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Mermaid Waters vs Merrimac

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

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 4.9 km apart · Mermaid Waters profile · Merrimac profile

Mermaid Waters Merrimac

Mermaid Waters and Merrimac are neighbouring areas on the Gold Coast with distinct housing and wealth profiles. Mermaid Waters has a higher share of high earners, with 24.8% of households making $3,000 or more a week compared to 14.5% in Merrimac. It also has far more people who own their homes outright (34.5% versus 19.7%) and a higher proportion of separate houses. In contrast, Merrimac is more family-focused in its layout, with 83.8% of homes having three or more bedrooms and a much higher number of schools per child.

Street connectivity and access to amenities have diverged significantly, with Mermaid Waters now far higher in walkable amenities and public transport options. Despite these gaps, the two areas remain very similar in some ways, such as their typical weekly household incomes and the percentage of people who speak little or no English. Both areas also sit near the national figure for the proportion of people who provide unpaid care.

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Where they differ most

Owned outright: 14.8 pts higher in Mermaid Waters 3+ bedrooms: 14.4 pts higher in Merrimac Separate houses: 11.4 pts higher in Mermaid Waters Population: 5,876 larger in Mermaid Waters Recent arrivals: 6.0 pts higher in Mermaid Waters

Demographics & Identity

Population in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +5,876 larger in Mermaid Waters gap steady

13,088 88th pct 7,212 87th pct

Median age in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +2 yrs older in Mermaid Waters gap narrowing

40 yrs 29th pct 38 yrs 23rd pct

Age structure

27.9% Young adults (25–44) +0.4 pts ▸ 28.3%

25.0% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.2 pts 23.8%

19.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.8 pts 17.2%

17.3% Children (0–14) +1.4 pts ▸ 18.8%

10.7% Youth (15–24) +1.2 pts ▸ 11.9%

Marital status

43.6% Married ◂ +3.4 pts 40.2%

37.2% Never married ◂ +0.2 pts 37.0%

10.8% Divorced +1.8 pts ▸ 12.6%

5.4% Widowed +0.6 pts ▸ 5.9%

3.0% Separated +1.3 pts ▸ 4.3%

Age & sex structure

Mermaid Waters Merrimac

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

66.6% Australia ◂ +2.7 pts 63.9%

5.8% New Zealand +1.5 pts ▸ 7.4%

4.7% England ◂ +0.5 pts 4.2%

1.8% China ◂ +0.6 pts 1.3%

0.8% South Africa +0.7 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.6% Philippines +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

0.4% India +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.3% Vietnam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.1% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Ancestry

39.2% English ◂ +0.4 pts 38.8%

30.3% Australian ◂ +1.0 pts 29.3%

11.3% Irish ◂ +1.7 pts 9.6%

10.1% Scottish +0.1 pts ▸ 10.1%

4.9% Italian ◂ +1.3 pts 3.6%

4.4% German ◂ +0.2 pts 4.2%

4.4% Chinese ◂ +0.4 pts 3.9%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.4 pts 1.2%

1.0% Filipino +0.4 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.4% Greek ◂ +0.6 pts 0.8%

0.6% Indian +0.6 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.4% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

80.5% English only ◂ +3.2 pts 77.3%

2.2% Mandarin ◂ +0.8 pts 1.4%

1.0% Cantonese +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.8% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.5% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.3% Arabic even 0.2%

0.3% Tagalog even 0.3%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.0% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

46.0% Christianity ◂ +2.8 pts 43.2%

43.9% No religion +0.8 pts ▸ 44.7%

6.6% Not stated +1.5 pts ▸ 8.1%

1.8% Buddhism ◂ +0.1 pts 1.7%

0.3% Hinduism +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% Islam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Other religions ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.4% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +2.07 more in Merrimac

0.88 5th pct 2.96 42nd pct

Schools ≤3 km in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +9 more in Merrimac

10 79th pct 19 86th pct

Avg size in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +340 larger in Mermaid Waters

1,157 100th pct 817 96th pct

ICSEA in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +21 higher in Merrimac

1,054 79th pct 1,075 86th pct

Highest year of school

64.4% Year 12 ◂ +5.1 pts 59.3%

17.1% Year 10 +1.7 pts ▸ 18.7%

6.4% Year 11 +1.0 pts ▸ 7.4%

6.3% Year 9 or below +0.6 pts ▸ 6.9%

Highest qualification level

26.9% Certificate III / IV +3.4 pts ▸ 30.3%

27.1% Bachelor degree ◂ +4.7 pts 22.3%

17.3% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.7 pts ▸ 19.0%

8.4% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.9 pts 5.5%

2.9% Graduate diploma / certificate even 2.8%

1.9% Certificate I / II even 2.0%

Field of qualification

22.2% Management & commerce ◂ +2.1 pts 20.0%

11.1% Society & culture +2.2 pts ▸ 13.3%

11.4% Health ◂ +0.8 pts 10.6%

11.2% Engineering & related ◂ +0.9 pts 10.3%

7.8% Education +0.2 pts ▸ 8.0%

7.4% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.3 pts ▸ 7.7%

7.6% Architecture & building ◂ +1.5 pts 6.0%

4.2% Creative arts ◂ +0.2 pts 4.0%

1.9% Information technology +0.3 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.7% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.1 pts 1.5%

1.1% Agriculture & environment +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

Income

Personal income in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +$28 higher in Mermaid Waters gap narrowing

$816 61st pct $788 57th pct

Household income in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +$78 higher in Mermaid Waters gap narrowing

$1,766 63rd pct $1,688 59th pct

Family income in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +$236 higher in Mermaid Waters gap widening

$2,127 65th pct $1,891 50th pct

Household income distribution

26.8% $1,500–$2,999 +10.8 pts ▸ 37.5%

26.5% $650–$1,499 +0.5 pts ▸ 27.0%

15.0% Under $650 ◂ +1.7 pts 13.3%

13.4% $4,000 or more ◂ +8.4 pts 5.1%

11.4% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.0 pts 9.5%

Personal income distribution

37.9% Under $650 ◂ +0.3 pts 37.7%

33.2% $650–$1,499 +3.5 pts ▸ 36.6%

17.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.2 pts 15.0%

5.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.8 pts 1.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.8% Mental health +2.4 pts ▸ 9.1%

6.3% Other condition +1.5 pts ▸ 7.8%

7.7% Arthritis ◂ +0.2 pts 7.4%

6.5% Asthma +0.9 pts ▸ 7.4%

3.6% Heart disease +0.1 pts ▸ 3.6%

3.0% Diabetes +0.5 pts ▸ 3.5%

3.1% Cancer ◂ +0.5 pts 2.6%

1.5% Lung condition +0.3 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.5% Dementia +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.9% Stroke even 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

68.0% None ◂ +3.4 pts 64.6%

17.2% One condition even 17.3%

4.8% Two conditions +0.6 pts ▸ 5.3%

2.2% Three or more +0.9 pts ▸ 3.0%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +42 larger in Mermaid Waters

173 86th pct 131 86th pct

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

27 yrs 54th pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +$24 higher in Merrimac

$817 67th pct $841 69th pct

Household income in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +$60 higher in Mermaid Waters

$1,781 53rd pct $1,721 51st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +0.1 larger in Merrimac gap narrowing

2.5 50th pct 2.6 57th pct

Family composition

55.6% Couples with children ◂ +0.8 pts 54.9%

28.8% Couples without children ◂ +4.4 pts 24.4%

14.3% One-parent families +5.6 pts ▸ 20.0%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

Household size

36.0% 2 people ◂ +2.2 pts 33.9%

24.3% 1 person ◂ +2.9 pts 21.4%

15.3% 3 people +5.5 pts ▸ 20.9%

16.7% 4 people +0.3 pts ▸ 17.0%

5.8% 5 people ◂ +1.0 pts 4.9%

2.1% 6 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 1.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +$13 higher in Merrimac gap steady

$450 88th pct $463 89th pct

Mortgage in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +$434 higher in Mermaid Waters gap widening

$2,167 80th pct $1,733 57th pct

People / bedroom in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac even gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

34.1% Owned with a mortgage +9.3 pts ▸ 43.3%

34.5% Owned outright ◂ +14.8 pts 19.7%

28.8% Rented +5.6 pts ▸ 34.4%

1.2% Not stated +0.6 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.4% Other tenure ◂ +0.6 pts 0.8%

Types of homes

59.5% Separate house ◂ +11.4 pts 48.1%

31.9% Townhouse / semi-detached +9.7 pts ▸ 41.6%

6.6% Flat or apartment +3.5 pts ▸ 10.1%

1.9% Other dwelling ◂ +1.9 pts 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

31.3% 3 bedrooms +27.1 pts ▸ 58.3%

29.4% 4 bedrooms ◂ +7.6 pts 21.9%

26.4% 2 bedrooms ◂ +14.3 pts 12.2%

8.7% 5 or more ◂ +5.1 pts 3.6%

2.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.4 pts 2.2%

0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

48.0% $350–$549 +28.8 pts ▸ 76.8%

18.1% $550–$749 ◂ +6.4 pts 11.7%

16.3% $750 or more ◂ +13.8 pts 2.5%

12.4% $200–$349 ◂ +8.5 pts 3.9%

3.1% Under $200 ◂ +2.4 pts 0.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

23.3% $1,000–$1,799 +14.0 pts ▸ 37.3%

30.5% $1,800–$2,999 +4.0 pts ▸ 34.6%

25.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +17.7 pts 7.7%

12.6% Under $1,000 +1.3 pts ▸ 13.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +29 more in Mermaid Waters

50 87th pct 21 86th pct

Stops/1k in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +0.91 more in Mermaid Waters

3.82 73rd pct 2.91 69th pct

Departures/1k in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +858.4 more in Mermaid Waters

1,125.3 87th pct 266.9 74th pct

PT routes in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +12 more in Mermaid Waters

14 86th pct 2 75th pct

Stop walk in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +2 longer in Merrimac

4 29th pct 6 36th pct

Drive to city in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +4 longer in Mermaid Waters

53 40th pct 49 38th pct

How people get to work

60.7% Car (driver) +7.8 pts ▸ 68.5%

15.3% Worked at home ◂ +4.7 pts 10.7%

4.1% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.5 pts 3.6%

1.8% Walked ◂ +0.7 pts 1.1%

1.1% Bicycle ◂ +0.7 pts 0.4%

0.8% Bus even 0.8%

0.3% Train +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

40.1% 2 vehicles +5.1 pts ▸ 45.1%

35.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.1 pts 34.5%

12.8% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.6 pts 12.2%

6.3% 4 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 5.1%

5.1% No vehicle ◂ +1.8 pts 3.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.8% Health care & social assistance +2.4 pts ▸ 16.2%

12.3% Construction ◂ +2.2 pts 10.1%

9.6% Retail trade +2.0 pts ▸ 11.7%

9.9% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.5 pts 9.4%

8.4% Education & training +1.1 pts ▸ 9.5%

7.8% Professional & technical ◂ +1.1 pts 6.6%

4.2% Manufacturing +0.6 pts ▸ 4.8%

3.7% Public administration & safety +0.7 pts ▸ 4.4%

4.0% Arts & recreation ◂ +1.0 pts 3.0%

3.9% Other services ◂ +0.4 pts 3.5%

3.9% Administrative & support ◂ +0.2 pts 3.7%

3.1% Transport & warehousing +0.4 pts ▸ 3.5%

Occupations people work in

23.2% Professionals ◂ +3.7 pts 19.6%

12.3% Community & personal service +3.2 pts ▸ 15.5%

14.7% Managers ◂ +4.4 pts 10.2%

13.7% Technicians & trades +0.1 pts ▸ 13.8%

12.0% Clerical & administrative +1.1 pts ▸ 13.1%

10.0% Sales workers +1.4 pts ▸ 11.4%

8.2% Labourers +1.2 pts ▸ 9.4%

4.0% Machinery operators & drivers +1.3 pts ▸ 5.3%

Walkability

Walk score in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +0.5 higher in Mermaid Waters

6.5 90th pct 5.9 88th pct

Types ≤15 min in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +0.6 more in Mermaid Waters

6.2 89th pct 5.5 86th pct

15-min city in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +4.1 pts higher in Merrimac

82.4% 90th pct 86.5% 92nd pct

Walk to shops in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +2.5 pts higher in Mermaid Waters

81.9% 90th pct 79.4% 89th pct

Walk to transit in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +3.8 pts higher in Merrimac

90.3% 84th pct 94.0% 85th pct

Walk to school in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +45.3 pts higher in Merrimac

47.9% 75th pct 93.3% 95th pct

Walk to a park in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +5.2 pts higher in Mermaid Waters

100.0% 100th pct 94.8% 83rd pct

Walk to health in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +17.3 pts higher in Mermaid Waters

77.8% 93rd pct 60.5% 87th pct

Amenities/1k in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +9.0 more in Mermaid Waters

16.9 58th pct 7.9 36th pct

Intersections/km² in Mermaid Waters in Merrimac +82 higher in Mermaid Waters

143 88th pct 61 80th pct

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

2.9% 12th pct 5.6% 49th pct

Compare Mermaid Waters with nearby areas

Mermaid Beach Miami Broadbeach Broadbeach Waters Clear Island Waters Robina Burleigh Waters Varsity Lakes

Compare Merrimac with nearby areas

Clear Island Waters Robina Carrara Worongary Benowa Tallai Mermaid Waters Broadbeach Waters

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Mermaid Waters vs Merrimac [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL31812/mermaid-waters/vs/SAL31813/merrimac