Queensland · Suburb Profile

Mer Island QLD — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Mer Island, Queensland. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Mer Island QLD is 406 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Mer Island is $351 per week ($18,252 per year). Median rent in Mer Island is $150 per week ($650 per month). Mer Island has a median age of 27 years, younger than the national median of 38. Mer Island has a population density of 99.7 people per km².

The most common religion is Anglican (56% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Australian Indigenous. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mer Island is $1,084.

Mer Island Map

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Mer Island Population

residents (Census 2021)

Mer Island Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$351/wk

$18,252 per year

#8810 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$150/wk

$650 per month

#8205 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

27years

11 years younger than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,084/mo

Avg household size: —

Mer Island Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (199) Female 50.9% (206)

Population Density

99.7

people per km²

406 people · 4.1 km²

Households

—

Avg household size

—

Persons per bedroom

$906

Family income/wk

Mer Island Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Mer Island Country of Birth

Australia

100.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Mer Island Religion

Anglican

56.3%

Pentecostal

24.6%

No Religion

10.0%

Not stated

5.4%

Christian (other)

2.2%

Catholic

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Mer Island Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

49.2%

Year 10 or equivalent

25.0%

Year 11 or equivalent

17.6%

Year 9 or equivalent

8.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Mer Island Languages Spoken at Home

Australian Indigenous

50.3%

Other

49.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Mer Island Employment

💼

Employed full-time

14.2% 38 people

⏰

Employed part-time

15.3% 41 people

🔍

Unemployed

1.5% 4 people

🏠

Not in labour force

69.0% 185 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Mer Island Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

61.4%

Certificate I/II

15.9%

Bachelor Degree

10.2%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

6.8%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Mer Island Occupation

Professionals

27.5%

Clerical & Administrative

23.5%

Community & Personal Service

21.6%

Technicians & Trade Workers

13.7%

Managers

7.8%

Labourers

5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Mer Island Field of Study

Education

25.5%

Architecture & Building

19.6%

Health

17.6%

Engineering

15.7%

Management & Commerce

15.7%

Society & Culture

5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Mer Island Dwelling Types

Separate house

100.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Mer Island Weekly Household Income

$150-$299/wk

4.1%

$300-$399/wk

5.4%

$400-$499/wk

5.4%

$500-$649/wk

6.8%

$650-$799/wk

4.1%

$800-$999/wk

4.1%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

14.9%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

13.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

12.2%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.8%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

17.6%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Mer Island Marital Status

💍

Married

17.0% 52

↔️

Separated

2.9% 9

📋

Divorced

1.0% 3

🕊️

Widowed

4.9% 15

👤

Never married

74.2% 227

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Mer Island Ancestry

Other

89.0%

Aboriginal Australianralian

7.9%

Australian

1.2%

Samoan

1.2%

Scottish

0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Mer Island School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

53.2%

Secondary — Government

18.2%

Pre-school

9.1%

Secondary — Catholic

7.8%

Vocational Education

7.8%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Mer Island Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

4.6% 35

✅

No need for assistance

95.4% 734

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Mer Island Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

7.0% 20

—

Not a volunteer

93.0% 264

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Mer Island How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

29.3%

Walked only

28.3%

Car (passenger)

21.2%

Bus

9.1%

Did not go to work

8.1%

Other

4.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Mer Island Car Ownership

0 vehicles

46.5%

1 vehicle

39.5%

2 vehicles

14.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Mer Island Number of Bedrooms

2 bedrooms

13.1%

3 bedrooms

21.4%

4 bedrooms

39.3%

5 bedrooms

13.1%

6+ bedrooms

13.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Mer Island Population Mobility

15.3%

moved in the last year

24.5%

moved in the last 5 years

7.1%

unemployment rate (Census)

32.2%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Mer Island Indigenous Population

97.5%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

737

Indigenous residents

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Mer Island Long-term Health Conditions

Diabetes

Heart disease

Arthritis

Asthma

Mental health

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Mer Island Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

11.7%

$1-$149/wk

2.4%

$150-$299/wk

37.4%

$300-$399/wk

10.7%

$400-$499/wk

4.4%

$500-$649/wk

9.2%

$650-$799/wk

6.8%

$800-$999/wk

4.9%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

5.8%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

2.4%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

1.5%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Mer Island Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

51.9%

Couple — no children

15.5%

One parent — children under 15

14.6%

Couple — no children under 15

14.2%

One parent — no children under 15

3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Mer Island Military Service

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

1.1% 3

🏅

Previously served

4.3% 12

👤

Never served

94.6% 263

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Mer Island Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

11.5% 33

—

Did not provide

88.5% 254

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Mer Island Children Ever Born

No children

51.7%

1 child

16.1%

2 children

12.6%

4 children

16.1%

5+ children

3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Mer Island When Migrants Arrived

1971–1980

1991–2000

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Mer Island Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

34.5%

5–14 hours

23.6%

15–29 hours

1.8%

30+ hours

1.1%

Did not do domestic work

39.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Mer Island Household Size

1 person

18.7%

2 persons

20.0%

3 persons

12.0%

4 persons

6.7%

5 persons

10.7%

6+ persons

32.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Mer Island Where Residents Moved From

Same address

320

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from QLD

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Mer Island Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

79.1%

Intact family — other children present

11.6%

Other couple — children only

9.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Mer Island Schools

schools nearby

government

—

avg ICSEA score

total students

Tagai State College - Mer Campus Government

Primary

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Mer Island with map →

Mer Island Rent Prices & Affordability

12%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $1,262/wk

Median Rent $150/wk

Rent-to-Income 11.9%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Mer Island

Your weekly income

≈ $5,469/month

Median rent $150/wk

Left after rent $1,112/wk

Rent share 11.9%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Palm Island

Income: $384/wk Rent: $125/wk Save: $25/wk

Wellesley Islands

Income: $283/wk Rent: $104/wk Save: $46/wk

Kowanyama

Income: $341/wk Rent: $115/wk Save: $35/wk

Doomadgee

Income: $354/wk Rent: $120/wk Save: $30/wk

Hope Vale

Income: $390/wk Rent: $120/wk Save: $30/wk

Aurukun

Income: $331/wk Rent: $125/wk Save: $25/wk

Cherbourg

Income: $375/wk Rent: $100/wk Save: $50/wk

Woorabinda

Income: $361/wk Rent: $120/wk Save: $30/wk

Mer Island vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in QLD

Abergowrie

Pop: 305 Income: $814/wk Rent: $180/wk

Adelaide Park

Pop: 449 Income: $848/wk Rent: $330/wk

Advancetown

Pop: 528 Income: $872/wk Rent: $205/wk

Aeroglen

Pop: 405 Income: $903/wk Rent: $395/wk

Airville

Pop: 308 Income: $900/wk Rent: $230/wk

Alberton (Qld)

Pop: 547 Income: $743/wk Rent: $363/wk

Compare Mer Island

Mer Island vs Abergowrie →Mer Island vs Adelaide Park →Mer Island vs Advancetown →Mer Island vs Aeroglen →

Frequently Asked Questions About Mer Island

What is the population of Mer Island QLD?

The population of Mer Island QLD is 406 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 99.7 people per km².Mer Island is ranked #5,391 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Mer Island?

The median personal income in Mer Island QLD is $351 per week, or $18,252 per year.The median household income is $1,262 per week.Family income is $906 per week.Mer Island is ranked #8,810 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Mer Island?

Median rent in Mer Island QLD is $150 per week ($650 per month).Rent represents 11.9% of household income, which is considered affordable.Mer Island ranks #8,205 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Mer Island?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mer Island QLD is $1,084. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Mer Island?

The median age in Mer Island QLD is 27 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Mer Island a good suburb to live in?

Mer Island is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 406.The median income is $351/wk, which is below the QLD average of $759/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (11.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 31806. All dollar figures in AUD.