Moving to Runaway Bay QLD 4216
What the official numbers say about living in Runaway Bay — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $435 a week, against a median household income of $1,382 a week.
About 72% of homes are owner-occupied and 25% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Runaway Bay grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (8,912 → 9,308 people).
Around 68% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, England, China; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Runaway Bay scores a little above the national average (decile 7 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (76% of workers), while 21% work from home.
Nearest train station: Helensvale, 6 km west.
Nearest light rail stop: Gold Coast University Hospital, 5.1 km south.
Nearest bus interchange: Soutport Transit Centre, 5.2 km south.
Nearest ferry wharf: Runnaway Bay, 450 m north-east.
Nearest airport: Southport Flying Club, 2.8 km west.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 62 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 10 schools · 14 cafes & restaurants · 6 supermarkets · 35 parks · 1 beach — see them all on the Runaway Bay profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: St. Francis Xavier School 1000 m · Biggera Waters State School 1.2 km · Coombabah State High School 2.3 km · Labrador State School 2.7 km · Coombabah State School 3 km · A. B. Paterson College 4.1 km · Arundel State School 4.4 km · Musgrave Hill State School 4.7 km
Groceries: Coles 500 m · Aldi 500 m · Woolworths 500 m · Woolworths 2 km · Go Go Mart Japanese Grocer 2 km · Coles 2 km
Parks and reserves: Len and Muriel Godlonton Reserve 550 m · Anglers Park 800 m · O'Connell Park 800 m · Runaway Bay Lions Park 850 m · Biggera Park 950 m · Back Street Reserve 1.1 km · Shearwater Park 1.1 km · Quota Park 1.1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Runaway Bay, most often seen first: Australian White Ibis · Noisy Miner · Torresian Crow · Rainbow Lorikeet · Welcome Swallow · Australian Pelican.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Runaway Bay, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runaway Bay here | 9,308 | — | 7/10 | 17% |
| Biggera Waters | 9,973 | — | 5/10 | 6% |
| Coombabah | 10,298 | — | 3/10 | 58% |
| Hollywell | 2,930 | — | 8/10 | 34% |
| Labrador | 18,643 | — | 3/10 | 13% |
| Paradise Point | 7,062 | — | 9/10 | 11% |
| Arundel | 11,171 | — | 6/10 | 33% |
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 Fadden — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4216 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Runaway Bay profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $435 a week, and about 25% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 8,912 people to 9,308. It sits about 62 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Helensvale station is roughly 6 km away. Local government is Gold Coast council, and the federal seat is Fadden.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Runaway Bay vs Biggera Waters · Runaway Bay vs Coombabah.
Nearby guides: Biggera Waters · Coombabah · Hollywell · Labrador · Paradise Point · Arundel.
Keep an eye on Runaway Bay
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