Ormeau
A 33-year median age and 90.9% separate houses give Ormeau a younger, family-heavy profile on the northern Gold Coast corridor. Compared with nearby Pimpama and Yatala, it feels more like a mortgage-belt suburb than a high-rise centre, with 48.7% of homes held with a mortgage and 75.2% having 4 or more bedrooms. Household income sits at the 77.8th percentile nationally, while the average household size of 3.1 is 0.6 above the national figure, supporting demand for larger dwellings.
Population
15,938
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,067/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$553K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Homebuyers are mainly shopping for space: 90.9% of dwellings are separate houses, apartments are only 1.5%, and 75.2% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. The median house price is not currently available, so affordability is better judged through holding costs: the median mortgage is $1,950 a month and mortgage payments take 21.8% of income, below common stress levels. With a 33-year median age and 3.1 average household size, Ormeau suits households needing rooms, yards and car access more than inner-suburb walkability.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are mainly shopping for space: 90.9% of dwellings are separate houses, apartments are only 1.5%, and 75.2% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. The median house price is not currently available, so affordability is better judged through holding costs: the median mortgage is $1,950 a month and mortgage payments take 21.8% of income, below common stress levels. With a 33-year median age and 3.1 average household size, Ormeau suits households needing rooms, yards and car access more than inner-suburb walkability.
For Investors
Ormeau has a practical rental base rather than a speculative apartment market. Renters make up 30.4% of households, the median rent is $445 a week, and the vacancy rate is 3.2%, a level that gives tenants some choice compared with very tight rental pockets. New supply pressure appears limited, with only 1 development application in the past 12 months. Demand is supported because households are large at 3.1 people on average and 75.2% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, matching family rental needs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
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
Schools in Ormeau iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Livingstone Christian College
Prep-12 · 1222 students
Mother Teresa Primary School
Prep-6 · 213 students
Norfolk Village State School
Prep-6 · 625 students
Ormeau Woods State High School
7-12 · 1404 students
Demographics
Ormeau is younger than the national benchmark, with a median age of 33, which is 7.0 years below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 23.9%, 2.3 percentage points above national, but ancestry remains Anglo-leaning, led by English at 6,783 people, then Irish at 1,548 and Scottish at 1,541. University attainment is 21.2%, or 8.9 percentage points below national, which helps explain the suburb's mix of trades, care, administration and family households rather than a strongly inner-city professional profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.9%
Houses
7.6%
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is strongly detached and mortgage-led. Separate houses account for 90.9% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 7.6%, and apartments just 1.5%, well below the mix seen in denser urban centres. Ownership is weighted to buyers rather than long-held owners: 48.7% have a mortgage, 20.9% own outright and 30.4% rent. The price summary is unavailable, but stress settings are moderate, with rent at 21.5% of income and mortgage costs at 21.8%, both lower than levels usually associated with pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$445
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$863
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.2%
Unoccupied
161
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.0%
Couples, no children
13,956
Total families
Economy & Employment
Ormeau's workforce is broad and service-oriented. Healthcare is the largest industry at 16.6% and 822 workers, followed by construction at 14.6% and 723 workers, then education at 11.3%. Occupations are led by professionals with 1,241 people, clerical and admin with 1,134, and managers with 951. The suburb ranks higher on resources than education: IER is decile 9 while IEO is decile 4, suggesting household capacity is stronger than formal qualification measures. Unemployment is 4.9% and participation is 64.4%.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
6,799
Unemployed
227
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.5%
Part-time
27.6%
Participation
64.4%
Employed
7,266
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.2%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
23.9%
Dwellings
4,949
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-based because 92.0% drive to work, while public transport and walking or cycling are both 1.2%, below what buyers would expect in rail-centred suburbs. Education is a clear local anchor, with 4 schools spanning Independent, Catholic and Government sectors. Livingstone Christian College leads on ICSEA at 1043 with 1,222 enrolments, followed by Mother Teresa Primary at 1031 and Norfolk Village State School at 1005. The school ICSEA range is 996 to 1043, and IRSAD decile 6 indicates middling-to-above-average advantage.
Drive
92.0%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.09%/yr
(+371 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is the strongest forward signal. The trend forecast adds 371 people a year, equal to 3.09% annual growth, taking the medium population path from 12,696 in 2026 to 14,549 in 2031. Migration is balanced, with average net overseas migration of 96 people a year and net internal migration of 76. Compared with the older shift profile, where the young share fell 2.6 points and seniors rose 1.2 points, the gentrification score of 42 and Active stage point to renewed demand rather than stagnation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+96
Net Internal / yr
+76
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +52% since 2011, Net internal migration +76/yr, Accelerating: 20% → 26%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ormeau compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ormeau a good suburb to live in?
Ormeau suits family households seeking space, with 90.9% separate houses, 75.2% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms, and a median age of 33. The trade-off is car dependence, as 92.0% drive to work.
What is the median house price in Ormeau?
A current median house price is not available for Ormeau. Buyers can still assess affordability using the $1,950 median monthly mortgage, $445 weekly rent, and mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8%.
What schools are in Ormeau?
Ormeau has 4 local schools: Livingstone Christian College, Mother Teresa Primary School, Norfolk Village State School and Ormeau Woods State High School. ICSEA scores range from 996 to 1043.
Is Ormeau safe?
A local crime rate is not available for Ormeau, so buyers should check current street-level police information. For broader context, the suburb has 15,938 residents and an IRSAD decile of 6.
Is Ormeau good for property investment?
Ormeau has investor appeal through family rental demand: 30.4% of households rent, median rent is $445 a week, and 75.2% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. Vacancy is 3.2%.
How is Ormeau's population changing?
Ormeau is growing quickly, with the forecast trend adding 371 people a year, or 3.09% annually. The medium path rises from 12,696 people in 2026 to 14,549 in 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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