach Waters

27 yrs 71st pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +$53 higher in Merrimac

$788 74th pct $841 78th pct

Household income in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +$445 higher in Broadbeach Waters

$2,166 76th pct $1,721 51st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac even gap narrowing

2.6 57th pct 2.6 57th pct

Family composition

57.1% Couples with children ◂ +2.2 pts 54.9%

30.5% Couples without children ◂ +6.1 pts 24.4%

11.3% One-parent families +8.7 pts ▸ 20.0%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

Household size

36.6% 2 people ◂ +2.7 pts 33.9%

21.5% 1 person ◂ +0.1 pts 21.3%

17.0% 3 people +3.9 pts ▸ 20.9%

16.9% 4 people +0.1 pts ▸ 17.0%

5.7% 5 people ◂ +0.8 pts 4.9%

2.3% 6 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 1.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +$135 higher in Broadbeach Waters gap widening

$600 98th pct $465 84th pct

Mortgage in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +$867 higher in Broadbeach Waters gap widening

$2,600 89th pct $1,733 43rd pct

People / bedroom in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +0.10 higher in Merrimac gap steady

0.70 0th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.5% Owned with a mortgage +7.9 pts ▸ 43.4%

39.3% Owned outright ◂ +19.5 pts 19.7%

22.5% Rented +11.7 pts ▸ 34.2%

1.9% Not stated even 1.8%

0.9% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Types of homes

78.3% Separate house ◂ +30.2 pts 48.1%

6.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +35.2 pts ▸ 41.7%

15.2% Flat or apartment ◂ +5.1 pts 10.1%

0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

31.5% 3 bedrooms +26.7 pts ▸ 58.2%

34.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +12.2 pts 21.9%

15.5% 5 or more ◂ +11.9 pts 3.6%

15.3% 2 bedrooms ◂ +3.1 pts 12.2%

2.0% 1 bedroom +0.2 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.2% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

28.6% $350–$549 +48.7 pts ▸ 77.3%

30.7% $550–$749 ◂ +18.9 pts 11.8%

27.6% $750 or more ◂ +25.1 pts 2.5%

6.0% $200–$349 ◂ +2.1 pts 4.0%

2.9% Under $200 ◂ +1.8 pts 1.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

14.5% $1,000–$1,799 +22.8 pts ▸ 37.3%

37.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +29.5 pts 7.7%

26.1% $1,800–$2,999 +8.4 pts ▸ 34.6%

13.4% Under $1,000 +0.5 pts ▸ 13.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +15 more in Broadbeach Waters

34 44th pct 19 29th pct

Stops/1k in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +1.53 more in Broadbeach Waters

4.16 48th pct 2.64 27th pct

Departures/1k in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +1,256.6 more in Broadbeach Waters

1,498.0 73rd pct 241.5 28th pct

PT routes in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +14 more in Broadbeach Waters

16 80th pct 2 14th pct

Stop walk in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +10 longer in Merrimac

2 14th pct 12 73rd pct

Drive to city in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +2 longer in Broadbeach Waters

52 74th pct 50 74th pct

How people get to work

59.5% Car (driver) +9.1 pts ▸ 68.5%

18.5% Worked at home ◂ +7.8 pts 10.7%

3.8% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.2 pts 3.6%

2.2% Walked ◂ +1.2 pts 1.0%

1.3% Bicycle ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%

0.8% Bus even 0.8%

0.5% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

41.5% 2 vehicles +3.7 pts ▸ 45.2%

30.4% 1 vehicle +4.2 pts ▸ 34.6%

15.3% 3 vehicles ◂ +3.0 pts 12.2%

9.1% 4 or more ◂ +4.0 pts 5.1%

3.7% No vehicle ◂ +0.4 pts 3.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.2% Health care & social assistance +3.0 pts ▸ 16.2%

12.0% Construction ◂ +1.9 pts 10.1%

9.0% Retail trade +2.7 pts ▸ 11.7%

6.8% Education & training +2.7 pts ▸ 9.5%

9.2% Accommodation & food +0.2 pts ▸ 9.4%

8.1% Professional & technical ◂ +1.5 pts 6.7%

4.0% Manufacturing +0.8 pts ▸ 4.8%

4.7% Rental & real estate ◂ +2.4 pts 2.3%

4.5% Finance & insurance ◂ +2.3 pts 2.2%

4.0% Public administration & safety +0.5 pts ▸ 4.4%

4.2% Other services ◂ +0.7 pts 3.5%

4.2% Administrative & support ◂ +0.5 pts 3.7%

Occupations people work in

23.1% Professionals ◂ +3.6 pts 19.6%

17.8% Managers ◂ +7.6 pts 10.2%

11.4% Community & personal service +4.1 pts ▸ 15.5%

12.5% Technicians & trades +1.3 pts ▸ 13.8%

13.7% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.6 pts 13.1%

9.9% Sales workers +1.5 pts ▸ 11.4%

6.4% Labourers +3.0 pts ▸ 9.4%

2.4% Machinery operators & drivers +2.9 pts ▸ 5.3%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +4 higher in Broadbeach Waters

9 86th pct 5 43rd pct

IRSD decile in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +3 higher in Broadbeach Waters

8 71st pct 5 43rd pct

IER decile in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +4 higher in Broadbeach Waters

9 86th pct 5 43rd pct

IEO decile in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +2 higher in Broadbeach Waters

8 71st pct 6 57th pct

IRSAD score in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +90 higher in Broadbeach Waters

1,076 80th pct 986 45th pct

ERP in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +1,686 higher in Broadbeach Waters

9,109 43rd pct 7,423 34th pct

Growth in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +8.7 pts higher in Broadbeach Waters

10.7% 82nd pct 2.0% 28th pct

Businesses in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +911 higher in Broadbeach Waters

1,418 74th pct 507 26th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac even

1,544 91st pct 1,544 91st pct

Max temp in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac even

26.2 77th pct 26.2 77th pct

Min temp in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac even

15.8 85th pct 15.8 85th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac even

5.9 57th pct 5.9 58th pct

Types ≤15 min in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +0.2 more in Broadbeach Waters

5.7 57th pct 5.5 54th pct

15-min city in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +14.4 pts higher in Merrimac

72.1% 55th pct 86.4% 67th pct

Walk to shops in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +16.0 pts higher in Merrimac

63.2% 50th pct 79.2% 65th pct

Walk to transit in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +0.8 pts higher in Merrimac

93.2% 53rd pct 94.0% 55th pct

Walk to school in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +40.7 pts higher in Merrimac

52.6% 32nd pct 93.2% 72nd pct

Walk to a park in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +2.4 pts higher in Broadbeach Waters

97.2% 50th pct 94.8% 43rd pct

Walk to health in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +7.7 pts higher in Broadbeach Waters

67.8% 68th pct 60.1% 62nd pct

Amenities/1k in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +4.0 more in Broadbeach Waters

10.7 28th pct 6.7 6th pct

Intersections/km² in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +33 higher in Broadbeach Waters

98 51st pct 65 44th pct

Mean slope in Broadbeach Waters in Merrimac +2.7 pts higher in Merrimac

2.9% 9th pct 5.7% 56th pct

Compare Broadbeach Waters with nearby areas

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach Surfers Paradise - South Bundall Mermaid Waters Clear Island Waters Surfers Paradise - North Benowa Robina - East

Compare Merrimac with nearby areas

Robina - West Clear Island Waters Carrara Robina - East Worongary - Tallai Mermaid Waters Benowa Broadbeach Waters

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Broadbeach Waters vs Merrimac [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/309011224/broadbeach-waters/vs/309081260/merrimac