Mount Nathan
With a household income ranking at the 91.9th percentile nationally but a SEIFA advantage score of just decile 4, Mount Nathan reveals an interesting split: residents earn well above average yet the suburb has not yet attracted the infrastructure or institutional investment that typically follows that income. The 1,375-person population occupies 14.57 km2 at a density of just 94 people per km2, almost entirely in separate houses (99%), and 77.2% of those homes have 4 or more bedrooms. Only 7.5% of households rent, compared to the national average, making this one of the most owner-heavy communities in southeast Queensland.
Population
1,375
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,465/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$724K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $724,000 reflects a market built around large family homes, with 77.2% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 99% being separate houses, far higher than state or national norms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,435, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers here carry manageable debt loads relative to incomes that rank in the 91.9th percentile nationally. Outright ownership at 29.5% and mortgage holders at 63% reflect a suburb still in active acquisition mode. With only 7.5% of households renting, supply of owner-occupier stock is closely held and turnover of just 15.7% confirms that most buyers who arrive tend to stay long-term.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $724,000 reflects a market built around large family homes, with 77.2% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 99% being separate houses, far higher than state or national norms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,435, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers here carry manageable debt loads relative to incomes that rank in the 91.9th percentile nationally. Outright ownership at 29.5% and mortgage holders at 63% reflect a suburb still in active acquisition mode. With only 7.5% of households renting, supply of owner-occupier stock is closely held and turnover of just 15.7% confirms that most buyers who arrive tend to stay long-term.
For Investors
The 7.5% rental share and weekly rent of $600 define a thin rental market where vacancy sits at 3.9%, above the typical healthy threshold of 3% and above the level investors usually prefer. Gross yield on the $724,000 median implies roughly 4.3% annually, which is reasonable but limited by the low renter demand. Population is growing at 0.98% annually, and net overseas migration adds 183 residents per year to the broader area, partially offset by an internal outflow of 44. Rent grew 19.4% over the measured period, indicating real demand for the limited supply. With 0 development applications in the past 12 months and a low-density, exclusively detached housing stock, supply additions are rare, which tends to support prices over time.
Schools in Mount Nathan iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Silkwood School
Prep-12 · 765 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 sits at the national average, though the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 3.8 points and the young adult share fell 2.1 points over the decade, suggesting the owner cohort is maturing in place. Overseas-born residents make up 17.6%, which is 4 points below the national figure, consistent with an Anglo-dominant ancestry profile led by English (672 residents), Irish (148) and Scottish (135). Average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 persons above national, reinforcing the family-with-children character: 51.8% of families are couples with children versus 23.8% couples without. University qualifications at 27.4% run 2.7 points below the national benchmark, while the volunteering rate of 14.2% reflects an engaged owner-resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The stock profile is almost uniformly large detached homes: 99% separate houses versus the national average, with 77.2% having 4 or more bedrooms and only 4.1% having 2 bedrooms or fewer. Tenure breaks down as 29.5% owned outright, 63% under mortgage and 7.5% renting, a split that places mortgage holders as the dominant occupant group. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.8% and rent-to-income ratio of 24.3% both sit below the 30% housing stress threshold, meaning neither owners nor tenants face typical financial pressure on housing costs. The estimated median house price of $724,000 covers a period when rent grew 19.4%, pointing to price support from limited supply rather than buyer sentiment alone. Low turnover (15.7% changed address) confirms most owners treat this as a long-term family base.
Mortgage / mo
$2,435
Rent / wk
$600
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$943
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
17
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.8%
Couples, no children
1,229
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 18.5% of local workers (87 people), followed closely by Construction at 17.9% (84 people), two sectors that reflect both the ageing resident cohort and the active build-out of surrounding Gold Coast hinterland areas. Education (9.8%) and Professional/Technical services (7.7%) round out the top four. By occupation, Professionals (141) and Managers (120) together account for over 42% of employed residents, which aligns with the 91.9th percentile household income despite SEIFA advantage deciles of just 4 on three of four indexes. The full-time employment rate is 63.4%, with unemployment at 4.6%. Real income grew 15.2% over the decade, outpacing the rent growth of 19.4% and pointing to gradually tightening affordability over time.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
12,465
Unemployed
643
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.4%
Part-time
32.0%
Participation
62.5%
Employed
623
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.4%
Postgraduate
7.0%
Born Overseas
17.6%
Dwellings
417
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total at 92% of residents driving to work, while only 1% use public transport, lower than virtually any urban benchmark. This reflects the suburb's rural-residential character at 94 people per km2 with no recorded schools inside its boundary. The IRSAD decile of 4 places Mount Nathan in the lower-middle advantage tier nationally, below state and national medians, despite household incomes at the 91.9th percentile, a gap that reflects limited local amenity and service access rather than resident wealth. Mortgage stress affects only 22.8% of income compared to repayment costs, keeping financial strain low. About 5% of residents (67 people) need daily assistance, and the volunteering rate of 14.2% points to a community that supports its members informally given the limited formal services.
Drive
92.0%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.98%/yr
(+222 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 12.2% over the decade and sits in a steady-state expansion at 0.98% annually, adding around 222 persons per year to the broader SA2. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, adding 183 residents net per year, while internal migration runs at a modest outflow of 44. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching 23,975 by 2031 from a 2025 base of 22,560. The gentrification score of 33 registers early signs rather than active transformation, with population growth of 15% since 2011 flagged as a positive signal. Affordability shifted from 64.1% in 2011 to 54% in 2021, categorised as improving, suggesting house price growth over that period was absorbed by rising incomes. The aging trajectory means demand will gradually shift toward lower-maintenance, smaller dwellings.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+183
Net Internal / yr
-44
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +15% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mount Nathan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Nathan a good suburb to live in?
Mount Nathan suits families wanting large homes on generous land with minimal density. Household income sits at the 91.9th percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income is a comfortable 22.8%, and 84.3% of residents stay long-term. The trade-off is near-total car dependence (92%) and limited local services, reflected in a SEIFA advantage decile of 4.
What is the median house price in Mount Nathan?
The estimated median house price is $724,000, based on 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,435. The stock is almost exclusively large detached homes, with 77.2% having 4 or more bedrooms and 99% being separate houses.
What schools are in Mount Nathan?
No schools are recorded within the Mount Nathan boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs in the Gold Coast hinterland. The local education attainment rate is 27.4% with university qualifications, which is 2.7 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Mount Nathan safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Mount Nathan in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb has a low 7.5% renter share, 84.3% of residents stayed at the same address, and a stable community with low housing stress at 22.8% mortgage-to-income ratio, factors generally associated with lower property crime.
Is Mount Nathan good for property investment?
The investment case is modest. Weekly rent of $600 against a $724,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.3%, reasonable but limited. Vacancy sits at 3.9%, above the preferred 3% threshold. Rent grew 19.4% over the measured period and supply is constrained with 0 development applications in the past year, supporting price stability over time.
How is Mount Nathan's population changing?
The population of 1,375 grew 12.2% over the decade, with annual growth around 0.98%. Overseas migration adds 183 residents net per year to the broader area, offset by a small internal outflow of 44. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.8 points over 10 years, and medium forecasts project the broader SA2 reaching 23,975 by 2031.
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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