Surfers Paradise

The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with 22.1% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown by 5.4 points since 2011, while children under 15 make up only 11% of the population, which is well below the state and national figures.

Born-overseas residents make up 36.9% of the population, a figure far above the Queensland average. While English and Australian ancestry are most common, there is significant diversity with 10% of residents claiming Irish heritage and 4.7% Chinese.

About 22.5% of people use a language other than English at home, which is well above the state average. This linguistic diversity has increased by 6.2 points since 2011, though the number of people who speak little or no English has fallen slightly.

Religious affiliation is lower than in most similar areas, with 37% of residents reporting no religion. This is a little below the national figure, although this group has grown by 17 points since 2011.

The workforce is well-qualified, with 26.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the state average and reflects a strong trend of growth in higher education since 2011.

Typical weekly household income is $1,466, which is a little below the state and national figures. While typical personal incomes are about the same as the national figure, the area has a higher proportion of households earning over $3,000 a week than it did in 2011.

Residents are generally healthier than those in most similar areas, with a much lower rate of long-term health conditions (23.9%) and mental health conditions (6.5%) compared to the rest of the state.

Participation in unpaid work is among the lowest at this level, with very few people caring for children unpaid or doing significant housework. Only 10.5% of residents volunteer, which is well below the national figure.

First Nations people in the area are noticeably older than those in the state and have a much higher Year 12 completion rate of 56.1%. Unemployment among this group is also much lower than the national figure at 6.3%.

Homes tend to be small, with only 2.1 people per household. This is consistent with the fact that 33.6% of residents live alone, a figure well above the national average.

The area is dominated by flats or apartments (61.7%), with very few separate houses compared to the rest of the state. Renting is very common here, and typical weekly rents of $437 are much higher than in most other areas.

Many residents live without a car, with 9.5% of homes having no vehicle. Public transport use is higher than in most areas, and working from home has risen significantly since 2011 to 15.9%.

This is a highly mobile community, with 54% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas also make up a huge 25% of the population, which is far above the national average.

Full-time employment is well below the national figure at 49.5%, and the unemployment rate is a little above the state average. Many residents work in accommodation, food services, and health care.

The area continues to grow rapidly, with a population increase of 14.3% since 2021, which is well above the Queensland average.

The local climate is much wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 1,469mm. Minimum temperatures are about the same as the state average, but maximums are significantly lower.

The area is very walkable, with a score of 7.6. Almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, and parks, far exceeding the state average for accessibility.