Fastest growing Gold Coast suburbs (2016-2021)

Kingsholme grew fastest in percentage terms, at +173%. Pimpama added the most residents, 15,204. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 77 eligible Gold Coast suburbs.

This ranking shows which Gold Coast suburbs grew fastest between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — once by percent change, and once by the sheer number of residents added, because those two questions have very different answers.

Percent growth and headcount growth are both real and they rarely agree. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 has grown 4,900%, and a suburb going from 35,000 to 56,000 has grown 63% — but the second one added four times as many people. The first list finds the greenfield estates, the second finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Both are ranked within Gold Coast's own pool. Note the period: the 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count available in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here.

Gold Coast suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021

Ranked on percent population change between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses. Percent growth favours suburbs starting from a small base, so greenfield estates built on former farmland dominate the top.

1

Kingsholme

QLD 4208 · 782 residents

496 residents added · +173% · 782 residents in 2021

A 100.0
2

Pimpama

QLD 4209 · 24,601 residents

15,204 residents added · +162% · 24,601 residents in 2021

B 98.7
3

Coomera

QLD 4209 · 20,225 residents

6,919 residents added · +52% · 20,225 residents in 2021

C 97.4
4

Maudsland

QLD 4210 · 8,073 residents

2,505 residents added · +45% · 8,073 residents in 2021

C 96.0
5

Ormeau Hills

QLD 4208 · 4,521 residents

1,372 residents added · +44% · 4,521 residents in 2021

B 94.7
6

Hope Island

QLD 4212 · 14,522 residents

3,335 residents added · +30% · 14,522 residents in 2021

A 93.4
7

Broadbeach

QLD 4218 · 6,786 residents

1,272 residents added · +23% · 6,786 residents in 2021

B 92.1
8

Casuarina

NSW 2487 · 3,256 residents

577 residents added · +22% · 3,256 residents in 2021

C 90.8
9

Biggera Waters

QLD 4216 · 9,973 residents

1,438 residents added · +17% · 9,973 residents in 2021

B 89.5
10

Southport

QLD 4215 · 36,786 residents

4,878 residents added · +15% · 36,786 residents in 2021

B 88.2
11

Terranora

NSW 2486 · 3,365 residents

438 residents added · +15% · 3,365 residents in 2021

B 86.8
12

Mount Nathan

QLD 4211 · 1,375 residents

160 residents added · +13% · 1,375 residents in 2021

B 85.5
13

Benowa

QLD 4217 · 9,889 residents

1,147 residents added · +13% · 9,889 residents in 2021

A+ 84.2
14

Currumbin Valley

QLD 4223 · 2,084 residents

235 residents added · +13% · 2,084 residents in 2021

B 82.9
15

Helensvale

QLD 4212 · 18,949 residents

2,087 residents added · +12% · 18,949 residents in 2021

B 81.6

Ranked from 77 qualifying suburbs.

Gold Coast suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021

Ranked on the NUMBER of residents added between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses rather than the percentage, which surfaces the established growth corridors instead of small suburbs multiplying from near zero.

1

Pimpama

QLD 4209 · 24,601 residents

15,204 residents added · +162% · 24,601 residents in 2021

B 100.0
2

Coomera

QLD 4209 · 20,225 residents

6,919 residents added · +52% · 20,225 residents in 2021

C 98.7
3

Southport

QLD 4215 · 36,786 residents

4,878 residents added · +15% · 36,786 residents in 2021

B 97.4
4

Hope Island

QLD 4212 · 14,522 residents

3,335 residents added · +30% · 14,522 residents in 2021

A 96.0
5

Surfers Paradise

QLD 4217 · 26,412 residents

2,721 residents added · +12% · 26,412 residents in 2021

B 94.7
6

Robina

QLD 4226 · 25,659 residents

2,553 residents added · +11% · 25,659 residents in 2021

A 93.4
7

Maudsland

QLD 4210 · 8,073 residents

2,505 residents added · +45% · 8,073 residents in 2021

C 92.1
8

Helensvale

QLD 4212 · 18,949 residents

2,087 residents added · +12% · 18,949 residents in 2021

B 90.8
9

Upper Coomera

QLD 4209 · 27,180 residents

1,903 residents added · +8% · 27,180 residents in 2021

B 89.5
10

Palm Beach

QLD 4221 · 16,349 residents

1,695 residents added · +12% · 16,349 residents in 2021

B 88.2
11

Ormeau

QLD 4208 · 15,938 residents

1,477 residents added · +10% · 15,938 residents in 2021

B 86.8
12

Varsity Lakes

QLD 4227 · 16,493 residents

1,466 residents added · +10% · 16,493 residents in 2021

B 85.5
13

Biggera Waters

QLD 4216 · 9,973 residents

1,438 residents added · +17% · 9,973 residents in 2021

B 84.2
14

Ormeau Hills

QLD 4208 · 4,521 residents

1,372 residents added · +44% · 4,521 residents in 2021

B 82.9
15

Broadbeach

QLD 4218 · 6,786 residents

1,272 residents added · +23% · 6,786 residents in 2021

B 81.6

Ranked from 77 qualifying suburbs.

How we ranked these

100% population growth, ranked within Gold Coast's candidate pool — once by percent change and once by residents added, because those two questions have different answers. Nothing else is blended in: a suburb that grew is not thereby better or worse to live in. The figures are the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb population counts published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than today. Suburbs missing either count are excluded rather than ranked as no-growth. See how we calculate for the full methodology.

Common questions about this ranking

What are the fastest growing Gold Coast suburbs (2016-2021)?

Kingsholme grew fastest in percentage terms, at +173%. Pimpama added the most residents, 15,204. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 77 eligible Gold Coast suburbs.

What period does this cover?

The 2016-2021 Censuses. The 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here, and one that took off after 2021 will not.

Why are there two different lists?

Because percent growth and headcount growth rarely agree, and both are real. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 grew 4,900%; one going from 35,000 to 56,000 grew 63% but added four times as many people. The percent list finds greenfield estates built on former farmland; the headcount list finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Presenting only one would hide half the answer.

Does fast growth make a suburb a good place to live?

This ranking does not say so, and deliberately blends nothing else in. Rapid growth can mean new housing, new schools and rising demand, or it can mean construction, strained roads and services that have not caught up — often both at once in the same suburb. Check the walkability, transport, schools and risk figures on each suburb's own page.

Which suburbs are eligible?

Suburbs in Gold Coast with at least 500 residents and a population figure in both Censuses. A suburb missing either count is left out rather than ranked as no-growth, and the top 15 are shown in each list.

Same list in other cities

Related

Rankings last computed 12 October 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.

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