Median house price
—
No data available
QLD · Gold Coast Council
Carrara, 4211
Est. population · Jun 2025
13,443
Growth (1 yr)
+1.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+8.7%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,562/wk
Employment rate
59.7%
Languages at home
13.1%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Japanese, Cantonese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
In Gold Coast Council, Carrara is a settled established suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Overseas-born and multilingual households are a noticeable part of the local population.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Getting around is straightforward, with buses tying neighbouring communities together. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Versus similar metro suburbs, the suburb reads around average on desirability, chiefly because local dining and lifestyle amenities trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Carrara snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$850/wk
Population (ERP)
13,443
+1.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#157
among Metro Brisbane · Established
Safety
35th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
64th
percentile in QLD
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
87th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 48.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 34% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 2386th in Australia
- State rank
- 511th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #157 among Metro Brisbane · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #272 among Metro Brisbane suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $850
Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- RTA bond statistics — Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland) · Mar 2026 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
13,443(June 2025)
+1.5% annual · +8.7% over 5 years · 64th percentile in QLD
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.5%
- 5-year growth
- +8.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +202
- Change in 5 years
- +1,076
- Growth rank in QLD
- 64th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~14,300), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 13,138
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,562
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 271 of 5,450
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,900
- Employment rate
- 59.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 2,697 / 1,742 / 461 (+ 273 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Aug 2026)
- 478
- Against the person
- 65
- Against property
- 254
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 35.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 202 residents
- State safety percentile
- 35th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +17.8%
Most common offence types
- Assault169
- Drug Offences507
- Other Property Damage185
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)772
- Traffic And Related Offences245
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Aug 2026; Jan 2026 to Aug 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 1,111.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 87th
School list
- Emmanuel CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1139 · 93th percentile · LBOTE 24% · 1,686 students · Top SEA quarter 54% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
- Josiah CollegeSpecial · Independent · ICSEA 1084 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 102 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Carrara Tiny Tots Child CareAlison Roadkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
31 public transport stops in this suburb
- Gooding Dr at Palm Meadows Drive
- Gooding Rd at Cararra Markets
- Nerang Broadbeach Rd at Nielsens Road
- Nerang Broadbeach Rd at Nielsens Road
- Riverside Home Caravan Park
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
45 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 restaurants · 2 cafes · 1 playgrounds · 1 sports centres · 1 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 8 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 31 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 38/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.15
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.3
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.61
Food & drink(4)
- CabukeeCafe
- Gloria Jean'sCafe
Unit Shop 4 3029 The Boulevard, Carrara
- Bar LagoRestaurant
- Pizza HutRestaurant
2 Coelia Court, Carrara
Community(1)
- Emmanuel CollegeSchool
17 Birmingham Road, Carrara
Health & services(1)
- The White BiteDentist
Sport & outdoors(10)
- Emerald Lakes Golf ClubGolf course
Alabaster Drive, Carrara
- Birmingham Sports FieldsPark
Birmingham Road, Carrara
- Park (4)
- Playground
- Emerald Lakes Tennis CenterSports centre
3 Alabaster Drive
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Transport(13)
13 bus stops
Other(7)
- Drinking water
- Fountain
- Parking (10)
- Parking Entrance
- Public toilets
- People First StadiumStadium
- Vending machine
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Amelia ParkPark
- Birmingham Sports FieldsPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Pindara Private Hospital (3.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- PharmacyPharmacy
- The White BiteDentist
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 277
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 20.6
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 28° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 493 mm · ~62 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 343 mm · ~43 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 144 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 249 mm · ~31 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Between intersections of Lakeview Drive and Birmingham Road.Nerang Broadbeach Road15 Aug 2026 – 15 Aug 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Moncrieff
- Member of Parliament
- Angie BELL (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 125,713
- Turnout (2025)
- 85.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 58.8%Labor 41.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.6 km away).
Coalition 57.3%Labor 42.7%
1.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +6.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- CarraraLabor 42.9% · Coalition 57.1% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
- Merrimac (Moncrieff)Labor 43.2% · Coalition 56.8% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
- BenowaLabor 40.0% · Coalition 60.0% TPP (2025)2.6 km away
- WorongaryLabor 53.4% · Coalition 46.6% TPP (2025)2.6 km away
- Special Hospital Team 3Labor 17.8% · Coalition 82.2% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Gold Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.