Varsity Lakes QLD 4227
Varsity Lakes sits 86 km from Brisbane CBD in Queensland, around 1 hour 5 minutes by car. Census data records 16,493 residents with a median age of 36 and a median household income of $85,592 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the top 40% nationally. Population grew 9.8% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $490 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,842. The area shows no recorded bushfire exposure. 4 schools sit within the suburb boundary, and walkability is moderate.
Is Varsity Lakes a good suburb?
Varsity Lakes scores a B (55/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on transit and community, weaker on schools.
Trailing peer schools
4 schools
Very walkable
Walkability 69/100 · 86 km · 67 min drive to Brisbane
Median available
Median $1.31M
Moderate crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 59/100
Advantaged
SEIFA decile 7/10 · median age 36 · 16,493 residents
Liveability Rating
55 / 100 · Ranked #425 in QLDEach bar is Varsity Lakes's rank among QLD suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better).
How do you rate the liveability in Varsity Lakes?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
55 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataVarsity Lakes's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $1.31 million, about 8% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$1,310,000
7% below its 5 neighbours (median $1,410,000)
Based on 230 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 22 days — median across 121 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 7 sales $950K
- 3 bed 113 sales $1.19M
- 4 bed 94 sales $1.43M
- 5 bed 13 sales $1.73M
Units
$820,000
9% below its 5 neighbours (median $900,000)
Based on 217 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 22 days — median across 118 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 1 bed 44 sales $680K
- 2 bed 120 sales $828K
- 3 bed 42 sales $922K
- 4 bed 9 sales $1.27M
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Varsity Lakes are currently listed at around $1.08 million on average. Based on 70 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$1.08M
70 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$899K
48 units listed in the last 6 months.
118 of the suburb's 6,215 dwellings (1.9%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Varsity Lakes rent for around $950 a week on average, based on 67 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$950/wk
In line with its 5 neighbours (median $960/wk)
67 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$795/wk
26% below its 3 neighbours (median $1,075/wk)
54 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
121 rentals advertised against an estimated 2,753 rented homes (4.4%) in the last 6 months.
Rent agreed on new leases
Jul–Sep 2026- 3-bed houses
- $950/wk
- 21 bonds
- +58% since 2021
- 2-bed units
- $820/wk
- 74 bonds
- +55% since 2021
Median weekly rent on bonds lodged for new tenancies. Change since 2021 compares the median of the first four quarters with the last four. Asking rents above come from advertised listings.
Rental affordability
June quarter 202576 Severely unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 39% of its income on the median rent in postcode 4227.
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$950/week ($49,000 a year) on a $1.08 million median
$795/week ($41,000 a year) on a $899,000 median
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 Varsity Lakes safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Varsity Lakes sits in the moderate band, with 154 incidents recorded in 2025 — down roughly 12% on the prior year.
154 offences
12.5% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–202445 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 2 of them fatal
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
Four schools serve Varsity Lakes, and performance is broadly on par with peer-suburb schools.
- • 3,304 students in one school (avg 3,304)
- • Sectors: 3 Independent, 1 Government
- • Largest: Varsity College (3,304 students)
Secondary
Combined
Universities nearby
3.6% 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
Varsity Lakes is somewhat walkable on foot — at 69/100, a short cluster of errands work on foot but most trips still benefit from a car. Within the suburb there are 3 supermarkets, 39 parks and 14 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Varsity Lakes.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 142.8 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 124.4 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 121.4 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 0 min
- Span of service
- 22.0 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 Varsity Lakes.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 30%
- Premises covered
- 6,705
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 34 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 7 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Varsity Lakes is home to about 16,500 residents, with a median age of 36, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $86,000 a year, with unemployment at 4.9%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
16,493
Median Age
36
Median Household Income
$85,592/yr
Census Median Rent
$490/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,842/mo
Avg Household Size
2.5
Median Personal Income
$41,028/yr
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Unoccupied Dwellings
5.1%
Total Dwellings
6,215
Owner-Occupier Rate
55.7%
Houses
42.6%
Rental Stress
29.8%
Mortgage Stress
25.8%
Work From Home
16.3%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
226 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 25 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 2,691 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 61.9%
- English Spoken at Home
- 73.8%
- Employment Rate
- 63.1%
- Completed Year 12
- 51.1%
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.
1,126 residents (6.8%) 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.
9.6% of residents (1,494) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Sydney (546).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 15,611 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
2% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (206 of 8,499).
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 7,122 people work here; 8,499 employed residents live here.
Roughly as many jobs as working residents (0.8 per resident). At least 16% 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: 658 to 2,800 homes
- Within 2 years 202 to 1,000 homes
- In 2 to 5 years 456 to 1,800 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (8 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
CLEANPM2.5 averaged 4.9 µg/m³ in 2025 — below the WHO 2021 annual guideline (5 µg/m³).
PM10 averaged 14.3 µg/m³ · NO₂ averaged 0.43 pphm. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 0 · NO₂ 0 · ozone 0.
From the Southport (Gold Coast, South East Queensland) monitoring station, 14.2 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Coolangatta, 12.8 kmHigh rainfall — mild summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 10 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 3.9 km
- 3.9 km to a named beach
- Near high-voltage lines
- 3.3% of addresses
- 285 within 100 m of an overhead line of 110 kV or more
- Annual rainfall
- 1,637 mm
- 113 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 28.6°C
- 0 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 10.5°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
8 facilities within 5 km- 1.7 kmBread Manufacturing (Factory based)Top reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Ethanol · Oxides of Nitrogen
- 1.9 kmPetroleum Product WholesalingTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds
- 2.3 kmOther Electricity GenerationTop reported: Carbon monoxide · Oxides of Nitrogen · Sulfur dioxide
- 2.3 kmWaste Treatment and Disposal ServicesTop reported: Chlorine & compounds · Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Ammonia (total)
- 2.4 km
EV adoption
In postcode 4227, 299 of 18,885 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 3.4% (647 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 5.0%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4227, 4,505 rooftop-solar systems totalling 29.0 MW have been installed since 2001, against 8,927 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 253 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
17 mortgage brokers are registered in this suburb, 21 across postcode 4227.
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 $1,310,000 this is $560,000 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 Leon Rebello Liberal National Party of Queensland
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Leon Rebello | 45.6% | 54.4% | +4.9 |
| 2022 | Karen Andrews | 40.7% | 59.3% | -2.9 |
| 2019 | Karen Andrews | 37.8% | 62.2% | +0.6 |
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 Hermann Vorster Liberal National Party of Queensland
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hermann Vorster LNP | 62.8% |
| 2020 | Michael Hart LNP | 51.2% |
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 Varsity Lakes?
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 16,493 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 Gold Coast suburbs where the most Cantonese is spoken at home
- #2 in Best Gold Coast suburbs for good private high schools
- #4 in Where the Chinese community lives in Gold Coast
- #5 in Best Gold Coast suburbs for first-home buyers (houses)
- #5 in Gold Coast suburbs where the most Greek is spoken at home
- #5 in Gold Coast suburbs where the most Mandarin is spoken at home
- #5 in Gold Coast suburbs where 3-bedroom house rents rose most
- #6 in Gold Coast suburbs with the highest EV adoption today
- #7 in Gold Coast suburbs with the fastest EV adoption growth
- #7 in Highest-yielding Gold Coast suburbs (houses)
- #7 in Gold Coast suburbs where the most Spanish is spoken at home
- #7 in Gold Coast suburbs where the most Vietnamese is spoken at home
- #8 in Gold Coast suburbs where the most Arabic is spoken at home
- #8 in Gold Coast suburbs with the deepest rental markets
- #9 in Gold Coast's most educated suburbs
- #9 in Gold Coast suburbs that suit young professionals
- #10 in Where the Korean community lives in Gold Coast
- #10 in Gold Coast suburbs where the most Korean is spoken at home
- #11 in Gold Coast suburbs with the best public transport
- #12 in Gold Coast suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021
- #12 in Gold Coast suburbs where the most Italian is spoken at home
- #13 in Best Gold Coast suburbs for first-home buyers (units)
- #14 in Gold Coast suburbs where the most people cycle to work
- #14 in Gold Coast suburbs with the most parkland nearby
- #14 in Most walkable suburbs in Gold Coast
- #15 in Gold Coast suburbs with the most apartments
- #15 in Highest-yielding Gold Coast suburbs (units)
- #15 in Gold Coast suburbs with the largest non-religious population
Nearby suburbs
Compare Varsity Lakes to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other QLD suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about Varsity Lakes
Is Varsity Lakes a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Varsity Lakes is moderate (59/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Varsity Lakes?
Varsity Lakes has no recorded bushfire history. These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Varsity Lakes a good place to live?
Varsity Lakes has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of B (55/100), 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 Varsity Lakes?
Varsity Lakes, QLD had a population of 16,493 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Varsity Lakes, QLD?
The postcode for Varsity Lakes, QLD is 4227.
How far is Varsity Lakes from Brisbane?
Varsity Lakes is 86 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 67 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Varsity Lakes?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Varsity Lakes was $85,592 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 Varsity Lakes?
The median advertised rent in Varsity Lakes is $950 a week for houses (67 listings) and $795 a week for units (54 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Varsity Lakes?
The median age of residents in Varsity Lakes was 36 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Varsity Lakes?
There are 4 schools inside the Varsity Lakes boundary: 1 at similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Varsity Lakes walkable?
Varsity Lakes scores 69/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it somewhat walkable. 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 Varsity Lakes?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Varsity Lakes (Southport (Gold Coast, South East Queensland)) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 4.9 µg/m³ and PM10 of 14.3 µg/m³. That puts Varsity Lakes below the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Varsity Lakes?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Varsity Lakes, Coolangatta (12.8 km away), summer days average 28.6°C, winter nights 10.5°C, 1,637 mm of rain a year over 113 rainy days, and 0 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Varsity Lakes?
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 Varsity Lakes belong to?
Varsity Lakes 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 Varsity Lakes?
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 Varsity Lakes?
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 Varsity Lakes in?
Varsity Lakes sits within the federal Division of McPherson, currently held by Leon Rebello (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.