Moving to Varsity Lakes QLD 4227
What the official numbers say about living in Varsity Lakes — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $490 a week, against a median household income of $1,646 a week.
About 55% of homes are owner-occupied and 44% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Varsity Lakes grew 15% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (14,366 → 16,493 people).
Around 70% of households are families, averaging 2.5 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, England, China; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Portuguese, Japanese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Varsity Lakes scores a little above the national average (decile 7 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (78% of workers), while 16% work from home.
Nearest train station: Varsity Lakes, 1.7 km south-west.
Nearest light rail stop: Broadbeach South, 6 km north.
Nearest bus interchange: Greyhound Bus Terminal Surfers Paradise, 9.4 km north.
Nearest airport: Gold Coast Airport, 13.2 km south-east.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 78 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 22 schools · 71 cafes & restaurants · 10 supermarkets · 127 parks · 3 beaches — see them all on the Varsity Lakes profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Varsity College Junior Campus 350 m · Arcadia College 800 m · Varsity College 850 m · Varsity College Senior Campus 950 m · Australian Industry Trade College 1.9 km · Caningeraba State School 2 km · Robina State School 2 km · King's Christian College 2 km
Groceries: Aldi 200 m · IGA 900 m · Daily Asian Supermarket 950 m · Treeview Super Store 1.3 km · Ambarella Fine Foods 1.7 km · Coles 2 km · Woolworths 2.3 km · Woolworths 2.6 km
Parks and reserves: Lake Orr Parklands 200 m · Varsity Foreshore Parklands 500 m · St Clair Park 500 m · Vanderbilt Foreshore Park 600 m · Port Peyra Reserve 600 m · Lake Orr Catchment Reserve 600 m · North Shore Park 700 m · Yodelay Reserve 750 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Varsity Lakes, most often seen first: Australian White Ibis · Rainbow Lorikeet · Torresian Crow · Noisy Miner · Pied Currawong · Welcome Swallow.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Varsity Lakes, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varsity Lakes here | 16,493 | — | 7/10 | 12% |
| Burleigh Waters | 14,556 | — | 8/10 | 11% |
| Robina | 25,659 | — | 8/10 | 15% |
| Reedy Creek | 7,412 | — | 9/10 | 48% |
| Burleigh Heads | 10,572 | — | 8/10 | 32% |
| Miami | 7,445 | — | 8/10 | 14% |
| Mermaid Waters | 13,088 | — | 8/10 | 7% |
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 McPherson — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4227 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Varsity Lakes profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $490 a week, and about 44% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 15% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 14,366 people to 16,493. It sits about 78 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Varsity Lakes station is roughly 1.7 km away. Local government is Gold Coast council, and the federal seat is McPherson.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Varsity Lakes vs Burleigh Waters · Varsity Lakes vs Robina.
Nearby guides: Burleigh Waters · Robina · Reedy Creek · Burleigh Heads · Miami · Mermaid Waters.
Keep an eye on Varsity Lakes
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