Gillen
A 33-year median age and 12.2% vacancy rate give Gillen a younger profile than the national norm. Its 4,466 residents live at 1,752.8 people per sq km, while household income sits at the 82.8th percentile nationally. Housing remains detached-house led at 70.2%, with 41.9% renting and 43.0% paying a mortgage. Compared with nearby Araluen and Desert Springs, Gillen has a pronounced conventional residential feel, suited to buyers who value established housing but can tolerate a looser rental market. The mix reflects a mortgage-belt suburb where 34.2% hold university qualifications and 30.6% were born overseas.
Population
4,466
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,176/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers face a practical trade-off rather than a clear price benchmark: the median house price is not available, so recent comparable sales matter more than a single headline figure. Typical costs include a $1,733 monthly mortgage figure and a $400 weekly rent benchmark, while mortgage payments equal 18.4% of household income and are not flagged as mortgage stress. The stock is mainly separate houses at 70.2%, with 49.0% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms and 22.7% containing 4 or more. Compared with the national age profile, Gillen's median age of 33 is 7 years younger, supporting demand from younger households. Buyers should inspect vacancy, body corporate costs and renovation needs before committing.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face a practical trade-off rather than a clear price benchmark: the median house price is not available, so recent comparable sales matter more than a single headline figure. Typical costs include a $1,733 monthly mortgage figure and a $400 weekly rent benchmark, while mortgage payments equal 18.4% of household income and are not flagged as mortgage stress. The stock is mainly separate houses at 70.2%, with 49.0% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms and 22.7% containing 4 or more. Compared with the national age profile, Gillen's median age of 33 is 7 years younger, supporting demand from younger households. Buyers should inspect vacancy, body corporate costs and renovation needs before committing.
For Investors
Rental investors get a sizeable tenant base: 41.9% of households rent, compared with 14.7% owning outright, and the weekly rent benchmark is $400. The 12.2% vacancy rate is high enough to make leasing speed and property presentation important, because tenants have more choice when empty dwellings are plentiful. There were 0 development projects recorded across 12 months, reducing the immediate supply pipeline, while 33.8% turnover points to a mobile resident base and 66.2% stayed at the same address. Compared with an owner-occupier suburb, Gillen's rental share supports demand, but vacancy risk matters more than headline yield. Check strata exposure, insurance and achievable rent for each dwelling type.
Demographics
Gillen's median age is 33, which is 7 years below the national figure, while 34.2% of residents have university qualifications, 4.1 percentage points above the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 30.6%, 9.0 points above the national share, helping explain the presence of Malayalam at 70 speakers, AIndLng at 66, Punjabi at 51, Hindi at 33 and Nepali at 29. English ancestry is the largest named ancestry at 1,139, followed by Other at 731 and Irish at 392. Average household size is 2.7, or 0.2 above national, and couples with children make up 42.2% of families. Compared with nearby Araluen, Gillen presents a younger, more internationally connected profile, supporting a mix of family, professional and shared-household demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.2%
Houses
27.4%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Gillen's housing mix is more detached than compact: 70.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 27.4% semi-detached and 2.4% apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.0%, followed by 2-bedroom dwellings at 23.4% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 22.7%, so the stock can suit families as well as smaller households. Tenure is split between 43.0% mortgages, 41.9% renting and only 14.7% owning outright. Compared with nearby Desert Springs, Gillen's separate-house share points to a more conventional residential form, although the 12.2% vacancy rate may create more choice for renters. The $400 weekly rent benchmark should be tested against condition, parking and outdoor space because dwelling quality varies.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$400
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,103
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.2%
Unoccupied
207
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.2%
Couples with children
34.6%
Couples, no children
20.6%
Single parent
1,096
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Gillen's leading industry, employing 427 people or 25.8% of the local workforce, followed by Public Administration at 306 and 18.5%, and Education at 176 and 10.6%. Construction contributes 121 workers, while Retail accounts for 111. This service-heavy base helps explain the 72.1% participation rate and 3.7% unemployment rate, with 71.2% of workers employed full time. Occupations are led by Professionals at 488, Community/Personal roles at 461 and Trades at 342, followed by Clerical/Admin at 305 and Managers at 269. Household income ranks at the 82.8th percentile nationally, above the midpoint, because professional and public-sector employment lifts earning capacity. Compared with lower-income markets, the profile supports spending power but remains exposed to government and health-sector cycles.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
2,490
Unemployed
91
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.2%
Part-time
23.7%
Participation
72.1%
Employed
2,399
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.2%
Postgraduate
9.8%
Born Overseas
30.6%
Dwellings
1,478
Transport to Work
Daily travel is strongly car based: 77.8% drive to work, compared with 1.3% using public transport and 8.3% walking or cycling. That pattern makes parking, road connections and trip times important, while the compact 2.55 sq km area and density of 1,752.8 people per sq km may support shorter local errands for some households. Gillen has 4,466 residents and an average household size of 2.7, creating a mixed family and smaller-household setting. School choices should be checked by exact address, enrolment zone and year level rather than inferred from suburb boundaries. Compared with public-transport-led inner districts, Gillen is more dependent on private vehicles, so access to work, shops and services should be tested at peak times. Street-level safety checks are also sensible because no suburb-wide crime rate is available.
Drive
77.8%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
8.3%
Work from Home
2.8%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Gillen compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gillen a good suburb to live in?
Gillen can suit households wanting a younger suburb with detached housing and a strong employment base. The median age is 33, 70.2% of dwellings are separate houses and unemployment is 3.7%. The trade-off is a 12.2% vacancy rate and car-led travel, with 77.8% driving to work. Compare streets and services with nearby suburbs before choosing.
What is the median house price in Gillen?
A current median house price is not available for Gillen. Buyers can still use the $400 weekly rent benchmark, the $1,733 monthly mortgage figure and the 70.2% separate-house share to frame affordability, then verify recent comparable sales, land size, condition and body corporate costs. Do not treat rent as a sale valuation.
What schools are in Gillen?
School access is address-specific, so families should check current enrolment zones, year levels, nearby government, Catholic and independent options, and travel times before signing a lease or contract. Gillen has 4,466 residents across 2.55 sq km, but those figures do not determine school eligibility. Confirm the exact catchment for every address.
Is Gillen safe?
An official suburb-wide crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked using current police information, street visits and conversations with local services. Gillen's 2.55 sq km footprint makes street-by-street inspection practical, while the 12.2% vacancy rate means evening activity may vary between pockets. Treat safety as an address-level decision rather than assuming every street is identical.
Is Gillen good for property investment?
Gillen can work for investors because 41.9% of households rent and the weekly rent benchmark is $400. However, the 12.2% vacancy rate is a material leasing risk, and 0 development projects over 12 months suggests limited immediate new supply rather than guaranteed scarcity. Check achievable rent, maintenance, insurance and whether a 70.2% detached-house market or smaller dwelling better matches tenant demand.
How is Gillen's population changing?
Gillen has 4,466 residents today. Population change is likely to be felt through mobility and occupancy: 33.8% changed address while 66.2% stayed, and the vacancy rate is 12.2%. With 0 development projects over 12 months, future change is more dependent on employment, household formation and filling existing dwellings than on a large new estate. Compare this pattern with nearby suburbs when assessing long-term demand.
What languages are spoken in Gillen?
Overseas-born residents make up 30.6% of Gillen's population, 9.0 percentage points above the national share. Commonly reported languages include Malayalam with 70 speakers, AIndLng with 66, Punjabi with 51, Hindi with 33 and Nepali with 29. This supports practical demand for services and communication options across different households.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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