Forest Lake vs Surfers Paradise
The verdict
Surfers Paradise rates higher for transport (86 vs 52). Surfers Paradise is closer to the coast (850 m vs 28.2 km). On the separate residential safety score, Surfers Paradise rates higher (83 vs 66/100 in Forest Lake).
Scores
| Forest Lake | Surfers Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 66 | 83 |
| Transport | 52 | 86 |
| Education | 58 | 60 |
| Liveability | 88 | 100 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Forest Lake | Surfers Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,676 | 26,412 |
| Median age | 37 | 42 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,921 | $1,323 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 41.7% | 35.5% |
| Born in Australia | 58.7% | 47.3% |
| Avg household size | 2.8 | 1.9 |
Growth: Forest Lake — · Surfers Paradise —
Property
| Forest Lake | Surfers Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | Data not available | Data not available |
| Median unit price | Data not available | Data not available |
| House price YoY | Data not available | Data not available |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $610 | $1,250 |
| Rental yield (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Days on market (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
Median price history
Safety
| Forest Lake | Surfers Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 66 | 83 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 930 | 613 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 415 | 375 |
| Domestic assault /100k | Data not available | Data not available |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 8,817 | 8,598 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Forest Lake | Surfers Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 6 | 1 |
| Government | 3 | 1 |
| Independent | 3 | 0 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,034 | 1,035 |
See the full school list on each profile: Forest Lake · Surfers Paradise
Transport
| Forest Lake | Surfers Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 52 | 86 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 43 | 39 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 8 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 66 | 187 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 3.3 km | 510 m |
Liveability
| Forest Lake | Surfers Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 29.3°C | 28.4°C |
| Winter max temp | 21.5°C | 21.0°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,150 | 1,340 |
| Supermarkets | 3 | 4 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 3 | 108 |
| Parks | 72 | 55 |
| Playgrounds | 37 | 16 |
| Swimming pools | 17 | 665 |
| Medical GPs | 2 | 2 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 28.2 km | 850 m |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 17.9 km | 71.0 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | Data not available | 1.0 km |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 10.8 km | 2.9 km |
Population & growth
| Forest Lake | Surfers Paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 22,676 | 26,412 |
| Estimated 2025 | 23,828 | 31,246 |
| Projected 2041 | Data not available | Data not available |
| Annual growth rate | 1.25% | 4.29% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Forest Lake or Surfers Paradise?
Surfers Paradise has the higher residential safety score (Forest Lake 66/100 vs Surfers Paradise 83/100).
Which has better schools, Forest Lake or Surfers Paradise?
Surfers Paradise has a higher average school ICSEA (Forest Lake 1034 vs Surfers Paradise 1035; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Forest Lake or Surfers Paradise?
Surfers Paradise has the higher transport score (Forest Lake 52/100 vs Surfers Paradise 86/100).
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