Jacobs Well
Household income at the 81.3rd percentile nationally, combined with a 59.5% share of 4-plus bedroom homes, marks Jacobs Well as a well-resourced, family-oriented coastal suburb with a detached-housing focus that sets it apart from most of greater Gold Coast. The population of 2,882 has grown 39.3% over the past decade, driven primarily by internal migration of roughly 198 people per year. The gentrification score is at the Active stage, with affordability improving from 54.1% in 2011 to 48.5% in 2021. Despite the income advantage, university qualifications reach only 18.3%, which is 11.8 points below the national figure, suggesting a trade-skilled, owner-occupier base rather than a professional one.
Population
2,882
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,127/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$590K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price is $590,000 and the suburb is 98.9% separate houses, making it one of the most detached-dominant areas in QLD. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 59.5% of the stock, with 3-bedroom dwellings at 32.4%, so buyers entering the market are typically acquiring larger family properties rather than entry-level units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,141, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 29.0% is solid, and mortgage holders at 56.8% reflect the active purchase activity of recent years. The weekly rent of $465 gives tenants reasonable options compared to the Gold Coast median, while the 5.1% vacancy rate indicates moderate but manageable supply.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price is $590,000 and the suburb is 98.9% separate houses, making it one of the most detached-dominant areas in QLD. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 59.5% of the stock, with 3-bedroom dwellings at 32.4%, so buyers entering the market are typically acquiring larger family properties rather than entry-level units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,141, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 29.0% is solid, and mortgage holders at 56.8% reflect the active purchase activity of recent years. The weekly rent of $465 gives tenants reasonable options compared to the Gold Coast median, while the 5.1% vacancy rate indicates moderate but manageable supply.
For Investors
A 14.2% renter share is below state averages, meaning landlords here compete for a smaller tenant pool than in more urban QLD suburbs. Weekly rent of $465 against a $590,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.1%, which is reasonable by Southeast QLD coastal standards. The 5.1% vacancy rate points to stable but not tight rental demand. Net internal migration averaging 198 residents per year is the main growth engine, sustaining ongoing demand from relocating families. Development activity is very low at 1 application in the past 12 months, which limits new supply pressure. The gentrification score at the Active stage, combined with a 25.0% rent growth over the period and a 13.2% real income growth, supports a capital growth thesis over the medium term.
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
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, reflecting the aging-trajectory signal in this suburb's profile. Overseas-born residents at 20.4% sit 1.2 points below national, and the ancestry mix is firmly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,251), Scottish (319) and Irish (281). The average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, consistent with the dominance of couples-with-children households, which at 990 families outnumber couples-without-children at 790. University qualifications at 18.3% are 11.8 points below the national rate, in line with the strong Construction sector employment base. The workforce participation rate is 61.0% and the unemployment rate is 4.3%, modest by state comparison.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.9%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 98.9% of the stock, the highest-purity detached housing profile in any suburb with comparable income levels. Four-plus bedroom dwellings dominate at 59.5%, followed by 3-bedroom at 32.4%, and only 6.3% are 2-bedroom, making this a suburb built for families rather than couples or renters. Outright ownership at 29.0% and mortgage holders at 56.8% combine to show 85.8% owner-occupier tenure, well above national averages. Rent-to-income at 21.9% keeps tenants below the 30% stress threshold. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2% is comfortable compared to the national median, largely because household incomes sit in the 81.3rd percentile. The estimated median price of $590,000 reflects the semi-rural coastal positioning rather than the premium prices of closer Gold Coast suburbs.
Mortgage / mo
$2,141
Rent / wk
$465
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$903
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.1%
Unoccupied
55
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.9%
Couples, no children
2,474
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is the dominant industry at 20.7% (196 workers), more than double its national share, which explains why the skills profile leans trade-based rather than professional. Healthcare follows at 13.3% (126 workers) and Education at 10.9% (103), with Manufacturing at 8.6% and Retail at 6.3%. By occupation, Managers lead at 257 workers, ahead of Clerical/Admin at 231 and Professionals at 208. The SEIFA economic resource (IER) decile of 9 puts the suburb well above national average in asset-based wealth, yet the IEO (education and occupation) decile of 3 is lower, a divergence that reflects high property and household wealth among trade-skilled, non-degree holders. Full-time employment is 68.9% of employed residents, and real income grew 13.2% over the decade.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
3,173
Unemployed
82
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.9%
Part-time
26.8%
Participation
61.0%
Employed
1,371
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.3%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
20.4%
Dwellings
1,009
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total at 93.0% of commuters driving, which is well above the national average, reflecting the suburb's semi-rural location 13.57 km2 in area. Public transport use is minimal at 0.5%, so residents must factor in car ownership costs as a baseline living expense. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Jacobs Well at the national median for overall advantage and disadvantage, while the IER decile of 9 indicates above-average economic resources such as property and income. Volunteering at 10.2% is modest. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in the dataset, so families with school-age children rely on nearby towns for education. The rent-to-income ratio of 21.9% is below the 30% stress threshold, keeping housing affordable for renters relative to comparable coastal QLD suburbs.
Drive
93.0%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.67%/yr
(+150 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 39.3% over the past decade, reaching 2,882, and the medium forecast projects continued growth from 5,519 in 2026 to 6,270 by 2031, an annual rate of 2.67%. Internal migration is the primary driver at 198 net arrivals per year, with overseas migration adding 19. The gentrification stage is Active, up from Early signs, with accelerating owner-churn indicated by a 8% to 51% build-up signal. Affordability improved from 54.1% in 2011 to 48.5% in 2021, pointing to income growth outpacing price appreciation compared to the decade prior. The young adult share fell 1.5 points and the senior share rose 4.6 points, a classic aging-trajectory pattern that nonetheless coexists with strong household formation from relocating families.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+19
Net Internal / yr
+198
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +198/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 51%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Jacobs Well compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jacobs Well a good suburb to live in?
Jacobs Well offers a quiet, detached-house coastal setting with household income in the 81.3rd percentile nationally and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2%, below the stress threshold. The IER decile of 9 indicates strong economic resources. The main trade-off is near-total car dependency at 93% of commuters, with minimal public transport at 0.5%.
What is the median house price in Jacobs Well?
The estimated median house price is $590,000 (estimated from rent data, 2025). Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,141 and weekly rent is $465. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2% is comfortable relative to household incomes at the 81.3rd percentile nationally.
What schools are in Jacobs Well?
No schools are recorded inside the Jacobs Well suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby towns within the Gold Coast and Logan council areas. The suburb's university qualification rate is 18.3%, which is 11.8 points below the national figure.
Is Jacobs Well safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Jacobs Well in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 4.5% of residents (124 people) need daily assistance, and the IRSAD decile of 5 places the suburb at the national median for relative disadvantage, suggesting moderate overall conditions.
Is Jacobs Well good for property investment?
The gross rental yield is around 4.1% based on a $465 weekly rent against the $590,000 median, reasonable by Southeast QLD coastal standards. Rent grew 25.0% over the period and net internal migration adds 198 residents per year. The Active gentrification stage and 5.1% vacancy rate support a capital growth case over the medium term.
How is Jacobs Well's population changing?
The population grew 39.3% over the past decade and annual growth is forecast at 2.67%, adding around 150 people per year. The medium projection reaches 6,270 by 2031. Internal migration at 198 net arrivals per year is the primary driver, and the gentrification stage has moved to Active with accelerating resident turnover.
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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