Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Runaway Bay
5 km²
A highly walkable coastal pocket of the Gold Coast, Runaway Bay is an older community with a strong international feel. It is a place where seniors are very prominent, with the typical resident being 54 and over a third of the population aged 65 or over. This demographic shift is reflected in the housing and community life, with many people living alone and far fewer children than the national average. The area is distinguished by its accessibility and a high proportion of residents born overseas.
Runaway Bay's schools draw a more advantaged community than local incomes would suggest.
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The population is far older than the state and national average, with 33.8% of people aged 65 and over. Conversely, children under 15 make up only 11.6%, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.
International backgrounds are common here, as 30.1% of residents were born overseas, a figure well above the Queensland average. English is the most common ancestry at 44.4%, followed by Australian and Irish.
While 11.0% of people use a language other than English at home, this is still far below the national average of 22.3%. Only a very small minority, 1.3%, speak little or no English.
Religious affiliation is more common here than in most similar areas, with 54.6% of residents identifying as Christian and 35.6% reporting no religion, which is well below the state figure.
The community is relatively well-qualified, with 53.5% of residents completing Year 12 and 19.1% holding a bachelor degree or higher. Many of the highest qualifications are in management, commerce, and engineering.
Typical household income is $1,382 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, 11.8% of people earn $2,000 or more per week, a rate higher than most similar areas.
Health needs are higher than usual, as 33.8% of people have a long-term health condition and 7.6% need help with daily activities, both of which are above the national average.
Participation in unpaid care for children is well below the national average, which is consistent with the area's older population. Volunteers make up 10.8% of the community, a figure much lower than most areas.
There are 128 First Nations people in the area. Those in this group are noticeably older than the national average, with a typical age of 31.
Homes are smaller than average with 2.2 people per dwelling. A high proportion of residents live alone (28.8%) or in couples without children (43.7%).
Detached houses are far less common here than across Australia, with many more people living in flats, apartments, or townhouses. While 43% of homes are owned outright, typical weekly rents are $435, which is above the state average.
Public transport access is a strength, with 34 stops serving the area and 94.1% of homes within a 10-minute walk of a stop. Most people still commute by car, while 17.8% work from home.
The community is quite mobile, with 43.3% of residents having moved in the last five years. This is a little above the national average of 40.7%.
Fewer adults here are working or looking for work compared to the state, at 50.3%. The most common industries for those employed are health care, construction, and retail trade.
The area is very walkable, with 79.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of key amenities. This is far above the state average, with most residents living within a short walk of parks, schools, and groceries.