Surfers Paradise, QLD: suburb profile

The population of Surfers Paradise QLD is 26,412 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Surfers Paradise is $775 per week ($40,300 per year). Median rent in Surfers Paradise is $410 per week ($1,777 per month). Surfers Paradise has a median age of 42 years, older than the national median of 38. Surfers Paradise has a population density of 4,557 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Surfers Paradise is New Zealand. The most common religion is No religion (35.9% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Portuguese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Surfers Paradise is $1,606.

There were 8,513 recorded offences in Surfers Paradise in 2025-26, a rate of 322 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (2,635 offences).

Population
26,412
Census 2021
Median income
$775/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$410/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
42years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Queensland Police Service (data.qld.gov.au), 2025-26.

Surfers Paradise vs the typical QLD suburb

The median personal income in Surfers Paradise is $775 a week, 4% above the typical QLD suburb ($747). That ranks 680th of 1,527 QLD suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $410 a week, $90 more than the typical QLD suburb. Rent takes 31.0% of the median household income here, against 20.4% in the typical QLD suburb. The median resident is 42, the same age as in the typical QLD suburb.

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureSurfers ParadiseTypical QLDDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$775/wk$747/wk +4%$766/wk
Household income$1,323/wk$1,593/wk −17%$1,637/wk
Rent$410/wk$320/wk +28%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,606/mo$1,625/mo −1%$1,733/mo
Median age4242 0 yrs42
Rent share of household income31.0%20.4% +10.6 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Surfers Paradise, the typical QLD suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Surfers Paradise Population

26,412 residents at the 2021 Census.

Surfers Paradise Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$775/wk
$40,300 per year
Ranked 4,045 of 14,663
Median Rent
$410/wk
$1,777 per month
Ranked 1,715 of 14,663
Median Age
42years
4 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,606/mo
Avg household size: 1.9 · 1 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Surfers Paradise Rent Prices & Affordability

31% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,323/wk
Median rent $410/wk
Rent to income 31.0%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Surfers Paradise against your income

About $5,733 a month
Median rent $410/wk
Left after rent $913/wk
Rent share 31.0%

Surfers Paradise Schools

6
schools nearby
4
government
1038
avg ICSEA score
4,487
total students
The Southport School Independent
Combined · Prep-12 · 1,621 students
1118
ICSEA
Bellevue Park State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 729 students
1059
ICSEA
Surfers Paradise State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 598 students
1035
ICSEA
Southport State School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 538 students
1012
ICSEA
Keebra Park State High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,001 students
968
ICSEA
The BUSY School - Southport Campus Independent
Secondary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Surfers Paradise, with a map

Surfers Paradise Map

Surfers Paradise, Queensland Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Surfers Paradise, Queensland: 27.9999°S, 153.4224°E

Surfers Paradise Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (6)

People in Surfers Paradise

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.2% (13,515) Female 48.8% (12,902)

Population Density

4,557
people per km²
26,412 people · 5.8 km²

Households

1.9
Avg household size
1
Persons per bedroom
$1,707
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

New Zealand
6.0%
Brazil
4.0%
England
3.9%
India
3.0%
Philippines
1.4%
Japan
1.3%
China
1.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Portuguese
3.8%
Spanish
3.1%
Mandarin
1.8%
Japanese
1.4%
Punjabi
1.3%
Nepali
1.1%
Italian
1.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
30.5%
Australian
19.9%
Irish
8.9%
Scottish
8.2%
Italian
5.0%
German
4.4%
Chinese
3.0%
Indian
2.5%
Filipino
1.7%
Spanish
1.7%
Dutch
1.3%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
35.9%
Catholic
19.6%
Not stated
14.7%
Anglican
10.0%
Hinduism
3.2%
Christian (other)
2.1%
Buddhism
2.1%
Uniting Church
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.2%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
34.3% 8,357
Separated
4.1% 996
Divorced
13.7% 3,340
Widowed
4.4% 1,068
Never married
43.5% 10,598

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
53.4%
Couple: children under 15
23.5%
Couple: no children under 15
9.3%
One parent: no children under 15
7.3%
One parent: children under 15
6.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
39.9%
2 persons
40.7%
3 persons
10.7%
4 persons
6.2%
5 persons
1.8%
6+ persons
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Surfers Paradise

Housing Tenure

Of the 11,420 occupied private dwellings in Surfers Paradise at the 2021 Census, 51.2% were rented, 26.8% owned outright and 18.2% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.4% 158 dwellings
Owned outright
26.8% 3,060 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
18.2% 2,082 dwellings
Rented
51.2% 5,850 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.4% 269 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
57.6%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
35.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
7.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
26.2%
2 bedrooms
48.6%
3 bedrooms
16.3%
4 bedrooms
6.0%
5 bedrooms
2.4%
6+ bedrooms
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
8.5%
$300-$449/mo
2.3%
$450-$599/mo
1.8%
$600-$799/mo
4.5%
$800-$999/mo
7.5%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
21.5%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
18.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
19.3%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
7.6%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
8.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
13.3%
1 vehicle
54.0%
2 vehicles
24.8%
3 vehicles
5.0%
4+ vehicles
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Surfers Paradise

Employment

Employed full-time
30.7% 5,980 people
Employed part-time
25.8% 5,018 people
Unemployed
4.9% 961 people
Not in labour force
38.6% 7,510 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
23.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
14.7%
Community & Personal Service
14.5%
Managers
14.2%
Labourers
11.2%
Clerical & Administrative
9.5%
Sales Workers
8.9%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
3.1%
$1-$149/wk
0.9%
$150-$299/wk
1.4%
$300-$399/wk
3.1%
$400-$499/wk
6.3%
$500-$649/wk
6.4%
$650-$799/wk
7.2%
$800-$999/wk
8.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.9%
$4,000+/wk
8.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.0%
$1-$149/wk
2.8%
$150-$299/wk
4.5%
$300-$399/wk
4.3%
$400-$499/wk
4.4%
$500-$649/wk
5.6%
$650-$799/wk
12.2%
$800-$999/wk
14.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.9%
$3,500+/wk
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
60.1%
Did not go to work
13.4%
Walked only
10.2%
Car (passenger)
4.5%
Tram/Light Rail
4.5%
Bicycle
1.8%
Bus
1.5%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.1%
Other
1.0%
Train
1.0%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.6%
Truck
0.4%
Ferry
0.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
70.8%
Year 10 or equivalent
17.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
3.5%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
33.7%
Certificate III/IV
27.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
22.5%
Postgraduate Degree
10.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.8%
Certificate I/II
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
30.6%
Society & Culture
13.3%
Health
11.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
10.7%
Engineering
10.2%
Architecture & Building
6.4%
Education
5.5%
Creative Arts
5.4%
Information Technology
3.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.2%
Agriculture & Environment
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Vocational Education
47.5%
Primary: Government
14.8%
Secondary: Government
10.5%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
9.2%
Pre-school
7.0%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
6.5%
Primary: Catholic
2.8%
Secondary: Catholic
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
82.6%
Has need for assistance
4.2%
Need for assistance not stated
13.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
1,857
Arthritis
853
Asthma
675
Heart disease
648
Diabetes
527
Cancer
445
Lung condition
430
Stroke
241
Kidney disease
192
Dementia
64

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
9.0% 1,890
Did not provide
91.0% 19,021

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
10.4% 2,185
Not a volunteer
89.6% 18,774

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 16
Current ADF: Reserves
0.0% 6
Previously served
2.5% 517
Never served
97.4% 20,517

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
49.1%
1 child
14.3%
2 children
21.9%
3 children
10.4%
4 children
3.2%
5+ children
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
108
1951: 1960
365
1961: 1970
601
1971: 1980
672
1981: 1990
897
1991: 2000
871
2001: 2010
1,617
2011: 2015
1,376
2016
475
2017
635
2018
822
2019
1,239
2020
497
2021
111

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

31.9%
moved in the last year
66.7%
moved in the last 5 years
7.1%
unemployment rate (Census)
55.7%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
15,517
Moved from QLD
3,926
Moved: same area (SA2)
1,191
Moved from NSW
785
Moved from VIC
538
Moved from overseas
455
Moved from SA
66
Moved from TAS
53
Moved from WA
52
Moved from ACT
43
Moved from NT
12

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
22.7%
5: 14 hours
25.8%
15: 29 hours
9.2%
30+ hours
5.3%
Did not do domestic work
37.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
82.9%
Step family: no other children
13.3%
Blended family: no other children
2.4%
Intact family: other children present
0.6%
Other couple: children only
0.6%
Step family: other children present
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Surfers Paradise Crime Statistics

8,513 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
2,635
Drug Offences
2,628
Assault
1,008
Break & Enter
650
Weapons
338
Domestic Violence
275
Fraud
272
Property Damage
266
Traffic
209
Sexual Offences
196
Robbery
36

Total offences by year

2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Queensland Police Service (data.qld.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Hughenden
Income: $770/wk Rent: $160/wk $250/wk less rent
Charleville
Income: $822/wk Rent: $178/wk $232/wk less rent
Garbutt
Income: $643/wk Rent: $220/wk $190/wk less rent
Rockhampton City
Income: $635/wk Rent: $250/wk $160/wk less rent
Proserpine
Income: $668/wk Rent: $260/wk $150/wk less rent
Bowen
Income: $710/wk Rent: $270/wk $140/wk less rent
Wilsonton
Income: $638/wk Rent: $290/wk $120/wk less rent
Wulguru
Income: $747/wk Rent: $290/wk $120/wk less rent

Suburbs near Surfers Paradise

The closest suburb to Surfers Paradise is Bundall, 2.2 km away.

Bundall
2.2 km away · income $902/wk · rent $480/wk
Broadbeach
3.2 km away · income $871/wk · rent $420/wk
Broadbeach Waters
3.3 km away · income $889/wk · rent $600/wk
Southport (Qld)
3.5 km away · income $666/wk · rent $410/wk
Benowa
4.1 km away · income $776/wk · rent $580/wk
Main Beach
4.6 km away · income $938/wk · rent $500/wk

Compare Surfers Paradise

Frequently Asked Questions About Surfers Paradise

What is the population of Surfers Paradise QLD?

The population of Surfers Paradise QLD is 26,412 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 4,557 people per km². Surfers Paradise is ranked #66 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Surfers Paradise?

The median personal income in Surfers Paradise QLD is $775 per week, or $40,300 per year. The median household income is $1,323 per week. Family income is $1,707 per week. Surfers Paradise is ranked #4,045 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Surfers Paradise?

Median rent in Surfers Paradise QLD is $410 per week ($1,777 per month). Rent represents 31.0% of household income, which is considered moderate. Surfers Paradise ranks #1,715 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Surfers Paradise?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Surfers Paradise QLD is $1,606. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Surfers Paradise?

The median age in Surfers Paradise QLD is 42 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Surfers Paradise a good suburb to live in?

Surfers Paradise is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 26,412. The median income is $775/wk, which is above the typical QLD suburb ($747/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (31.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Brisbane Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 32702. All dollar figures in AUD.