QLD · Gold Coast Council

Parkwood, 4214

Est. population · Jun 2025

8,554

Growth (1 yr)

+0.2%

Growth (5 yr)

+1.1%

Median age

37

Median income

$2,064/wk

Employment rate

60.8%

Languages at home

17.9%non-English

Most common: Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

54.9/100
Average

Top 24% of Queensland's suburbs

Verified 85% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Excellent transport
  • High desirability
  • Education hub
What Parkwood is known for: Excellent transport, High desirability, Education hub

Suburb profile

Parkwood is a practical established suburb in Gold Coast Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. The suburb has a clear multicultural mix alongside longer-term local households.

Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, and buses and trains help with longer trips.

Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.

Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because schools and education lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment.

At a glance

Parkwood snapshot

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

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

$380/wk

Population (ERP)

8,554

+0.2% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

3.1%

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

#136

among Metro Brisbane · Established

Safety

48th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

24th

percentile in QLD

Advantage (IRSAD)

7/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

62nd

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
54.9/100 — Average
State standing
Top 24% of Queensland's suburbs
National rank
1563rd in Australia
State rank
357th in QLD
Peer rank
#136 among Metro Brisbane · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#212 among Metro Brisbane suburbs
Data confidence
85%

Data sources & freshness

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

Housing

All types (Mar 2026)
$380

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

8,554(June 2025)

+0.2% annual · +1.1% over 5 years · 24th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.2%
5-year growth
+1.1%
Change in 1 year
+14
Change in 5 years
+92
Growth rank in QLD
24th 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 (~8,650), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
8,837
Median age
37
Median household income / week
$2,064
Dwelling vacancy
3.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
88 of 2,850
Median monthly mortgage
$1,894
Employment rate
60.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,500 / 213 / 44

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)
359
Against the person
44
Against property
206
Rate per 1,000 residents
42
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 201 residents
State safety percentile
47.6th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate, partial year)
+5.7%

Most common offence types

  • Assault108
  • Drug Offences271
  • Other Property Damage109
  • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)620
  • Traffic And Related Offences180

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
1
Median school ICSEA
1,035
Median ICSEA percentile
62th
School list
  • Arundel State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1035 · 62th percentile · LBOTE 32% · 925 students · Top SEA quarter 18% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Little Scholars ParkwoodTonga Placechildcare

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

42 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Greenacre Dr at Fairview Ct
  • Greenacre Dr at Jamieson Drive
  • Greenacre Dr at Parkwood station
  • Napper Rd at Arundel Primary School
  • Olsen Ave at Southport Lawn Cemetery

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

87 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 bars · 1 supermarkets · 4 playgrounds · 1 dog parks · 1 ev charging · 1 petrol stations

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
  • Great for outdoor family life7 parks mapped in suburb, 4 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport42 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
57/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.11
Parks per 1,000 residents
0.79
Food & drink(1)
  • Parkwood TavernBar
Shopping(2)
  • Coles ExpressConvenience store
  • ColesSupermarket

    230-232 Napper Road

Health & services(1)
  • Arundel Medical CentreMedical clinic
Sport & outdoors(13)
  • Off-leash dog areaDog park
  • Parkwood International Golf CourseGolf course
  • Abbott ParkPark
  • Ballybunion ParkPark
  • Driftwood ParkPark
  • Park
  • Parkwood East ParkPark
  • Parkwood Family ParkPark
  • Playground (4)
  • Sports field
Transport(24)

23 bus stops · 1 train stations

Other(15)
  • Dan Murphy'sAlcohol

    3 Wintergreen Drive

  • Liquor BarnAlcohol

    226 Napper Road

  • Bbq
  • Bench (5)
  • Drinking water
  • Evie NetworksEV charging
  • Garden (15)
  • Arundel PlazaMall
  • Miniature Golf (2)
  • Parking (11)
  • ShellPetrol station
  • Shelter (3)
  • TranslinkTicket Validator
  • TranslinkVending machine
  • Waste Basket

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

6 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Abbott ParkPark
  • Ballybunion ParkPark
  • Driftwood ParkPark
  • Parkwood East ParkPark
  • Parkwood Family ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
12
Parks (OSM)
7

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
Emergency (1.8 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
  • Arundel Medical CentreDoctor
  • Parkwood Family PracticeClinic

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
244
Participants per 1,000 residents
28.5

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

Roadworks & transport

2 active roadworks / incidents

  • Napper Road, Parkwood northbound between Greenacre Drive and Smith Street.Napper Road10 Aug 2025 – 22 Dec 2026
  • Smith Street and Napper Road intersection.Napper Road / Smith Street05 Aug 2026 – 18 Aug 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closuresState road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated

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
Fadden
Member of Parliament
Cameron CALDWELL (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
135,733
Turnout (2025)
87.1%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+3.8 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 56.9%Labor 43.1%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 5.0 km away).

Coalition 49.7%Labor 50.3%

7.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +5.9 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • ArundelLabor 49.4% · Coalition 50.6% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
  • Arundel CentralLabor 48.1% · Coalition 51.9% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
  • Arundel EastLabor 54.1% · Coalition 45.9% TPP (2025)2.6 km away
  • Southport North (Fadden)Labor 56.0% · Coalition 44.0% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
  • LabradorLabor 57.3% · Coalition 42.7% TPP (2025)3.7 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)
7/10
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.