Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Surfers Paradise suburb profile
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Postcode 4217
This Surfers Paradise suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Surfers Paradise, QLD (postcode 4217). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Surfers Paradise with nearby suburbs.
Surfers Paradise at a glance
Population
26,412
Median rent
$410/wk
Household income
$1,323/wk
Median age
42
Surfers Paradise trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+34.3% over 10 years
Population
26,412
was 23,689 in 2016
+2,723 · +11.5%
Median rent
$410/wk
was $355/wk in 2016
+$55 · +15.5%
Household income
$1,323/wk
was $1,136/wk in 2016
+$187 · +16.5%
Median age
42
was 37 in 2016
+5 · +13.5%
Dig deeper: Surfers Paradise population growth · Surfers Paradise then and now
Surfers Paradise vs nearby & Greater Brisbane
Median Census 2021 figures for Surfers Paradise, nearby suburbs (8), and the Brisbane metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-2.4% vs area
- Surfers Paradise$410/wk
- Nearby$465/wk
- Brisbane$420/wk
Household income
-34.3% vs area
- Surfers Paradise$1,323/wk
- Nearby$1,724/wk
- Brisbane$2,015/wk
Median age
+13.5% vs area
- Surfers Paradise42
- Nearby44
- Brisbane37
Personal income
-10.4% vs area
- Surfers Paradise$775/wk
- Nearby$796/wk
- Brisbane$865/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in QLD. See Brisbane rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Surfers Paradise compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Surfers Paradise sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 4986.3
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 6995.8
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1912.8
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 71,010.5
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Surfers Paradise on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Surfers Paradise, QLD.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Surfers Paradise people
- Population
- 26,412
- Median age
- 42
- Born overseas
- 39.7%
- Average household size
- 1.9
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Surfers Paradise income
- Median household income
- $1,323/wk
- Median personal income
- $775/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Surfers Paradise housing
- Median rent
- $410/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,606/mo
- Separate houses
- 6.7%
- Flats & apartments
- 54.4%
- Owned outright
- 17.9%
- Mortgaged
- 12.2%
- Rented
- 34.3%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 33.1%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Surfers Paradise work
- Employment to population
- 51.8%
- Unemployment rate
- 7.1%
- Year 12 or above
- 59.1%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 4217)
Compare Surfers Paradise with nearby suburbs
Surfers Paradise in numbers
Surfers Paradise had 26,412 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 5th most populous suburb or locality in QLD out of 3,110. The median age is 42, 5% above the typical QLD suburb. The average household has 1.9 people. 39.7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 17.9% own their home outright, 12.2% are paying a mortgage, 34.3% rent. Flats and apartments make up 54.4% of dwellings, with 6.7% separate houses. Median rent was $410/wk, 17% above the typical QLD suburb.
Median household income was $1,323/wk, 22% below the typical QLD suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 7.1%. 59.1% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 4 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 11.5% (from 23,689 to 26,412). Median rent moved from $355/wk to $410/wk (+15.5%).
Surfers Paradise suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Surfers Paradise, QLD?
- The median weekly rent in Surfers Paradise was $410/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Surfers Paradise, QLD?
- Surfers Paradise had 26,412 residents at the 2021 Census, up 11.5% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Surfers Paradise?
- Median household income in Surfers Paradise was $1,323/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Surfers Paradise?
- 34.3% of occupied homes in Surfers Paradise were rented, 17.9% were owned outright and 12.2% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Surfers Paradise suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Surfers Paradise. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Brisbane