Gladstone Central vs West Gladstone

In Gladstone Central, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In West Gladstone, about half of households rent, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Gladstone Central tends to suit renters and people living alone.

Gladstone Central and West Gladstone are very similar in location and natural hazard exposure, both sitting around 530 km from the CBD with no bushfire or flood risk. The key differences lie in safety and investment returns. West Gladstone has a notably lower crime risk score of 89 compared to Gladstone Central's 98, which may matter if safety is a priority. For investors, West Gladstone offers a slightly better gross rental yield on houses at 5.0% versus 4.7%, though Gladstone Central edges ahead on unit yields at 5.9% versus 5.6%. West Gladstone appears the better fit for those prioritising a safer neighbourhood with solid rental returns.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

West Gladstone

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (75% vs 32%)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)
  • is already more of a family suburb (45% vs 26%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Gladstone Central

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (69% vs 45%)

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

Commuting to the city

West Gladstone

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 69/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

West Gladstone

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (8 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 69/100)
  • But Gladstone Central has more units and townhouses to downsize into (68% vs 25%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
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.

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Walkability 69 / 84
Gladstone Central — Walkability: 69/100 West Gladstone — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 2 / 11
Gladstone Central — Safety: 2/100 West Gladstone — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Gladstone Central — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Gladstone — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

West Gladstone has more residents (4,844 vs 1,550).

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Population 1,550 4,844
+213% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.2% +2.5%
Median age 39 40
Median household income $68,848/yr
same for both
Median weekly rent $240/wk
+4% vs other
 $230/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
0-4 5.7% / 5.3%
Gladstone Central — 0-4: 5.7% West Gladstone — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 7.5% / 12.2%
Gladstone Central — 5-14: 7.5% West Gladstone — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 5.4% / 5.9%
Gladstone Central — 15-19: 5.4% West Gladstone — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 8.6% / 6.6%
Gladstone Central — 20-24: 8.6% West Gladstone — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 16.8% / 13.0%
Gladstone Central — 25-34: 16.8% West Gladstone — 25-34: 13.0%
35-44 13.7% / 12.9%
Gladstone Central — 35-44: 13.7% West Gladstone — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 15.9% / 13.3%
Gladstone Central — 45-54: 15.9% West Gladstone — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 14.5% / 14.0%
Gladstone Central — 55-64: 14.5% West Gladstone — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 8.4% / 9.6%
Gladstone Central — 65-74: 8.4% West Gladstone — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 2.6% / 5.7%
Gladstone Central — 75-84: 2.6% West Gladstone — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 1.2% / 1.6%
Gladstone Central — 85+: 1.2% West Gladstone — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Gladstone Central 66.4% lone person
Gladstone Central — Lone Person: 66.4% Gladstone Central — Couple Families: 16.4% Gladstone Central — One Parent Families: 9.9% Gladstone Central — Group Household: 5.7% Gladstone Central — Other Families: 1.5%
West Gladstone 47.6% lone person
West Gladstone — Lone Person: 47.6% West Gladstone — Couple Families: 25.9% West Gladstone — One Parent Families: 18.7% West Gladstone — Group Household: 6.0% West Gladstone — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Gladstone Central 69.0% renting
Gladstone Central — Owned Outright: 16.5% Gladstone Central — Mortgage: 14.6% Gladstone Central — Renting: 69.0%
West Gladstone 45.4% renting
West Gladstone — Owned Outright: 26.3% West Gladstone — Mortgage: 28.3% West Gladstone — Renting: 45.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 20.2%
Gladstone Central — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% West Gladstone — Certificate III & IV: 20.2%
Bachelor Degree 12.6% / 8.6%
Gladstone Central — Bachelor Degree: 12.6% West Gladstone — Bachelor Degree: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.1% / 4.6%
Gladstone Central — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.1% West Gladstone — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 1.7%
Gladstone Central — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% West Gladstone — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.2%
Gladstone Central — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% West Gladstone — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

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.

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
New Zealand 3.4% / 2.9%
Gladstone Central — New Zealand: 3.4% West Gladstone — New Zealand: 2.9%
England 2.7% / 2.0%
Gladstone Central — England: 2.7% West Gladstone — England: 2.0%
India 3.2% / 1.1%
Gladstone Central — India: 3.2% West Gladstone — India: 1.1%
Philippines 2.1% / 2.0%
Gladstone Central — Philippines: 2.1% West Gladstone — Philippines: 2.0%
South Africa 1.0% / 0.5%
Gladstone Central — South Africa: 1.0% West Gladstone — South Africa: 0.5%
Germany — / 0.6%
Gladstone Central — Germany: not among its largest West Gladstone — Germany: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Gladstone Central 32.0% houses
Gladstone Central — Houses: 32.0% Gladstone Central — Flats / Apartments: 58.3% Gladstone Central — Townhouses: 9.8%
West Gladstone 74.7% houses
West Gladstone — Houses: 74.7% West Gladstone — Flats / Apartments: 20.4% West Gladstone — Townhouses: 5.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Median house price $535,000 $521,500
Median unit price $345,000
same for both
Median land price — $192,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 48 days
from 26 sales
 40 days
from 116 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.

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
2 bed $465K / $365K
Gladstone Central — 2 bed: $465K (15 sales) West Gladstone — 2 bed: $365K (19 sales)

15 vs 19 sales

3 bed $525K / $510K
Gladstone Central — 3 bed: $525K (23 sales) West Gladstone — 3 bed: $510K (141 sales)

23 vs 141 sales

4 bed $622K / $594K
Gladstone Central — 4 bed: $622K (8 sales) West Gladstone — 4 bed: $594K (73 sales)

8 vs 73 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
1 bed $310K / $242K
Gladstone Central — 1 bed: $310K (7 sales) West Gladstone — 1 bed: $242K (7 sales)

7 vs 7 sales

2 bed $345K / $300K
Gladstone Central — 2 bed: $345K (102 sales) West Gladstone — 2 bed: $300K (47 sales)

102 vs 47 sales

3 bed $390K / $411K
Gladstone Central — 3 bed: $390K (12 sales) West Gladstone — 3 bed: $411K (20 sales)

12 vs 20 sales

Development activity

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
New dwellings approved 274
across Gladstone
same for both
Approvals change year on year +132%
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.

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Houses 5.0%
$450/wk on $464K
 4.9%
$520/wk on $550K
Units 6.0%
$435/wk on $379K
 5.8%
$390/wk on $350K

Ranking within QLD

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 35% of QLD —
Schools — Higher than 30% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 35% of QLD Higher than 36% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of QLD Higher than 77% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD

Liveability

West Gladstone is more walkable (84 vs 69).

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Grade D
same for both
Score 30/100 31/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
89/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 13
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Inside the suburb 2 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Gladstone Central

  • Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Gladstone Central State School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in West Gladstone

  • Chanel College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Gladstone State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Gladstone West State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Rosella Park School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 4 2
Parks & reserves 11 14
Childcare 4 5
GPs 2 8
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Hospitals 0 3
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 3
Fuel stations 2 1
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Walkability score 69/100 84/100
Distance to Brisbane 529.5 km 530.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 371 min 372 min
Public transport score 30/100
Bus
 63/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 8.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 31.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4680
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 59
postcode 4680
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.

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Car (driver) 71.4% / 80.5%
Gladstone Central — Car (driver): 71.4% West Gladstone — Car (driver): 80.5%
Walked Only 14.1% / 6.2%
Gladstone Central — Walked Only: 14.1% West Gladstone — Walked Only: 6.2%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 6.8%
Gladstone Central — Car (passenger): 6.0% West Gladstone — Car (passenger): 6.8%
Worked from Home 6.3% / 4.7%
Gladstone Central — Worked from Home: 6.3% West Gladstone — Worked from Home: 4.7%
Bicycle 1.5% / 0.6%
Gladstone Central — Bicycle: 1.5% West Gladstone — Bicycle: 0.6%
Bus 0.7% / 1.3%
Gladstone Central — Bus: 0.7% West Gladstone — Bus: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.5%).

Setting

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 949 m 2.7 km

NBN connectivity

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Connectivity score 69/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
2,416 premises
 34%
2,937 premises

Climate

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Annual rainfall 851 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 14.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.38 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Average residential rate $2,358/yr
same for both
Council Gladstone
same for both

Federal electorate

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Division Flynn
same for both
Member Colin Boyce
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Gladstone Central West Gladstone
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Gladstone Central

Affordable Apartments Coastal Parks

West Gladstone

Affordable Coastal Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Gladstone Central

Gladstone Central vs South Gladstone Gladstone Central vs Barney Point

Other comparisons with West Gladstone

West Gladstone vs Clinton West Gladstone vs New Auckland West Gladstone vs South Gladstone West Gladstone vs Kin Kora West Gladstone vs Sun Valley
Full data on Gladstone Central Full data on West Gladstone
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or