Merrimac
Sitting in postcode 4226 on the central Gold Coast, Merrimac reads as a family-oriented owner-occupier pocket where the $542,000 median house price stays well below the metro premiums to its east. The numbers explain why: 64.7% of households carry a mortgage or own outright, three-bedroom homes make up 59.2% of stock, and the median age of 38 sits 2 years above the national figure on an aging trajectory (senior share up 4.7 points, young share down 2.6). Overseas-born residents at 32.0% run 10.4 points above national, yet the suburb stays car-dependent, with 91.6% driving to work and just 1.7% using public transport. SEIFA places it mid-table, with an IRSAD decile of 5, neither disadvantaged nor advantaged, consistent with a steady mortgage-belt profile rather than a gentrifying one.
Population
7,212
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,688/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$542K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $542,000, the median house price sits below most Gold Coast coastal suburbs, which is the main draw for owner-occupiers: 44.5% of households hold a mortgage and another 20.2% own outright, so nearly two-thirds of residents are buyers rather than renters. The stock favours families, with three-bedroom homes at 59.2% and four-or-more-bedroom homes at 25.9%, while apartments are just 10.1%. Separate houses (48.2%) and semi-detached dwellings (41.7%) split the market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7%, below the 30% stress threshold because household incomes sit at the 59.3rd percentile nationally. That affordability headroom is why the suburb skews toward buyers, not the renter-heavy profiles of pricier coastal pockets.
For Buyers
At $542,000, the median house price sits below most Gold Coast coastal suburbs, which is the main draw for owner-occupiers: 44.5% of households hold a mortgage and another 20.2% own outright, so nearly two-thirds of residents are buyers rather than renters. The stock favours families, with three-bedroom homes at 59.2% and four-or-more-bedroom homes at 25.9%, while apartments are just 10.1%. Separate houses (48.2%) and semi-detached dwellings (41.7%) split the market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7%, below the 30% stress threshold because household incomes sit at the 59.3rd percentile nationally. That affordability headroom is why the suburb skews toward buyers, not the renter-heavy profiles of pricier coastal pockets.
For Investors
Renters make up 35.3% of households, a moderate tenant pool below the inner-city norm but enough to support a rental market. Weekly rent of $463 against the $542,000 median gives a gross yield of roughly 4.4%, materially higher than the 1.7% to 2% typical of premium Melbourne and Sydney suburbs, because Merrimac's lower entry price compresses the denominator. The vacancy rate of 4.1% is loose rather than tight, signalling adequate supply, and rent has grown 29.2% over the period covered. Demand drivers are modest: net overseas migration averages 95 per year while internal migration runs at minus 36, so growth leans on arrivals from abroad. With zero development applications in the past 12 months, new supply pressure is low, which supports existing landlords.
Schools in Merrimac iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
All Saints Anglican School
Prep-12 · 1828 students
St Michael's College
7-12 · 820 students
Star of the Sea School
Prep-6 · 236 students
Merrimac State School
Prep-6 · 600 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years above the national median, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.7 points while the young share fell 2.6 points. Overseas-born residents at 32.0% run 10.4 points above national, though ancestry stays predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,797), then Scottish (731) and Irish (690). Japanese (78) and Cantonese (53) top the non-English languages, a small but distinct Asian presence. University qualifications at 27.9% sit 2.2 points below national, consistent with a trades-and-services workforce rather than a knowledge-economy one. Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above national, and couples with children (2,263) outnumber couples without (1,351), reinforcing the family character.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
48.2%
Houses
41.7%
Townhouse
10.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts heavily toward ownership: 44.5% of households carry a mortgage, 20.2% own outright, and 35.3% rent, so buyers outnumber renters by nearly two to one. The stock is family-scaled, with three-bedroom homes at 59.2% and four-or-more at 25.9%, while studios and one-bedroom dwellings are a negligible 2.6%. Separate houses (48.2%) and semi-detached (41.7%) dominate, and apartments sit at just 10.1%. The median house price of $542,000 keeps both ratios manageable: mortgage-to-income at 23.7% and rent-to-income at 27.4% both stay below the 30% stress line. The SEIFA IER decile of 5 reflects this owner-heavy, mid-income tenure, neither asset-rich nor stretched, which is why neither stress flag is triggered despite Gold Coast price pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$463
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$788
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
111
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.4%
Couples, no children
5,532
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 21.5% (526 workers), followed by Education at 12.4% (303), Construction at 11.0% (269), Retail at 8.5% (208) and Professional/Tech at 8.1% (197), a services-and-trades base rather than a corporate one. Professionals (706) top occupations, with Community and Personal Service workers (558) and Clerical and Admin (473) close behind, a profile that matches the below-national university rate of 27.9%. Full-time employment runs at 61.3% and unemployment at 5.7%, while the participation rate of 59.2% sits below the national average, partly because 1,628 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the aging trajectory. SEIFA scores cluster around the middle, with an IEO decile of 6 and IRSAD decile of 5, confirming a stable, mid-tier economy.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
4,374
Unemployed
115
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.3%
Part-time
33.0%
Participation
59.2%
Employed
3,266
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.9%
Postgraduate
5.5%
Born Overseas
32.0%
Dwellings
2,587
Transport to Work
Merrimac is firmly car-oriented: 91.6% of residents drive to work, just 1.7% use public transport, and 1.9% walk or cycle, which reflects its inland Gold Coast position away from heavy-rail corridors. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 places it in the middle nationally, neither disadvantaged nor advantaged, and the volunteering rate of 11.2% points to a settled, community-active resident base. Family appeal is structural, with three-bedroom homes at 59.2% and an average household size of 2.6, above the national figure, while couples with children (2,263) outnumber childless couples. Housing costs stay comfortable, with rent-to-income at 27.4% below the 30% stress threshold, so the trade-off for residents is reliance on cars in exchange for affordable, spacious family housing.
Drive
91.6%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.9%/yr
(+67 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.9% per year, about 67 persons, classifying as steady rather than rapid. The 10-year change was 14.0%, and the historical series shows the population rising from 7,295 in 2023 to 7,423 in 2025. Medium forecasts project 7,957 by 2031, a continuation of the trend with no projected acceleration. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 95 net arrivals per year, offset by internal migration of minus 36, meaning the suburb would barely grow without international inflows. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 4.7 points, and the gentrification score of 25 marks only early signs. Affordability improved slightly, from 61.0% in 2011 to 59.0% in 2021, while real incomes grew 8.6% over the decade, below the pace of faster-gentrifying suburbs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+95
Net Internal / yr
-36
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +14% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Merrimac compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Merrimac a good suburb to live in?
Merrimac suits families and owner-occupiers who want affordable Gold Coast housing: the median house price is $542,000, three-bedroom homes make up 59.2% of stock, and 64.7% of households own or are buying. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 is mid-range nationally. The main trade-off is car dependence, with 91.6% driving and only 1.7% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Merrimac?
The median house price in Merrimac is $542,000, estimated from rental data for 2025, which sits below most coastal Gold Coast suburbs. Weekly rent averages $463, giving a gross yield near 4.4%, and average monthly mortgage repayments are $1,733, a manageable 23.7% of household income.
What schools are in Merrimac?
No schools are recorded within the Merrimac suburb boundary in this dataset, so families typically rely on schools in neighbouring Gold Coast suburbs. The area's family profile supports this need, with three-bedroom homes at 59.2% and couples with children numbering 2,263, well above the 1,351 couples without children.
Is Merrimac safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Merrimac in this dataset. As a proxy for stability, the SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5 places it in the middle nationally, and the residential turnover rate of 27.9% means 72.1% of residents stayed put, indicating a settled, owner-heavy population rather than a transient one.
Is Merrimac good for property investment?
The 35.3% renter share gives a moderate tenant pool, and the $463 weekly rent against a $542,000 median produces a gross yield near 4.4%, well above the 1.7% to 2% of premium southern capital suburbs. The 4.1% vacancy rate is loose, and zero development applications in 12 months means low new-supply pressure on existing landlords.
How is Merrimac's population changing?
Population grows at 0.9% per year, about 67 persons, with a 14.0% rise over 10 years from 7,295 in 2023 to 7,423 in 2025. Medium forecasts reach 7,957 by 2031. Overseas migration (+95/year) drives growth against internal outflow of -36, and the median age of 38 is rising, with the senior share up 4.7 points.
What languages are spoken in Merrimac?
Overseas-born residents make up 32.0% of Merrimac, 10.4 points above the national figure, though English ancestry still leads at 2,797. The top non-English languages are Japanese (78 speakers), Cantonese (53) and Mandarin (45), a small but distinct Asian community within a predominantly Anglo-Celtic suburb.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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