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Merrimac vs Benowa

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

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 5.3 km apart · Merrimac profile · Benowa profile

Merrimac Benowa

Benowa and Merrimac are neighbouring areas on the Gold Coast with distinct profiles. Benowa is more affluent, with a far higher share of households earning $3,000 or more a week (26.8% compared to 14.5% in Merrimac) and far more homes owned outright (39.6% versus 19.7%). Benowa also has an older population, with a typical resident aged 44, compared to 38 in Merrimac. In contrast, Merrimac is much more walkable, with far more homes within a 15-minute walk of a school (93.2% versus 59.3%) and health services (60.1% versus 39.8%).

Everyday life shares many similarities in both places, from the typical weekly personal income of around $780 to the number of people living in each home. Both areas also have a similar share of children under 15. While Benowa has a higher proportion of people born overseas and those using another language at home, these gaps have widened since 2011. At the same time, the difference in the typical age of residents has narrowed over the last decade.

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Where they differ most

Owned outright: 19.9 pts higher in Benowa De facto: 6.0 pts higher in Merrimac Renting: 13.0 pts higher in Merrimac Separate houses: 12.7 pts higher in Benowa One-parent: 7.4 pts higher in Merrimac

Demographics & Identity

Population in Merrimac in Benowa +2,679 larger in Benowa gap widening

7,210 36th pct 9,889 52nd pct

Median age in Merrimac in Benowa +6 yrs older in Benowa gap narrowing

38 yrs 43rd pct 44 yrs 75th pct

Age structure

28.3% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +7.6 pts 20.7%

23.9% Older adults (45–64) +3.9 pts ▸ 27.8%

17.3% Seniors (65+) +3.8 pts ▸ 21.0%

18.8% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.2 pts 18.5%

11.9% Youth (15–24) even 11.9%

Marital status

40.2% Married +13.2 pts ▸ 53.4%

36.9% Never married ◂ +8.0 pts 28.9%

12.6% Divorced ◂ +2.6 pts 10.0%

5.9% Widowed ◂ +0.8 pts 5.2%

4.3% Separated ◂ +1.8 pts 2.5%

Age & sex structure

Merrimac Benowa

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

63.9% Australia ◂ +6.1 pts 57.8%

7.4% New Zealand ◂ +1.5 pts 5.9%

4.2% England +0.3 pts ▸ 4.6%

1.3% China +2.9 pts ▸ 4.2%

1.5% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 1.4%

0.7% India +0.7 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.0% Philippines ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.1% Vietnam +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.4% Italy even 0.4%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

38.8% English ◂ +3.4 pts 35.4%

29.2% Australian ◂ +4.6 pts 24.7%

10.1% Scottish ◂ +1.6 pts 8.5%

9.6% Irish +0.1 pts ▸ 9.7%

3.9% Chinese +5.7 pts ▸ 9.6%

4.2% German ◂ +0.6 pts 3.7%

3.6% Italian ◂ +0.6 pts 3.0%

1.2% Indian +1.0 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.5% Filipino ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

0.8% Greek +0.7 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.2% Dutch +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

Language

Language used at home

77.4% English only ◂ +7.6 pts 69.8%

1.4% Mandarin +5.0 pts ▸ 6.4%

1.5% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 1.5%

0.7% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

0.2% Arabic +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Greek +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Tagalog even 0.3%

0.1% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Religion

Religious affiliation

43.2% Christianity +4.7 pts ▸ 47.9%

44.7% No religion ◂ +6.2 pts 38.5%

8.1% Not stated ◂ +1.1 pts 7.0%

1.7% Buddhism +0.5 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.8% Islam +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.9% Hinduism +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.4% Other religions +0.8 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.2% Judaism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Merrimac in Benowa +1 more in Merrimac

4 57th pct 3 43rd pct

Schools/1k kids in Merrimac in Benowa +1.32 more in Merrimac

2.96 68th pct 1.64 36th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Merrimac in Benowa +1 more in Merrimac

19 49th pct 18 47th pct

Students in Merrimac in Benowa +34 more in Merrimac

3,484 85th pct 3,450 84th pct

Avg size in Merrimac in Benowa +279 larger in Benowa

871 88th pct 1,150 96th pct

ICSEA in Merrimac in Benowa +18 higher in Merrimac

1,090 80th pct 1,071 73rd pct

Highest year of school

59.4% Year 12 +7.6 pts ▸ 67.0%

18.8% Year 10 ◂ +3.1 pts 15.6%

7.4% Year 11 ◂ +1.4 pts 6.0%

6.9% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.1 pts 4.9%

Highest qualification level

30.3% Certificate III / IV ◂ +10.2 pts 20.1%

22.3% Bachelor degree +7.6 pts ▸ 29.9%

19.0% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.0 pts 17.9%

5.5% Postgraduate degree +5.1 pts ▸ 10.7%

2.8% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.8 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.0% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.9 pts 1.0%

Field of qualification

20.0% Management & commerce +5.0 pts ▸ 25.0%

13.3% Society & culture ◂ +1.3 pts 12.1%

10.6% Health +1.9 pts ▸ 12.6%

10.3% Engineering & related ◂ +0.7 pts 9.6%

8.0% Education ◂ +1.3 pts 6.7%

7.7% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +2.2 pts 5.5%

6.0% Architecture & building +0.2 pts ▸ 6.3%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +0.7 pts 3.3%

2.2% Information technology even 2.2%

1.5% Natural & physical sciences +0.7 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.3% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

Income

Personal income in Merrimac in Benowa +$12 higher in Merrimac gap steady

$788 46th pct $776 44th pct

Household income in Merrimac in Benowa +$229 higher in Benowa gap widening

$1,689 47th pct $1,918 60th pct

Family income in Merrimac in Benowa +$257 higher in Benowa gap narrowing

$1,891 37th pct $2,148 54th pct

Household income distribution

37.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +10.3 pts 27.3%

27.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.4 pts 24.7%

5.1% $4,000 or more +12.1 pts ▸ 17.2%

13.4% Under $650 +0.5 pts ▸ 13.9%

9.5% $3,000–$3,999 +0.1 pts ▸ 9.6%

Personal income distribution

37.6% Under $650 +2.8 pts ▸ 40.5%

36.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +7.5 pts 29.1%

15.0% $1,500–$2,999 +1.5 pts ▸ 16.4%

1.8% $3,000 or more +5.2 pts ▸ 7.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.1% Mental health ◂ +3.7 pts 5.4%

7.8% Other condition ◂ +1.2 pts 6.6%

7.4% Arthritis +0.2 pts ▸ 7.6%

7.4% Asthma ◂ +1.2 pts 6.1%

3.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.1 pts 3.5%

3.5% Diabetes ◂ +0.3 pts 3.2%

2.6% Cancer +0.7 pts ▸ 3.3%

1.8% Lung condition ◂ +0.5 pts 1.4%

1.1% Dementia ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.6% None +3.9 pts ▸ 68.5%

17.3% One condition ◂ +0.2 pts 17.0%

5.3% Two conditions ◂ +0.7 pts 4.6%

3.0% Three or more ◂ +1.1 pts 1.9%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Merrimac in Benowa +35 larger in Merrimac

131 40th pct 96 30th pct

Median age in Merrimac in Benowa +12 yrs older in Benowa

24 yrs 43rd pct 36 yrs 96th pct

Median income in Merrimac in Benowa +$116 higher in Merrimac

$841 78th pct $725 66th pct

Household income in Merrimac in Benowa +$154 higher in Benowa

$1,721 51st pct $1,875 60th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Merrimac in Benowa +0.1 larger in Benowa gap steady

2.6 57th pct 2.7 71st pct

Family composition

54.9% Couples with children +6.2 pts ▸ 61.1%

24.4% Couples without children +1.5 pts ▸ 25.9%

20.0% One-parent families ◂ +7.4 pts 12.6%

0.7% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

Household size

33.9% 2 people +0.5 pts ▸ 34.4%

21.3% 1 person ◂ +2.7 pts 18.6%

20.9% 3 people ◂ +3.2 pts 17.7%

17.0% 4 people +2.4 pts ▸ 19.4%

4.9% 5 people +2.4 pts ▸ 7.3%

1.8% 6 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 2.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Merrimac in Benowa +$115 higher in Benowa gap widening

$465 84th pct $580 96th pct

Mortgage in Merrimac in Benowa +$434 higher in Benowa gap widening

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

People / bedroom in Merrimac in Benowa even gap narrowing

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

43.4% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +7.6 pts 35.8%

19.7% Owned outright +19.9 pts ▸ 39.6%

34.2% Rented ◂ +13.0 pts 21.2%

0.8% Other tenure +1.5 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.8% Not stated ◂ +0.7 pts 1.1%

Types of homes

48.1% Separate house +12.7 pts ▸ 60.9%

41.7% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +13.5 pts 28.2%

10.1% Flat or apartment +0.2 pts ▸ 10.3%

0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

58.2% 3 bedrooms ◂ +23.9 pts 34.3%

21.9% 4 bedrooms +13.3 pts ▸ 35.2%

12.2% 2 bedrooms +2.1 pts ▸ 14.2%

3.6% 5 or more +10.0 pts ▸ 13.6%

2.2% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.6 pts 1.6%

0.3% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Weekly rent distribution

77.3% $350–$549 ◂ +44.6 pts 32.6%

11.8% $550–$749 +20.1 pts ▸ 31.8%

2.5% $750 or more +21.8 pts ▸ 24.2%

4.0% $200–$349 +2.9 pts ▸ 6.9%

1.1% Under $200 +1.2 pts ▸ 2.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

37.3% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +16.9 pts 20.4%

34.6% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +4.9 pts 29.7%

7.7% $3,000 or more +21.2 pts ▸ 28.9%

13.9% Under $1,000 +0.4 pts ▸ 14.3%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Merrimac in Benowa +2 more in Merrimac

19 29th pct 17 26th pct

Stops/1k in Merrimac in Benowa +0.92 more in Merrimac

2.64 27th pct 1.72 18th pct

Departures/1k in Merrimac in Benowa +166.6 more in Benowa

241.5 28th pct 408.0 35th pct

PT routes in Merrimac in Benowa +4 more in Benowa

2 14th pct 6 43rd pct

Stop walk in Merrimac in Benowa +4 longer in Merrimac

12 73rd pct 8 64th pct

Drive to city in Merrimac in Benowa +2 longer in Merrimac

50 74th pct 48 73rd pct

How people get to work

68.5% Car (driver) ◂ +6.6 pts 61.9%

10.7% Worked at home +6.6 pts ▸ 17.3%

3.6% Car (passenger) +0.8 pts ▸ 4.4%

1.0% Walked +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.8% Bus ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.4% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.4% Train ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Motor vehicles per home

45.2% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.4 pts 43.8%

34.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.0 pts 32.6%

12.2% 3 vehicles +2.1 pts ▸ 14.3%

5.1% 4 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.3% No vehicle ◂ +1.0 pts 2.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

16.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.3 pts 15.9%

11.7% Retail trade ◂ +1.8 pts 9.9%

10.1% Construction ◂ +1.6 pts 8.5%

9.4% Accommodation & food +0.3 pts ▸ 9.7%

9.5% Education & training ◂ +1.7 pts 7.9%

6.7% Professional & technical +2.4 pts ▸ 9.0%

4.8% Manufacturing ◂ +1.4 pts 3.4%

4.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.0 pts 3.4%

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

3.5% Other services +0.2 pts ▸ 3.7%

3.7% Administrative & support even 3.7%

2.2% Finance & insurance +1.5 pts ▸ 3.7%

Occupations people work in

19.6% Professionals +5.1 pts ▸ 24.7%

10.2% Managers +6.2 pts ▸ 16.4%

15.5% Community & personal service ◂ +4.1 pts 11.3%

13.8% Technicians & trades ◂ +4.3 pts 9.6%

13.1% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.2 pts 12.9%

11.4% Sales workers +0.8 pts ▸ 12.3%

9.4% Labourers ◂ +2.2 pts 7.2%

5.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.1 pts 3.3%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Merrimac in Benowa +3 higher in Benowa

5 43rd pct 8 71st pct

IRSD decile in Merrimac in Benowa +2 higher in Benowa

5 43rd pct 7 64th pct

IER decile in Merrimac in Benowa +3 higher in Benowa

5 43rd pct 8 71st pct

IEO decile in Merrimac in Benowa +1 higher in Benowa

6 57th pct 7 64th pct

IRSAD score in Merrimac in Benowa +67 higher in Benowa

986 45th pct 1,053 72nd pct

ERP in Merrimac in Benowa +3,305 higher in Benowa

7,423 34th pct 10,728 51st pct

Growth in Merrimac in Benowa +5.5 pts higher in Benowa

2.0% 28th pct 7.5% 72nd pct

Businesses in Merrimac in Benowa +1,107 higher in Benowa

507 26th pct 1,614 79th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Merrimac in Benowa +76 higher in Merrimac

1,544 91st pct 1,469 88th pct

Max temp in Merrimac in Benowa even

26.2 77th pct 26.1 76th pct

Min temp in Merrimac in Benowa +0.2 higher in Benowa

15.8 85th pct 16.0 86th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Merrimac in Benowa +0.7 higher in Merrimac

5.9 58th pct 5.2 47th pct

Types ≤15 min in Merrimac in Benowa +0.9 more in Merrimac

5.5 54th pct 4.7 41st pct

15-min city in Merrimac in Benowa +35.8 pts higher in Merrimac

86.4% 67th pct 50.7% 38th pct

Walk to shops in Merrimac in Benowa +1.8 pts higher in Merrimac

79.2% 65th pct 77.4% 63rd pct

Walk to transit in Merrimac in Benowa +17.8 pts higher in Merrimac

94.0% 55th pct 76.2% 37th pct

Walk to school in Merrimac in Benowa +33.9 pts higher in Merrimac

93.2% 72nd pct 59.3% 37th pct

Walk to a park in Merrimac in Benowa +1.0 pts higher in Benowa

94.8% 43rd pct 95.8% 46th pct

Walk to health in Merrimac in Benowa +20.3 pts higher in Merrimac

60.1% 62nd pct 39.8% 45th pct

Amenities/1k in Merrimac in Benowa +1.7 more in Benowa

6.7 6th pct 8.4 13th pct

Intersections/km² in Merrimac in Benowa +47 higher in Benowa

65 44th pct 112 53rd pct

Mean slope in Merrimac in Benowa +0.5 pts higher in Merrimac

5.7% 56th pct 5.2% 47th pct

Compare Merrimac with nearby areas

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

Compare Benowa with nearby areas

Ashmore Bundall Carrara Southport - South Broadbeach Waters Surfers Paradise - South Clear Island Waters Molendinar

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Merrimac vs Benowa [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/309081260/merrimac/vs/309101267/benowa