QLD · Gold Coast Council

Highland Park, 4211

Est. population · Jun 2025

8,912

Growth (1 yr)

+0.4%

Growth (5 yr)

+3.9%

Median age

42

Median income

$1,609/wk

Employment rate

59.2%

Languages at home

10.3%non-English

Most common: Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

55.6/100
Good

Top 23% of Queensland's suburbs

Verified 85% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • High desirability
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
  • Café precinct
What Highland Park is known for: High desirability, Excellent transport, Education hub, Café precinct

Suburb profile

Highland Park is a well-connected mid-sized suburb in Gold Coast Council with everyday amenities close at hand. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips.

Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Daily life works well on foot, with buses also serving the suburb. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.

Crime reports are up on the previous period. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.

The desirability picture is good, powered mainly by schools and education, plus community and employment relative to similar metro suburbs.

At a glance

Highland Park snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

$850/wk

Population (ERP)

8,912

+0.4% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

3.8%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#133

among Metro Brisbane · Established

Safety

35th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

26th

percentile in QLD

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

35th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
55.6/100 — Good
State standing
Top 23% of Queensland's suburbs
National rank
1486th in Australia
State rank
337th in QLD
Peer rank
#133 among Metro Brisbane · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#205 among Metro Brisbane suburbs
Data confidence
85%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (Mar 2026)
$850

Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)

Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

8,912(June 2025)

+0.4% annual · +3.9% over 5 years · 26th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.4%
5-year growth
+3.9%
Change in 1 year
+34
Change in 5 years
+334
Growth rank in QLD
26th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~9,000), extrapolated at +0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
6,576
Median age
42
Median household income / week
$1,609
Dwelling vacancy
3.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
94 of 2,466
Median monthly mortgage
$1,800
Employment rate
59.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,016 / 111 / 242

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Community & culture

No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2026 to Aug 2026)
317
Against the person
43
Against property
168
Rate per 1,000 residents
35.6
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 153 residents
State safety percentile
35.1th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate, partial year)
+17.9%

Most common offence types

  • Assault169
  • Drug Offences507
  • Other Property Damage185
  • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)772
  • Traffic And Related Offences245

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • QPS Online Crime MapQueensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Aug 2026; Jan 2026 to Aug 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
3
Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
975
Median ICSEA percentile
35th
School list
  • William Duncan State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 975 · 35th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 580 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 0.3 km awayView on My School →
  • Worongary State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 994 · 44th percentile · LBOTE 14% · 508 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
  • Nerang State High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 970 · 33th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 998 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • Goodstart Early Learning NerangAlexander Drivechildcare
  • Little School Highland Parkkindergarten
  • kindergartenkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

12 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Alexander Dr at Kahlua Court
  • Alexander Dr at Sue Court
  • Explorers Way at Garvie Place
  • William Duncan Primary School
  • William Duncan Primary School

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

56 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 restaurants · 1 pubs · 1 bars · 1 supermarkets · 2 pharmacies · 3 fast food · 1 playgrounds · 2 petrol stations

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Highly walkable for everyday errands
  • Great for outdoor family life13 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access12 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
70/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.91
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.98
Food & drink(6)
  • Pagliacci Cucina & BarBar
  • Hungry Jack'sFast food
  • KFCFast food
  • McDonald'sFast food
  • Highland Park TavernPub

    Unit 1 106 Alexander Drive, Highland Park

  • Highland Court Chinese RestaurantRestaurant
Shopping(4)
  • Convenience store
  • IGASupermarket
Community(4)
  • Goodstart Early Learning NerangChildcare

    91-93 Alexander Drive, Highland Park

  • Kindergarten
  • Little School Highland ParkKindergarten
  • William Duncan State SchoolSchool

    114-136 Alexander Drive, Highland Park

Health & services(3)
  • Coolangatta Dental GroupDentist

    1 Barossa Street, Highland Park

  • ChemproPharmacy

    Unit 304 106 Alexander Drive

  • Highland Park Chempro ChemistPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(12)
  • Explorers Way Northern Linear ParkPark
  • Fred Cass Family ParkPark
  • HIghland Park ReservePark
  • Kincaid ParkPark
  • Natural Bushland ParkPark
  • Park (4)
  • Waterbird HabitatPark
  • Playground
  • Sports field
Transport(10)

10 bus stops

Other(13)
  • Liquor LegendsAlcohol
  • Hinterland ToyotaCar
  • Pete's AutocareCar repair
  • Safari's Florist GiftshopFlorist
  • Welcome to Highland ParkInformation
  • Laundry
  • Mall
  • Highland Park Shopping PlazaParking
  • Parking (7)
  • PetbarnPet
  • BPPetrol station
  • BP Highland ParkPetrol station
  • TelstraTelephone

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

8 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Explorers Way Northern Linear ParkPark
  • Fred Cass Family ParkPark
  • HIghland Park ReservePark
  • Kincaid ParkPark
  • Natural Bushland ParkPark
  • Waterbird HabitatPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
13
Parks (OSM)
13

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
2
Nearest hospital
Pindara Private Hospital (6.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
  • ChemproAlexander DrivePharmacy
  • Coolangatta Dental GroupBarossa StreetDentist

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
270
Participants per 1,000 residents
30.3

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
28° / 18°
Rainfall
493 mm · ~62 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
25° / 14°
Rainfall
343 mm · ~43 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
20° / 7°
Rainfall
144 mm · ~18 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
25° / 12°
Rainfall
249 mm · ~31 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Moncrieff
Member of Parliament
Angie BELL (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
125,713
Turnout (2025)
85.7%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+2.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 58.8%Labor 41.2%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 5.8 km away).

Coalition 50.5%Labor 49.5%

8.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +4.4 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Nerang SouthLabor 49.5% · Coalition 50.5% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
  • WorongaryLabor 53.4% · Coalition 46.6% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
  • Nerang West (Moncrieff)Labor 51.4% · Coalition 48.6% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
  • Nerang EastLabor 40.3% · Coalition 59.7% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
  • CarraraLabor 42.9% · Coalition 57.1% TPP (2025)3.6 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
6/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Gold Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.

Highland Park, QLD 4211 profile | Suburb Guide