Jacobs Well
Jacobs Well stands out for its 98.9% separate-house share, 59.5% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms, and household income in the 81.3rd percentile. The suburb has 2,882 residents, a median age of 42, and density of 212.4 people per square kilometre, creating a more spacious setting than larger urban centres such as Coomera and Pimpama. Car dependence is pronounced because 77.3% drive to work while only 0.4% use public transport. The combination of family-sized housing, strong incomes and a 2.67% annual growth trend helps explain its appeal to mortgage-holding households, although the population trajectory is ageing.
Local council: Gold Coast
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
10
Jacobs Well suits buyers seeking detached, family-sized housing, with 98.9% of dwellings classed as separate houses and 59.5% containing 4 or more bedrooms, higher than the 32.4% share of 3-bedroom homes. A reliable current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales, but the monthly mortgage figure is $2,141 and mortgage costs equal 23.2% of household income. That burden is below the usual stress threshold, partly because weekly household income reaches $2,127 and 56.1% of households already carry a mortgage. Compared with apartment-oriented parts of the Gold Coast, the trade-off is more land and privacy but fewer public transport choices.
For Buyers
Jacobs Well suits buyers seeking detached, family-sized housing, with 98.9% of dwellings classed as separate houses and 59.5% containing 4 or more bedrooms, higher than the 32.4% share of 3-bedroom homes. A reliable current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales, but the monthly mortgage figure is $2,141 and mortgage costs equal 23.2% of household income. That burden is below the usual stress threshold, partly because weekly household income reaches $2,127 and 56.1% of households already carry a mortgage. Compared with apartment-oriented parts of the Gold Coast, the trade-off is more land and privacy but fewer public transport choices.
For Investors
Jacobs Well presents a family-rental profile, with 14.1% of households renting, weekly rent of $465 and 98.9% of dwellings being separate houses. The 5.1% vacancy rate gives tenants more choice than a tightly constrained market, so investors should focus on property quality, water exposure and achievable rent rather than assume automatic growth. Seven development items over 12 months indicate incremental activity, while the forecast trend is 2.67% annually and internal migration is the primary driver. Compared with denser northern Gold Coast markets, the suburb may appeal to renters wanting larger homes, but its smaller tenant pool and car dependence require careful property selection.
Development Activity
Total DAs
10
Last 12 Months
10
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
Jacobs Well has a median age of 42, which is 2.0 years above the national comparison, and its ageing trajectory is reinforced by a 4.6 percentage-point rise in the senior share and a 1.5-point fall in the young share. University attainment is 18.3%, or 11.8 points below the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 20.4%, 1.2 points lower nationally. English ancestry accounts for 1,251 people, followed by Scottish ancestry at 319 and Irish ancestry at 281. Household size is 2.7, or 0.2 above the national comparison, reflecting a mix of couples with children at 43.8% and couples without children at 44.6%. Compared with more rapidly urbanising neighbours, the suburb retains a more established, Anglo-leaning household structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.9%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Jacobs Well is overwhelmingly detached and spacious: 98.9% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with only 0.3% apartments, and 59.5% have 4 or more bedrooms. Mortgage holders make up 56.1% of households, outright owners 28.6% and renters 14.1%, so the market is more mortgage-led than rental-led. Weekly rent is $465, while mortgage costs represent 23.2% of household income and rent represents 21.9%, both below common stress markers. The affordability measure moved from 54.1 in 2011 to 48.5 in 2021 and is labelled improving, although buyers still need to test repayments against interest-rate changes. Compared with smaller-home markets, the housing stock supports larger households but can require higher maintenance and transport costs.
Mortgage / mo
$2,141
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$465
Census 2021
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
43.8%
Couples with children
44.6%
Couples, no children
10.6%
Single parent
884
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction is Jacobs Well's largest industry at 20.7%, followed by healthcare at 13.3%, education at 10.9%, manufacturing at 8.6% and retail at 6.3%. The occupational mix is led by trades at 277 workers, managers at 257, clerical and administrative roles at 231, professionals at 208 and labourers at 155. Participation is 68.0%, unemployment is 3.9% and full-time employment is 61.5%, supporting a relatively active workforce. Weekly household income of $2,127 sits in the 81.3rd percentile, above the midpoint of the national distribution. The socioeconomic indicators are uneven: IEO is decile 3, IER is decile 9, IRSD is decile 6 and IRSAD is decile 5. The higher IER than IEO suggests strong economic resources despite comparatively lower education attainment, likely reflecting trades, management and established household incomes.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
1,598
Unemployed
62
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.5%
Part-time
27.8%
Participation
68.0%
Employed
1,536
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.3%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
20.4%
Dwellings
1,009
Transport to Work
Jacobs Well works best for residents comfortable with driving. About 77.3% of workers drive, compared with 0.4% using public transport and 1.7% walking or cycling, while 16.8% work from home. The suburb covers 13.57 square kilometres at a density of 212.4 people per square kilometre, supporting a lower-rise feel than more concentrated Gold Coast centres. Families should check current school options and enrolment zones against the exact address, then compare travel times because daily access is car dependent. An IRSAD decile of 5 places the area near the middle of the socioeconomic scale, while 10.2% volunteering and 4.5% needing assistance point to differing household circumstances. For safety decisions, review current local crime information, lighting and evening travel routes rather than relying on socioeconomic rankings.
Drive
77.3%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
16.8%
Growth Outlook
Jacobs Well has a forecast annual growth trend of 2.67%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area runs at 39.3% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Aging because the senior share rose 4.6 percentage points and the young share fell 1.5 points. Gentrification signals are meaningful but still developing: the current score is 40 with an Active stage, while another shift measure records a score of 31 and an Early signs stage. Seven development items over 12 months point to incremental rather than large-scale construction activity. Compared with slower established areas, this combination of migration-led growth and ageing households suggests demand should remain positive, but future change is likely to be shaped more by infill and lifestyle moves than by a sudden urban transformation.
Population trend: Gold Coast council area
Jacobs Well sits in the Gold Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Jacobs Well's.
Residents 2025
691,230
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.8%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 suits households wanting detached homes, larger blocks and a quieter setting. It has 98.9% separate houses, 59.5% with 4 or more bedrooms and household income in the 81.3rd percentile. Compared with denser Gold Coast suburbs, the trade-off is stronger car dependence, with 77.3% driving and only 0.4% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Jacobs Well?
A reliable current median house price should be confirmed through recent settled sales rather than a single headline figure. Buyers can use the $2,141 monthly mortgage figure and $465 weekly rent as budgeting reference points, then compare homes by land size, condition and flood or water exposure. The 56.1% mortgage-holder share shows why repayment capacity matters.
What schools are in Jacobs Well?
School planning should begin with the exact address, current catchment rules and nearby government or independent options. With 77.3% of workers driving and just 0.4% using public transport, compare school travel times as carefully as enrolment requirements. Families should also check current places, transport arrangements and before or after-school care before committing.
Is Jacobs Well safe?
Make safety a location and time-of-day decision rather than treating the IRSAD 5th decile as a crime ranking. Review current Queensland Police information, lighting, footpaths and evening access around the exact property. The suburb's 212.4 people per square kilometre and 77.3% driving share mean streets and routes can feel different from denser, transit-oriented areas.
Is Jacobs Well good for property investment?
Jacobs Well can suit investors targeting detached family rentals, with weekly rent of $465 and 14.1% of households renting. The 5.1% vacancy rate gives renters some choice, so condition and tenant appeal matter. Forecast growth is 2.67% annually, supported by internal migration, while 7 development items in 12 months suggest measured activity rather than a construction surge.
How is Jacobs Well's population changing?
Jacobs Well has 2,882 residents today, with population change across the wider area running at 39.3% over 10 years. The forecast trend is 2.67% annually and internal migration is the main driver, but the trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 4.6 percentage points while the young share fell 1.5 points. Compared with newer family-growth corridors, demand may become more age-balanced over time.
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).
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