West Gladstone (Qld)

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Based on demographic evaluations of ABS records for the surrounding region, combined with post-Census address validation conducted by Districts, the suburb of West Gladstone has an estimated population of 5,199 as of May 2026. This indicates an expansion of 355 residents (7.3%) compared to the 2021 Census, which registered 4,844 citizens. This adjustment is derived from the resident population of 5,166 calculated by Districts using the ABS June 2025 ERP release, alongside 18 validated new addresses added since the Census. The suburb's population density stands at 733 persons per square kilometer, aligning closely with typical benchmarks across Districts locations. The 7.3% post-census growth rate is within 0.1 percentage points of the broader SA4 region (7.4%), indicating competitive regional performance. This demographic expansion was primarily fueled by overseas arrivals, which accounted for approximately 59.0% of the total growth, though natural increase and interstate relocations also registered positive contributions.

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The suburb of West Gladstone features a balanced workforce distributed across professional and industrial occupations, with a notable presence of manufacturing and industrial roles, and an unemployment rate of 6.9% according to statistical area aggregations by Districts. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 2,548, while the unemployment rate was 3.0% higher than the Regional Qld benchmark of 3.9%, and participation rates closely matched the Regional Qld average of 64.3%. Census returns indicated that a modest 4.4% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic containment measures.

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Based on postcode-level ATO statistics from the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the suburb of West Gladstone recorded a median income of $52,149 and an average income of $64,463. These figures sit below the national benchmarks, and compare with $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average) across Regional Qld. Accounting for a Wage Price Index expansion of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, current estimated values would stand at approximately $58,073 for the median and $71,786 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reports that household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of West Gladstone place between the 21st and 28th percentiles nationally. Income distribution figures show that 30.2% of the population (1,570 residents) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, similar to the regional proportion of . After meeting housing costs, residents retain of their income, which sits at the th percentile nationally.

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Residential property types in the suburb of West Gladstone at the time of the latest Census consisted of 74.9% separate houses and 25.1% multi-unit or semi-detached dwellings, compared to 76.4% separate houses and 23.6% alternative dwellings in Regional Qld. The rate of home ownership in the suburb of West Gladstone stood at 26.4%, behind the Regional Qld average, with the remaining properties occupied under a mortgage (28.1%) or rented (45.5%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,300, which is below the Regional Qld average, while the median weekly rent was $230, compared to regional averages of $1,655 and $345 respectively. Compared to national benchmarks, mortgage payments in the suburb of West Gladstone are well below the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are significantly lower than the national figure of $375.

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Families make up 58.7% of all households in the area, consisting of couples with children at 19.6%, couples without children at 23.6%, and single parent households at 14.1%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 41.3%, with lone person households representing 36.4% and group housing making up 4.6%. The median household occupancy of 2.2 residents is lower than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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The suburb of West Gladstone displays lower rates of tertiary education, with university graduation rates at 16.5% compared to the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are held by 12.3% of the population, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.4% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Vocational and technical qualifications are common, with 40.1% of residents aged 15+ holding a credential, consisting of advanced diplomas at 6.6% and certificates at 33.5%.

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Public transport services in the suburb of West Gladstone include 26 active transit stops, which consist of bus connections. These locations are serviced by 8 distinct routes, delivering a combined 585 passenger trips weekly. Accessibility is rated favorably, with residents living an average of 230 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the area's residential profile, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private vehicles being the primary mode of travel at 88%, and 6% of commuters walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 cars per household, below the regional norm. A minor 4.4% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

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Health indicators point to challenges in the suburb of West Gladstone, based on mortality and chronic illness data evaluated by Districts, with medical conditions prominent in both younger and older cohorts, while private health insurance coverage is slightly above the average SA2 region level at approximately 53% of the population (~2,742 residents).

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The suburb of West Gladstone has lower levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 87.1% of the population, 83.3% of residents born in Australia, and 91.2% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, representing 45.9% of the community. Judaism shows the most pronounced relative overrepresentation, accounting for 0.1% of the population, which matches the 0.1% level recorded across Regional Qld.

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The median age in the suburb of West Gladstone is 40, which is close to the Regional Qld average of 41 and slightly higher than the national median of 38. The 15 - 24 age bracket is well represented at 13.8% compared to Regional Qld, while the 5 - 14 cohort is less common at 11.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has expanded from 12.4% to 13.8% of the population. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 13.3% to 11.8%, and the 5 to 14 group fell from 12.2% to 11.1%. Demographic projections suggest the suburb of West Gladstone's age structure will shift by led by the to age bracket which is expected to grow by ( people), rising from to . Conversely, population declines are forecast for the to and to cohorts.

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West Gladstone currently has an estimated 265 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 160 children aged 0-2 and 107 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 4% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 19% by 2041 (to approximately 316 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 463. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 11.8 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the top 30% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.