Overall score
Broadbeach Waters
40.0/100
Mermaid Beach
50.5/100
Mermaid Beach for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Broadbeach Waters
40.0/100
Mermaid Beach
50.5/100
Crime rate
Broadbeach Waters
127.7 / 1k
Mermaid Beach
127.7 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Broadbeach Waters
112
Mermaid Beach
804
Population
Broadbeach Waters
8,164
Mermaid Beach
7,329
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Broadbeach Waters | Mermaid Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 40.0/100 | 50.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 41.2/100 | 53.8/100 |
| Crime rate | 127.7 / 1k | 127.7 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 3 | 3 |
| Weather (desirability) | 33.9/100 | 33.9/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 19 | 30 |
| Public transport stops | 35 | 5 |
| Walkability | 36.0/100 | 77.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 112 | 804 |
| Green cover | 2.6% | 2.4% |
| Population | 8,164 | 7,329 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 9/10 |
Broadbeach Waters reads as an energetic metro established suburb where cafés and local life overlap; Mermaid Beach is a coastal mid-sized suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm. Mermaid Beach leans into coastal living, while Broadbeach Waters feels more inland and suburban in character.
Broadbeach Waters tends to lead on a quieter safety profile, public transport access, and a larger local community, while Mermaid Beach stands out for housing affordability, parks and reserves, and walkability.
Retirees may find Broadbeach Waters the better fit, while families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Mermaid Beach.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.