Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach's population is around 16,861 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,864 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,997 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 16,138 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 2,092 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 5,620 persons per square kilometer, which places it in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach's growth of 20.5% since the 2021 Census exceeded the Rest of Qld (9.2%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 89.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. Considering projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the area expected to expand by 10,850 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 60.0% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach averaged approximately 567 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, totalling 2,839 homes. In FY26 so far, 612 dwellings have been approved. The average population growth of 0.8 people per year for each dwelling built during these years indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for future population growth.

The average construction value of new properties is $610,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. This financial year has seen $176.9 million in commercial development approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach exhibits 192.0% higher construction activity per person, though recent activity has eased slightly. This level is significantly above the national average, reflecting strong developer interest in the area. The majority of new building activity, 98.0%, consists of medium and high-density housing, with only 2.0% being standalone homes. This trend offers affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

Currently, there are around 73 people per dwelling approval in Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach, reflecting its status as a developing area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the region is projected to add approximately 10,115 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, fostering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 58 projects expected to impact the area. Notable ones are Victoria & Albert Broadbeach, Pacific Mermaid Beach, Sea Glass, and Amaya Broadbeach. The following details projects deemed most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach has a well-educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. The unemployment rate is 2.5%, with an estimated employment growth of 3.0% over the past year as of December 2025. There are 10,234 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is high at 71.3%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. According to Census responses, 19.0% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and construction. The area has a specialization in professional & technical services with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 0.4%.

The ratio of 0.8 workers per resident indicates ample local employment opportunities. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 3.0% and labour force by 2.7%, reducing unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld had employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with a rise in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, applying industry-specific projections suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $58,039 and an average income of $89,819 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is notably higher than Regional Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593 during the same period. By March 2026, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $64,632 and an average income of around $100,022, based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023. As per Census 2021 income data, personal income ranks at the 73rd percentile ($950 weekly), while household income is at the 43rd percentile. The predominant income cohort spans 33.2% of locals (5,597 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, aligning with broader trends across the surrounding region where 31.7% fall into the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 41st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach, as per the latest Census, comprised 9.9% houses and 90.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Regional Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach was 27.7%, with the remainder being mortgaged (22.9%) or rented (49.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, higher than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent was $440, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $440 versus the national figure of $375.

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 54.4% of all households, including 12.5% couples with children, 32.7% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 45.6%, with lone person households at 35.6% and group households making up 10.0%. The median household size is 1.9 people, smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Mermaid Beach-Broadbeach shows a significant advantage with 36.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 25.4% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 13.3% and certificates at 20.9%. Educational participation is high, with 26.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.4% in tertiary education, 5.4% in primary education, and 4.7% pursuing secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in tertiary education, 5.4% in primary education, and 4.7% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach has 30 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 18 individual routes, collectively facilitating 5,365 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 176 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most residents commute outward using cars (79%), walking (8%) or cycling (2%). Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 19% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 766 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 178 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results for Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach area, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is very low across all age groups. Approximately 66% of the total population (11,111 people) has private health cover, compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 6.9 and 6.7% of residents respectively. 72.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 19.0% of residents aged 65 and over (3,200 people), lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mermaid Beach-Broadbeach has a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 15.9% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 33.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mermaid Beach-Broadbeach, accounting for 47.0% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented compared to regional Queensland, comprising 0.6% versus 0.1%.

Regarding ancestry, the top groups are English (29.0%), Australian (20.7%), and Other (10.1%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Spanish (0.9% vs regional 0.3%), French (0.9% vs 0.5%), and New Zealand (1.2% vs 0.9%) are overrepresented in Mermaid Beach-Broadbeach.

Mermaid Beach - Broadbeach's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Mermaid Beach-Broadbeach is 39 years, which is lower than Regional Queensland's average of 41 but close to the national average of 38. The age profile shows a prominent group of 25-34 year-olds (25.2%), compared to the smaller 5-14 year-old group (5.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and the present, the median age has decreased by 1 year from 40 to 39 years, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the proportion of 25-34 year-olds increased from 22.7% to 25.2%, while the 55-64 year-old cohort declined from 14.0% to 12.2% and the 45-54 year-old group decreased from 11.6% to 10.3%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Mermaid Beach-Broadbeach. Notably, the number of 25-34 year-olds is expected to grow by 71%, reaching 7,260 from the current figure of 4,243 people.