Yatala
At 1,405 residents across 14.05 square kilometres, Yatala has a low-density profile dominated by detached housing, with 99.2% of homes classified as separate houses. Household income sits at the 92.4th percentile nationally, while the median age of 43 is 3 years above the national average. Families are prominent, reflected in an average household size of 3.4 and 82.0% of dwellings containing 4 or more bedrooms. Compared with nearby Ormeau, Yatala feels more established and employment-linked, with its industrial setting shaping housing, transport and daily routines.
Local council: Gold Coast
Population
1,405
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,506/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
Yatala suits buyers seeking large detached homes and space for established households rather than apartment living. A substantial 82.0% of dwellings contain 4 or more bedrooms and 99.2% are separate houses, so buyers should compare land size, renovation condition and access to employment areas rather than relying only on headline price. The listed monthly mortgage cost is $2,200, equal to 20.3% of household income, while weekly rent is $495. That mortgage share is below the level usually associated with severe repayment pressure, and the 3.4-person average household is 0.9 higher than the national average. Compared with denser northern Gold Coast markets, Yatala provides a more conventional family-home format.
For Buyers
Yatala suits buyers seeking large detached homes and space for established households rather than apartment living. A substantial 82.0% of dwellings contain 4 or more bedrooms and 99.2% are separate houses, so buyers should compare land size, renovation condition and access to employment areas rather than relying only on headline price. The listed monthly mortgage cost is $2,200, equal to 20.3% of household income, while weekly rent is $495. That mortgage share is below the level usually associated with severe repayment pressure, and the 3.4-person average household is 0.9 higher than the national average. Compared with denser northern Gold Coast markets, Yatala provides a more conventional family-home format.
For Investors
Yatala has a small rental sector, with only 8.0% of occupied dwellings rented, which can limit the depth of tenant demand but may also reduce direct competition between landlords. Weekly rent is $495 and the vacancy rate is 3.9%, providing a useful starting point for assessing cash flow alongside insurance, maintenance and land costs. Development activity recorded 16 applications over 12 months, below the threshold that would indicate a heavily changing pipeline. Overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver, which may support future housing demand. Compared with suburbs with larger rental pools, investors should prioritise tenant-quality checks, transport access and the specific appeal of each dwelling because local rental turnover may be narrower.
Development Activity
Total DAs
21
Last 12 Months
21
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 Yatala
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Rivermount College (Yatala)
Demographics
Yatala has an older age profile, with a median age of 43 that is 3 years above the national average. University attainment is 23.8%, or 6.3 percentage points below the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 19.7%, 1.9 points below nationally. The population leans toward English, Scottish and Irish ancestry, recorded at 590, 144 and 143 people respectively, with German ancestry at 97. Household size is 3.4 people, 0.9 higher than the national average, because couples with children account for 53.2% of families and couples without children account for 40.1%. Compared with newer Ormeau estates, Yatala has a more settled and older household pattern, reinforced by an 81.2% two-place-of-residence retention rate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.2%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Yatala's housing stock is unusually consistent: 99.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 82.0% contain 4 or more bedrooms, compared with the smaller share of 13.1% for 3-bedroom homes. Tenure is concentrated among mortgaged owners at 55.5%, followed by outright owners at 35.5%, while only 8.0% rent. That pattern points to a mortgage-belt suburb where larger homes are occupied by owners and families rather than a substantial investor-held apartment market. Housing costs currently represent 20.3% of household income for mortgages and 19.8% for rent, both below common stress thresholds. Compared with apartment-heavy areas, Yatala buyers need to place more weight on land, upkeep and commute than on internal floor area alone.
Mortgage / mo
$2,200
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $495.
$600
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $600 · units $490
HH Size
3.4
Personal Income / wk
$787
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
16
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.2%
Couples with children
40.1%
Couples, no children
6.9%
Single parent
389
Total families
Economy & Employment
Yatala's employment base combines practical industries with professional work. Construction is the largest industry at 18.8% and 83 workers, followed by healthcare at 15.2% and 67, education at 14.1% and 62, other services at 9.1% and 40, and manufacturing at 8.2% and 36. Trades lead occupations with 131 people, ahead of professionals at 119 and managers at 105. The unemployment rate is 4.7%, participation is 66.7% and full-time employment is 60.5%. Household income is $2,506 weekly, ranking at the 92.4th percentile. Yatala's economic resources decile of 10 is above its education and occupation decile of 5, a gap that fits a suburb where trade and management incomes are strong without exceptionally high university participation.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
766
Unemployed
36
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.5%
Part-time
29.6%
Participation
66.7%
Employed
730
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.8%
Postgraduate
5.4%
Born Overseas
19.7%
Dwellings
389
Transport to Work
Yatala is strongly car dependent, with 75.2% of residents driving to work and only 1.7% using public transport. Walking or cycling accounts for 0.8%, while 17.0% work from home, so daily convenience depends heavily on road access and proximity to employment. The suburb has 1 nearby school listed, in the independent, non-State sector; families should confirm enrolment zones, year levels and travel arrangements against the exact address. With density at 100.0 people per square kilometre and an IRSAD decile of 6, Yatala is less compact than denser urban centres but sits above the middle of the socioeconomic distribution. Compared with transit-oriented suburbs, it is better suited to households comfortable with driving and detached-home routines.
Drive
75.2%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
17.0%
Growth Outlook
Yatala is forecast to grow at 2.33% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 45.0% over 10 years, while the forecast trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 3.4 percentage-point rise in the senior share and a 2.5-point decline in the young share. Rents have grown 18.4%, but the gentrification score is 18 and the stage remains Not gentrifying, so growth is not currently being framed as an inner-suburban transformation. Compared with a rapidly changing redevelopment precinct, Yatala's outlook is more established: demand can expand because of migration and regional growth, while the existing detached-home base and ageing pattern continue to shape the suburb.
Population trend: Gold Coast council area
Yatala sits in the Gold Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Yatala's.
Residents 2025
691,230
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.8%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Yatala compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yatala a good suburb to live in?
Yatala can suit households wanting large detached homes, a quieter low-density setting and access to employment areas. It has 1,405 residents, 99.2% separate houses and an average household size of 3.4, which is 0.9 higher than the national average. The trade-off is car dependence: 75.2% drive to work and only 1.7% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Yatala?
A current median house price should be checked through recent comparable sales and local agent evidence. Yatala's stock is 99.2% separate houses, and 82.0% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, so sale comparisons should match land size, bedroom count, renovation quality and access to major roads rather than combining unlike properties.
What schools are in Yatala?
Yatala has 1 listed school, Rivermount College, which is a non-State independent school. Families should confirm enrolment requirements, year-level availability and transport arrangements directly, because school access can depend on the exact address and the intended year level. Public transport use is only 1.7%, so driving arrangements may be important for daily trips.
Is Yatala safe?
Safety should be checked using current Queensland Police information, council updates and an inspection of the specific street rather than inferred from demographic or housing figures. Yatala has 1,405 residents across 14.05 square kilometres, and conditions can differ between residential streets, industrial areas and major road corridors. Visit at different times and check lighting, traffic and nearby activity before deciding.
Is Yatala good for property investment?
Yatala has some investor advantages, including weekly rent of $495, a 3.9% vacancy rate and forecast growth driven by overseas migration. However, only 8.0% of occupied dwellings are rented, so the tenant pool is smaller than in more rental-oriented suburbs. With 16 development applications recorded over 12 months, investors should assess each property's tenant appeal, access and holding costs rather than assume uniform demand.
How is Yatala's population changing?
Yatala's current population is 1,405, and the wider-area forecast points to annual growth of 2.33% with overseas migration as the primary driver. The trajectory is also labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 3.4 percentage points while the young share has fallen 2.5 points. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 45.0% over 10 years, while gentrification remains Not gentrifying.
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).
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