QLD · Gold Coast Council
Surfers Paradise, 4217
Current weather
18.8°COvercast
86% humidity · 9.1 km/h wind · 21.6° / 15.6° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Café precinct
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
Suburb profile
Life in Surfers Paradise revolves around the coast, with the feel of a larger suburb that never strays far from the water. Coastal character runs through daily life, with the wider region offering extra trips and outings when you want them. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with renters and young professionals well represented. Food and coffee are a real part of local identity, with plenty of places to meet and linger. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker housing affordability and safety against similar coastal suburbs, even with parks and green space and transport and access holding up better.
Population
- Population
- 26,412
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,323
- Dwelling vacancy
- 33.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 5,642 of 17,065
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,606
- Employment rate
- 51.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 996 / 842 / 9,277
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $750
Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- RTA bond statistics — Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland) · Period: Mar 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Jul 2026)
- 2,431
- Against the person
- 646
- Against property
- 955
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 92
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 41 residents
- State safety percentile
- 90.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +2.6%
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Assault291
- Drug Offences865
- Good Order Offences753
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)874
- Unlawful Entry252
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Period: Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Jul 2026; Jan 2026 to Jul 2026 · Updated on site · Calendar-year aggregates
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,035
- Surfers Paradise State SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
60 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bundall Rd at City of Gold Coast
- Bundall Rd at Pisa Court
- Ferny Ave at Ocean Avenue
- Surfers Paradise
- Surfers Paradise
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Amenities
916 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
- LiquorlandAlcohol
- Star LiquorAlcohol
35 Thomas Drive, Surfers Paradise
- TB's Wine & LiquorAlcohol
- Za'ba Bottle ShopAlcohol
- HIjinx Hotel Surfers ParadiseAmusement Arcade
- TimezoneAmusement Arcade
- BOQBank
- BedroomBar
- Cali BeachBar
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
71 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Appel ParkPark
- Austin Gilchrist ParkPark
- Budds Beach ReservePark
- Bundall Road ReservePark
- Chevron Island ParkPark
- Commodore ParkPark
- Cronin Island ParkPark
- David Evans ReservePark
- Eileen Peters ParkPark
- Elliott Street ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 6
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Bundall Chiropracticalternative
- Cosmetic & General DentistryThomas Drivedentist
- My Doctors Clinic Surfers ParadiseSurfers Paradise Boulevardclinic
- Physio Fusion Pty.Adori Streetphysiotherapist
- Sullivan Nicolaides Pathologysample_collection
- Surfers Paradise Chiropractic Health & Wellness CenterThomas Drivealternative
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- KinkaboolState heritage place
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Kool KidsBimbi Courtkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 55
- Parks (OSM)
- 54
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 52.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 25% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 1661st in Australia
- State rank
- 377th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #33 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #53 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 2Zing! Cafeamenitiescafe
- 7-Elevenamenitiesconvenience
- 707 Convinient Storeamenitiesconvenience
- 8848 Momo Houseamenities42 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradiserestaurant
- @ 7 Daysamenitiesconvenience
- Adidas Originalsamenities3170 Surfers Paradise Boulevardclothes
- Ai Life Baramenitiesrestaurant
- Alforno Cafe & Restaurantamenitiesrestaurant
- Alfresco Italian RestaurantamenitiesUnit 2 3018-3030 Surfers Paradise Boulevardrestaurant
- All About Faceamenitiesbeauty
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Gold Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.