Arundel
Detached housing defines Arundel: 83.0% of dwellings are separate houses and apartments are only 0.9%, giving it a lower-density feel than parts of nearby Labrador and Southport. The suburb has 11,171 residents, a median age of 41, and 38.2% born overseas, which is 16.6 percentage points above the national level. It reads as a family and later-life Gold Coast suburb because larger homes dominate and the age profile sits slightly above national norms.
Population
11,171
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,682/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$578K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Arundel suits buyers seeking space because 46.5% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and another 44.5% have 3 bedrooms. Separate houses account for 83.0% of dwellings, far above apartments at 0.9%, so the housing stock is less unit-focused than many coastal Gold Coast locations. Carrying costs look measured: the median monthly mortgage is $2,000 and mortgage payments take 27.5% of income, slightly lower than the 27.9% rent-to-income figure.
For Buyers
Arundel suits buyers seeking space because 46.5% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and another 44.5% have 3 bedrooms. Separate houses account for 83.0% of dwellings, far above apartments at 0.9%, so the housing stock is less unit-focused than many coastal Gold Coast locations. Carrying costs look measured: the median monthly mortgage is $2,000 and mortgage payments take 27.5% of income, slightly lower than the 27.9% rent-to-income figure.
For Investors
Rental demand is meaningful but not dominant, with 28.4% of households renting compared with 71.6% owned outright or under mortgage. Median rent is $470 per week and rent growth in the shift period reached 23.7%, helped by overseas migration averaging 177 people a year. The 4.1% vacancy rate is higher than a very tight rental market, while 0 new developments over 12 months suggests limited fresh supply pressure.
Schools in Arundel iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
A B Paterson College
Prep-12 · 1652 students
Arundel State School
Prep-6 · 925 students
Demographics
Arundel has an older-than-average profile, with a median age of 41, 1.0 year above the national benchmark. Overseas-born residents make up 38.2%, which is 16.6 percentage points above national, and university attainment is 35.7%, 5.6 points higher than national. English ancestry is the largest listed group at 4,180 people, followed by Scottish at 1,012 and Irish at 964, while Mandarin is the leading non-English language count at 204.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.0%
Houses
16.2%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
The suburb is heavily house-based: 83.0% separate houses, 16.2% semi-detached homes and just 0.9% apartments. Ownership is stronger than renting, with 34.2% owned outright and 37.4% mortgaged compared with 28.4% renting. The bedroom mix reinforces the family skew because 91.0% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms. Stress indicators are moderate, with mortgage-to-income at 27.5% and rent-to-income at 27.9%, both close to each other rather than sharply diverging.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$470
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$715
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
170
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.8%
Couples, no children
9,093
Total families
Economy & Employment
Arundel's workforce leans toward services, led by healthcare at 22.7% or 789 workers, education at 12.6% or 438, and construction at 9.3% or 322. Professionals are the largest occupation group with 1,237 people, above community and personal service at 652. The SEIFA picture is mixed: IRSAD decile 6 and IER decile 7 sit higher than IRSD decile 5 because household resources are relatively solid while disadvantage remains closer to the national middle.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
6,378
Unemployed
246
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.7%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
54.0%
Employed
4,672
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.7%
Postgraduate
10.1%
Born Overseas
38.2%
Dwellings
3,952
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 89.2% drive to work, compared with just 1.7% using public transport and 2.4% walking or cycling. School choice is compact but strong, with 2 local schools spanning ICSEA 1035 to 1123. A B Paterson College is the standout Independent option with 1,652 enrolments and ICSEA 1123, while Arundel State School adds a Government primary pathway with 925 enrolments. IRSAD decile 6 sits above the national median decile, supporting general amenity.
Drive
89.2%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.21%/yr
(+146 people/yr)
EstablishedArundel is forecast to grow steadily rather than rapidly, with trend growth of 1.21% a year or 146 people annually. The medium projection moves from 12,112 residents in 2026 to 12,843 in 2031. Overseas migration is the main driver, averaging 177 net people a year compared with only 4 from internal migration. The aging trajectory matters because senior share rose 7.6 points while young share fell 3.1 points; gentrification is only at score 22 and stage Early signs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+177
Net Internal / yr
+4
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +21% since 2011, Accelerating: 6% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Arundel compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arundel a good suburb to live in?
Arundel is a strong fit for households wanting space, with 83.0% separate houses and 91.0% of homes having 3 or more bedrooms. It is more car-dependent than transit-led, as 89.2% drive to work.
What is the median house price in Arundel?
A current suburb-level median house price is not listed. Cost indicators include a $2,000 median monthly mortgage, $470 weekly median rent, and mortgage-to-income pressure of 27.5%.
What schools are in Arundel?
Arundel has 2 local schools: A B Paterson College, an Independent combined school with ICSEA 1123 and 1,652 enrolments, and Arundel State School with ICSEA 1035 and 925 enrolments.
Is Arundel safe?
A suburb-wide crime rate is not available, so street-level checking is sensible. Stability indicators include 34.2% of homes owned outright and 37.4% under mortgage, which can support residential continuity.
Is Arundel good for property investment?
Arundel has investor appeal through $470 weekly median rent, 28.4% renter share and 23.7% rent growth. The 4.1% vacancy rate is the main caution because it is not an ultra-tight rental setting.
How is Arundel's population changing?
Arundel is growing at a forecast 1.21% a year, equal to about 146 people annually. The medium projection rises from 12,112 residents in 2026 to 12,843 by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Arundel?
Arundel has a sizeable overseas-born population at 38.2%. The largest listed non-English language counts include Mandarin with 204 speakers, Japanese with 66, Korean with 53, Cantonese with 47 and Arabic with 45.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Arundel on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map