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Carrara vs Merrimac

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 3.5 km apart · Carrara profile · Merrimac profile

Carrara Merrimac

Carrara and Merrimac are neighbouring Gold Coast areas with very different layouts. Merrimac is more accessible for pedestrians, described as somewhat walkable, while Carrara is mostly car-dependent. This is clear in the local services; 79.2% of Merrimac homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries compared to just 21.2% in Carrara. Merrimac also has more schools, with nearly three per 1,000 children, whereas Carrara has just under one. In contrast, Carrara has more people who own their homes outright (31.5%) than Merrimac (19.7%).

The two areas are very similar in their typical weekly personal incomes and the proportion of adults with a bachelor degree. They also share similar levels of school advantage and a nearly identical number of people per bedroom. While they share these commonalities, some gaps are widening. For example, the difference in the share of people aged 65 and over has grown since 2011, with Carrara now well higher than Merrimac.

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Where they differ most

Owned outright: 11.8 pts higher in Carrara Population: 5,937 larger in Carrara 3+ bedrooms: 8.6 pts higher in Merrimac Median age: 4 yrs older in Carrara Renting: 6.6 pts higher in Merrimac

Demographics & Identity

Population in Carrarain Merrimac +5,937 larger in Carrara gap widening
13,147 68th pct 7,210 36th pct
Median age in Carrarain Merrimac +4 yrs older in Carrara gap steady
42 yrs 64th pct 38 yrs 43rd pct
First Nations in Carrarain Merrimac +0.3 pts higher in Carrara gap steady
2.1% 50th pct 1.8% 45th pct
Aged 65+ in Carrarain Merrimac +3.6 pts higher in Carrara gap widening
20.9% 71st pct 17.3% 49th pct
Under 15 in Carrarain Merrimac +2.2 pts higher in Merrimac gap narrowing
16.6% 35th pct 18.8% 60th pct
De facto in Carrarain Merrimac +2.2 pts higher in Merrimac gap steady
12.7% 59th pct 14.9% 80th pct

Age structure

25.7% Young adults (25–44) +2.6 pts ▸ 28.3%
26.5% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.6 pts 23.9%
20.9% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.6 pts 17.3%
16.6% Children (0–14) +2.2 pts ▸ 18.8%
10.4% Youth (15–24) +1.5 pts ▸ 11.9%

Marital status

46.2% Married ◂ +6.0 pts 40.2%
33.7% Never married +3.3 pts ▸ 36.9%
12.0% Divorced +0.5 pts ▸ 12.6%
4.2% Widowed +1.7 pts ▸ 5.9%
3.9% Separated +0.4 pts ▸ 4.3%

Age & sex structure

Carrara Merrimac

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Carrarain Merrimac +1.7 pts higher in Merrimac gap narrowing
28.3% 64th pct 30.0% 68th pct

Country of birth

67.7% Australia ◂ +3.8 pts 63.9%
7.2% New Zealand +0.2 pts ▸ 7.4%
5.0% England ◂ +0.8 pts 4.2%
1.6% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 1.5%
1.2% China even 1.3%
0.8% Philippines +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.6% India +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.3% Italy even 0.4%
0.2% Nepal even 0.1%
0.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

41.6% English ◂ +2.8 pts 38.8%
31.4% Australian ◂ +2.2 pts 29.2%
11.6% Scottish ◂ +1.4 pts 10.1%
11.0% Irish ◂ +1.4 pts 9.6%
5.0% German ◂ +0.8 pts 4.2%
3.4% Chinese +0.5 pts ▸ 3.9%
3.5% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 3.6%
1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%
1.2% Filipino +0.3 pts ▸ 1.5%
1.0% Indian +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.9% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%
0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Language

Other language in Carrarain Merrimac +3.6 pts higher in Merrimac gap steady
12.6% 50th pct 16.2% 58th pct
Limited English in Carrarain Merrimac +0.5 pts higher in Merrimac gap steady
1.4% 50th pct 1.9% 59th pct

Language used at home

83.6% English only ◂ +6.2 pts 77.4%
1.9% Mandarin ◂ +0.5 pts 1.4%
0.7% Cantonese +0.8 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.4% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.4% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%
0.2% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%
0.3% Arabic even 0.2%
0.2% Hindi even 0.2%
0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%
0.2% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Religion

No religion in Carrarain Merrimac +2.8 pts higher in Merrimac gap widening
41.9% 53rd pct 44.7% 65th pct

Religious affiliation

48.4% Christianity ◂ +5.2 pts 43.2%
41.9% No religion +2.8 pts ▸ 44.7%
5.8% Not stated +2.3 pts ▸ 8.1%
1.7% Buddhism even 1.7%
0.9% Islam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%
0.6% Hinduism +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.6% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%
0.3% Judaism even 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Carrarain Merrimac +0.3 pts higher in Carrara gap narrowing
59.7% 57th pct 59.4% 56th pct
Bachelor+ in Carrarain Merrimac +0.7 pts higher in Carrara gap narrowing
20.4% 48th pct 19.8% 46th pct
Schools in Carrarain Merrimac +2 more in Merrimac
2 14th pct 4 57th pct
Schools/1k kids in Carrarain Merrimac +2.04 more in Merrimac
0.92 12th pct 2.96 68th pct
Schools ≤3 km in Carrarain Merrimac +1 more in Carrara
20 51st pct 19 49th pct
Students in Carrarain Merrimac +1,696 more in Merrimac
1,788 58th pct 3,484 85th pct
Avg size in Carrarain Merrimac +23 larger in Carrara
894 89th pct 871 88th pct
ICSEA in Carrarain Merrimac +46 higher in Carrara
1,136 93rd pct 1,090 80th pct

Highest year of school

59.7% Year 12 ◂ +0.3 pts 59.4%
21.1% Year 10 ◂ +2.3 pts 18.8%
7.6% Year 11 ◂ +0.2 pts 7.4%
6.9% Year 9 or below +0.1 pts ▸ 6.9%

Highest qualification level

31.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +1.2 pts 30.3%
22.6% Bachelor degree ◂ +0.3 pts 22.3%
18.8% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.2 pts ▸ 19.0%
6.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.7 pts 5.5%
3.5% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.7 pts 2.8%
1.7% Certificate I / II +0.2 pts ▸ 2.0%

Field of qualification

21.2% Management & commerce ◂ +1.2 pts 20.0%
12.0% Society & culture +1.3 pts ▸ 13.3%
12.2% Engineering & related ◂ +1.9 pts 10.3%
11.1% Health ◂ +0.5 pts 10.6%
8.0% Education even 8.0%
8.0% Architecture & building ◂ +1.9 pts 6.0%
7.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.2 pts ▸ 7.7%
4.2% Creative arts ◂ +0.2 pts 4.0%
1.5% Information technology +0.7 pts ▸ 2.2%
1.4% Natural & physical sciences +0.1 pts ▸ 1.5%
1.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.2 pts 1.3%

Income

Personal income in Carrarain Merrimac +$18 higher in Merrimac gap widening
$770 43rd pct $788 46th pct
Household income in Carrarain Merrimac +$129 higher in Merrimac gap widening
$1,560 39th pct $1,689 47th pct
Family income in Carrarain Merrimac +$5 higher in Carrara gap narrowing
$1,896 38th pct $1,891 37th pct
High earners in Carrarain Merrimac +2.9 pts higher in Carrara gap widening
9.4% 43rd pct 6.5% 24th pct
High-income homes in Carrarain Merrimac +2.9 pts higher in Carrara gap widening
17.4% 40th pct 14.5% 30th pct

Household income distribution

30.2% $1,500–$2,999 +7.4 pts ▸ 37.6%
29.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.4 pts 27.1%
15.7% Under $650 ◂ +2.3 pts 13.4%
9.2% $3,000–$3,999 +0.3 pts ▸ 9.5%
8.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +3.2 pts 5.1%

Personal income distribution

40.9% Under $650 ◂ +3.2 pts 37.6%
33.6% $650–$1,499 +3.1 pts ▸ 36.7%
16.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.7 pts 15.0%
3.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.5 pts 1.8%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Carrarain Merrimac +3.3 pts higher in Carrara
28.9% 55th pct 25.6% 34th pct
Mental health in Carrarain Merrimac +1.0 pts higher in Merrimac
8.2% 42nd pct 9.1% 55th pct
Needs assistance in Carrarain Merrimac +1.3 pts higher in Merrimac gap steady
4.7% 36th pct 6.0% 60th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

9.3% Arthritis ◂ +1.9 pts 7.4%
8.2% Mental health +1.0 pts ▸ 9.1%
8.1% Asthma ◂ +0.7 pts 7.4%
7.5% Other condition +0.3 pts ▸ 7.8%
4.2% Heart disease ◂ +0.6 pts 3.6%
4.0% Diabetes ◂ +0.5 pts 3.5%
3.9% Cancer ◂ +1.2 pts 2.6%
2.2% Lung condition ◂ +0.3 pts 1.8%
0.7% Dementia +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.9% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.0% None +0.6 pts ▸ 64.6%
19.9% One condition ◂ +2.6 pts 17.3%
5.9% Two conditions ◂ +0.6 pts 5.3%
3.1% Three or more ◂ +0.1 pts 3.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Carrarain Merrimac +1.8 pts higher in Carrara gap steady
12.2% 31st pct 10.4% 20th pct
Unpaid carers in Carrarain Merrimac +1.1 pts higher in Carrara gap narrowing
10.9% 29th pct 9.8% 18th pct
Unpaid child care in Carrarain Merrimac +1.6 pts higher in Merrimac gap steady
26.3% 51st pct 28.0% 63rd pct
Defence service in Carrarain Merrimac +0.3 pts higher in Carrara
2.9% 51st pct 2.6% 42nd pct
Housework 15h+ in Carrarain Merrimac +3.1 pts higher in Carrara gap widening
20.2% 41st pct 17.1% 17th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Carrarain Merrimac +146 larger in Carrara
277 63rd pct 131 40th pct
Median age in Carrarain Merrimac +3 yrs older in Carrara
27 yrs 71st pct 24 yrs 43rd pct
Year 12 in Carrarain Merrimac +19.8 pts higher in Merrimac
48.1% 61st pct 67.9% 90th pct
Unemployment in Carrarain Merrimac +5.0 pts higher in Carrara
12.3% 64th pct 7.4% 33rd pct
Median income in Carrarain Merrimac +$134 higher in Merrimac
$707 63rd pct $841 78th pct
Household income in Carrarain Merrimac +$315 higher in Carrara
$2,036 69th pct $1,721 51st pct
Indigenous language in Carrarain Merrimac +2.8 pts higher in Merrimac
2.5% 25th pct 5.3% 51st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Carrarain Merrimac +0.2 larger in Merrimac gap steady
2.4 36th pct 2.6 57th pct
One-parent in Carrarain Merrimac +4.2 pts higher in Merrimac gap steady
15.8% 70th pct 20.0% 87th pct
Living alone in Carrarain Merrimac +3.4 pts higher in Carrara gap narrowing
24.8% 48th pct 21.3% 34th pct

Family composition

52.7% Couples with children +2.2 pts ▸ 54.9%
30.4% Couples without children ◂ +6.0 pts 24.4%
15.8% One-parent families +4.2 pts ▸ 20.0%
1.0% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

Household size

37.3% 2 people ◂ +3.4 pts 33.9%
24.8% 1 person ◂ +3.4 pts 21.3%
17.0% 3 people +3.9 pts ▸ 20.9%
14.0% 4 people +3.0 pts ▸ 17.0%
4.6% 5 people +0.2 pts ▸ 4.9%
2.2% 6 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 1.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Carrarain Merrimac +$15 higher in Merrimac gap steady
$450 80th pct $465 84th pct
Mortgage in Carrarain Merrimac +$167 higher in Carrara gap widening
$1,900 54th pct $1,733 43rd pct
People / bedroom in Carrarain Merrimac even gap steady
0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct
Renting in Carrarain Merrimac +6.6 pts higher in Merrimac gap narrowing
27.6% 52nd pct 34.2% 69th pct
Owned outright in Carrarain Merrimac +11.8 pts higher in Carrara gap widening
31.5% 47th pct 19.7% 16th pct
Separate houses in Carrarain Merrimac +3.9 pts higher in Carrara gap narrowing
52.0% 14th pct 48.1% 13th pct
3+ bedrooms in Carrarain Merrimac +8.6 pts higher in Merrimac gap narrowing
75.1% 38th pct 83.7% 64th pct

How homes are owned or rented

38.5% Owned with a mortgage +4.9 pts ▸ 43.4%
27.6% Rented +6.6 pts ▸ 34.2%
31.5% Owned outright ◂ +11.8 pts 19.7%
1.6% Not stated +0.2 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.9% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Types of homes

52.0% Separate house ◂ +3.9 pts 48.1%
33.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +8.0 pts ▸ 41.7%
8.9% Flat or apartment +1.2 pts ▸ 10.1%
5.3% Other dwelling ◂ +5.3 pts 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

47.2% 3 bedrooms +11.0 pts ▸ 58.2%
21.4% 4 bedrooms +0.5 pts ▸ 21.9%
17.3% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.1 pts 12.2%
6.5% 5 or more ◂ +2.9 pts 3.6%
5.4% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.2 pts 2.2%
0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

47.0% $350–$549 +30.3 pts ▸ 77.3%
21.0% $200–$349 ◂ +17.1 pts 4.0%
20.4% $550–$749 ◂ +8.7 pts 11.8%
4.1% $750 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 2.5%
3.9% Under $200 ◂ +2.8 pts 1.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.0% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +3.4 pts 34.6%
29.8% $1,000–$1,799 +7.5 pts ▸ 37.3%
13.3% Under $1,000 +0.6 pts ▸ 13.9%
12.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.2 pts 7.7%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Carrarain Merrimac +0.1 pts higher in Merrimac gap narrowing
3.2% 32nd pct 3.3% 33rd pct
Work from home in Carrarain Merrimac +2.5 pts higher in Carrara gap steady
13.2% 45th pct 10.7% 34th pct
PT commute in Carrarain Merrimac +0.2 pts higher in Merrimac gap steady
1.0% 33rd pct 1.2% 38th pct
PT stops in Carrarain Merrimac +15 more in Carrara
34 44th pct 19 29th pct
Stops/1k in Carrarain Merrimac +0.05 more in Merrimac
2.59 26th pct 2.64 27th pct
Departures/1k in Carrarain Merrimac +214.4 more in Carrara
455.8 36th pct 241.5 28th pct
PT routes in Carrarain Merrimac +5 more in Carrara
7 48th pct 2 14th pct
Stop walk in Carrarain Merrimac +7 longer in Merrimac
5 50th pct 12 73rd pct
Drive to city in Carrarain Merrimac +4 longer in Merrimac
46 72nd pct 50 74th pct

How people get to work

66.0% Car (driver) +2.6 pts ▸ 68.5%
13.2% Worked at home ◂ +2.5 pts 10.7%
3.8% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.2 pts 3.6%
1.1% Walked ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%
0.5% Bus +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.5% Train even 0.4%
0.3% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

40.8% 2 vehicles +4.4 pts ▸ 45.2%
36.9% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.3 pts 34.6%
13.1% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.8 pts 12.2%
5.9% 4 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 5.1%
3.2% No vehicle +0.1 pts ▸ 3.3%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Carrarain Merrimac +3.6 pts higher in Merrimac gap steady
45.5% 76th pct 49.1% 83rd pct
Recent arrivals in Carrarain Merrimac +0.9 pts higher in Carrara gap narrowing
9.5% 43rd pct 8.6% 38th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Carrarain Merrimac +0.2 pts higher in Carrara gap steady
5.4% 65th pct 5.2% 62nd pct
Participation in Carrarain Merrimac +1.9 pts higher in Merrimac gap steady
63.1% 57th pct 65.0% 66th pct
Full-time in Carrarain Merrimac +0.5 pts higher in Merrimac gap steady
55.1% 22nd pct 55.5% 25th pct

Industries people work in

13.9% Health care & social assistance +2.3 pts ▸ 16.2%
10.9% Retail trade +0.8 pts ▸ 11.7%
11.1% Construction ◂ +1.0 pts 10.1%
8.9% Education & training +0.6 pts ▸ 9.5%
8.6% Accommodation & food +0.8 pts ▸ 9.4%
6.4% Professional & technical +0.2 pts ▸ 6.7%
4.9% Manufacturing ◂ +0.1 pts 4.8%
4.6% Other services ◂ +1.1 pts 3.5%
4.4% Public administration & safety +0.1 pts ▸ 4.4%
4.3% Administrative & support ◂ +0.6 pts 3.7%
3.6% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.1 pts 3.5%
3.2% Arts & recreation ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%

Occupations people work in

20.0% Professionals ◂ +0.4 pts 19.6%
13.1% Community & personal service +2.4 pts ▸ 15.5%
14.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.3 pts 13.8%
13.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.2 pts 13.1%
13.0% Managers ◂ +2.9 pts 10.2%
11.7% Sales workers ◂ +0.3 pts 11.4%
8.4% Labourers +1.0 pts ▸ 9.4%
4.4% Machinery operators & drivers +1.0 pts ▸ 5.3%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Carrarain Merrimac +1 higher in Carrara
6 57th pct 5 43rd pct
IRSD decile in Carrarain Merrimac +1 higher in Carrara
6 57th pct 5 43rd pct
IER decile in Carrarain Merrimac +1 higher in Carrara
6 57th pct 5 43rd pct
IEO decile in Carrarain Merrimac even
6 57th pct 6 57th pct
IRSAD score in Carrarain Merrimac +16 higher in Carrara
1,002 52nd pct 986 45th pct
ERP in Carrarain Merrimac +6,917 higher in Carrara
14,340 68th pct 7,423 34th pct
Growth in Carrarain Merrimac +5.7 pts higher in Carrara
7.7% 72nd pct 2.0% 28th pct
Businesses in Carrarain Merrimac +1,125 higher in Carrara
1,632 79th pct 507 26th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Carrarain Merrimac +45 higher in Merrimac
1,499 89th pct 1,544 91st pct
Max temp in Carrarain Merrimac +0.1 higher in Carrara
26.3 78th pct 26.2 77th pct
Min temp in Carrarain Merrimac +0.2 higher in Merrimac
15.5 84th pct 15.8 85th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Carrarain Merrimac +2.5 higher in Merrimac
3.5 24th pct 5.9 58th pct
Types ≤15 min in Carrarain Merrimac +2.3 more in Merrimac
3.2 22nd pct 5.5 54th pct
15-min city in Carrarain Merrimac +56.5 pts higher in Merrimac
29.9% 21st pct 86.4% 67th pct
Walk to shops in Carrarain Merrimac +58.0 pts higher in Merrimac
21.2% 13th pct 79.2% 65th pct
Walk to transit in Carrarain Merrimac +25.1 pts higher in Merrimac
69.0% 32nd pct 94.0% 55th pct
Walk to school in Carrarain Merrimac +62.0 pts higher in Merrimac
31.2% 17th pct 93.2% 72nd pct
Walk to a park in Carrarain Merrimac +4.8 pts higher in Merrimac
90.0% 37th pct 94.8% 43rd pct
Walk to health in Carrarain Merrimac +29.5 pts higher in Merrimac
30.6% 35th pct 60.1% 62nd pct
Amenities/1k in Carrarain Merrimac +0.5 more in Merrimac
6.2 4th pct 6.7 6th pct
Intersections/km² in Carrarain Merrimac +15 higher in Carrara
80 47th pct 65 44th pct
Mean slope in Carrarain Merrimac +0.4 pts higher in Carrara
6.1% 62nd pct 5.7% 56th pct

Compare Carrara with nearby areas

Benowa Merrimac Highland Park Ashmore Clear Island Waters Bundall Worongary - Tallai Molendinar

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). Carrara vs Merrimac [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/309061246/carrara/vs/309081260/merrimac