Broadbeach
Apartment living defines Broadbeach more than detached housing: 98.8% of dwellings are apartments, density reaches 4,574.6 people per square kilometre, and 6,786 residents occupy 1.48 square kilometres. At 46, the median age is 6.0 years above the national figure, while 37.7% were born overseas, 16.1 percentage points higher nationally. Average household size is 1.8 people, helping explain demand for 2-bedroom stock and the renter share of 50.4%. Broadbeach is materially denser than nearby Broadbeach Waters, with a 44.7% turnover rate. This supports close access to shops and dining, but buyers and renters should assess building management, parking, noise and short-stay activity rather than judge the precinct by one street.
Population
6,786
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,419/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Homebuyers enter a highly specialised apartment market, not a conventional house market. Apartments account for 98.8% of dwellings, with 2-bedroom homes making up 62.7%, 0 to 1-bedroom homes 20.6%, and 3-bedroom homes 15.3%. A suburb-level median house price is not available, so comparing recent sales within the same building is more useful than applying a detached-house benchmark. The reported mortgage cost is $1,600 a month, equal to 26.0% of household income, below the 29.6% rent-to-income measure. Ownership is split between 30.1% outright and 17.6% with a mortgage, while 50.4% rent. Compared with lower-density Broadbeach Waters, buyers should give extra weight to body corporate levies, sinking-fund plans, parking, lift maintenance and holiday-letting rules because these can materially change apartment ownership costs.
For Buyers
Homebuyers enter a highly specialised apartment market, not a conventional house market. Apartments account for 98.8% of dwellings, with 2-bedroom homes making up 62.7%, 0 to 1-bedroom homes 20.6%, and 3-bedroom homes 15.3%. A suburb-level median house price is not available, so comparing recent sales within the same building is more useful than applying a detached-house benchmark. The reported mortgage cost is $1,600 a month, equal to 26.0% of household income, below the 29.6% rent-to-income measure. Ownership is split between 30.1% outright and 17.6% with a mortgage, while 50.4% rent. Compared with lower-density Broadbeach Waters, buyers should give extra weight to body corporate levies, sinking-fund plans, parking, lift maintenance and holiday-letting rules because these can materially change apartment ownership costs.
For Investors
Broadbeach's rental profile is substantial but not low-risk. Renters represent 50.4% of occupied tenure and the indicative weekly rent is $420, creating a broad tenant pool for smaller apartments. However, the 40.4% vacancy rate is high relative to a tightly held rental market, so advertised rent should not be treated as guaranteed income. The apartment concentration, with 98.8% of dwellings in that form, makes building-level factors more important than suburb averages: owners should test body corporate budgets, insurance, defects, furnishing costs and short-stay competition. Seven development matters were recorded over 12 months, enough to monitor future supply and construction disruption. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can support tenant demand, while the 2.02% annual trend is above a flat-growth baseline. Compare Broadbeach with Mermaid Beach and Broadbeach Waters by building age, vacancy and net yield before purchasing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
10
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Broadbeach
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Broadbeach State School
Demographics
Broadbeach has an older and more internationally connected profile than Australia overall. The median age is 46, which is 6.0 years above the national figure, and the overseas-born share is 37.7%, or 16.1 percentage points higher than nationally. University qualification attainment is 34.6%, 4.5 points above the national comparison, yet average household size is only 1.8 people, 0.7 below the national level. That compact household structure aligns with the apartment mix and helps explain the strong presence of couples without children: 66.2% of families fall into that category, compared with 17.3% for couples with children. English ancestry is recorded for 2,311 people, followed by Irish at 730 and Scottish at 611. Christianity counts 2,786 people and no religion 2,587. A 44.7% turnover rate creates more movement than in a settled suburban profile, so Broadbeach differs from family-oriented Broadbeach Waters in age and household composition.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
0.3%
Houses
1.0%
Townhouse
98.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Broadbeach's housing stock is unusually concentrated: 98.8% of dwellings are apartments, only 0.3% are separate houses, and 1.0% are semi-detached. The bedroom mix reinforces a smaller-format market, with 62.7% 2-bedroom dwellings, 20.6% studio or 1-bedroom dwellings and 15.3% 3-bedroom dwellings. Tenure is renter-majority at 50.4%, while 30.1% own outright and 17.6% hold a mortgage. The 40.4% vacancy rate can reflect a substantial short-stay or investment component, so occupancy patterns may differ sharply between buildings. Compared with Broadbeach Waters, the suburb provides less detached-house choice and more exposure to body corporate costs, building insurance and common-property maintenance. The 1.8-person average household helps explain why compact apartments dominate, while the mortgage-to-income measure of 26.0% remains below the rent-to-income figure of 29.6%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $420.
$1,200
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $1,200 · units $850
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$871
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
40.4%
Unoccupied
2,102
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.3%
Couples with children
66.2%
Couples, no children
14.0%
Single parent
1,591
Total families
Economy & Employment
Broadbeach's jobs base spans service, care and professional work. Healthcare is the largest listed industry at 17.4% and 403 workers, followed by hospitality at 12.1% and 281, professional and technology at 10.2% and 237, education at 9.0% and 208, and construction at 8.3% and 193. Professionals number 780 and managers 478, supporting the education and occupation score at SEIFA decile 8. Economic resources sit much lower at decile 3, while disadvantage is at decile 7 and advantage at decile 7. This split suggests qualifications and job types run ahead of household financial capacity, consistent with household income at the 41.7th percentile, below the national midpoint. Unemployment is 5.5% and participation is 56.1%, with part-time employment involving 1,219 people. Compared with a higher-income professional enclave, Broadbeach's retail, hospitality and care exposure makes consumer spending conditions relevant to local employment.
Unemployment
5.5%
Labour Force
3,538
Unemployed
195
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.7%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
56.1%
Employed
3,343
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.6%
Postgraduate
8.3%
Born Overseas
37.7%
Dwellings
3,059
Transport to Work
Broadbeach suits residents who value a compact, apartment-led setting with access to daily services. Its 1.48 square kilometre footprint and density of 4,574.6 people per square kilometre support short trips, reflected in 12.7% walking or cycling to work, although 58.3% still drive and only 5.5% use public transport. Working from home accounts for 19.7%, which may reduce some weekday commuting. One local school is identified, Broadbeach State School, a government state school; families should confirm enrolment zones and year-level availability against the exact address. A current suburb-level crime rate is not available, so safety decisions should include Queensland Police updates and visits at different times. Compared with lower-density suburbs such as Broadbeach Waters, the trade-off is stronger access to activity and services but more shared-building exposure, traffic and event noise. The 46-year median age and 1.8-person household size also favour residents comfortable with smaller homes.
Drive
58.3%
Public Transport
5.5%
Walk / Cycle
12.7%
Work from Home
19.7%
Population Forecast
+2.02%/yr
(+326 people/yr)
EstablishedBroadbeach is an established area with growth still running at 2.02% annually, above a flat-growth benchmark. Overseas migration is the primary driver, consistent with 37.7% overseas-born residents and a renter-majority apartment market. Population change across the wider area is 35.4% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.6 percentage points and the young share unchanged at 0.0 points. Gentrification is Active at score 40, while broader change is labelled Early signs at 29. Affordability is marked Improving, moving from 48.6 in 2011 to 46.3 in 2021, and real income growth is 11.9%. Compared with slower established coastal precincts, Broadbeach has stronger migration-led momentum, but its ageing profile may shift demand toward accessible apartments and services.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+408
Net Internal / yr
+9
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +46% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +408/yr, Accelerating: 14% → 28%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Broadbeach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Broadbeach a good suburb to live in?
Broadbeach can suit residents who prefer apartment living and close access to services. It has 6,786 residents in 1.48 square kilometres, with 98.8% apartments and 12.7% walking or cycling to work. Compared with lower-density suburbs, it provides more concentrated activity but also more shared-building, traffic and event-noise considerations. The median age is 46, older than the national figure.
What is the median house price in Broadbeach?
A current suburb-level median house price is not available for Broadbeach. That matters because 98.8% of dwellings are apartments and only 0.3% are separate houses. Buyers should compare recent sales by building, bedroom count, parking, body corporate costs and condition rather than rely on a single house median.
What schools are in Broadbeach?
One local school is Broadbeach State School, a government state school. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone, year levels and out-of-catchment rules before signing a lease or contract. Because 98.8% of dwellings are apartments and household size averages 1.8 people, school travel time should be checked from the specific building.
Is Broadbeach safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate is not available, so no numeric safety rating can be stated. Check Queensland Police updates and visit the area at different times before deciding. Broadbeach has 6,786 residents across 1.48 square kilometres, meaning conditions can vary between the beachfront, commercial areas, apartment towers and quieter streets.
Is Broadbeach good for property investment?
Broadbeach may suit investors seeking apartment rental exposure, but the risk profile requires care. Renters account for 50.4%, weekly rent is $420 and vacancy is 40.4%, so income may be less predictable than in a tighter market. With 98.8% apartments and 7 development matters in 12 months, compare building costs, supply, insurance and net yield.
How is Broadbeach's population changing?
Growth is running at 2.02% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 35.4% over 10 years. Broadbeach has an Aging trajectory, with the senior share up 4.6 percentage points and the young share unchanged at 0.0 points. Gentrification is rated Active at score 40, while broader change is labelled Early signs at 29.
What languages are spoken in Broadbeach?
Broadbeach has an overseas-born share of 37.7%, higher than the national comparison. Portuguese is recorded for 74 people, Mandarin for 37, Italian for 35, Japanese for 33 and Punjabi for 22. English ancestry is also recorded for 2,311 people, indicating that language needs may vary between apartment buildings and local services.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Broadbeach on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map