Elanora
Family housing defines Elanora more than density does: 78.7% of dwellings are separate houses, apartments are just 4.2%, and the median age of 42 sits 2 years above the national benchmark. Compared with nearby Palm Beach, Elanora reads more suburban and less unit-led, with 12,539 residents and household income in the 61.2 percentile. That mix points to a stable owner-occupier base because families can find larger homes while staying close to the southern Gold Coast coast.
Population
12,539
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,744/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Elanora suits buyers seeking space rather than high-rise choice: 78.7% of homes are separate houses and 48.5% have 4 or more bedrooms, while only 4.2% are apartments. That is a lower apartment profile compared with coastal pockets such as Palm Beach. A $2,100 monthly mortgage absorbs 27.8% of income, below the usual stress marker, so the suburb can work for households with steady earnings. Three-bedroom homes are also common at 43.3%, giving downsizers and smaller families a practical middle option.
For Buyers
Elanora suits buyers seeking space rather than high-rise choice: 78.7% of homes are separate houses and 48.5% have 4 or more bedrooms, while only 4.2% are apartments. That is a lower apartment profile compared with coastal pockets such as Palm Beach. A $2,100 monthly mortgage absorbs 27.8% of income, below the usual stress marker, so the suburb can work for households with steady earnings. Three-bedroom homes are also common at 43.3%, giving downsizers and smaller families a practical middle option.
For Investors
Rental supply is relatively thin, with 17.4% of households renting compared with an owner-heavy base of 38.8% owned outright and 43.9% mortgaged. Weekly rent is $525 (2021 Census) and rent-to-income sits at 30.1%, so tenant affordability is tighter than the mortgage setting. Vacancy is 4.9%, higher than a very tight market, and there were 0 development approvals in 12 months, limiting new stock. Demand is likely to be steadier than explosive because overseas migration averages 99 people a year while internal migration adds 12.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Elanora iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Elanora State School
Prep-6 · 924 students
Elanora State High School
7-12 · 949 students
Demographics
Elanora is older and more locally rooted than the national mix. The median age is 42, 2.0 years above national, while 19.3% of residents were born overseas, 2.3 percentage points below national. University attainment is 28.3%, 1.8 points lower than national, but household income still ranks at the 61.2 percentile. English ancestry is the largest reported group at 5,739 people, followed by Irish at 1,663 and Scottish at 1,539, which explains the suburb's Anglo-leaning profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
78.7%
Houses
17.1%
Townhouse
4.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing tenure shows why Elanora feels settled: 38.8% of homes are owned outright and 43.9% are mortgaged, well above the 17.4% renting share. A current median house price is not recorded, so housing strength is better read through structure and cost: 78.7% separate houses, 17.1% semi-detached homes, and only 4.2% apartments. Compared with denser Gold Coast suburbs, larger dwellings dominate, with 48.5% having 4 or more bedrooms and mortgage costs at 27.8% of income.
Mortgage / mo
$2,100
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Mar 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $525.
$1,100
Bond data Mar 2026 quarter · houses $1,100 · units $850
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$738
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
227
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.1% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.4%
Couples, no children
10,307
Total families
Economy & Employment
Elanora's workforce leans into services that match the wider Gold Coast economy. Healthcare is the largest industry at 20.3% or 826 workers, followed by construction at 14.4% and education at 13.3%. Professionals are the biggest occupation group with 1,293 people. Unemployment is 5.0%, participation is 56.4%, and full-time work is 56.7% of employed residents. SEIFA is mixed: education and occupation sits at decile 5, resources at decile 8, disadvantage at decile 7, and advantage-disadvantage at decile 6, suggesting household assets are higher than formal qualifications alone imply.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
5,927
Unemployed
231
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.7%
Part-time
38.3%
Participation
56.4%
Employed
5,440
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.3%
Postgraduate
5.7%
Born Overseas
19.3%
Dwellings
4,386
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented, with 91.3% driving to work and only 1.3% using public transport, so Elanora ranks better for households that prioritise space over station-style commuting. The school base is compact: 2 Government schools cover primary and secondary needs, led by Elanora State School with ICSEA 1061 and 924 students, and Elanora State High School with ICSEA 1023 and 949 students. The ICSEA range is 1023 to 1061, above 1000, while IRSAD decile 6 points to slightly above-average social advantage. No crime rate per 1,000 is recorded.
Drive
91.3%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.58%/yr
(+78 people/yr)
EstablishedElanora is on a modest established-suburb path rather than a high-growth frontier. The trend forecast is 0.58% a year, or about 78 people annually, with the medium scenario reaching 13,665 residents by 2031. Migration is led by overseas migration at an average 99 net people a year, compared with 12 from internal migration. The gentrification score is 3 and the stage is Not gentrifying, while the shift indicators point to aging: seniors rose 3.4 points and the working-age share fell 2.2 points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+99
Net Internal / yr
+12
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Elanora compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elanora a good suburb to live in?
Elanora is a strong fit for households wanting space, with 78.7% separate houses, 48.5% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms, and 2 local Government schools. It is less suited to car-free living because 91.3% drive to work.
What is the median house price in Elanora?
A current median house price is not recorded for Elanora. The housing picture is still clear: 78.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 17.1% are semi-detached, and the typical monthly mortgage is $2,100.
What schools are in Elanora?
Elanora has 2 local Government schools. Elanora State School is a primary campus with ICSEA 1061 and 924 students, while Elanora State High School has ICSEA 1023 and 949 students.
Is Elanora safe?
No suburb crime rate per 1,000 is recorded for Elanora, so safety should be checked against current Queensland Police local maps. The suburb has 12,539 residents and an IRSAD decile of 6, which indicates moderate social advantage.
Is Elanora good for property investment?
Elanora can suit investors seeking steady family rental demand rather than rapid apartment turnover. Rent is $525 (2021 Census) a week, 17.4% of households rent, vacancy is 4.9%, and there were 0 new development approvals in 12 months.
How is Elanora's population changing?
Elanora is growing slowly, with a forecast trend of 0.58% a year or about 78 people annually. The medium scenario reaches 13,665 residents by 2031, supported mainly by overseas migration averaging 99 net people a year.
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.
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