Gilston vs Highland Park

Gilston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 42 in Highland Park. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Gilston, most households are couple families. In Highland Park, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Gilston: a median of $1.32 million, against $1.2 million in Highland Park, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Gilston tends to suit families with children and couples, while Highland Park suits older residents.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Gilston

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 53/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (87% vs 68%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 85%)
  • But Highland Park has more parks and reserves (8 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Gilston leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 26%)
  • Highland Park has cheaper houses ($1,200,000 vs $1,325,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Highland Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $540/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Highland Park

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (66/100 vs 23/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (73.3 km vs 76.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Highland Park

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (15% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (66/100 vs 23/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 10%)
  • But Gilston carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 53/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Gilston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.5% vs 0.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Gilston and Highland Park drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Gilston Highland Park
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Gilston Highland Park
Walkability 23 / 66
Gilston — Walkability: 23/100 Highland Park — Walkability: 66/100
Safety 68 / 47
Gilston — Safety: 68/100 Highland Park — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Gilston — Low fire risk: 100/100 Highland Park — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Highland Park has more residents (6,576 vs 2,669); Gilston has higher household incomes ($127,192 vs $83,668).

Gilston Highland Park
Population 2,669 6,576
+146% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.5% +0.0%
Median age 35 42
Median household income $127,192/yr
+34% vs other
 $83,668/yr
Median weekly rent $540/wk
+20% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Gilston Highland Park
0-4 7.3% / 5.5%
Gilston — 0-4: 7.3% Highland Park — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 18.2% / 12.6%
Gilston — 5-14: 18.2% Highland Park — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 6.4% / 5.9%
Gilston — 15-19: 6.4% Highland Park — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 4.0% / 4.7%
Gilston — 20-24: 4.0% Highland Park — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 13.3% / 11.5%
Gilston — 25-34: 13.3% Highland Park — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 17.3% / 13.0%
Gilston — 35-44: 17.3% Highland Park — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 14.3% / 13.2%
Gilston — 45-54: 14.3% Highland Park — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 9.3% / 13.1%
Gilston — 55-64: 9.3% Highland Park — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 6.5% / 10.6%
Gilston — 65-74: 6.5% Highland Park — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 2.7% / 7.3%
Gilston — 75-84: 2.7% Highland Park — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ 0.4% / 2.5%
Gilston — 85+: 0.4% Highland Park — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Gilston 71.6% couple families
Gilston — Couple Families: 71.6% Gilston — Lone Person: 9.9% Gilston — One Parent Families: 15.1% Gilston — Group Household: 2.9% Gilston — Other Families: 0.5%
Highland Park 49.1% couple families
Highland Park — Couple Families: 49.1% Highland Park — Lone Person: 27.1% Highland Park — One Parent Families: 18.4% Highland Park — Group Household: 4.4% Highland Park — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Gilston 16.3% renting
Gilston — Owned Outright: 20.9% Gilston — Mortgage: 62.8% Gilston — Renting: 16.3%
Highland Park 17.8% renting
Highland Park — Owned Outright: 34.5% Highland Park — Mortgage: 47.6% Highland Park — Renting: 17.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Gilston Highland Park
Certificate III & IV 18.1% / 18.0%
Gilston — Certificate III & IV: 18.1% Highland Park — Certificate III & IV: 18.0%
Bachelor Degree 10.6% / 9.9%
Gilston — Bachelor Degree: 10.6% Highland Park — Bachelor Degree: 9.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 9.8%
Gilston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Highland Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 2.5%
Gilston — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Highland Park — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.4%
Gilston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Highland Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Gilston Highland Park
New Zealand 5.9% / 8.3%
Gilston — New Zealand: 5.9% Highland Park — New Zealand: 8.3%
England 4.7% / 5.4%
Gilston — England: 4.7% Highland Park — England: 5.4%
South Africa 1.0% / 1.1%
Gilston — South Africa: 1.0% Highland Park — South Africa: 1.1%
Japan 0.6% / 1.0%
Gilston — Japan: 0.6% Highland Park — Japan: 1.0%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.4%
Gilston — Scotland: 1.0% Highland Park — Scotland: 0.4%
Philippines — / 1.0%
Gilston — Philippines: not among its largest Highland Park — Philippines: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Gilston 95.9% houses
Gilston — Houses: 95.9% Gilston — Flats / Apartments: 1.0% Gilston — Townhouses: 3.1%
Highland Park 85.0% houses
Highland Park — Houses: 85.0% Highland Park — Flats / Apartments: 10.4% Highland Park — Townhouses: 4.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Gilston Highland Park
Median house price $1,325,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price — $790,000
Median land price $770,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 15 sales
 27 days
from 39 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Gilston Highland Park
4 bed $1.25M / $1.26M
Gilston — 4 bed: $1.25M (22 sales) Highland Park — 4 bed: $1.26M (43 sales)

22 vs 43 sales

5 bed $1.41M / $1.38M
Gilston — 5 bed: $1.41M (5 sales) Highland Park — 5 bed: $1.38M (9 sales)

5 vs 9 sales

Development activity

Gilston Highland Park
New dwellings approved 7,196
across Gold Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Gilston Highland Park
Houses 4.5%
$1,025/wk on $1.18M
 4.5%
$950/wk on $1.09M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Gilston Highland Park
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 55% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 78% of QLD

Liveability

Highland Park is more walkable (66 vs 23); Gilston scores higher overall (73 vs 65).

Gilston Highland Park
Grade A B
Score 73/100 65/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Highland Park carries more crime risk (53 vs 32).

Gilston Highland Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
32/100
 Moderate
53/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Gilston Highland Park
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast campus, 9.8 km
 2
Gold Coast, 8.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.3% 1.4%

Schools in Gilston

  • Gilston State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Highland Park

  • William Duncan State School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Gilston Highland Park
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 1 8
Childcare 2 4
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 6
same for both

Mobility

Gilston sits further from the CBD (76.2 km vs 73.3 km).

Gilston Highland Park
Walkability score 23/100 66/100
Distance to Brisbane 76.2 km
+4% vs other
 73.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 60 min 56 min
Public transport score 31/100
Bus
 60/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 5.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 4211
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 4211
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Gilston Highland Park
Car (driver) 78.5% / 79.4%
Gilston — Car (driver): 78.5% Highland Park — Car (driver): 79.4%
Worked from Home 16.5% / 12.7%
Gilston — Worked from Home: 16.5% Highland Park — Worked from Home: 12.7%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.6%
Gilston — Car (passenger): 3.7% Highland Park — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.3%
Gilston — Walked Only: 0.7% Highland Park — Walked Only: 1.3%
Train 0.7% / 0.7%
Gilston — Train: 0.7% Highland Park — Train: 0.7%
Bus — / 1.1%
Gilston — Bus: not among its largest Highland Park — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.4%).

Setting

Gilston Highland Park
Elevation 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 63 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.8 km 9.7 km

NBN connectivity

Gilston Highland Park
Connectivity score 82/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 70%
794 premises
 33%
2,625 premises

Climate

Gilston Highland Park
Annual rainfall 1,556 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Gilston Highland Park
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 19.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.91 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Gilston Highland Park
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Gilston Highland Park
Division Wright Moncrieff
Member Scott Buchholz Angie Bell
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Gilston Highland Park
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Gilston

Acreage Family River

Highland Park

Parks Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Gilston

Gilston vs Nerang Gilston vs Worongary Gilston vs Tallai Gilston vs Advancetown

Other comparisons with Highland Park

Highland Park vs Nerang Highland Park vs Carrara Highland Park vs Worongary
Full data on Gilston Full data on Highland Park
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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