Moving to Gilston QLD 4211
What the official numbers say about living in Gilston — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $540 a week, against a median household income of $2,446 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Gilston grew 84% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,449 → 2,669 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, England, Scotland; most spoken languages besides English: French, Japanese, Russian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Gilston sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 9 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (83% of workers), while 17% work from home.
Nearest train station: Nerang, 5 km north-east.
Nearest airport: Southport Flying Club, 12.6 km north-east.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 68 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 8 schools · 1 cafe or restaurant · 1 supermarket · 16 parks — see them all on the Gilston profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Gilston State School 1.8 km · William Duncan State School 2.4 km · St. Brigid's Primary School 2.8 km · Worongary State School 3.1 km · Nerang State High School 3.1 km · Silkwood Independent School 3.1 km · Nerang State School 4.7 km · Australian International Islamic College 5 km
Groceries: IGA 2.5 km
Parks and reserves: Kincaid Park 1.7 km · HIghland Park Reserve 1.9 km · Terry & Carol Moore Park 2.3 km · Waterbird Habitat 2.4 km · Natural Bushland Park 2.4 km · Winchester Drive Reserve 2.4 km · Lorikeet Park 2.5 km · Explorers Way Linear Park 2.5 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Gilston, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Torresian Crow · Noisy Miner · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Australian Magpie · Laughing Kookaburra.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Gilston, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilston here | 2,669 | — | 9/10 | 46% |
| Highland Park | 6,576 | — | 6/10 | 26% |
| Nerang | 17,048 | — | 3/10 | 67% |
| Worongary | 6,021 | — | 7/10 | 44% |
| Tallai | 4,465 | — | 9/10 | 53% |
| Carrara | 13,138 | — | 6/10 | 19% |
| Merrimac | 7,212 | — | 5/10 | 16% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Gold Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Wright — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4211 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Gilston profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $540 a week.
The population grew 84% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,449 people to 2,669. It sits about 68 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Nerang station is roughly 5 km away. Local government is Gold Coast council, and the federal seat is Wright.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Gilston vs Highland Park · Gilston vs Worongary.
Nearby guides: Highland Park · Nerang · Worongary · Tallai · Carrara · Merrimac.
Keep an eye on Gilston
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