Pacific Pines
Family-scale housing defines Pacific Pines more than beachside Gold Coast imagery: 65.4% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 76.0% are separate houses. The suburb had 16,664 residents at census count, while the forecast current population is 19,110, with household income in the 79.1 percentile nationally. Compared with older Nerang and more mixed Helensvale, Pacific Pines leans newer, mortgage-backed and family-heavy because 50.0% of homes carry a mortgage and average household size is 3.1, above the national norm.
Population
16,664
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,090/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$576K
Estimated from rent (2025)
For homebuyers, the appeal is space and predictability rather than apartment choice. Separate houses make up 76.0% of dwellings, semi-detached homes add 23.8%, and apartments are almost absent at 0.1%, so buyers wanting low-rise family stock have a deeper pool than in denser Gold Coast centres. The median house price is not available, but carrying costs look manageable: the typical mortgage is $1,980 a month and mortgage payments absorb 21.9% of household income, below common stress thresholds. The 65.4% share of 4 or more bedroom homes suits families because larger households average 3.1 people.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, the appeal is space and predictability rather than apartment choice. Separate houses make up 76.0% of dwellings, semi-detached homes add 23.8%, and apartments are almost absent at 0.1%, so buyers wanting low-rise family stock have a deeper pool than in denser Gold Coast centres. The median house price is not available, but carrying costs look manageable: the typical mortgage is $1,980 a month and mortgage payments absorb 21.9% of household income, below common stress thresholds. The 65.4% share of 4 or more bedroom homes suits families because larger households average 3.1 people.
For Investors
Investors see a conventional family-rental market rather than a high-rise transient one. Renters account for 32.8% of households and the weekly rent is $470, while vacancy sits at 3.4%, high enough to signal more tenant choice than a very tight market. There were 0 development approvals in the past 12 months, so new competing supply is limited. Demand is supported by overseas migration averaging 194 net people a year, although net internal migration is -236 a year, making tenant depth more dependent on overseas arrivals and local employment.
Schools in Pacific Pines iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Jubilee Primary School
Prep-6 · 720 students
Park Lake State School
Prep-6 · 901 students
Pacific Pines State School
Prep-6 · 759 students
Pacific Pines State High School
7-12 · 2193 students
Demographics
Pacific Pines is younger and more overseas-connected than the national picture. The median age is 34, 6.0 years below national, while 33.7% of residents were born overseas, 12.1 percentage points above national. University attainment is 29.0%, just 1.1 points below national, so education levels are close to average rather than elite. English ancestry is the largest count at 6,440, followed by Scottish at 1,469 and Irish at 1,353. Mandarin has 155 speakers, with Korean 86 and Punjabi 75, reflecting migration because family-sized housing attracts larger households of 3.1 people.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.0%
Houses
23.8%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is strongly tilted to detached family ownership. Owners with a mortgage are 50.0% of households, above outright owners at 17.2% and renters at 32.8%, which explains the mortgage-belt feel compared with older nearby Nerang. Bedroom mix reinforces that pattern: 65.4% have 4 or more bedrooms and 33.6% have 3, leaving only 1.1% with 2 bedrooms or fewer. Housing stress is muted because mortgage costs take 21.9% of income and rent takes 22.5%, both below common stress thresholds, helped by household income of $2,090 a week.
Mortgage / mo
$1,980
Rent / wk
$470
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$836
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.4%
Unoccupied
185
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
18.3%
Couples, no children
14,756
Total families
Economy & Employment
The job base is service-heavy, led by Healthcare at 21.9% of workers, Construction at 12.4%, Education at 10.5%, Retail at 8.6% and Professional or Tech at 6.2%. Professionals are the largest occupation count at 1,606, ahead of Community and Personal roles at 1,190 and Clerical or Admin at 1,118. Employment is solid rather than exceptional, with 62.9% full-time and 5.8% unemployment. SEIFA explains the mixed picture: IER is high in decile 9, but IEO is average at decile 5 and IRSAD sits in decile 6, because resources are stronger than education and occupation rankings.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
11,596
Unemployed
382
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.9%
Part-time
31.3%
Participation
65.7%
Employed
7,865
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.0%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
33.7%
Dwellings
5,180
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for car-based families with local schooling. Four schools sit in the suburb with an ICSEA range of 1009 to 1058; Jubilee Primary is the top ICSEA result at 1058 in the Catholic sector, while Park Lake State School at 1032 and Pacific Pines State High at 1009 give Government options through secondary years. Transport is the trade-off because 91.8% drive to work, far above public transport at 1.1% and walking or cycling at 0.9%. The setting works for households that value schools and space more than rail-style commuting.
Drive
91.8%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.61%/yr
(+308 people/yr)
EstablishedPacific Pines is growing steadily, not rapidly. The trend forecast adds 1.61% a year, or about 308 people annually, lifting the medium population path from 20,369 in 2026 to 21,907 in 2031. Migration explains the shape: overseas migration is the primary driver at +194 net people a year, compared with internal migration of -236. The suburb is also aging, with seniors up 4.3 points and young residents down 3.3 points, so demand should lean toward established family homes rather than redevelopment. Gentrification score is 14 and stage is Not gentrifying, below a high-change market.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+194
Net Internal / yr
-236
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011, Net internal outflow -236/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Pacific Pines compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pacific Pines a good suburb to live in?
Yes for households wanting space, schools and car access. It has 4 local schools, 76.0% separate houses and 65.4% homes with 4 or more bedrooms, while household income sits in the 79.1 percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Pacific Pines?
A current median house price is not available for Pacific Pines. Practical benchmarks are the $1,980 typical monthly mortgage, $470 weekly rent and 21.9% mortgage-to-income ratio, which is below common stress thresholds.
What schools are in Pacific Pines?
Pacific Pines has 4 schools: Jubilee Primary School, Park Lake State School, Pacific Pines State School and Pacific Pines State High School. ICSEA ranges from 1009 to 1058, with Catholic and Government options.
Is Pacific Pines safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not reported for Pacific Pines, so safety should be checked against current Queensland Police maps and street-level inspections. Family indicators are strong, with 4 schools and 65.4% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms.
Is Pacific Pines good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking family tenants rather than apartment churn. Renters are 32.8% of households, rent is $470 a week, vacancy is 3.4%, and 0 approvals in 12 months limit new competing supply.
How is Pacific Pines's population changing?
Population is rising at a forecast 1.61% a year, about 308 people annually. The medium path reaches 21,907 by 2031, while migration is overseas-led at +194 net overseas and -236 net internal a year.
What languages are spoken in Pacific Pines?
English remains the main language environment, but overseas-born residents are 33.7%, which is 12.1 points above national. The largest listed non-English language counts are Mandarin 155, Korean 86 and Punjabi 75.
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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