Gilston

Gilston lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Gilston's population is estimated at around 2,966 as of Feb 2026, reflecting an increase of 297 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,669. This growth represents an 11.1% increase and is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 2,951 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024, along with validation of 48 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 229 persons per square kilometer. Gilston's growth exceeded both Rest of Qld (9.1%) and the national average during this period. Overseas migration contributed approximately 60.0% of overall population gains. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections for years post-2032 based on 2021 data.

For areas not covered by this data, proportional growth weightings are applied in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Demographic trends project an above median population growth for non-metropolitan areas, with Gilston expected to expand by 586 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 19.0% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Gilston recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates Gilston averaged around 15 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 75 homes. So far in FY26, 5 approvals have been recorded. This averages to approximately 1 person moving to the area for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, suggesting balanced supply and demand dynamics. The average construction cost value of new homes is $647,000, indicating a focus on premium properties.

In FY26, $9.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, showing steady commercial investment activity. New building activity comprises 79.0% detached houses and 21.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Gilston's low density character while reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for diverse housing options. The location has approximately 154 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market with future projections estimating an addition of 564 residents by 2041.

Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potential growth exceeding forecasts.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects expected to impact the region. Notable initiatives include Serenity Estate, Hinkler Drive Retail Showroom Complex, Mooyumbin Creek Riparian Restoration, and Highland Park Investigation Area. The following list details those likely most relevant.

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

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Gilston ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Gilston has a skilled workforce with notable representation in the construction sector. Its unemployment rate was 2.7% as of September 2025. The area saw an estimated employment growth of 2.9% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 1,708 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4% below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Gilston was 77.7%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. A moderate 15.9% of residents worked from home, as per Census responses. Key industries for employment among residents were construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Construction employed 1.6 times the regional average. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employed just 0.8% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 4.5%. Many Gilston residents commute elsewhere for work, based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 2.9%, while labour force increased by 2.9%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 3.4%. This contrasts with Rest of Qld, where employment grew by 1.7%, labour force expanded by 2.1%, and unemployment rose to 4.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Gilston. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Gilston's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Gilston has an above average income level nationally according to AreaSearch data from the ATO for the financial year ended June 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Gilston was $63,877 and the average income stood at $77,850. This compares to figures for the rest of Queensland which were $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth since June 2023, current estimates suggest Gilston's median income is approximately $70,207 and average income is around $85,565 as of September 2025. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household incomes in Gilston rank at the 89th percentile with a weekly income of $2,446. The earnings profile shows that 43.3% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week, consistent with broader trends across the area where 31.7% fall into this category. Higher earners represent a significant portion at 31.1%, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 16.5% of income but despite this, disposable income ranks at the 87th percentile and the suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Gilston is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Gilston's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.8% houses and 3.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gilston was at 20.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 62.5% and rented ones at 16.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Gilston was $2,172, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Weekly rent figure in Gilston was recorded at $540, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Gilston's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 90.8% of all households, consisting of 53.1% couples with children, 25.8% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 9.2%, with lone person households at 7.3% and group households comprising 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

Gilston's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks, with 22.3% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. Among Gilston residents with higher education, bachelor degrees are most common at 15.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 44.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications. Advanced diplomas account for 13.1% while certificates make up 31.2%.

Educational participation is high in Gilston, with 33.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.7% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Gilston has seven active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by one route in total, offering 80 weekly passenger trips combined. The area's transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents living an average of 478 meters from the nearest stop. Gilston, being predominantly residential, sees most residents commuting outwards, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 97%. On average, there are 2.2 vehicles per dwelling, surpassing the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 15.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 11 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

Gilston's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Gilston. AreaSearch's assessment indicates low prevalence of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~1,721 people), compared to 52.5% across Rest of Qld. The most common medical conditions in Gilston are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 8.4 and 6.5% of residents respectively. A total of 74.3% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Rest of Qld. Working-age residents show notably healthy outcomes with low chronic condition prevalence. Gilston has 11.3% of residents aged 65 and over (335 people), lower than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Gilston ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Gilston's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.8% of its population being Australian citizens and 79.1% born in Australia. The majority, 93.7%, spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 46.7% of Gilston's population.

However, Judaism was notably overrepresented at 0.3%, compared to 0.1% across the rest of Queensland. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.9%), Australian (27.6%), and Scottish (8.2%). Some ethnic groups showed notable divergences: New Zealanders comprised 2.2% of Gilston's population versus 0.9% regionally, Hungarians made up 0.6% compared to 0.2%, and Russians accounted for 0.7% versus 0.2%.

Gilston's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Gilston is 35 years, which is lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 and under the national average of 38. Compared to Rest of Qld, the 35-44 cohort is over-represented at 17.8% locally, while the 65-74 age group is under-represented at 6.7%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15-24 age group grew from 10.4% to 11.5%, and the 25-34 cohort increased from 13.4% to 14.5%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group declined from 18.3% to 16.4%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 14.4% to 12.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Gilston. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 37 people, reaching 590 from 430. However, the 15-24 age group is expected to contract by 1 resident.