suburb.guide

QLD · Sunshine Coast Council

Parrearra, 4575

Est. population · Jun 2025

5,263

Growth (1 yr)

+2.7%

Growth (5 yr)

+9.3%

Median age

52

Median income

$1,467/wk

Employment rate

51%

University qualified

22.4%

Work from home

17.3%

Languages at home

6.1%non-English

Most common: German, Mandarin, French

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

46/100
Average

Top 36% of Queensland's suburbs

Verified 90% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Beach
  • Outer suburban
What Parrearra is known for: Beach, Outer suburban

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Parrearra, QLD suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Parrearra, QLD Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/qld/parrearra

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Suburb profile

Parrearra is an outer metropolitan suburb of Brisbane, in Sunshine Coast Council, with mainly mixed commercial and residential development. It is close to the Kawana Island.

Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median, well above typical levels for outer metropolitan suburbs, and open-space access is better than in most comparable places, with park access 60% above the peer median. Reported crime sits a little below the peer median. Reported offences have fallen 16% year on year, and working from home is more common than in comparable places, with working from home 33% above the peer median. The clearer weaknesses are weaker employment and thinner mapped green cover within the suburb boundary, with employment 16% below the peer median.

Overall, Parrearra suits people prioritising lower crime and school quality over employment.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Outer metropolitan suburb · compared with outer metropolitan suburbs in Queensland (215)

Strengths

  • Reported crime sits a little below the peer median
  • Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median
  • Open-space access is better than in most comparable places
  • Working from home is more common than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Employment rates sit below those of comparable places
  • Mapped green cover within the suburb boundary is below comparable suburbs

What stands out

  • Parrearra Beach
  • Kawana Island

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How Parrearra compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent

$780/wk

Population (ERP)

5,263

+2.7% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

10.3%

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

#33

among Metro Brisbane · Mature

Crime rate

23rd

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

86th

percentile in QLD

Rented dwellings

27%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

8/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

71st

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
46.0/100 — Average
State standing
Top 36% of Queensland's suburbs
National rank
2893rd in Australia
State rank
538th in QLD
Peer rank
#33 among Metro Brisbane · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#269 among Metro Brisbane suburbs
Data confidence
90%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (Mar 2026)
$780

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 (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

5,263(June 2025)

+2.7% annual · +9.3% over 5 years · 86th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.7%
5-year growth
+9.3%
Change in 1 year
+137
Change in 5 years
+450
Growth rank in QLD
86th 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 (~5,650), extrapolated at +1.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
4,661
Median age
52
Median household income / week
$1,467
Dwelling vacancy
10.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
229 of 2,221
Median monthly mortgage
$2,000
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$490
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
45.6% / 27.8% / 26.6%
Employment rate
51%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
17.3% / 0.8% / 65.7%
Walked or cycled to work
2.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,105 / 362 / 524 (+ 3 other)

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted 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

Qualifications

22.4% of adults have a university degree, compared with 21.9% across Queensland. 18.1% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified22.4% · 21.9% QLD
  • Diploma qualified11.9% · 9.4% QLD
  • Trade / vocational18.1% · 18.9% QLD
  • Year 12 or below47.5% · 49.8% QLD

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Management and commerce25.8%
  • Engineering and related technologies15.4%
  • Health14.7%
  • Society and culture11.6%
  • Education10.1%
  • Architecture and building7.2%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$58,018

62nd percentile in QLD · -1% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$63,106

60th percentile in QLD · -3% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
17.0%

96th percentile in QLD · +23% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$91,758

84th percentile in QLD · +45% vs Australia

Residents with business income
10.0%

47th percentile in QLD · -4% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 4575 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
19,212
Taxpayers reporting net rent
3,173
Median net rent
$703
Taxpayers reporting business income
2,002
Taxable income vs state median
+5%
Salary / wages vs state median
+3%
Rental investment vs state median
+55%
Super vs state median
+32%
Business income vs state median
0%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in QLD, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

6.1% speak a language other than English at home; 25% born overseas

Language at home
4,237 English only · 273 other
Non-English at home
6.1%
Born overseas
1,126 (25%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
70 (1.5%)
Australian citizens
4,085
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
11

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • German13 · 17.1%
  • Mandarin13 · 17.1%
  • French10 · 13.2%
  • Greek8 · 10.5%
  • Spanish8 · 10.5%
  • Italian5 · 6.6%
  • Portuguese5 · 6.6%
  • Polish4 · 5.3%

Religion

51.9%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 51.9%, while 40.8% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion40.8%40.7%
Christianity51.9%45.7%
Other / not stated7.3%13.6%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic18.5%18.6%
Anglican16.5%11.3%
Uniting Church4.3%3.6%
Christian (not further defined)3.3%3.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed2.7%2.1%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 4575, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2026 to Sep 2026)
185
Against the person
29
Against property
106
Rate per 1,000 residents (annualised)
47.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 161 residents
State crime-rate percentile
22.9th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate, partial year)
-11.3%

Most common offence types

  • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)65
  • Traffic And Related Offences27
  • Other Property Damage16
  • Good Order Offences13
  • Drug Offences17

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

  • QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Sep 2026; Jan 2026 to Sep 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
2
Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
1,056
Median ICSEA percentile
71th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
3
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
2
School list
  • Brightwater State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1055 · 70th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 733 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
  • Buddina State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1057 · 71th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 742 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
  • Brightwater SSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Buddina SSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Kawana Waters State CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Mountain Creek SHSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

13 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Grand Pde near Kawana Island Bvd
  • Grand Pde near Maldives Pl
  • Grand Pde near Maldives Pl
  • Nicklin Way at Point Cartwright Drive
  • Nicklin Way at Sunbird Chase

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

77 mapped amenities

1 restaurants · 1 cafes · 6 playgrounds · 8 swimming pools · 3 beaches

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life — 15 parks mapped in suburb, 6 playgrounds nearby
  • Reasonable bus and transport access — 13 public transport stops
  • Strong local sport and recreation — 15 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
24/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.21
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.43
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.22
Food & drink(2)
  • MykiesCafe
  • Green Zebra Restaurant & BarRestaurant
Community(1)
  • Community centre
Sport & outdoors(40)
  • Beach (3)
  • WeirCycling route
  • Drinking water (3)
  • Double Bay Park Exercise spaceFitness station
  • Double Bay BeachPark
  • Park (14)
  • Picnic area
  • Playground (6)
  • Public toilets
  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (8)
Transport(8)

8 bus stops

Other(7)
  • Bench (10)
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Rtm road tech marineGeneral
  • Information
  • Parking
  • Shelter (4)
  • Waste Basket (8)

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Double Bay BeachPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
2.5%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
15
Parks (OSM)
15
Typical summer maximum
29°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Kawana Private Hospital (2.5 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
120
Participants per 1,000 residents
22.8

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

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
29° / 20°
Rainfall
498 mm · ~62 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
26° / 17°
Rainfall
406 mm · ~51 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
21° / 10°
Rainfall
196 mm · ~24 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
26° / 15°
Rainfall
256 mm · ~32 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping. Flood cover uses floodplain overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Fisher
Member of Parliament
Andrew WALLACE (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
139,064
Turnout (2025)
90.1%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+2.6 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 56.0%Labor 44.0%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 6.8 km away).

Coalition 55.0%Labor 45.0%

1.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +2.2 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • BuddinaLabor 41.9% · Coalition 58.1% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
  • BokarinaLabor 43.1% · Coalition 56.9% TPP (2025)3.0 km away
  • Kawana WatersLabor 48.2% · Coalition 51.8% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
  • Mooloolaba (Fisher)Labor 45.3% · Coalition 54.7% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
  • Sippy Downs West (Fisher)Labor 54.0% · Coalition 46.0% TPP (2025)5.3 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

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
8/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

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 (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Sunshine Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.