Mermaid Beach

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

As per AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of the suburb of Mermaid Beach was around 7,665 as of Feb 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 336 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,329. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 7,544 in June 2024 and an additional 273 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 4,913 persons per square kilometer, placing Mermaid Beach in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, ending in Feb 2026, Mermaid Beach demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.6%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 70.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, are adopted. Exceptional growth is predicted for the suburb over the period to 2041, with an expected increase of 5,871 persons reflecting an increase of 87.3% in total population over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Mermaid Beach among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Mermaid Beach has seen around 86 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 431 homes. As of FY-26, 70 approvals have been recorded. On average, each new dwelling accommodates approximately 2.8 residents per year between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction cost for these dwellings is $2,313,000, indicating a focus on premium properties.

In FY-26, commercial approvals amounted to $139.0 million, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Mermaid Beach has 15.0% less new development per person, placing it at the 48th percentile nationally, which may limit buyer choices and support demand for existing properties. New developments consist of 8.0% detached dwellings and 92.0% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. As of now, there are approximately 348 people per dwelling approval in Mermaid Beach. Future projections estimate an addition of 6,692 residents by 2041, potentially leading to housing supply lagging behind population growth if current construction levels persist, intensifying buyer competition and price growth.

Future projections show Mermaid Beach adding 6,692 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Mermaid Beach has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

The performance of a given area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 28 such projects that are expected to impact this area. Notable among them are The Alfred, Pacific Mermaid Beach, The Chevron, and the Mermaid Beach Medical Precinct. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Mermaid Beach performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Mermaid Beach has an educated workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 1.9% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.8%. As of September 2025, 5,564 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.2%, lower than Rest of Qld's 4.1%.

Workforce participation was high at 84.7% compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Approximately 18.9% of residents worked from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food sectors. Professional & technical services have notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, at 0.3% compared to 4.5% regionally. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.8%, labour force grew by 2.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.7% while unemployment rose by 0.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 forecasts project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mermaid Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The suburb of Mermaid Beach had a median taxpayer income of $59,865 and an average income of $144,410 in financial year 2023. This compares to the Rest of Qld's figures of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $65,798 and an average income of $158,721, based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91%. In Mermaid Beach, individual earnings at the 80th percentile nationally were $1,021 weekly. The largest income bracket comprised 34.6% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 2,652 residents falling into this category. This is consistent with broader trends across the broader area, where 31.7% fell within the same income range. High housing costs consumed 17.7% of income in Mermaid Beach, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 57th percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Mermaid Beach, as per the latest Census evaluation, 19.0% of dwellings were houses while 81.1% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mermaid Beach stood at 24.7%, with mortgaged properties making up 27.5% and rented ones accounting for 47.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,820, exceeding Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $460, higher than Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Mermaid Beach's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 57.6% of all households, including 16.1% couples with children, 31.7% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 42.4%, with lone person households at 31.1% and group households making up 11.3%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Mermaid Beach demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Mermaid Beach is notably high, with 37.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications as of the latest data point. This compares favourably to broader benchmarks, such as 20.6% in the Rest of Qld region and 25.4% in the SA4 region. The area's educational advantage is evident across various levels of higher education: bachelor degrees lead at 27.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 33.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.5%) and certificates (20.9%).

Educational participation is notably high in Mermaid Beach, with 25.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as per the latest available figures. This includes 8.5% pursuing tertiary education, 5.4% in primary education, and 5.1% engaged in secondary education.

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

Mermaid Beach has seven active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by two routes, offering a total of 1,340 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 185 meters from the nearest stop. As predominantly residential, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars are the primary mode at 85%, with walking at 5% and cycling at 3%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average.

In 2021 Census data, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions, 18.9% of residents work from home. Service frequency averages 191 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 191 weekly trips per stop.

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

Mermaid Beach shows excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 84% of the total population (6,470 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions were mental health issues (7.2%) and asthma (6.9%). 75.6% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Mermaid Beach has 12.9% of residents aged 65 and over (988 people), lower than Rest of Qld's 20.4%. Health outcomes among seniors were strong, broadly in line with national rankings.

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

Mermaid Beach, surveyed in August 2016, had a higher linguistic diversity than most local areas, with 13.0% of residents speaking a language other than English at home. Born overseas, 29.1% of Mermaid Beach's population was recorded in June 2017. Christianity dominated religious affiliations, comprising 45.4% as of June 2016.

Notably, Judaism was overrepresented, making up 0.5% compared to the Rest of Qld's 0.1%, surveyed in June 2016. Parental ancestry revealed English as the top group at 29.5%, followed by Australian at 21.7%, and Other at 9.7%. Significant variations included French (1.0% vs regional 0.5%), Spanish (1.0% vs 0.3%), and New Zealand (1.2% vs 0.9%).

Mermaid Beach's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Mermaid Beach was 34 years as of the 2021 Census, which is lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 and also substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Rest of Qld, Mermaid Beach had a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (28.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.7%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds was well above the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, Mermaid Beach's median age decreased from 35 to 34 years. During this period, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 increased from 25.6% to 28.1%, while the percentages for the 45-54 and 55-64 age groups decreased (from 12.3% to 10.6% and from 11.7% to 10.3%, respectively). By 2041, Mermaid Beach's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 102%, reaching 4,347 people from the current 2,153.