Mermaid Beach
At 4,794.9 people per square kilometre, Mermaid Beach packs 7,329 residents into just 1.53 sq km, creating a markedly apartment-led coastal profile. Apartments account for 62.1% of homes, while the 22.8% vacancy rate is unusually high compared with a settled owner-occupier market. The median age is 35, five years below the national figure, and 29.1% of residents were born overseas, 7.5 percentage points above national. Neighbouring Broadbeach and Mermaid Waters sit in the same coastal urban context, but Mermaid Beach stands out for rental exposure, compact housing and rapid change: the wider area recorded 35.4% population change over 10 years.
Population
7,329
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,895/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
25
Buying in Mermaid Beach requires a rental and apartment lens because a current median house price is not available and only 19.0% of dwellings are separate houses. Apartments make up 62.1%, with 2-bedroom homes the largest group at 53.2%, so the suburb suits buyers prioritising location and manageable space over a large block. A monthly mortgage estimate is $1,820, while weekly rent is $460; mortgage costs equal 22.2% of household income and rent equals 24.3%. Compared with detached-house suburbs, smaller 2.1-person households and 47.3% renting point to a more mobile buyer pool.
For Buyers
Buying in Mermaid Beach requires a rental and apartment lens because a current median house price is not available and only 19.0% of dwellings are separate houses. Apartments make up 62.1%, with 2-bedroom homes the largest group at 53.2%, so the suburb suits buyers prioritising location and manageable space over a large block. A monthly mortgage estimate is $1,820, while weekly rent is $460; mortgage costs equal 22.2% of household income and rent equals 24.3%. Compared with detached-house suburbs, smaller 2.1-person households and 47.3% renting point to a more mobile buyer pool.
For Investors
Mermaid Beach has higher rental exposure than owner occupancy: 47.3% of households rent, compared with 24.3% owning outright and 27.3% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $460, but the 22.8% vacancy rate is high, so investors should allow for leasing competition and uneven income between tenancies. The 62.1% apartment share can support a broad tenant pool, especially where 53.2% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms, yet it also concentrates exposure to body corporate costs and apartment supply. Twenty development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing activity, while annual growth is forecast at 2.02% and overseas migration is the primary driver. Returns therefore depend on asset selection, not rent alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
25
Last 12 Months
25
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
Demographics
Mermaid Beach has a younger profile than Australia overall, with a median age of 35, five years below national. University attainment is 41.9%, 11.8 percentage points above the national comparison, while overseas-born residents account for 29.1%, 7.5 points above national. The average household size is 2.1 people, 0.4 below national, which fits the 62.1% apartment share and a household mix led by couples without children at 55.2%. English ancestry is reported by 2,887 people, followed by Other at 946 and Irish at 939; no religion counts 3,448 compared with 3,009 for Christianity. A 39.2% turnover rate helps explain the suburb's mobile, internationally connected character.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
19.0%
Houses
19.0%
Townhouse
62.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Mermaid Beach's housing stock is materially different from a detached suburban market. Apartments comprise 62.1% of dwellings, while separate houses and semi-detached homes each account for 19.0%. Two-bedroom properties dominate at 53.2%, versus 23.3% for 3-bedroom and 13.2% for 4-plus-bedroom homes. Tenure is tilted toward renting at 47.3%, ahead of mortgage ownership at 27.3% and outright ownership at 24.3%. Weekly rent is $460, with rent equal to 24.3% of household income and mortgage costs equal to 22.2%. Compared with a family-house market, this compact mix supports smaller households but can mean less outdoor space and greater exposure to apartment supply. A current median house price is not available for direct comparison.
Mortgage / mo
$1,820
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $460.
$1,200
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $1,200 · units $850
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,021
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
22.8%
Unoccupied
938
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.5%
Couples with children
55.2%
Couples, no children
15.4%
Single parent
1,849
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mermaid Beach combines a relatively strong education and occupation profile with a weaker economic-resources result. Healthcare leads local employment at 18.5% or 577 workers, followed by Construction at 11.4% or 357, Education at 11.4% or 354, Professional/Tech at 11.1% or 346 and Hospitality at 8.0% or 250. Professionals number 1,177 and Managers 705, ahead of Community/Personal at 636 and Trades at 522. Unemployment is 3.6% with a 69.7% participation rate, while household income sits at the 70.7th percentile. IEO is in decile 8, above average, but IER is decile 3, below that education and occupation standing; IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 7. This split suggests skills and jobs do not translate evenly into household resources.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
4,574
Unemployed
166
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.4%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
69.7%
Employed
4,408
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.9%
Postgraduate
8.3%
Born Overseas
29.1%
Dwellings
3,164
Transport to Work
Mermaid Beach suits people who value a compact coastal setting but can accept car dependence and apartment density. At 4,794.9 people per sq km across 1.53 sq km, the suburb is denser than a conventional separate-house area, and 62.1% apartment living reinforces that urban feel. Daily travel is car-led: 68.7% drive, compared with 2.6% using public transport and 6.4% walking or cycling; 19.6% work from home, which may reduce commuting for some households. IRSAD is in decile 7, above the national midpoint, while 14.6% volunteer and 3.7% need assistance. Compared with a lower-density suburban lifestyle, local convenience is paired with less private space, more building management and a need to check street-level conditions before choosing a home.
Drive
68.7%
Public Transport
2.6%
Walk / Cycle
6.4%
Work from Home
19.6%
Population Forecast
+2.02%/yr
(+326 people/yr)
EstablishedMermaid Beach's established trajectory combines continued expansion with an aging signal. Annual growth is forecast at 2.02%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 35.4% over 10 years. The shift label is Aging: the senior share rose 4.6 percentage points and the young share changed by 0.0 points. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 40, although the separate shift measure is 29 and marked Early signs, so change is visible but not uniform. Rent growth is 31.3%, and affordability is labelled Improving as the measure moved from 48.6 in 2011 to 46.3 in 2021. Twenty development applications in 12 months reinforce an active change cycle. Compared with a static established suburb, migration and redevelopment point to stronger ongoing change.
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 Mermaid Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mermaid Beach a good suburb to live in?
That depends on priorities. The suburb suits buyers and renters seeking an apartment-led coastal setting: 62.1% of homes are apartments, but vacancy is 22.8% and car use is 68.7%. Compare building quality, noise, parking and the exact street before deciding.
What is the median house price in Mermaid Beach?
A current median house price is not available for Mermaid Beach. Buyers can still benchmark listings against the $460 weekly rent, the 62.1% apartment share and recent settled sales for comparable 2-bedroom properties.
What schools are in Mermaid Beach?
There are 0 schools identified within Mermaid Beach. Families should check enrolment zones and nearby options against the exact address, because boundaries can cross suburb lines; apartment households make up 62.1% of local dwellings.
Is Mermaid Beach safe?
A definitive safety rating cannot be inferred without a current crime rate. Check recent incidents and street conditions before signing a lease or contract; the suburb covers 1.53 sq km and 3.7% of residents need assistance, neither of which measures safety.
Is Mermaid Beach good for property investment?
It can suit investors who understand apartment and vacancy risk. Renting is 47.3%, weekly rent is $460 and vacancy is 22.8%, while annual growth is forecast at 2.02% with overseas migration the primary driver. Compare strata costs and leasing history, not rent alone.
How is Mermaid Beach's population changing?
The wider area's population change is 35.4% over 10 years, with annual growth forecast at 2.02% and overseas migration the primary driver. The trajectory is Aging: senior share rose 4.6 percentage points while young share changed by 0.0 points.
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.
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