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Clear Island Waters vs Merrimac

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

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 2.6 km apart · Clear Island Waters profile · Merrimac profile

Clear Island Waters Merrimac

Merrimac and Clear Island Waters are neighbouring areas on the Gold Coast with very different profiles. Clear Island Waters is a much older community, where the typical resident is 50 and about 30.1% of people are aged 65 or over. It has a higher share of people born overseas (37.7%) and far more homes owned outright (44.9%). In contrast, Merrimac is younger, with a typical age of 38, and has a higher proportion of renters (34.2%). Merrimac is also more accessible; for example, 94.0% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport, compared to 42.9% in Clear Island Waters.

These two areas share very similar typical weekly household incomes, sitting around $1,600 to $1,700. They also have almost identical proportions of First Nations residents and people providing unpaid care. While the age gap between the two has narrowed slightly since 2011, other differences have grown. For instance, the gap in the share of people who do not identify with a religion has widened, and the difference in the number of people working or looking for work has also increased.

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Where they differ most

Owned outright: 25.1 pts higher in Clear Island Waters Median age: 12 yrs older in Clear Island Waters Population: 2,815 larger in Merrimac De facto: 7.1 pts higher in Merrimac Separate houses: 15.1 pts higher in Clear Island Waters

Demographics & Identity

Population in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +2,815 larger in Merrimac gap widening

4,395 18th pct 7,210 36th pct

Median age in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +12 yrs older in Clear Island Waters gap narrowing

50 yrs 90th pct 38 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

30.1% Seniors (65+) ◂ +12.8 pts 17.3%

18.1% Young adults (25–44) +10.2 pts ▸ 28.3%

27.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.4 pts 23.9%

14.0% Children (0–14) +4.7 pts ▸ 18.8%

10.5% Youth (15–24) +1.4 pts ▸ 11.9%

Marital status

53.1% Married ◂ +13.0 pts 40.2%

26.3% Never married +10.6 pts ▸ 36.9%

10.0% Divorced +2.6 pts ▸ 12.6%

8.1% Widowed ◂ +2.1 pts 5.9%

2.2% Separated +2.1 pts ▸ 4.3%

Age & sex structure

Clear Island Waters Merrimac

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

57.7% Australia +6.3 pts ▸ 63.9%

5.0% New Zealand +2.4 pts ▸ 7.4%

5.9% China ◂ +4.6 pts 1.3%

5.8% England ◂ +1.5 pts 4.2%

2.1% South Africa ◂ +0.6 pts 1.5%

1.6% India ◂ +0.9 pts 0.7%

0.6% Philippines +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.8% Italy ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

0.3% Vietnam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.0% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Ancestry

34.0% English +4.8 pts ▸ 38.8%

25.7% Australian +3.5 pts ▸ 29.2%

11.3% Chinese ◂ +7.4 pts 3.9%

8.1% Scottish +2.0 pts ▸ 10.1%

10.0% Irish ◂ +0.5 pts 9.6%

5.2% Italian ◂ +1.5 pts 3.6%

4.5% German ◂ +0.3 pts 4.2%

2.6% Indian ◂ +1.4 pts 1.2%

1.9% Greek ◂ +1.2 pts 0.8%

1.0% Filipino +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.5% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%

0.4% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

71.4% English only +6.0 pts ▸ 77.4%

9.0% Mandarin ◂ +7.6 pts 1.4%

1.5% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.8% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.8% Punjabi ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

0.6% Greek ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.2% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Arabic even 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

53.3% Christianity ◂ +10.1 pts 43.2%

33.1% No religion +11.6 pts ▸ 44.7%

6.8% Not stated +1.2 pts ▸ 8.1%

2.2% Buddhism ◂ +0.6 pts 1.7%

1.8% Hinduism ◂ +0.9 pts 0.9%

1.4% Other religions ◂ +1.0 pts 0.4%

0.7% Islam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.7% Judaism ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +3 more in Merrimac

1 0th pct 4 57th pct

Schools/1k kids in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +1.33 more in Merrimac

1.62 36th pct 2.96 68th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +4 more in Merrimac

15 40th pct 19 49th pct

Students in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +2,690 more in Merrimac

794 30th pct 3,484 85th pct

Avg size in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +77 larger in Merrimac

794 86th pct 871 88th pct

ICSEA in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac even

1,091 80th pct 1,090 80th pct

Highest year of school

64.2% Year 12 ◂ +4.9 pts 59.4%

16.4% Year 10 +2.3 pts ▸ 18.8%

5.9% Year 11 +1.5 pts ▸ 7.4%

7.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +0.1 pts 6.9%

Highest qualification level

19.2% Certificate III / IV +11.1 pts ▸ 30.3%

29.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +7.1 pts 22.3%

17.0% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.0 pts ▸ 19.0%

10.9% Postgraduate degree ◂ +5.4 pts 5.5%

3.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.3 pts 2.8%

1.6% Certificate I / II +0.4 pts ▸ 2.0%

Field of qualification

24.8% Management & commerce ◂ +4.8 pts 20.0%

11.1% Society & culture +2.2 pts ▸ 13.3%

13.1% Health ◂ +2.5 pts 10.6%

10.3% Engineering & related even 10.3%

6.8% Education +1.3 pts ▸ 8.0%

5.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.0 pts ▸ 7.7%

5.9% Architecture & building +0.1 pts ▸ 6.0%

3.4% Creative arts +0.6 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.2% Information technology even 2.2%

2.1% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.5 pts 1.5%

0.6% Agriculture & environment +0.7 pts ▸ 1.3%

Income

Personal income in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +$56 higher in Merrimac gap widening

$732 35th pct $788 46th pct

Household income in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +$72 higher in Merrimac gap narrowing

$1,617 42nd pct $1,689 47th pct

Family income in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +$144 higher in Clear Island Waters gap narrowing

$2,035 47th pct $1,891 37th pct

Household income distribution

24.9% $1,500–$2,999 +12.7 pts ▸ 37.6%

27.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.6 pts 27.1%

17.1% Under $650 ◂ +3.7 pts 13.4%

14.6% $4,000 or more ◂ +9.5 pts 5.1%

8.3% $3,000–$3,999 +1.2 pts ▸ 9.5%

Personal income distribution

41.7% Under $650 ◂ +4.1 pts 37.6%

28.1% $650–$1,499 +8.6 pts ▸ 36.7%

14.5% $1,500–$2,999 +0.5 pts ▸ 15.0%

6.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.8 pts 1.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.7% Arthritis ◂ +2.3 pts 7.4%

6.8% Mental health +2.4 pts ▸ 9.1%

7.7% Other condition +0.1 pts ▸ 7.8%

5.6% Asthma +1.7 pts ▸ 7.4%

5.4% Heart disease ◂ +1.8 pts 3.6%

4.2% Cancer ◂ +1.6 pts 2.6%

3.9% Diabetes ◂ +0.4 pts 3.5%

2.2% Dementia ◂ +1.1 pts 1.1%

2.1% Lung condition ◂ +0.3 pts 1.8%

1.6% Stroke ◂ +0.6 pts 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.9% None ◂ +0.3 pts 64.6%

18.3% One condition ◂ +1.1 pts 17.3%

6.1% Two conditions ◂ +0.7 pts 5.3%

3.5% Three or more ◂ +0.5 pts 3.0%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +90 larger in Merrimac

41 13th pct 131 40th pct

Median age in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +9 yrs older in Clear Island Waters

33 yrs 91st pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +$8 higher in Clear Island Waters

$849 79th pct $841 78th pct

Household income in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +$55 higher in Merrimac

$1,666 48th pct $1,721 51st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +0.1 larger in Merrimac gap narrowing

2.5 43rd pct 2.6 57th pct

Family composition

56.0% Couples with children ◂ +1.2 pts 54.9%

31.3% Couples without children ◂ +6.9 pts 24.4%

11.5% One-parent families +8.5 pts ▸ 20.0%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.4 pts 0.7%

Household size

36.9% 2 people ◂ +3.0 pts 33.9%

24.3% 1 person ◂ +2.9 pts 21.3%

15.3% 3 people +5.6 pts ▸ 20.9%

16.7% 4 people +0.3 pts ▸ 17.0%

4.4% 5 people +0.5 pts ▸ 4.9%

3.1% 6 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 1.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +$75 higher in Clear Island Waters gap widening

$540 92nd pct $465 84th pct

Mortgage in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +$434 higher in Clear Island Waters gap widening

$2,167 73rd pct $1,733 43rd pct

People / bedroom in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +0.10 higher in Merrimac gap steady

0.70 0th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

44.9% Owned outright ◂ +25.1 pts 19.7%

29.7% Owned with a mortgage +13.7 pts ▸ 43.4%

20.2% Rented +14.0 pts ▸ 34.2%

3.9% Other tenure ◂ +3.1 pts 0.8%

1.5% Not stated +0.3 pts ▸ 1.8%

Types of homes

63.2% Separate house ◂ +15.1 pts 48.1%

25.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +16.3 pts ▸ 41.7%

10.9% Flat or apartment ◂ +0.8 pts 10.1%

0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

33.5% 3 bedrooms +24.7 pts ▸ 58.2%

36.0% 4 bedrooms ◂ +14.1 pts 21.9%

15.8% 5 or more ◂ +12.2 pts 3.6%

5.2% 2 bedrooms +6.9 pts ▸ 12.2%

8.2% 1 bedroom ◂ +5.9 pts 2.2%

0.0% Studio / none +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

34.1% $350–$549 +43.1 pts ▸ 77.3%

28.7% $750 or more ◂ +26.2 pts 2.5%

17.4% $550–$749 ◂ +5.6 pts 11.8%

10.1% $200–$349 ◂ +6.1 pts 4.0%

1.5% Under $200 ◂ +0.4 pts 1.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

16.2% $1,000–$1,799 +21.1 pts ▸ 37.3%

28.2% $1,800–$2,999 +6.3 pts ▸ 34.6%

30.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +23.0 pts 7.7%

16.8% Under $1,000 ◂ +2.9 pts 13.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +16 more in Merrimac

3 7th pct 19 29th pct

Stops/1k in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +1.95 more in Merrimac

0.68 8th pct 2.64 27th pct

Departures/1k in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +73.9 more in Clear Island Waters

315.4 31st pct 241.5 28th pct

PT routes in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +6 more in Clear Island Waters

8 52nd pct 2 14th pct

Stop walk in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +11 longer in Clear Island Waters

23 82nd pct 12 73rd pct

Drive to city in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +2 longer in Clear Island Waters

52 74th pct 50 74th pct

How people get to work

61.2% Car (driver) +7.3 pts ▸ 68.5%

18.6% Worked at home ◂ +7.9 pts 10.7%

4.7% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.1 pts 3.6%

0.6% Walked +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.3% Bus +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Bicycle ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

0.4% Train +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

38.4% 2 vehicles +6.8 pts ▸ 45.2%

34.1% 1 vehicle +0.5 pts ▸ 34.6%

14.3% 3 vehicles ◂ +2.1 pts 12.2%

7.6% 4 or more ◂ +2.5 pts 5.1%

5.8% No vehicle ◂ +2.5 pts 3.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

16.3% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.1 pts 16.2%

11.2% Retail trade +0.5 pts ▸ 11.7%

8.9% Construction +1.2 pts ▸ 10.1%

8.4% Education & training +1.1 pts ▸ 9.5%

8.5% Accommodation & food +0.9 pts ▸ 9.4%

9.3% Professional & technical ◂ +2.7 pts 6.7%

3.8% Manufacturing +1.0 pts ▸ 4.8%

4.0% Public administration & safety +0.4 pts ▸ 4.4%

4.0% Rental & real estate ◂ +1.7 pts 2.3%

3.8% Finance & insurance ◂ +1.6 pts 2.2%

3.1% Administrative & support +0.6 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.8% Other services +0.7 pts ▸ 3.5%

Occupations people work in

27.1% Professionals ◂ +7.5 pts 19.6%

17.1% Managers ◂ +6.9 pts 10.2%

9.3% Community & personal service +6.2 pts ▸ 15.5%

9.9% Technicians & trades +4.0 pts ▸ 13.8%

13.2% Clerical & administrative even 13.1%

12.8% Sales workers ◂ +1.4 pts 11.4%

6.1% Labourers +3.3 pts ▸ 9.4%

2.6% Machinery operators & drivers +2.8 pts ▸ 5.3%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +3 higher in Clear Island Waters

8 71st pct 5 43rd pct

IRSD decile in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +3 higher in Clear Island Waters

8 71st pct 5 43rd pct

IER decile in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +4 higher in Clear Island Waters

9 86th pct 5 43rd pct

IEO decile in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +2 higher in Clear Island Waters

8 71st pct 6 57th pct

IRSAD score in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +81 higher in Clear Island Waters

1,067 77th pct 986 45th pct

ERP in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +2,853 higher in Merrimac

4,570 18th pct 7,423 34th pct

Growth in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +1.3 pts higher in Clear Island Waters

3.3% 39th pct 2.0% 28th pct

Businesses in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +168 higher in Clear Island Waters

675 36th pct 507 26th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac even

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

Max temp in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac even

26.2 77th pct 26.2 77th pct

Min temp in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac even

15.8 85th pct 15.8 85th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +2.0 higher in Merrimac

3.9 29th pct 5.9 58th pct

Types ≤15 min in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +1.5 more in Merrimac

4.1 32nd pct 5.5 54th pct

15-min city in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +36.1 pts higher in Merrimac

50.3% 38th pct 86.4% 67th pct

Walk to shops in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +43.3 pts higher in Merrimac

35.9% 26th pct 79.2% 65th pct

Walk to transit in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +51.1 pts higher in Merrimac

42.9% 22nd pct 94.0% 55th pct

Walk to school in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +42.7 pts higher in Merrimac

50.5% 31st pct 93.2% 72nd pct

Walk to a park in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +4.2 pts higher in Merrimac

90.6% 38th pct 94.8% 43rd pct

Walk to health in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +40.2 pts higher in Merrimac

19.9% 25th pct 60.1% 62nd pct

Amenities/1k in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +0.2 more in Clear Island Waters

6.8 7th pct 6.7 6th pct

Intersections/km² in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +12 higher in Clear Island Waters

77 46th pct 65 44th pct

Mean slope in Clear Island Waters in Merrimac +2.6 pts higher in Merrimac

3.0% 11th pct 5.7% 56th pct

Compare Clear Island Waters with nearby areas

Broadbeach Waters Robina - East Mermaid Waters Merrimac Bundall Robina - West Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach Benowa

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). Clear Island Waters vs Merrimac [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/309081259/clear-island-waters/vs/309081260/merrimac