Gilston sits 76 km from Brisbane CBD in Queensland, around 1 hour by car. Census data records 2,669 residents with a median age of 35 and a median household income of $127,192 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the top 20% nationally. The suburb grew 8.5% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $540 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $2,172. Gilston is characterised by no recorded bushfire exposure. 1 school sits within the suburb boundary, and walkability is low.
Is Gilston a good suburb?
Gilston scores a A (73/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on safety and community, weaker on transit.
Mixed results
1 school
Car-dependent
Walkability 23/100 · 76.2 km · 60 min drive to Brisbane
Median available
Median $1.32M
Low all-round risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 32/100
Very advantaged
SEIFA decile 9/10 · median age 35 · 2,669 residents
Liveability Rating
73 / 100 · Ranked #131 in QLDEach bar is Gilston's rank among QLD suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no school data, so the other factors carry its weight.
How do you rate the liveability in Gilston?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
73 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataGilston's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $1.32 million, roughly 29% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$1,325,000
10% above its 4 neighbours (median $1,200,000)
Based on 31 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 33 days — median across 15 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 4 bed 22 sales $1.25M
- 5 bed 5 sales $1.41M
Land
$770,000
Based on 29 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 29 days — median across 9 sales that recorded a listing period
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Gilston are currently listed at around $1.18 million on average, with the typical listing on the market for 2 days. Based on 5 houses listed in the past six months.
$1.18M
5 houses listed in the last 6 months — typical time on market 2 days.
5 of the suburb's 797 dwellings (0.6%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Gilston rent for around $1,025 a week on average, based on 4 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
$1,025/wk
4 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
4 rentals advertised against an estimated 130 rented homes (3.1%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 202579 Severely unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 38% of its income on the median rent in postcode 4211.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$1,025/week ($53,000 a year) on a $1.18 million median
Based on a small sample (4 listings) — indicative only.
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Is Gilston safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Gilston sits in the low band, with 12 incidents recorded in 2025 — down roughly 40% on the prior year.
12 offences
40.0% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–20249 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the suburb carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
One school serve Gilston, and performance is broadly on par with peer-suburb schools.
- • 484 students in one school (avg 484)
Primary
Universities nearby
1.3% of residents here are full-time university students aged 15–24.
Distance is measured to the suburb centre. A campus nearby does not by itself mean a student rental market — most suburbs within a few kilometres of one have a student share close to the national norm, and the figure above is what tells them apart.
Walkability
Gilston is very car-dependent on foot — at 23/100, nearly all errands require a car.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Gilston.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 5.2 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 4.2 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 4.2 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 2 min
- Span of service
- 11.1 hours
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Gilston.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 70%
- Premises covered
- 794
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Gold Coast: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 5 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 4 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Gilston is home to about 2,700 residents, with a median age of 35, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $127,000 a year, with unemployment at 2.7%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
2,669
Median Age
35
Median Household Income
$127,192/yr
Census Median Rent
$540/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$2,172/mo
Avg Household Size
3.2
Median Personal Income
$49,036/yr
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Unoccupied Dwellings
2.5%
Total Dwellings
797
Owner-Occupier Rate
83.7%
Houses
95.9%
Rental Stress
22.1%
Mortgage Stress
20.5%
Work From Home
16.5%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 76.2%
- English Spoken at Home
- 90.3%
- Employment Rate
- 72%
- Completed Year 12
- 44.1%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
34 residents (1.3%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
4.8% of residents (118) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Brisbane (45).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 2,474 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
3% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (45 of 1,427).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Local Jobs
People who work in this suburb against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 412 people work here; 1,427 employed residents live here.
Mostly a place people commute from: 0.3 jobs per working resident. At least 69% of employed residents must work outside the suburb.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,298 a year through Gold Coast based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Gold Coast
In the year to August 2026, 7,196 new dwellings were approved across Gold Coast. That mix is 1,146 houses and 6,050 units. Approvals are down 34.9% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this suburb: at least 1,157 homes
- Within 2 years 57 to 120 homes
- In 2 to 5 years 63 to 140 homes
- In 5 to 10 years at least 536 homes
- In 10 years or more at least 501 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (12 parcels), by when it expects lots to be registered. Yields are published in ranges, so these are too.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Aboriginal party for this area is Gold Coast Native Title Group.
Under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party for an area follows native title. No native title claim is currently registered here, so the last registered claimant remains the Aboriginal party.
Air Quality
MODERATEPM2.5 averaged 5.4 µg/m³ in 2025 — below Australia's NEPM annual standard (8 µg/m³), slightly above the stricter WHO guideline (5 µg/m³).
PM10 averaged 19.3 µg/m³ · NO₂ averaged 0.91 pphm. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 4 · NO₂ 0.
From the Parkwood (Gold Coast, South East Queensland) monitoring station, 9.4 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Hinze Dam, 2.7 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 57 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 12.8 km
- Near high-voltage lines
- 1.0% of addresses
- 11 within 100 m of an overhead line of 110 kV or more
- Annual rainfall
- 1,556 mm
- 102 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 28.7°C
- 3 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 10.8°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
2 facilities within 5 km- 4.8 kmBread Manufacturing (Factory based)Top reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Ethanol · Oxides of Nitrogen
- 5.0 kmWaste Treatment and Disposal ServicesTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Carbon monoxide · Oxides of Nitrogen
EV adoption
In postcode 4211, 610 of 54,185 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.8% (1,493 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 3.9%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4211, 15,468 rooftop-solar systems totalling 100.4 MW have been installed since 2001, against 23,261 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 893 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$30,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
$30,000 for contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023, with no end date. IT DID NOT REVERT TO $15,000: the tier was due to end 30 June 2026 and the 2026-27 Queensland Budget (23 June 2026) continued it for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. This file carried a "due to revert" note until 2026-09-18 — it was never true, and a note predicting a change is not the same as a change. Cap is "less than $750,000" including land and contract variations — less than, not up to. New homes only: "There are no home owner grants for established homes."
Mortgage repayments
3 mortgage brokers are registered in this suburb, 39 across postcode 4211.
Transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with Queensland Revenue Office
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $30,000 — see what qualifies with Queensland Revenue Office.
At $1,325,000 this is $575,000 above the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $30,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with Queensland Revenue Office.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-26 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Scott Buchholz Liberal National Party of Queensland
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Scott Buchholz | 42.0% | 58.0% | +2.9 |
| 2022 | Scott Buchholz | 39.1% | 60.9% | -3.7 |
| 2019 | Scott Buchholz | 35.4% | 64.6% | +5.0 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Ros Bates Liberal National Party of Queensland
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ros Bates LNP | 63.9% |
| 2020 | Ros Bates LNP | 60.1% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2017, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this suburb's voters. Results: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Looking at a specific address in Gilston?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 2,669 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Featured in
- #2 in The safest suburbs in Gold Coast
- #3 in Gold Coast's highest-income suburbs
- #3 in The most liveable suburbs in Gold Coast
- #6 in Gold Coast suburbs with the biggest house blocks
- #6 in Gold Coast suburbs where young families live
- #12 in Gold Coast suburbs with the best NBN connectivity
- #14 in Gold Coast suburbs with the largest non-religious population
Nearby suburbs
Compare Gilston to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other QLD suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Gilston
Is Gilston a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Gilston is low (32/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Gilston?
Gilston has no recorded bushfire history. These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Gilston a good place to live?
Gilston has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of A (73/100), ranked against other QLD suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Gilston?
Gilston, QLD had a population of 2,669 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Gilston, QLD?
The postcode for Gilston, QLD is 4211.
How far is Gilston from Brisbane?
Gilston is 76 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 60 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Gilston?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Gilston was $127,192 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Gilston?
The median advertised rent in Gilston is $1,025 a week for houses (4 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Gilston?
The median age of residents in Gilston was 35 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Gilston?
There is 1 school inside the Gilston boundary: 1 at similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Gilston walkable?
Gilston scores 23/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it very car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the air quality in Gilston?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Gilston (Parkwood (Gold Coast, South East Queensland)) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 5.4 µg/m³ and PM10 of 19.3 µg/m³. That puts Gilston below the Australian NEPM annual standard of 8 µg/m³ but above the stricter WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Gilston?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Gilston, Hinze Dam (2.7 km away), summer days average 28.7°C, winter nights 10.8°C, 1,556 mm of rain a year over 102 rainy days, and 3 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Gilston?
First-home buyers in QLD may be eligible for $30,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by Queensland Revenue Office; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Gilston belong to?
Gilston sits within the Gold Coast local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Gilston?
The average residential rates bill through Gold Coast is $1,298 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Gilston?
Across Gold Coast, 7,196 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 34.9% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Gilston in?
Gilston sits within the federal Division of Wright, currently held by Scott Buchholz (Liberal National Party of Queensland).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2025–26
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2020–2024
- Air quality · 2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2024
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.