Council (LGA) · Area profile
Gold Coast
1,333 km²
Rapid growth defines the Gold Coast, which has added about 130,586 people since 2011. It is a large, diverse community where nearly 30% of people were born overseas. This international appeal and a high number of university degrees contribute to a relatively wealthy population. With a typical resident aged 39, the area is a mix of working professionals and a growing number of seniors.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
Rapid population growth here is outstripping school provision.
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The population has grown by 26% since 2011, and the typical resident is now 39. While the number of children has fallen slightly, the proportion of people aged 65 and over rose 3.3 points over the last decade.
Born overseas make up 29.1% of the population, which is well above the Queensland figure of 22.7%. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
About 13.7% of people use a language other than English at home, a figure that rose 3.4 points since 2011. However, this is still well below the national average of 22.3%.
A large number of residents report having no religion, at 43.7%, which is well above the national figure. This trend has seen a sharp rise of 21 points since 2011.
The area is well qualified, with 21.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, a rise of 7.5 points since 2011. Year 12 completion is also much higher than in most similar areas.
Typical weekly family income is $2,010, which is higher than most similar areas. Wealth has increased significantly, with the share of households earning $3,000 or more a week rising 12 points since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are less common here than in most similar areas, affecting 26.9% of people. Mental health and arthritis are the most reported conditions.
Volunteer rates are much lower than most areas and have fallen 3.5 points since 2011. Unpaid care for children is common, involving 26.1% of the community.
First Nations residents in the Gold Coast fare well compared to other areas, with a Year 12 completion rate of 52.0%, which is far above the national figure of 37.0%.
Family homes are larger than usual, with 2.5 people per home. One-parent families are more common here than in most similar areas, making up 15.4% of households.
The rental market is very active, with 33.8% of households renting and typical weekly rents reaching $450. Detached houses are far less common here than across Queensland.
While most people drive, the area is well-served by public transport with 1,828 stops. Working from home has become more common, rising 8.4 points since 2011.
The community is very mobile, with 49.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is well above the national average of 40.7%.
Full-time employment is much lower than in most similar areas, though the overall number of adults working or looking for work is slightly above the national figure.
The region is highly advantaged, scoring in the top 10% for overall advantage. It is also growing rapidly, with a population increase of 9.1% since 2021.
The area is much wetter than the rest of the state, with average annual rainfall of 1,498mm, which is far above the Queensland average.
Recorded offences are higher than in most similar areas, with theft and drug offences being the most frequent. The crime rate has risen by 20.5% over five years.
The area is very walkable, with 85.1% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents can also reach a park or grocery store within 15 minutes.