West Gladstone
A 14.1% vacancy rate is the standout feature of West Gladstone's housing market, alongside 4,844 residents and a median age of 40. The suburb is dominated by separate houses at 74.9%, while its forecast trajectory is Aging rather than gentrifying. Age is in line with the national average, but household income sits at the 33rd percentile and the area ranks in the lowest SEIFA decile. Compared with Gladstone Central's more central setting, West Gladstone reads as a detached-house area with strong car reliance and an established, lower-income profile.
Population
4,844
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,324/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
West Gladstone suits buyers seeking established housing rather than a suburb with a readily quoted median sale price. Separate houses account for 74.9% of dwellings, with 3-bedroom homes making up 51.5% and 4-bedroom-or-larger homes 24.6%. The 28.0% mortgage tenure share is lower than the 45.0% renting share, while the reported mortgage payment is $1,300 per month and mortgage-to-income is 22.7%. Compared with apartment-focused locations, the local stock gives detached-house buyers more choice, but purchasers should compare recent settled sales carefully because a reliable median house price is unavailable.
For Buyers
West Gladstone suits buyers seeking established housing rather than a suburb with a readily quoted median sale price. Separate houses account for 74.9% of dwellings, with 3-bedroom homes making up 51.5% and 4-bedroom-or-larger homes 24.6%. The 28.0% mortgage tenure share is lower than the 45.0% renting share, while the reported mortgage payment is $1,300 per month and mortgage-to-income is 22.7%. Compared with apartment-focused locations, the local stock gives detached-house buyers more choice, but purchasers should compare recent settled sales carefully because a reliable median house price is unavailable.
For Investors
West Gladstone has a substantial tenant base, with 45.0% of households renting compared with 26.1% owning outright. Weekly rent is $230, creating an accessible entry point for tenants, but the 14.1% vacancy rate indicates that leasing conditions may be uneven and that property selection matters. Only 1 development was recorded over the latest 12-month period, limiting evidence of a major supply pipeline. Overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver, although the gentrification score is 15 and the area is classified as Not gentrifying. Compared with lower-rental-share suburbs, demand may be more investment-relevant, but gross yield cannot be assessed without a purchase price.
Development Activity
Total DAs
46
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 West Gladstone
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Rosella Park School
Gladstone State High School
Gladstone West State School
Demographics
West Gladstone has a median age of 40, matching the national average, but its 21.9% university-educated share is 8.2 percentage points below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 16.7%, which is 4.9 points below the national comparison, and average household size is 2.2, or 0.3 below national levels. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 1,863, 531 and 471 respectively, while no religion and Christianity record 2,204 and 2,040 people. A 70.0% stay rate and 30.0% turnover rate support a settled population, while the aging trajectory is consistent with smaller households and a growing senior share.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.9%
Houses
5.0%
Townhouse
20.1%
Apartment
Tenure
West Gladstone's housing mix is detached-house led: separate houses represent 74.9% of dwellings, higher than apartments at 20.1% and semi-detached homes at 5.0%. Three-bedroom properties account for 51.5%, followed by 4-bedroom-or-larger homes at 24.6%, 2-bedroom homes at 19.9% and 0-to-1-bedroom dwellings at 4.1%. Renting is the largest tenure group at 45.0%, ahead of outright ownership at 26.1% and mortgages at 28.0%. Weekly rent is $230 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.7%. Compared with apartment-heavy suburbs, this stock better suits families and households wanting separate yards, while the high vacancy rate may create more choice for renters.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $230.
$510
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $510 · units $400
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$698
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.1%
Unoccupied
339
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.1%
Couples with children
40.8%
Couples, no children
23.8%
Single parent
1,234
Total families
Economy & Employment
West Gladstone's employment base is anchored by healthcare at 15.6% of workers, ahead of manufacturing at 13.8%, education at 11.3%, construction at 10.7% and transport at 7.9%. Trades lead occupations with 406 people, followed by professionals at 361, labourers at 283, community and personal service workers at 267, and machinery operators and drivers at 223. The unemployment rate is 10.6%, participation is 59.0% and full-time employment is 63.9%, indicating a mixed labour market shaped by practical and service roles. Household income is $1,324 weekly at the 33rd percentile. All four SEIFA measures rank in decile 1, below higher-income parts of the region, consistent with the lower income and unemployment profile.
Unemployment
10.6%
Labour Force
2,359
Unemployed
249
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.9%
Part-time
29.3%
Participation
59.0%
Employed
2,110
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.9%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
16.7%
Dwellings
2,051
Transport to Work
Daily travel is strongly car dependent: 81.0% of residents drive, compared with only 0.7% using public transport, while 6.8% walk or cycle and 4.7% work from home. Three nearby government schools provide a mix of state primary, state high school and special-school access, including Gladstone West State School, Gladstone State High School and Rosella Park School. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because catchments can cross suburb boundaries. The IRSAD score is 884 at decile 1, below more advantaged locations, and 8.1% of residents need assistance. No reliable crime rate is available for comparison, so current Queensland Police records and street-level conditions should be checked before choosing a property.
Drive
81.0%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
6.8%
Work from Home
4.7%
Population Forecast
+0.56%/yr
(+38 people/yr)
EstablishedWest Gladstone has a forecast annual trend of 0.56%, with overseas migration identified as the primary growth driver. That modest forward rate sits against a 10-year population change of -2.2%, below zero, while the established area's trajectory is classified as Aging. The gentrification score is 15 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so current signals do not point to a broad redevelopment-led price shift. Rent growth is -17.9%, while affordability improved from 39.9% in 2011 to 33.4% in 2021. Compared with a high-growth expansion area, West Gladstone is more likely to experience gradual change shaped by migration and household aging than rapid neighbourhood turnover.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+98
Net Internal / yr
+16
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Accelerating: -5% → 11%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West Gladstone compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Gladstone a good suburb to live in?
West Gladstone can suit households wanting detached housing, with 74.9% of dwellings being separate houses and 3 local government schools. It is more car dependent than transit-oriented suburbs, with 81.0% driving and 0.7% using public transport. The 14.1% vacancy rate may provide rental choice.
What is the median house price in West Gladstone?
A reliable median house price is not currently available for West Gladstone. Buyers should compare recent settled sales by dwelling type and address. As a rental guide, weekly rent is $230, while 74.9% of homes are separate houses and 51.5% have 3 bedrooms.
What schools are in West Gladstone?
West Gladstone has 3 listed government schools: Gladstone West State School, Gladstone State High School and Rosella Park School, a special school. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone because school access can differ by street and may compare differently with nearby suburbs.
Is West Gladstone safe?
A reliable suburb-level crime rate is not available, so safety cannot be ranked against nearby areas from the available figures. Check current Queensland Police incidents and inspect the exact street at different times. West Gladstone has 4,844 residents and 3 local schools, but those figures describe scale and access rather than safety.
Is West Gladstone good for property investment?
West Gladstone is a mixed investment case. Rent is $230 per week and 45.0% of households rent, higher than the 26.1% owning outright, but vacancy is 14.1%. Only 1 development was recorded over 12 months, and the gentrification score is 15 with a Not gentrifying classification.
How is West Gladstone's population changing?
The forecast annual trend is 0.56% and overseas migration is the primary driver, but the wider area's 10-year population change is -2.2%, below zero. West Gladstone is classified on an Aging trajectory, with the senior share up 3.2 percentage points and the young share down 1.2 points.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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