Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Mermaid Waters
7 km²
A highly walkable Gold Coast suburb, Mermaid Waters is a well-off community with a growing population. The area is marked by an increasing number of high-earning households and a significant shift toward people reporting no religion. It is a diverse place where nearly 29% of residents were born overseas, contributing to a mix of ancestries and languages. This is a relatively mature neighborhood with a notable population of seniors, though it has seen steady growth since 2011.
A fast-growing area where schools haven't kept pace per child.
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The typical resident is 40, slightly older than the state and national figures. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 18.9% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas, while children under 15 account for 17.2%.
A strong international presence is evident, with 28.6% of people born overseas, a figure well above the Queensland average. English and Australian ancestries are most common, followed by Irish and Scottish.
Around 14.8% of residents use a language other than English at home, a figure that has risen since 2011. However, this is still well below the national average of 22.3%.
There has been a sharp rise in people reporting no religion, which grew by 24 points since 2011 to reach 44.0%. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.
The community is well-qualified, with 64.4% of residents completing Year 12, which is far above the national average. One in four adults holds a bachelor degree or higher, a figure that has risen 11 points since 2011.
High earners are common here; 24.5% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, well above the state average. The typical household income is $1,753 per week, which is about the same as the national figure.
Residents generally report good health, with a long-term health condition rate of 24.1%, which is much lower than most similar areas. Mental health conditions are also reported much less often than in other areas.
Participation in unpaid care and volunteering is lower than in most similar areas, with only 11.6% of people volunteering. This is about 2.5 points below the state and national figures.
The First Nations community is small, making up 1.3% of the population. However, those who identify as First Nations have a Year 12 completion rate of 62.1%, which is far above the national average.
Families with children are common, making up 55.3% of households. People per home is 2.5, which is consistent with both the state and national figures.
Housing is more varied than in most areas, as separate houses are far less common here than across the state. Rents and mortgage payments are both much higher than the national average, with typical weekly rent at $450.
Most people rely on cars for work, though the area is well-served by bus routes. Working from home has become more common, rising to 15.2% since 2011.
The neighborhood is quite mobile, with 45.8% of people having moved house in the last five years. This is well above the national average of 40.7%.
While 63.5% of adults are working or looking for work, full-time employment at 52.8% is much lower than in most similar areas. Many residents work in health care, construction, and hospitality.
The area is relatively advantaged, ranking higher than 70% of similar areas for overall advantage. This is supported by a high number of businesses and strong job skills.
The area experiences high rainfall compared to the state average. Its average maximum temperature is 26.2 degrees, which is well below the Queensland average.
This is a very walkable suburb, with a score of 6.5. Almost all residents live within a 15-minute walk of a park, and 82.1% are within walking distance of groceries.