QLD · Gold Coast Council

Palm Beach, 4221

Est. population · Jun 2025

18,444

Growth (1 yr)

+3.2%

Growth (5 yr)

+14.3%

Median age

39

Median income

$1,721/wk

Employment rate

62.9%

Languages at home

6.6%non-English

Most common: Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

73.6/100
Excellent

Top 3% of Queensland's suburbs

Verified 78% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • High desirability
  • Coastal
  • Café precinct
  • Green suburb
  • National parks
What Palm Beach is known for: High desirability, Coastal, Café precinct, Green suburb, National parks

Suburb profile

Well away from Brisbane, Palm Beach is a coastal established suburb built around sand, sea and space. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix.

Local shops and services are well covered, which makes the suburb easy to live in day to day. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Most routine trips are on foot, while buses cover longer journeys across the metro area.

Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.

The desirability picture is excellent, powered mainly by safety, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities relative to similar coastal suburbs.

At a glance

Palm Beach snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

$920/wk

Population (ERP)

18,444

+3.2% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

14.7%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#5

among Coastal & beach · Established

Safety

18th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

90th

percentile in QLD

Advantage (IRSAD)

8/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

72nd

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
73.6/100 — Excellent
State standing
Top 3% of Queensland's suburbs
National rank
89th in Australia
State rank
37th in QLD
Peer rank
#5 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#8 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
78%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (Mar 2026)
$920

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

Population

Estimated resident population

18,444(June 2025)

+3.2% annual · +14.3% over 5 years · 90th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+3.2%
5-year growth
+14.3%
Change in 1 year
+573
Change in 5 years
+2,304
Growth rank in QLD
90th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~20,150), extrapolated at +1.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
16,349
Median age
39
Median household income / week
$1,721
Dwelling vacancy
14.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
1,147 of 7,795
Median monthly mortgage
$2,093
Employment rate
62.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,719 / 1,315 / 2,554 (+ 33 other)

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Community & culture

No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2026 to Aug 2026)
481
Against the person
64
Against property
316
Rate per 1,000 residents
26.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 255 residents
State safety percentile
17.7th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate, partial year)
-9.1%

Most common offence types

  • Assault58
  • Drug Offences84
  • Other Property Damage62
  • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)322
  • Unlawful Entry82

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • QPS Online Crime MapQueensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Aug 2026; Jan 2026 to Aug 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
1,059
Median ICSEA percentile
72th
School list
  • Palm Beach State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1059 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 894 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
  • Elanora State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1061 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 14% · 924 students · Top SEA quarter 24% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
  • Elanora State High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1023 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 949 students · Top SEA quarter 12% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

43 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Gold Coast Hwy at Eighth Avenue
  • Gold Coast Hwy at Fourth Avenue
  • Gold Coast Hwy at Palm Beach Police Station
  • Gold Coast Hwy at Tenth Avenue
  • Palm Beach

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

445 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

23 restaurants · 12 cafes · 1 pubs · 1 bars · 1 supermarkets · 4 pharmacies · 12 fast food · 4 bakeries

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Highly walkable for everyday errands
  • Strong café and dining scene53 food & drink venues nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life44 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport43 public transport stops
  • Good everyday shopping nearby6 shops and services
  • Strong local sport and recreation18 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
100/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.73
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
3.24
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.69
Food & drink(53)
  • Crustie'sBakery

    1136 Gold Coast Highway

  • Lakeside BakeryBakery

    16 Phillipine Parade

  • Lee's Cakes & PastriesBakery
  • UE BagelsBakery

    Unit 14A 6 Fifth Avenue

  • Tank Craft BeerBar
  • '94 Morning ClubCafe

    114 Gold Coast Highway

  • bantRCafe
  • Barefoot BaristaCafe

    Unit 1-2 15 Palm Beach Avenue

  • Cafe
  • Cafe 1291Cafe
  • CanvasCafe
  • Chill In CaféCafe

    Unit 9B 10 Fifth Avenue

  • Down 2 Earth CafeCafe
  • Palm Beach Loves DogsCafe
  • The Palm CoffeeCafe

    83 Cypress Terrace

  • Third BaseCafe

    Unit 3 24 Phillipine Parade

  • Vegepatch StudiosCafe

    Unit 3 10 Fifth Avenue

  • Costa Taco Palm BeachFast food

    1136 Gold Coast Highway

  • Dalas KitchenFast food
  • Domino'sFast food

    Unit 8 6 Fifth Avenue

  • Guzman y GomezFast food

    Unit 16A 6 Fifth Avenue

  • McDonald'sFast food

    Gold Coast Highway

  • Mr Potato Palm BeachFast food
  • Noodle BoxFast food

    Unit 15B 6 Fifth Avenue

  • Palm Beach SeafoodsFast food
  • Pattysmiths Palm BeachFast food

    Unit 15A 6 Fifth Avenue

  • Pizza CapersFast food
  • SpaghettoFast food

    Unit 3 1132 Gold Coast Highway

  • Throwers Fish & ChipsFast food
  • Palm Beach HotelPub
  • Balboa ItalianRestaurant

    1069 Gold Coast Highway

  • BurgsterRestaurant

    Unit 4-5 2-3 Phillipine Parade

  • Cafoo IzakayaRestaurant
  • Chef House ThaiRestaurant

    1089 Gold Coast Highway

  • Chinese SmorgasbordRestaurant
  • Flower Garden Chinese RestaurantRestaurant
  • Golden Pine Chinese RestaurantRestaurant
  • Koh-i-nur IndianRestaurant
  • Las PalmasRestaurant
  • Maries PizzaRestaurant
  • Oz-ThaiRestaurant
  • Palm Garden Chinese RestaurantRestaurant
  • Palm's Indian KitchenRestaurant

    Unit 8 1160 Gold Coast Highway

  • Restaurant
  • Scott's Luncheonette & BarRestaurant

    Unit 1 114 Gold Coast Highway

  • Sushi at Palm BeachRestaurant

    Unit 9A

  • Sushi PointRestaurant
  • The CollectiveRestaurant

    1128 Gold Coast Highway

  • The Deli by PepeRestaurant

    Unit 13 1102 Gold Coast Highway

  • The Scottish PrinceRestaurant
  • Tokyo KitchenRestaurant
  • Toro's PizzaRestaurant

    Unit 7 2 Eighth Avenue

  • Wildernis Cafe and BarRestaurant
Shopping(10)
  • Kingswood Park ButcheryButcher

    Unit 5 15 Palm Beach Avenue

  • Lakeside Quality MeatsButcher

    17 Phillipine Parade

  • Salt & Smoke Meat CoButcher

    Unit 10 10 Fifth Avenue

  • 7-ElevenConvenience store

    Gold Coast Highway

  • Lakeside ConvenienceConvenience store

    14 Phillipine Parade

  • ColesSupermarket
Community(3)
  • Palm Beach Neighbourhood CentreCommunity centre
  • Palm Beach LibraryLibrary

    22 Eleventh Avenue

  • Palm Beach State SchoolSchool
Health & services(19)
  • Clinic
  • Health on 21 Medical CentreClinic
  • My HealthClinic
  • Prime HealthClinic
  • Dentist
  • Divine Dental CentreDentist

    Unit 3

  • Oasis DentalDentist

    Unit 1 1095 Gold Coast Highway

  • Palm Beach DentalDentist

    1142 Gold Coast Highway

  • After Hours DoctorMedical clinic

    24 Palm Beach Avenue

  • Dr Michael TongMedical clinic
  • Medical clinic
  • QML PathologyMedical clinic
  • Simply RadiantMedical clinic
  • South Coast RadiologyMedical clinic
  • Sullivan Nicolades PathologyMedical clinic
  • Blooms The ChemistPharmacy

    Unit B 17 Phillipine Parade

  • ChemproPharmacy

    Unit 20 6 Fifth Avenue

  • Chempro 23rd AvenuePharmacy
  • Palm Beach 7 Day ChemproPharmacy

    1144 Gold Coast Highway

Sport & outdoors(43)
  • Jetts FitnessGym

    1146 Gold Coast Highway

  • Pilates On PointGym
  • Price FitnessGym
  • Ritual Yoga & PilatesGym
  • Snap FitnessGym

    1156-1158 Gold Coast Highway

  • Studio PilatesGym

    Unit 4 10 Fifth Avenue

  • Andy Frizzell (OBE) ParkPark
  • Bromley ParkPark
  • Dogwood PlacePark
  • Japonica Drive ParklandsPark
  • Lake Awonga LinksPark
  • Melaleuca Drive Canal ReservePark
  • Park (11)
  • Rio Barracuda ParkPark
  • Rio Barramundi ParkPark
  • Rio Dolphin ParkPark
  • Rio Kingfish ParkPark
  • Rio Marlin ParkPark
  • Rio Swordfish ParkPark
  • Tahiti ParkPark
  • Tenth Avenue ParkPark
  • Playground (2)
  • Mallawa Drive Sporting ComplexSports centre
  • Pacific SLSCSports centre
  • Sports centre
  • Duncan McKenna FieldSports field
  • Sports field
  • Pool Centre Palm BeachSwimming pool
  • SwimartSwimming pool

    Unit 1 22 Phillipine Parade

  • Swimming pool (3)
Transport(20)

20 bus stops

Other(102)
  • BWSAlcohol
  • LiquorlandAlcohol
  • Palm Beach CellarsAlcohol

    Unit 4-5 4-10 Phillipine Parade

  • Beach Osteopathic ClinicAlternative
  • Palm Beach ChiropracticAlternative
  • Apartment
  • Seascape Holiday ApartmentsApartment

    1187-1191 Gold Coast Highway

  • ArmaguardATM
  • BOQATM
  • Venue SmartATM
  • WestpacATM
  • Audiologist
  • BOQBank

    1146 Gold Coast Highway

  • Bbq (2)
  • Be Naturally YouBeauty salon

    22 Seventh Avenue

  • Bo’ AestheticsBeauty salon
  • La Vela Head SpaBeauty salon
  • Modern Nail & BeautyBeauty salon
  • Palm Beach Beauty CoBeauty salon
  • PécheBeauty salon
  • Bench (31)
  • Bicycle Parking (12)
  • Central Coast Auto ElectricalCar repair
  • Car wash
  • Lifeline ShopCharity

    9 Palm Beach Avenue

  • SalvosCharity

    16 Eighth Avenue

  • VinniesCharity

    Unit 6 15 Palm Beach Avenue

  • Hand On My HeartClothes

    Unit 8 15 Palm Beach Avenue

  • Recycled Clothing StoreClothes

    Unit 7 15 Palm Beach Avenue

  • White BohemianClothes

    Unit 6 1160 Gold Coast Highway

  • Common
  • Palm Beach Denture ClinicDentures

    1234 Gold Coast Highway

  • Drinking water (3)
  • Seagulls Dry CleaningDry Cleaning
  • Fifth Avenue FloristFlorist
  • Palm Beach FurnitureFurniture
  • Garden (28)
  • 5th Avenue HairHairdresser
  • Bimbos HairHairdresser

    Unit 4 15 Palm Beach Avenue

  • DMH Palm BeachHairdresser
  • Epi's Barber ShopHairdresser

    Unit 1 20 Phillipine Parade

  • eva organic hair & beauty salonHairdresser
  • My Salon SuiteHairdresser

    Unit 1 4-10 Phillipine Parade

  • Rose & Crown HairHairdresser
  • Saltydogs Barber ShopHairdresser

    Unit 11 10 Fifth Avenue

  • Spruce MooseHairdresser

    Unit 2 20 Phillipine Parade

  • The Hair & The HoneyHairdresser
  • AmplifonHearing Aids
  • 19th Avenue On The BeachHotel

    2 Nineteenth Avenue

  • Casablanca Palms On The BeachHotel

    4 Twenty Fifth Avenue

  • Palm Beach HotelHotel

    1118 Gold Coast Highway

  • Palmy GelatoIce Cream

    Unit 16B 6 Fifth Avenue

  • JWGJewelry
  • Priolo JewellersJewelry
  • PavilionsMall

    6 Fifth Avenue

  • Maestro Massage & OsteopathyMassage
  • Massage SpaMassage
  • Beach Palms Holiday ApartmentsMotel

    1111 Gold Coast Highway

  • Motel

    1100 Gold Coast Highway

  • Palm Trees MotelMotel
  • Queenslander MotelMotel
  • The Cheshire Cat MotelMotel

    1005 Gold Coast Highway

  • Ralph White MusicMusical Instrument
  • Nature Reserve (22)
  • Palm Beach NewsagencyNewsagent

    Unit 5 10 Fifth Avenue

  • Supplement KingdomNutrition Supplements
  • Vue OptometristsOptometrist

    Unit 3 15 Palm Beach Avenue

  • Australia Post Parcel LockerParcel Locker
  • GCCCParking
  • Joe Davidson Car parkParking
  • Pacific SLSCParking
  • Parking (60)
  • Parking Entrance (4)
  • Parking Space (9)
  • Cash ConvertersPawnbroker
  • The Palmy GroomerPet Grooming

    101 Palm Beach Avenue

  • 7-ElevenPetrol station

    1182 Gold Coast Highway

  • 7-ElevenPetrol station

    1346-1354 Gold Coast Highway

  • Active Hand TherapyPhysiotherapist

    Unit 2 1095 Gold Coast Highway

  • Integrate PhysioPhysiotherapist
  • Picnic Table (8)
  • Our Lady of the Way ChurchPlace of worship

    Eleventh Avenue

  • Hart & Sole PodiatryPodiatrist

    Unit 2

  • Australia PostPost Box
  • Post Box (2)
  • Street LibraryPublic Bookcase
  • Public toilets
  • Shelter (11)
  • Shower (11)
  • Vibe Care PantrySocial Facility

    Eighth Avenue

  • Lefty’s TattooTattoo

    Unit 2 1132 Gold Coast Highway

  • Nine MusesTattoo

    Unit 3 20 Phillipine Parade

  • TelstraTelephone
  • Free ChoiceTobacco

    1136 Gold Coast Highway

  • Vacant

    Unit 10 1160 Gold Coast Highway

  • Vacant

    Unit 11 1160 Gold Coast Highway

  • Vacant

    Unit 12

  • Vacant

    Unit 12 1160 Gold Coast Highway

  • Vacant

    Unit 7 1160 Gold Coast Highway

  • Vacant (3)
  • Waste Basket (8)
  • Waste Disposal

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

68 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Andy Frizzell (OBE) ParkPark
  • Beree-Badalla ReservePark
  • Bromley ParkPark
  • Dogwood PlacePark
  • Elizabeth Sloper GardensPark
  • Japonica Drive ParklandsPark
  • Jefferson EsplanadePark
  • Lake Awonga LinksPark
  • Lions ParkPark
  • Melaleuca Drive Canal ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
45
Parks (OSM)
44

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

Places of worship

1 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • Our Lady of the Way Church

    Eleventh Avenue

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
26
Nearest hospital
Currumbin Private Clinic (3.0 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
  • Active Hand TherapyGold Coast HighwayPhysiotherapist
  • After Hours DoctorPalm Beach AvenueDoctor
  • AudiologistAudiologist
  • Beach Osteopathic ClinicPalm Beach AvenueAlternative
  • Blooms The ChemistPhilippine ParadePharmacy
  • ChemproFifth AvenuePharmacy
  • Chempro 23rd AvenuePharmacy
  • ClinicClinic
  • DentistDentist
  • Divine Dental CentreDentist

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
335
Participants per 1,000 residents
18.2

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
29° / 20°
Rainfall
628 mm · ~78 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
26° / 17°
Rainfall
552 mm · ~69 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
21° / 10°
Rainfall
240 mm · ~30 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
25° / 15°
Rainfall
282 mm · ~35 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

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 overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
McPherson
Member of Parliament
Leon REBELLO (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
121,545
Turnout (2025)
87.4%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+4.9 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.4%Labor 45.6%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.4 km away).

Coalition 50.3%Labor 49.7%

4.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +6.7 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Palm Beach NorthLabor 51.3% · Coalition 48.7% TPP (2025)0.8 km away
  • Palm BeachLabor 47.3% · Coalition 52.7% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
  • ElanoraLabor 47.3% · Coalition 52.7% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
  • Elanora WestLabor 49.0% · Coalition 51.0% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
  • Palm Beach SouthLabor 53.6% · Coalition 46.4% TPP (2025)2.4 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
8/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

This suburb ranks highly for

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

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.