Mermaid Waters
With 13,088 residents, a median age of 40 and a 7.9% vacancy rate, Mermaid Waters has an established Gold Coast profile with room for rental choice. Its tenure is split between 34.9% outright owners, 34.5% mortgagors and 29.2% renters, while 59.6% of homes are separate houses and 32.0% are semi-detached. Compared with the more beach-oriented Miami and inland Merrimac, Mermaid Waters combines family-sized housing with a higher-density edge. Household income sits at the 62.1st percentile nationally, and 29.9% of residents were born overseas, 8.3 percentage points above the national share. Car travel dominates at 71.8%, so daily convenience is stronger for drivers than for public transport users.
Population
13,088
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,766/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
42
Buyers should obtain a current valuation for each address because a suburb median house price is not available. Mortgage commitments are recorded at 2167 per month, while the weekly rent is 450, making ownership costs a major screening point even though mortgage stress is not flagged at 28.3% of household income. Compared with the rental figure of 25.5% of household income, the gap is modest but meaningful for budgets. Housing is not purely detached: 59.6% are separate houses, 32.0% semi-detached and 6.6% apartments. Families can target 3-bedroom homes at 31.6% or 4-plus-bedroom homes at 38.5%, while 2-bedroom stock represents 26.7%.
For Buyers
Buyers should obtain a current valuation for each address because a suburb median house price is not available. Mortgage commitments are recorded at 2167 per month, while the weekly rent is 450, making ownership costs a major screening point even though mortgage stress is not flagged at 28.3% of household income. Compared with the rental figure of 25.5% of household income, the gap is modest but meaningful for budgets. Housing is not purely detached: 59.6% are separate houses, 32.0% semi-detached and 6.6% apartments. Families can target 3-bedroom homes at 31.6% or 4-plus-bedroom homes at 38.5%, while 2-bedroom stock represents 26.7%.
For Investors
Investors should model Mermaid Waters as a rental market with 29.2% of households renting, compared with 34.9% owning outright and 34.5% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is 450, while the 7.9% vacancy rate creates more leasing risk than a tightly held market and makes property presentation important. Rent growth of 32.4% may support income returns, but it should not be extrapolated without checking current listings. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may broaden tenant demand, and 35 development matters were recorded over 12 months. That activity could improve amenity or add competing stock, depending on location and project type.
Development Activity
Total DAs
43
Last 12 Months
42
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+4100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mermaid Waters
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Merrimac State High School
Miami State School
Demographics
Mermaid Waters has a median age of 40, in line with the national median, but its university-educated share is 35.5%, or 5.4 percentage points above the national level. The overseas-born share is 29.9%, 8.3 points above the national comparison, supporting a broader cultural mix than the age profile alone suggests. English ancestry is reported by 5,128 residents, followed by Irish at 1,481 and Scottish at 1,318. Christianity accounts for 6,018 residents and no religion for 5,683. Household size averages 2.5 people, with couples with children at 41.1% and couples without children at 40.6%, creating demand from both family and downsizer households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
59.6%
Houses
32.0%
Townhouse
6.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Mermaid Waters has a more varied housing profile than a detached-only suburb: separate houses account for 59.6%, semi-detached dwellings 32.0% and apartments 6.6%. The 4-plus-bedroom share is 38.5%, higher than the 31.6% share for 3-bedroom homes and the 26.7% share for 2-bedroom homes. Tenure is comparatively balanced, with 34.9% owned outright, 34.5% mortgaged and 29.2% rented. Compared with the rent-to-income figure of 25.5%, mortgage commitments at 28.3% show slightly greater pressure for leveraged owners, although neither measure is flagged as stress. Vacancy is 7.9%, which adds flexibility for tenants but more competition for landlords.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $450.
$1,200
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $1,200 · units $850
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$816
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.9%
Unoccupied
423
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.1%
Couples with children
40.6%
Couples, no children
16.7%
Single parent
3,525
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Mermaid Waters' largest employment industry at 17.2%, or 776 workers, followed by construction at 13.2% and 596 workers, education at 10.7% and professional or technical services at 9.6%. The occupation mix supports this pattern, led by 1,523 professionals, 963 managers and 898 trades workers. Unemployment is 4.4% with a 63.4% participation rate, while 52.7% of employed residents work full time. Household income ranks at the 62.1st percentile nationally. All four SEIFA measures sit in decile 7, above the midpoint, because employment, education and household resources are generally stronger than in lower-ranked areas, even though the industry base remains mixed.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
6,862
Unemployed
303
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.7%
Part-time
35.8%
Participation
63.4%
Employed
6,559
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.5%
Postgraduate
8.4%
Born Overseas
29.9%
Dwellings
4,957
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-led: 71.8% drive to work, compared with 1.8% using public transport and 3.4% walking or cycling. That makes road access important, while the 18.2% working-from-home share may reduce commuting for some households. Two nearby government schools provide access to one state high school and one state school; families should confirm catchments and enrolment rules against the exact address. The IRSAD score is 1,039 in decile 7, above the midpoint and consistent with relatively solid household resources. A suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so buyers should check current Queensland Police crime mapping and visit the immediate street before deciding.
Drive
71.8%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
18.2%
Population Forecast
+0.93%/yr
(+136 people/yr)
EstablishedMermaid Waters is classified as an established area, with growth running at 0.93% annually compared with 12.0% population change across the wider area over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, giving the suburb a different demand source from locations relying mainly on internal moves. The forecast trajectory is Mixed, while rent growth has reached 32.4%, increasing investor interest but also raising affordability concerns. Gentrification is assessed at score 31 and stage Early signs, so change is gradual rather than fully established. The affordability trend is labelled Improving, with recorded values of 62.4 in 2011 and 55.1 in 2021, indicating that access conditions have shifted alongside housing demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+222
Net Internal / yr
-6
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +222/yr, Accelerating: 2% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mermaid Waters compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mermaid Waters a good suburb to live in?
It can suit households seeking established Gold Coast housing, nearby government schools and car access. The suburb has 13,088 residents, a median age of 40 and 71.8% car drivers, but only 1.8% use public transport, so commuting needs are an important part of the decision.
What is the median house price in Mermaid Waters?
A current suburb median house price is not stated. Compare recent sales by street, dwelling type and bedroom count, particularly because 59.6% of homes are separate houses, 32.0% are semi-detached and 38.5% have 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Mermaid Waters?
Mermaid Waters has access to 2 nearby government schools: Merrimac State High School and Miami State School. The local mix includes 1 state high school and 1 state school, so families should confirm catchments, transport options and enrolment requirements for the exact address.
Is Mermaid Waters safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so check Queensland Police crime mapping and recent local reports before choosing a property. Safety decisions should also consider lighting, traffic and activity around the address, particularly because 71.8% of trips are by car.
Is Mermaid Waters good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking an established rental base, but the 7.9% vacancy rate requires careful cash-flow modelling. Weekly rent is 450, renting households are 29.2%, and 35 development matters were recorded over 12 months, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver.
How is Mermaid Waters's population changing?
The wider area is forecast to grow at 0.93% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change is 12.0% over 10 years, while the gentrification score is 31 and the stage is Early signs, pointing to gradual change rather than a fully transformed market.
What development is occurring in Mermaid Waters?
Development activity is noticeable, with 35 matters recorded over the past 12 months. Examples include operational works and prescribed tidal works, so buyers should check the exact proposal, approval status and likely construction effects before committing to a nearby property.
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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