Mermaid Waters (Qld)

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According to ABS demographic updates and quarterly validated address files, the suburb of Mermaid Waters has an estimated residency of 14,316 individuals as of May 2026. This marks a gain of 1,228 people (9.4%) since the 2021 Census, when the population was recorded at 13,088. This growth is derived from the June 2025 ABS ERP release and 300 additional address validations. The resulting density ratio is 2,033 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the national benchmark. This expansion rate of 9.4% outpaced the Rest of Qld (9.2%) and the national standard, leading the regional market. Overseas migration was the primary driver, accounting for 65.0% of the gains, although interstate moves and natural increase also recorded positive contributions.

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Workforce metrics show a well-qualified resident base across diverse industries, an unemployment rate of 2.3%, and employment growth of 3.5% over the past year. In March 2026, working residents numbered 8,013, with unemployment sitting 1.6 percentage points below the Regional Qld rate of 3.9%. Participation is recorded at 68.5%, compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld. Census records show 17.5% of locals worked from home, though this was influenced by pandemic lockdowns.

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ATO records for the 2023 financial year show that taxpayer incomes are high, with a median of $47,845 and an average of $115,415, compared to Regional Qld medians of $53,146 and averages of $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, current figures would be approximately $53,280 median and $128,526 average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed household and individual earnings at the 51st percentile nationally. The most common bracket is the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which accounts for 28.7% of locals (4,108 people) compared to 31.7% across the wider metropolitan region. Housing costs absorb 17.4% of income, leaving disposable earnings at the 50th percentile, and the SEIFA score places the area in the th decile.

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At the last Census, the housing stock consisted of 59.6% houses and 40.5% semi-detached dwellings, apartments, or other structures, contrasting with Regional Qld's breakdown of 76.4% and 23.6% respectively. Fully owned properties comprised 35.5% of the total, with mortgaged homes at 35.0% and rented properties at 29.5%. Typical monthly mortgage repayments were $2,167, and median weekly rents were $450, compared to Regional Qld benchmarks of $1,655 and $345. Locally, mortgage costs exceed the national average of $1,863, and rent payments are also above the Australian median of $375.

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Families make up 69.5% of households, consisting of couples with children at 28.9%, couples without children at 27.6%, and single parents at 11.7%. Non-family households account for 30.5%, comprising single person households at 24.3% and group households at 6.3%. The typical household size is 2.5 people, matching the Regional Qld average.

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Educational attainment is high, with university qualification levels (28.4% of residents aged 15+) higher than the Rest of Qld average of 20.6% and the SA4 region level of 25.4%. Bachelor degrees are held by 20.1% of residents, postgraduate degrees by 6.2%, and graduate diplomas by 2.1%. Vocational education is also common, with 36.6% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, comprising 12.8% with advanced diplomas and 23.8% with certificates.

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Public transport services include 50 active bus stops in the area, operating across 12 routes that provide 1,496 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to a transit stop is 192 meters. Private cars remain the primary commuting mode at 90%, and average vehicle ownership stands at 1.4 cars per dwelling. Census data from 2021 indicates 17.5% of residents worked from home, which was affected by pandemic conditions.

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Health outcomes are strong, with low mortality and chronic disease rates across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is high at approximately 73% of residents (10,440 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

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Cultural diversity is high compared to most regional property markets, with 15.6% of residents speaking non-English languages at home and 29.9% born outside Australia. Christianity is the dominant religion at 49.5%, while Judaism represents 0.4% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

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The median age of 39 is slightly younger than the Regional Qld average of 41, and close to the national average of 38. Residents aged 25 - 34 make up 15.5% of the population, while the 55 - 64 bracket is smaller at 9.7% than in Regional Qld. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 group has risen from 13.7% to 15.5%, and the 35 to 44 cohort has grown from 14.2% to 15.4%. In contrast, the 65 to 74 group fell from 10.7% to 9.0%, and the 55 to 64 group decreased from to . By the to cohort is projected to expand by people () from to while the to age bracket is expected to grow by ( people).

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Mermaid Waters currently has an estimated 773 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 459 children aged 0-2 and 306 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 9% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 34% by 2041 (to approximately 1,035 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 1,235. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 9.8 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally.