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Ballina vs Surfers Paradise

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

State Electorate comparison ≈ 75 km apart · Ballina profile · Surfers Paradise profile

Ballina Surfers Paradise

Ballina and Surfers Paradise are very different environments despite being only 75km apart. Ballina is a larger area dominated by separate houses (75.2%) and larger family homes, with 72.8% having three or more bedrooms. In contrast, Surfers Paradise is very walkable and more urban, with 62.2% of people living in flats or apartments. Surfers Paradise is also far more multicultural, where 35.4% of people were born overseas and 20.3% use a language other than English at home, compared to 16.8% and 6.9% in Ballina. Ballina is notably more secular, with 50.0% of residents reporting no religion.

Both areas sit near the national figure for typical weekly household income, around $1,500. They also share similar proportions of people aged 65 and over and a nearly identical share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher. While they share these basics, they have drifted apart since 2011. The gap in overseas births and the preference for separate houses have both grown significantly, marking a clear divergence in how these two coastal areas are developing.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 45.6 pts higher in Ballina 3+ bedrooms: 30.1 pts higher in Ballina Born overseas: 18.6 pts higher in Surfers Paradise PT commute: 3.5 pts higher in Surfers Paradise Volunteering: 7.6 pts higher in Ballina

Demographics & Identity

Population in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +26,496 larger in Ballina gap widening

82,405 85th pct 55,909 50th pct

Median age in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +1 yrs older in Ballina gap narrowing

45 yrs 86th pct 44 yrs 81st pct

Age structure

23.7% Young adults (25–44) +5.1 pts ▸ 28.8%

27.7% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.5 pts 27.2%

23.3% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.7 pts 22.7%

16.2% Children (0–14) ◂ +5.7 pts 10.5%

9.1% Youth (15–24) +1.8 pts ▸ 10.9%

Marital status

41.3% Married ◂ +0.4 pts 40.8%

37.7% Never married +0.6 pts ▸ 38.3%

12.0% Divorced +0.6 pts ▸ 12.6%

5.8% Widowed ◂ +1.0 pts 4.8%

3.2% Separated +0.2 pts ▸ 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Ballina Surfers Paradise

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

75.4% Australia ◂ +20.8 pts 54.6%

2.0% New Zealand +3.9 pts ▸ 5.9%

4.4% England +0.1 pts ▸ 4.5%

0.1% China +1.8 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.3% India +1.5 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.6% South Africa +0.6 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.3% Philippines +0.7 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.4% Italy +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.1% Nepal +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Vietnam +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

Ancestry

42.6% English ◂ +8.4 pts 34.3%

35.2% Australian ◂ +12.0 pts 23.2%

14.8% Irish ◂ +4.5 pts 10.3%

12.3% Scottish ◂ +3.2 pts 9.1%

5.3% German ◂ +0.8 pts 4.5%

3.7% Italian +1.1 pts ▸ 4.8%

0.8% Chinese +3.7 pts ▸ 4.5%

0.6% Indian +1.3 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.7% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%

0.6% Greek +0.8 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.5% Filipino +0.8 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Language

Language used at home

85.6% English only ◂ +16.0 pts 69.6%

0.1% Mandarin +2.8 pts ▸ 2.9%

0.5% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.2% Punjabi +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.1% Cantonese +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Arabic +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Hindi +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.0% No religion ◂ +13.2 pts 36.8%

37.1% Christianity +8.0 pts ▸ 45.1%

9.6% Not stated +2.2 pts ▸ 11.8%

0.4% Hinduism +1.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.5% Buddhism +0.3 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.7% Other religions +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% Islam +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.6% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +2.88 more in Ballina

3.22 80th pct 0.34 0th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +41 more in Ballina

43 88th pct 2 3rd pct

Students in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +9,942 more in Ballina

11,334 67th pct 1,392 3rd pct

Avg size in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +432 larger in Surfers Paradise

264 17th pct 696 83rd pct

ICSEA in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +21 higher in Surfers Paradise

1,046 63rd pct 1,067 71st pct

Highest year of school

54.8% Year 12 +6.6 pts ▸ 61.4%

22.6% Year 10 ◂ +7.1 pts 15.5%

7.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.4 pts 5.3%

6.2% Year 11 +0.3 pts ▸ 6.5%

Highest qualification level

27.1% Bachelor degree ◂ +0.1 pts 27.0%

25.0% Certificate III / IV ◂ +4.5 pts 20.5%

15.7% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.9 pts ▸ 16.6%

7.4% Postgraduate degree +1.2 pts ▸ 8.6%

3.8% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.7 pts 3.1%

1.6% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.4 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

15.0% Management & commerce +8.2 pts ▸ 23.3%

12.5% Society & culture ◂ +1.9 pts 10.6%

11.8% Health ◂ +1.7 pts 10.1%

9.9% Education ◂ +4.3 pts 5.6%

9.4% Engineering & related ◂ +0.1 pts 9.3%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.7 pts ▸ 7.0%

6.9% Creative arts ◂ +3.1 pts 3.8%

6.5% Architecture & building ◂ +0.9 pts 5.6%

3.2% Agriculture & environment ◂ +2.3 pts 0.9%

2.5% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.5 pts 1.9%

1.1% Information technology +0.9 pts ▸ 2.1%

Income

Personal income in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +$67 higher in Surfers Paradise gap steady

$749 37th pct $816 56th pct

Household income in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +$17 higher in Surfers Paradise gap narrowing

$1,488 30th pct $1,505 32nd pct

Family income in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +$113 higher in Surfers Paradise gap narrowing

$1,880 33rd pct $1,993 44th pct

Household income distribution

28.9% $650–$1,499 +0.2 pts ▸ 29.1%

28.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.1 pts 27.1%

17.7% Under $650 ◂ +0.2 pts 17.5%

9.4% $4,000 or more +3.0 pts ▸ 12.5%

8.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.9 pts 7.3%

Personal income distribution

39.7% Under $650 ◂ +4.3 pts 35.4%

33.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.3 pts 31.8%

14.0% $1,500–$2,999 +0.5 pts ▸ 14.5%

4.0% $3,000 or more +2.4 pts ▸ 6.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.1% Arthritis ◂ +1.2 pts 8.0%

8.9% Mental health ◂ +2.5 pts 6.4%

7.9% Other condition ◂ +1.4 pts 6.4%

7.2% Asthma ◂ +1.3 pts 5.9%

4.5% Heart disease ◂ +0.6 pts 3.9%

3.5% Cancer +0.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

3.2% Diabetes ◂ +0.1 pts 3.2%

2.2% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 1.6%

1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.9%

0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.6% None +1.6 pts ▸ 63.2%

19.4% One condition ◂ +2.3 pts 17.0%

5.9% Two conditions ◂ +0.8 pts 5.1%

3.0% Three or more ◂ +0.8 pts 2.2%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +0.3 larger in Ballina gap widening

2.4 29th pct 2.1 5th pct

Family composition

50.8% Couples with children ◂ +7.3 pts 43.6%

32.6% Couples without children +10.2 pts ▸ 42.8%

15.6% One-parent families ◂ +3.6 pts 12.0%

0.9% Other families +0.7 pts ▸ 1.6%

Household size

36.6% 2 people +3.9 pts ▸ 40.5%

27.6% 1 person +5.8 pts ▸ 33.4%

15.2% 3 people ◂ +3.0 pts 12.2%

13.0% 4 people ◂ +3.4 pts 9.6%

5.3% 5 people ◂ +2.3 pts 3.0%

2.4% 6 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 1.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +$20 higher in Ballina gap narrowing

$450 86th pct $430 80th pct

Mortgage in Ballina in Surfers Paradise even gap narrowing

$2,000 68th pct $2,000 68th pct

People / bedroom in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +0.10 higher in Surfers Paradise gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

39.8% Owned outright ◂ +6.6 pts 33.2%

28.2% Rented +11.3 pts ▸ 39.5%

27.5% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +3.7 pts 23.7%

2.8% Other tenure ◂ +1.2 pts 1.6%

1.8% Not stated +0.2 pts ▸ 2.0%

Types of homes

75.2% Separate house ◂ +45.6 pts 29.6%

5.4% Flat or apartment +56.7 pts ▸ 62.2%

16.5% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +9.4 pts 7.1%

2.4% Other dwelling ◂ +2.1 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

41.0% 3 bedrooms ◂ +20.6 pts 20.4%

18.8% 2 bedrooms +19.2 pts ▸ 38.0%

25.2% 4 bedrooms ◂ +9.7 pts 15.5%

5.8% 1 bedroom +10.5 pts ▸ 16.3%

6.6% 5 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 6.8%

0.9% Studio / none +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

Weekly rent distribution

35.0% $350–$549 +12.8 pts ▸ 47.8%

23.2% $550–$749 ◂ +6.0 pts 17.2%

17.5% $200–$349 +1.5 pts ▸ 19.0%

11.3% $750 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 9.4%

9.3% Under $200 ◂ +6.0 pts 3.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

31.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +7.6 pts 24.3%

20.9% $3,000 or more +6.3 pts ▸ 27.3%

23.9% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +0.5 pts 23.5%

16.4% Under $1,000 +0.4 pts ▸ 16.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +317 more in Ballina

448 86th pct 131 21st pct

Stops/1k in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +3.09 more in Ballina

5.44 67th pct 2.34 12th pct

Departures/1k in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +837.9 more in Surfers Paradise

198.9 16th pct 1,036.8 52nd pct

PT routes in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +9 more in Ballina

32 63rd pct 23 40th pct

How people get to work

54.1% Car (driver) ◂ +0.5 pts 53.6%

21.0% Worked at home ◂ +4.4 pts 16.6%

3.3% Walked +2.4 pts ▸ 5.7%

3.1% Car (passenger) +0.5 pts ▸ 3.6%

1.5% Bicycle ◂ +0.2 pts 1.3%

0.3% Bus +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% Train +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

Motor vehicles per home

36.2% 1 vehicle +10.4 pts ▸ 46.6%

39.3% 2 vehicles ◂ +8.2 pts 31.1%

12.9% 3 vehicles ◂ +4.8 pts 8.1%

4.2% No vehicle +5.2 pts ▸ 9.5%

7.3% 4 or more ◂ +2.6 pts 4.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

16.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.6 pts 13.0%

10.7% Accommodation & food +2.5 pts ▸ 13.2%

10.2% Retail trade ◂ +0.9 pts 9.3%

9.8% Education & training ◂ +3.4 pts 6.4%

9.7% Construction ◂ +0.9 pts 8.8%

7.1% Professional & technical +0.9 pts ▸ 8.0%

3.6% Administrative & support +1.3 pts ▸ 4.9%

1.8% Rental & real estate +2.8 pts ▸ 4.6%

4.2% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.9 pts 3.2%

4.0% Manufacturing ◂ +0.5 pts 3.5%

1.7% Finance & insurance +2.1 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.7% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +3.3 pts 0.4%

Occupations people work in

24.2% Professionals ◂ +2.6 pts 21.6%

15.3% Managers +0.4 pts ▸ 15.7%

13.8% Technicians & trades ◂ +2.2 pts 11.6%

13.1% Community & personal service ◂ +0.7 pts 12.4%

9.7% Clerical & administrative +2.2 pts ▸ 11.9%

9.0% Sales workers +2.1 pts ▸ 11.2%

9.5% Labourers +0.2 pts ▸ 9.7%

3.5% Machinery operators & drivers +0.2 pts ▸ 3.7%

Walkability

Walk score in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +2.9 higher in Surfers Paradise

4.8 35th pct 7.7 85th pct

Types ≤15 min in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +2.2 more in Surfers Paradise

4.5 34th pct 6.7 72nd pct

15-min city in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +42.7 pts higher in Surfers Paradise

50.2% 31st pct 93.0% 79th pct

Walk to shops in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +36.2 pts higher in Surfers Paradise

56.1% 38th pct 92.3% 84th pct

Walk to transit in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +18.3 pts higher in Surfers Paradise

75.3% 33rd pct 93.7% 57th pct

Walk to school in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +25.1 pts higher in Ballina

50.5% 22nd pct 25.3% 4th pct

Walk to a park in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +23.0 pts higher in Surfers Paradise

76.1% 22nd pct 99.1% 65th pct

Walk to health in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +44.5 pts higher in Surfers Paradise

38.9% 37th pct 83.4% 83rd pct

Amenities/1k in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +2.6 more in Surfers Paradise

20.8 82nd pct 23.4 88th pct

Intersections/km² in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +180 higher in Surfers Paradise

8 27th pct 188 72nd pct

Mean slope in Ballina in Surfers Paradise +2.3 pts higher in Surfers Paradise

6.1% 64th pct 8.3% 88th pct

Compare Ballina with nearby areas

Tweed Currumbin Burleigh Mudgeeraba Mermaid Beach Surfers Paradise Southport Gaven

Compare Surfers Paradise with nearby areas

Mermaid Beach Southport Burleigh Bonney Gaven Mudgeeraba Currumbin Theodore

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Ballina vs Surfers Paradise [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sed/SED10003/ballina/vs/SED30082/surfers-paradise