Labrador
With 18,643 residents packed into 5.0 square kilometres, Labrador has a density of 3,731.8 people per square kilometre and a median age of 45, 5.0 years above the national benchmark. Its 36.2% overseas-born share is 14.6 percentage points above the national figure, while household income sits at the 24.8th percentile. Set between Southport and Biggera Waters, the suburb has a compact housing mix and strong car reliance. The 47.3% renting share, 8.7% vacancy rate and 30.3% turnover rate point to a more mobile market than a settled owner-occupier district. An aging trajectory and overseas migration make Labrador more internationally connected than its modest income ranking suggests.
Local council: Gold Coast
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
18
Labrador suits buyers who value compact, lower-maintenance housing and a central Gold Coast setting rather than a detached-house-only suburb. Only 19.1% of dwellings are separate houses, while 49.0% are semi-detached and 31.6% are apartments; 45.3% have 2 bedrooms and 37.2% have 3. That mix aligns with smaller households, averaging 2.0 people, which is 0.5 below the national figure. A mortgage repayment indicator is $1,517 per month, compared with weekly rent of $380, but a current median house price is unavailable. Mortgage costs equal 29.5% of household income, below the 32.0% rent burden, making tenure choice important for cash flow.
For Buyers
Labrador suits buyers who value compact, lower-maintenance housing and a central Gold Coast setting rather than a detached-house-only suburb. Only 19.1% of dwellings are separate houses, while 49.0% are semi-detached and 31.6% are apartments; 45.3% have 2 bedrooms and 37.2% have 3. That mix aligns with smaller households, averaging 2.0 people, which is 0.5 below the national figure. A mortgage repayment indicator is $1,517 per month, compared with weekly rent of $380, but a current median house price is unavailable. Mortgage costs equal 29.5% of household income, below the 32.0% rent burden, making tenure choice important for cash flow.
For Investors
Rental demand is a major part of Labrador's market: 47.3% of occupied dwellings are rented, compared with 24.9% owned outright and 26.8% with a mortgage. Weekly rent is $380 and vacancy is 8.7%, so investors should allow for more tenant choice than in a tighter market and budget carefully for leasing periods. The suburb recorded 16 development matters over 12 months, a smaller pipeline than a high-volume redevelopment precinct, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver. That combination can support ongoing tenant demand, but the 30.3% turnover rate also requires strong leasing routines. Without a current median house price, gross yield should be calculated from each property's purchase price and holding costs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
19
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1700.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Labrador
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Labrador State School
Demographics
Labrador has an older and more internationally connected profile than the national average. The median age is 45, 5.0 years above the national benchmark, while 36.2% of residents were born overseas, 14.6 percentage points higher than nationally. University attainment is 26.9%, 3.2 points below the national comparison, and average household size is 2.0, or 0.5 below national. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 6,941, 1,867 and 1,762. Christianity and no religion are near parity at 7,722 and 7,689. The aging trajectory reflects a 5.2-point rise in the senior share, while overseas migration helps explain language groups including Mandarin at 108 and Arabic at 58.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
19.1%
Houses
49.0%
Townhouse
31.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is more rental-heavy than owner-focused: 47.3% of dwellings are rented, versus 24.9% owned outright and 26.8% mortgaged. The built form is also more attached than detached, with 49.0% semi-detached, 31.6% apartments and only 19.1% separate houses. Two-bedroom homes account for 45.3% and three-bedroom homes 37.2%, so the stock fits smaller households better than large families, consistent with an average household size of 2.0. Housing costs need scrutiny because rent is $380 per week and rent stress reaches 32.0% of income, higher than the 29.5% mortgage ratio. A mortgage repayment indicator of $1,517 per month should be tested against each property's price and body corporate costs.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $380.
$800
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $800 · units $755
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
28.1%
Couples with children
44.8%
Couples, no children
24.3%
Single parent
4,595
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Labrador's employment at 21.6% and 1,196 workers, followed by education at 10.1% and 560, construction at 10.0% and 551, hospitality at 9.6% and 531, and retail at 8.2% and 453. This service and trade mix is broad because care, teaching, construction and visitor-facing work all matter. Professionals number 1,528, with community and personal services at 1,224 and trades at 1,222. Participation is 55.0%, unemployment 7.4% and full-time work 52.1% across a labour force of 8,972. Household income is at the 24.8th percentile, below the national median position. SEIFA ranges from IER decile 1 to IEO decile 4, with IRSD 2 and IRSAD 3, showing economic disadvantage ranks lower than education and occupation measures alone suggest.
Unemployment
7.4%
Labour Force
8,972
Unemployed
663
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.1%
Part-time
36.8%
Participation
55.0%
Employed
8,309
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.9%
Postgraduate
6.7%
Born Overseas
36.2%
Dwellings
8,092
Transport to Work
Labrador is practical for car-based living: 75.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 2.6% using public transport and 3.9% walking or cycling. A further 12.8% work from home, so parking, road access and home workspace can matter more than rail proximity. One local state school, Labrador State School, provides nearby school access; families should check enrolment zones because boundaries can cut across suburb edges. With 18,643 residents in 5.0 square kilometres, density is 3,731.8 people per square kilometre, supporting nearby services but potentially meaning busier streets and less private outdoor space than lower-density areas. The IRSAD result is decile 3, below the middle deciles, so inspect each pocket, building and route rather than treating the suburb as uniform. Review recent safety incidents and visit the exact address at different times.
Drive
75.1%
Public Transport
2.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
12.8%
Growth Outlook
Labrador's growth outlook is steady rather than rapid, with an annual trend of 0.86% and population change across the wider area of 13.7% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which fits the suburb's 36.2% overseas-born share and supports demand in a rental-heavy market. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 5.2 percentage points, while the young share has fallen 1.4 points and the working share 0.6 points. Gentrification signals are mixed but modest, with a score of 15 and a stage of Not gentrifying, while the shift assessment records a score of 24 and Early signs. Compared with a rapid redevelopment corridor, Labrador is likely to change gradually because it is established and recorded 16 development matters in 12 months.
Population trend: Gold Coast council area
Labrador sits in the Gold Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Labrador'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 Labrador compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Labrador a good suburb to live in?
Labrador can suit residents who want a compact Gold Coast suburb with established services, but its fit depends on housing and lifestyle. It has 18,643 residents, a median age of 45 and 75.1% car-driver travel, while only 2.6% use public transport. Renters and apartment or townhouse buyers may find the dwelling mix more suitable than detached-house seekers.
What is the median house price in Labrador?
A current median house price is not available, so avoid treating Labrador like a suburb with a single reliable price benchmark. Use the $380 weekly rent, $1,517 monthly mortgage indicator, 19.1% separate houses and 49.0% semi-detached dwellings to compare individual properties. Check recent comparable sales by dwelling type, age and body corporate costs.
What schools are in Labrador?
Labrador State School is a local government school. Confirm the exact enrolment zone and year-level availability before signing, because 1 nearby school does not cover every schooling pathway. Labrador's average household size is 2.0 people, while families should also compare schooling options across the wider Gold Coast.
Is Labrador safe?
Assess safety at the address level rather than assuming all of Labrador is the same. The suburb has 18,643 residents across 5.0 square kilometres, and 75.1% travel by car, so check the exact parking, lighting, pedestrian route and surrounding activity. Review recent incident maps and visit the property at different times before deciding.
Is Labrador good for property investment?
Investment appeal comes from a 47.3% renting share, $380 weekly rent and overseas migration as the primary growth driver. Vacancy is 8.7%, so compare holding costs and likely leasing time rather than assuming tight demand. The 16 development matters recorded in 12 months indicate some activity, while the absence of a current median house price means yield must be calculated from a specific purchase price.
How is Labrador's population changing?
Labrador is changing gradually and aging. The annual trend is 0.86%, while population change across the wider area is 13.7% over 10 years and overseas migration is the primary driver. The senior share has risen 5.2 percentage points, the young share has fallen 1.4 points, and the trajectory is labelled Aging. Gentrification remains limited, with a score of 15 and a stage of Not gentrifying.
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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