Gaven

An assessment of population growth drivers in Gaven reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Gaven's population is estimated at around 1,702 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 64 people (3.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,638 people in the suburb of Gaven. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,702, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS on June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 237 persons per square kilometer in Gaven. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 52.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Looking at population projections moving forward, lower quartile growth of non-metropolitan areas nationally is anticipated, with the suburb of Gaven expected to increase by 44 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 2.6% in total over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Gaven according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Gaven experienced very limited development activity, averaging less than one approval per year over the five-year period from 2016 to 2020. This resulted in only two dwellings being constructed during this time. Such low levels of development are typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is naturally restricted by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

It should be noted that the small sample size means individual development projects can significantly influence annual growth and relative statistics. Gaven exhibited notably less construction activity compared to the Rest of Qld during this period. The development pattern in Gaven was also well below national averages for the same years.

Gaven has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 27 projects likely affecting this region. Notable initiatives include Gold Coast Rail Stations at Pimpama (due Aug '23), Hope Island (Aug '23), Merrimac (Jul '24), Arundel Hills Country Club Redevelopment (scheduled completion Jun '25), 2 Uplands Drive Aged Care Facility (opening Apr '24), and Coomera Connector Stage 1 - Central Section (commencement Feb '23). The following list details projects likely most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market in Gaven shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Gaven has a balanced workforce with representation across white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector stands out with an unemployment rate of 3.0% and estimated employment growth of 2.3% over the past year. As of December 2025, 1,017 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.1% lower than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Gaven is higher at 70.1%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. According to Census responses, 16.6% of residents work from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include construction, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Construction is notably concentrated with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

However, education & training is under-represented with only 5.3% of Gaven's workforce compared to 9.1% in Regional Qld. Some residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 2.3% while labour force grew by 2.1%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Qld recorded employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 1.0%, and an increase in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Gaven. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Gaven's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023, Gaven's median income among taxpayers is $43,540. The average income in the suburb is $52,946. Both figures are below the national average. In comparison, Regional Queensland has a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Gaven would be approximately $48,486 (median) and $58,961 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, Gaven's household income ranks at the 66th percentile ($2,015 weekly), while personal income is at the 31st percentile. The majority of residents, 32.2%, fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket (548 people). This mirrors the broader area where 31.7% of residents occupy this bracket. Economic strength in Gaven is evident with 30.4% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 66th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Gaven is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Gaven, as per the latest Census, consisted of 99.2% houses and 0.8% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Regional Queensland's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gaven stood at 34.4%, mirroring Regional Queensland's rate. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (52.7%) or rented (12.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, exceeding Regional Queensland's average of $1,655. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure for Gaven was recorded at $455, compared to Regional Queensland's $345. Nationally, Gaven's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Gaven features high concentrations of family households and group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 84.8% of all households, including 39.7% couples with children, 30.5% couples without children, and 12.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 15.2%, with lone person households at 11.8% and group households comprising 4.0%. The median household size is 3.1 people, larger than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Gaven exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 15.8%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 33.1%. Educational participation is high, with 25.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.5% in secondary education, 8.2% in primary education, and 4.3% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis shows two active stops operating within Gaven, both serving buses. These stops are served by two routes in total, providing 200 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 736 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 2.5 per dwelling, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, some 16.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 28 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 100 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Gaven is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Gaven shows above-average health outcomes, according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are relatively low among the general population but higher than the national average in older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is found to be very low, with approximately 48% of the total population (~820 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.6 and 7.2% of residents respectively, while 68.3% claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Health outcomes for the under-65 population are better than average. The area has 20.2% of residents aged 65 and over (343 people), which ranks lower nationally than the broader population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Gaven records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Gaven's population was found to align closely with the broader regional average in terms of cultural diversity, with 75.7% born in Australia, 86.3% being citizens, and 93.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was identified as the predominant religion in Gaven, accounting for 48.9% of its population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. The top three ancestry groups in Gaven were English (31.9%), Australian (26.2%), and Irish (8.5%).

Notably, New Zealanders were overrepresented at 3.3%, Maori at 2.2%, and Dutch at 1.8%, compared to the regional averages of 0.9%, 0.8%, and 1.1% respectively.

Gaven hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Gaven has a median age of 45, which is higher than Regional Queensland's figure of 41 and well above the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 17.4% of the population, while those aged 5-14 make up a smaller proportion at 8.2%, compared to Regional Queensland. This concentration of those aged 55-64 is higher than the national average of 11.2%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of those aged 15-24 has grown from 13.7% to 15.3%, while the proportion of those aged 5-14 has declined from 10.3% to 8.2%. Additionally, the proportion of those aged 45-54 has decreased from 16.1% to 15.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Gaven's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 19%, reaching 199 people from 166 currently. The combined age groups of 65 and above are projected to account for 59% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the age groups of 5-14 and 55-64 are expected to experience population declines.