Gilston vs Nerang

Gilston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 40 in Nerang. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Gilston, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Gilston: a median of $1.32 million, against $1.03 million in Nerang, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Gilston tends to suit families with children and couples, while Nerang suits people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Gilston carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 75/100)
  • Nerang has more parks and reserves (32 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Gilston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($770,000 vs $1,415,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 28%)
  • But Nerang has cheaper houses ($1,029,000 vs $1,325,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nerang

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($390/wk vs $540/wk)
  • But Gilston leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Nerang

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (74.1 km vs 76.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Nerang

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (39% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 10%)
  • But Gilston carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 75/100)

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 1.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Gilston and Nerang 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 Nerang
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 Nerang
Walkability 23 / 17
Gilston — Walkability: 23/100 Nerang — Walkability: 17/100
Safety 68 / 25
Gilston — Safety: 68/100 Nerang — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 45
Gilston — Low fire risk: 100/100 Nerang — Low fire risk: 45/100

Demographics

Nerang has more residents (17,048 vs 2,669); Gilston has higher household incomes ($127,192 vs $73,996).

Gilston Nerang
Population 2,669 17,048
+539% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.5% +1.1%
Median age 35 40
Median household income $127,192/yr
+42% vs other
 $73,996/yr
Median weekly rent $540/wk
+28% vs other
 $390/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Gilston Nerang
0-4 7.3% / 5.3%
Gilston — 0-4: 7.3% Nerang — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 18.2% / 11.9%
Gilston — 5-14: 18.2% Nerang — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 6.4% / 5.7%
Gilston — 15-19: 6.4% Nerang — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 4.0% / 5.8%
Gilston — 20-24: 4.0% Nerang — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 13.3% / 13.4%
Gilston — 25-34: 13.3% Nerang — 25-34: 13.4%
35-44 17.3% / 13.0%
Gilston — 35-44: 17.3% Nerang — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 14.3% / 13.1%
Gilston — 45-54: 14.3% Nerang — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 9.3% / 12.0%
Gilston — 55-64: 9.3% Nerang — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 6.5% / 10.4%
Gilston — 65-74: 6.5% Nerang — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 2.7% / 6.7%
Gilston — 75-84: 2.7% Nerang — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 0.4% / 2.9%
Gilston — 85+: 0.4% Nerang — 85+: 2.9%

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%
Nerang 35.0% couple families
Nerang — Couple Families: 35.0% Nerang — Lone Person: 36.8% Nerang — One Parent Families: 20.5% Nerang — Group Household: 6.0% Nerang — Other Families: 1.7%
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%
Nerang 33.2% renting
Nerang — Owned Outright: 25.9% Nerang — Mortgage: 40.9% Nerang — Renting: 33.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Gilston Nerang
Certificate III & IV 18.1% / 18.9%
Gilston — Certificate III & IV: 18.1% Nerang — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 10.6% / 8.4%
Gilston — Bachelor Degree: 10.6% Nerang — Bachelor Degree: 8.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 8.4%
Gilston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Nerang — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 2.3%
Gilston — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Nerang — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.3%
Gilston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Nerang — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

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 Nerang
New Zealand 5.9% / 7.6%
Gilston — New Zealand: 5.9% Nerang — New Zealand: 7.6%
England 4.7% / 4.4%
Gilston — England: 4.7% Nerang — England: 4.4%
India 0.4% / 1.8%
Gilston — India: 0.4% Nerang — India: 1.8%
South Africa 1.0% / 0.7%
Gilston — South Africa: 1.0% Nerang — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.6%
Gilston — Scotland: 1.0% Nerang — Scotland: 0.6%
Japan 0.6% / 0.6%
Gilston — Japan: 0.6% Nerang — Japan: 0.6%
Philippines — / 0.9%
Gilston — Philippines: not among its largest Nerang — Philippines: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Gilston 95.9% houses
Gilston — Houses: 95.9% Gilston — Townhouses: 3.1% Gilston — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Nerang 61.4% houses
Nerang — Houses: 61.4% Nerang — Townhouses: 23.1% Nerang — Flats / Apartments: 15.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Gilston Nerang
Median house price $1,325,000 $1,029,000
Median unit price — $701,053
Median land price $770,000 $1,415,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 15 sales
 25 days
from 159 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 Nerang
4 bed $1.25M / $1.11M
Gilston — 4 bed: $1.25M (22 sales) Nerang — 4 bed: $1.11M (79 sales)

22 vs 79 sales

5 bed $1.41M / $1.59M
Gilston — 5 bed: $1.41M (5 sales) Nerang — 5 bed: $1.59M (28 sales)

5 vs 28 sales

Development activity

Gilston Nerang
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 Nerang
Houses 4.5%
$1,025/wk on $1.18M
 4.6%
$850/wk on $970K
Units — 4.8%
$725/wk on $790K

Ranking within QLD

Gilston Nerang
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 44% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 13% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 77% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 84% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 64% of QLD

Liveability

Gilston scores higher overall (73 vs 27).

Gilston Nerang
Grade A D
Score 73/100 27/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Nerang carries more bushfire risk (55 vs 0); Nerang carries more crime risk (75 vs 32).

Gilston Nerang
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
55/100
Crime Low
32/100
 High
75/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Gilston Nerang
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Gold Coast campus, 9.8 km
 1
Gold Coast, 8.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.3% 1.2%

Schools in Gilston

  • Gilston State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Nerang

  • Nerang State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Nerang State School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Brigid's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Mastery Schools Australia Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Gilston Nerang
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 9
Parks & reserves 1 32
Childcare 2 13
GPs 0 7
Pharmacies 0 7
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 6 13

Mobility

Gilston sits further from the CBD (76.2 km vs 74.1 km).

Gilston Nerang
Walkability score 23/100 17/100
Distance to Brisbane 76.2 km
+3% vs other
 74.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 60 min 59 min
Public transport score 31/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 5.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 138.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 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 Nerang
Car (driver) 78.5% / 80.1%
Gilston — Car (driver): 78.5% Nerang — Car (driver): 80.1%
Worked from Home 16.5% / 11.6%
Gilston — Worked from Home: 16.5% Nerang — Worked from Home: 11.6%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.4%
Gilston — Car (passenger): 3.7% Nerang — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.3%
Gilston — Walked Only: 0.7% Nerang — Walked Only: 1.3%
Train 0.7% / 1.2%
Gilston — Train: 0.7% Nerang — Train: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.1%).

Setting

Gilston Nerang
Elevation 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.8 km 10.0 km

NBN connectivity

Gilston Nerang
Connectivity score 82/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 70%
794 premises
 10%
8,658 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Gilston Nerang
Division Wright
same for both
Member Scott Buchholz
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Gilston Nerang
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

Nerang

Parks Regional Centre River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Gilston

Gilston vs Highland Park Gilston vs Worongary Gilston vs Tallai Gilston vs Advancetown

Other comparisons with Nerang

Nerang vs Pacific Pines Nerang vs Carrara Nerang vs Ashmore Nerang vs Maudsland Nerang vs Highland Park Nerang vs Molendinar
Full data on Gilston Full data on Nerang
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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