Labrador
On just 5.0 sqkm, Labrador holds 18,643 residents at a density of 3,731.8 per sqkm, giving it a compact coastal character with older, smaller households. The median age is 45, which is 5.0 years above the national benchmark, while 36.2% of residents were born overseas, 14.6 percentage points above national. Compared with nearby Southport and Biggera Waters, Labrador reads less like a detached-house market and more like an established unit and townhouse area shaped by renters, retirees and recent migrants.
Population
18,643
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,188/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$455K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Homebuyers should treat Labrador as a medium-density market because separate houses make up only 19.1% of dwellings, compared with 49.0% semi-detached homes and 31.6% apartments. The bedroom mix reinforces that pattern: 45.3% are 2-bedroom homes and 37.2% are 3-bedroom homes. A median house price is not recorded, so buyers need recent comparable sales by dwelling type. Mortgage costs average 1517 per month and mortgage-to-income is 29.5%, which is lower than rental stress at 32.0%.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should treat Labrador as a medium-density market because separate houses make up only 19.1% of dwellings, compared with 49.0% semi-detached homes and 31.6% apartments. The bedroom mix reinforces that pattern: 45.3% are 2-bedroom homes and 37.2% are 3-bedroom homes. A median house price is not recorded, so buyers need recent comparable sales by dwelling type. Mortgage costs average 1517 per month and mortgage-to-income is 29.5%, which is lower than rental stress at 32.0%.
For Investors
Labrador has a large tenant base, with 47.8% renting compared with 25.2% owned outright and 27.0% owned with a mortgage. Median weekly rent is 380 and rent growth in the shift indicators is 26.7%, but the 8.7% vacancy rate is a caution because it points to more leasing competition than a tight market. New development is muted at 0 approvals in 12 months, while migration is led by overseas inflow of 328 people a year against internal outflow of 63, supporting demand but not removing vacancy risk.
Schools in Labrador iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Labrador State School
Prep-6 · 670 students
Demographics
Labrador skews older and more international than average. The median age of 45 is 5.0 years above national, household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below national, and 36.2% were born overseas, 14.6 percentage points higher than national. University attainment is 26.9%, 3.2 points below national. English ancestry is the largest count at 6,941, followed by Irish at 1,867 and Scottish at 1,762, while Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic, Serbian and Punjabi appear among smaller language groups.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
19.1%
Houses
49.0%
Townhouse
31.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Labrador is renter-heavy and compact. Renting accounts for 47.8% of tenure, higher than owned outright at 25.2% and mortgaged homes at 27.0%. The form mix is led by semi-detached dwellings at 49.0%, with apartments at 31.6% and separate houses at 19.1%, so the suburb has fewer classic family blocks than many Gold Coast fringe areas. Without a recorded median house price, a house price-to-income ratio is not meaningful, but rent-to-income is 32.0% compared with mortgage-to-income of 29.5%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$654
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.7%
Unoccupied
771
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.0% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.1%
Couples, no children
11,761
Total families
Economy & Employment
Labrador's jobs base leans toward population services: Healthcare is 21.6% of local employment, above Education at 10.1%, Construction at 10.0%, Hospitality at 9.6% and Retail at 8.2%. Occupations are mixed, with 1,528 Professionals, 1,224 Community and Personal Service workers, 1,013 Clerical and Admin workers and 1,001 Labourers. The 8.2% unemployment rate and 49.4% participation rate help explain lower economic rankings: IER is decile 1, IRSD decile 2 and IRSAD decile 3, while IEO is higher at decile 4.
Unemployment
6.4%
Labour Force
10,621
Unemployed
684
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.6%
Part-time
33.2%
Participation
49.4%
Employed
7,387
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.9%
Postgraduate
6.7%
Born Overseas
36.2%
Dwellings
8,092
Transport to Work
Labrador suits car-based daily life more than transit-based commuting. Car driving accounts for 86.4% of travel to work, compared with 2.5% by public transport and 4.5% walking or cycling, so location within the suburb matters for errands and services. School choice inside the suburb is narrow: 1 Government primary, Labrador State School, has ICSEA 997 and enrolment of 670, giving an ICSEA range of 997 to 997. The older profile, with median age 45 and 9.5% needing assistance, supports demand for accessible housing and nearby health services.
Drive
86.4%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.86%/yr
(+169 people/yr)
EstablishedLabrador is forecast to grow slowly rather than surge. The trend path is 0.86% a year, or 169 people annually, lifting the medium population path from 19,983 in 2026 to 20,827 in 2031. Migration is the key driver: overseas migration averages +328 people a year, compared with internal migration at -63. The growth story is also aging, with senior share up 5.2 and young share down 1.4 in the shift indicators. Gentrification is rated 15 and Not gentrifying, lower than the earlier shift score of 24 with Early signs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+328
Net Internal / yr
-63
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +15% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +328/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Labrador compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Labrador a good suburb to live in?
Labrador can suit buyers and renters who want compact coastal living, smaller households and access to Gold Coast services. It has 18,643 residents, a median age of 45 and 36.2% born overseas, with a higher renter share than owner share.
What is the median house price in Labrador?
A current median house price is not recorded for Labrador. The suburb is not mainly detached housing: separate houses are 19.1% of dwellings, compared with 49.0% semi-detached homes and 31.6% apartments.
What schools are in Labrador?
Labrador State School is the local school, a Government primary with ICSEA 997 and 670 enrolments. Families comparing secondary or non-government options often need to look across nearby Gold Coast suburbs.
Is Labrador safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate is not recorded for Labrador, so safety should be checked street by street. The area has 18,643 residents at 3,731.8 people per sqkm, so traffic, lighting and building security can vary by pocket.
Is Labrador good for property investment?
Labrador has investor appeal through its 47.8% rental share and median weekly rent of 380, but the 8.7% vacancy rate is higher than a tight rental market. Overseas migration of +328 people a year supports demand.
How is Labrador's population changing?
Population growth is moderate, forecast at 0.86% a year or 169 people annually. The medium path reaches 20,827 by 2031, with overseas migration of +328 a year offset by internal migration of -63.
What languages are spoken in Labrador?
English is dominant, but Labrador has a noticeable overseas-born population at 36.2%. Smaller language groups include Mandarin with 108 speakers, Japanese with 78, Arabic with 58, Serbian with 52 and Punjabi with 50.
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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