Nerang
Nerang's strongest signal is its mortgage-belt shape: 40.9% of homes are mortgaged, higher than the 25.9% owned outright share and 33.2% rental share. The suburb has 17,048 residents, a median age of 40 and household income in the 41.9 percentile, so it sits below higher-income Gold Coast pockets. Compared with Carrara and Ashmore, Nerang reads more family-practical than prestige-led because 61.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 51.2% have 3 bedrooms.
Population
17,048
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,423/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$488K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Homebuyers get a detached-home bias without an available median house price, so affordability should be judged through repayments and dwelling mix. The typical mortgage is $1,733 per month and mortgage costs absorb 28.1% of income, only slightly higher than the 27.4% rent-to-income figure. Separate houses make up 61.4% of stock, higher than apartments at 13.3%, while 3-bedroom homes dominate at 51.2%. That suits families because the suburb has more mid-sized homes than small 0 or 1-bedroom options at 6.8%.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a detached-home bias without an available median house price, so affordability should be judged through repayments and dwelling mix. The typical mortgage is $1,733 per month and mortgage costs absorb 28.1% of income, only slightly higher than the 27.4% rent-to-income figure. Separate houses make up 61.4% of stock, higher than apartments at 13.3%, while 3-bedroom homes dominate at 51.2%. That suits families because the suburb has more mid-sized homes than small 0 or 1-bedroom options at 6.8%.
For Investors
Nerang's rental base is meaningful but not undersupplied. Renters account for 33.2% of households, higher than the 25.9% owned outright share, and the median rent is $390 per week. Vacancy is 4.8%, so investors need to compete on presentation and location rather than assume scarcity. With 0 developments recorded over 12 months, new local supply is not the pressure point. Demand is helped by forecast overseas migration of 183 people a year, compared with internal migration of -44.
Schools in Nerang iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Brigid's Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 338 students
Nerang State School
Prep-6 · 244 students
Nerang State High School
7-12 · 998 students
Demographics
Nerang is older and more locally settled than its migrant numbers first suggest. Median age is 40, matching the national comparison at 0.0 years difference, while 25.9% were born overseas, 4.3 percentage points above national. University attainment is 21.5%, which is 8.6 points below national, shaping a workforce tilted to practical and service roles. English ancestry leads with 7,088 people, followed by Scottish at 1,802 and Irish at 1,761, while Punjabi is the largest listed non-English language at 126 speakers.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
61.4%
Houses
23.1%
Townhouse
13.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Nerang's housing market is built around ownership with a flexible rental layer. Mortgaged homes are 40.9% of tenure, higher than renting at 33.2% and owned outright at 25.9%, which fits a working household profile. The built form is mainly separate houses at 61.4%, compared with semi-detached stock at 23.1% and apartments at 13.3%. Bedroom mix reinforces that pattern: 3-bedroom homes are 51.2% and 4-plus bedrooms are 27.4%, because family-sized stock outweighs smaller 2-bedroom dwellings at 14.6%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$704
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.8%
Unoccupied
328
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.9%
Couples, no children
12,957
Total families
Economy & Employment
Nerang's economy is broad, with healthcare the largest industry at 19.5%, above construction at 13.7%, education at 9.6%, retail at 9.4% and hospitality at 6.9%. Occupations are spread across professionals with 1,150 workers, clerical/admin with 1,079 and community/personal roles with 1,046. Unemployment is 6.6% and participation is 54.3%, so income capacity is moderate. SEIFA shows the nuance: IER decile 6 ranks higher than IEO, IRSD and IRSAD decile 4, meaning resources are steadier than education and broad advantage scores.
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
59.7%
Part-time
33.7%
Participation
54.3%
Employed
7,160
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.5%
Postgraduate
4.6%
Born Overseas
25.9%
Dwellings
6,528
Transport to Work
Nerang suits residents who value road access and local schools more than transit commuting. Car drivers make up 91.4% of travel, far higher than public transport at 1.6% and walking or cycling at 1.9%, so daily convenience depends on parking and road links. The 3 local schools span Catholic and Government sectors, with ICSEA from 970 to 1036. St Brigid's Catholic Primary leads at 1036, above Nerang State School at 979 and Nerang State High at 970. IRSAD decile 4 points to below-average advantage, but services are established.
Drive
91.4%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.98%/yr
(+222 people/yr)
EstablishedNerang is forecast to grow slowly rather than surge. The annual trend is 0.98%, or 222 people a year, just below 1%, with the medium path rising from 22,867 in 2026 to 23,975 in 2031. Migration explains the direction because overseas migration averages +183 people a year, higher than internal migration at -44, making overseas migration the primary driver. The suburb is also aging, with seniors up 3.8 points and young residents down 2.1 points. Gentrification is scored 5 and labelled Not gentrifying, so growth is more steady renewal than rapid uplift.
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 Nerang compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nerang a good suburb to live in?
Nerang can suit households wanting space, schools and car access. It has 61.4% separate houses, 3 local schools and a median age of 40, matching the national age comparison. It is less suited to transit-first buyers because car driving at 91.4% is far higher than public transport at 1.6%.
What is the median house price in Nerang?
A current median house price is not available for Nerang. The affordability markers are a $1,733 monthly mortgage and $390 weekly rent, with mortgage costs at 28.1% of income, higher than the 27.4% rent-to-income figure.
What schools are in Nerang?
Nerang has 3 listed schools across Catholic and Government sectors. St Brigid's Catholic Primary School has ICSEA 1036 and 338 enrolments, above Nerang State School at 979 and Nerang State High School at 970.
Is Nerang safe?
A suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 residents is not available, so street-level checks are important. From a livability angle, movement is car-based: 91.4% drive, much higher than 1.6% using public transport, which affects how safe and convenient different pockets feel.
Is Nerang good for property investment?
Nerang has a usable rental base, with 33.2% of households renting and median rent at $390 per week. Vacancy is 4.8%, higher than a very tight market, so investors need careful pricing. Demand is helped by 183 net overseas migrants a year compared with -44 internal migration.
How is Nerang's population changing?
Nerang is growing at a moderate forecast pace of 0.98% a year, or about 222 people annually. The medium path reaches 23,975 by 2031, higher than 22,867 in 2026, with overseas migration the main driver at +183 people a year.
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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