Carey Park
More than four in ten Carey Park households rent, while 79.7% of dwellings are separate houses, giving the 5,155-person suburb an established, detached-housing profile. The median age is 40, exactly in line with the national comparison, but household income sits at the 13.4th percentile and university attainment is 13.6%, or 16.5 points below national levels. Carey Park sits beside East Bunbury and South Bunbury, yet its defining local combination is high rental occupancy, low income ranking and an aging trajectory. A 9.2% vacancy rate may provide renters with more choice than tighter markets.
Population
5,155
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,018/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
86
Carey Park suits buyers prioritising a 3-bedroom detached home, with 60.4% of dwellings in that category and 79.7% separate houses. A current median house price is not available, so the $1,261 monthly mortgage figure should be treated as a budgeting reference rather than a purchase quote. Renting costs $270 a week, and mortgage repayments equal 28.6% of household income compared with 26.5% for rent, suggesting neither measure crosses its stated stress flag. The 46.1% renter share is higher than the 28.0% mortgage-owner share, so buyers should compare holding costs, property condition and future maintenance carefully.
For Buyers
Carey Park suits buyers prioritising a 3-bedroom detached home, with 60.4% of dwellings in that category and 79.7% separate houses. A current median house price is not available, so the $1,261 monthly mortgage figure should be treated as a budgeting reference rather than a purchase quote. Renting costs $270 a week, and mortgage repayments equal 28.6% of household income compared with 26.5% for rent, suggesting neither measure crosses its stated stress flag. The 46.1% renter share is higher than the 28.0% mortgage-owner share, so buyers should compare holding costs, property condition and future maintenance carefully.
For Investors
Carey Park has a substantial tenant base: 46.1% of occupied dwellings are rented, higher than the 24.5% owned outright, while weekly rent is $270. The 9.2% vacancy rate is a material consideration because available stock can give renters more choice and limit short-term pricing power. Development activity is also notable, with 85 applications recorded over 12 months, although examples include dwellings and swimming pools rather than only new rental homes. Forecast growth is 0.83% annually with Balanced migration, so the case is more about steady occupancy and entry-level demand than a high-growth premium.
Development Activity
Total DAs
91
Last 12 Months
86
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1620.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$1.1M
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Carey Park
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
CAREY PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Carey Park's median age of 40 matches the national comparison, while university attainment is 13.6%, 16.5 percentage points below the national figure. English ancestry is most common at 2,243 people, followed by Scottish at 484 and Irish at 468. No religion is recorded for 2,533 residents, ahead of Christianity at 1,933. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below the national comparison, helping explain the 39.8% couple-without-children share. Overseas-born residents account for 19.2%, 2.4 points below the national comparison, and 73.3% stayed at the same address, indicating moderate rather than highly transient change.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.7%
Houses
20.3%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Carey Park is predominantly a 3-bedroom, separate-house market: 60.4% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms, 79.7% are separate houses and 20.3% are semi-detached. That detached share is higher than the semi-detached proportion, making land, upkeep and renovation potential more important than apartment amenity. Tenure is split between 46.1% renting, 28.0% paying a mortgage and 24.5% owning outright. Weekly rent is $270, vacancy is 9.2% and mortgage repayments average $1,261 a month. Mortgage-to-income is 28.6%, higher than rent-to-income at 26.5%, while the 5.5% studio or one-bedroom share is far lower than the 60.4% three-bedroom share.
Mortgage / mo
$1,261
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$270
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$592
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.2%
Unoccupied
227
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.6%
Couples with children
39.8%
Couples, no children
30.6%
Single parent
1,246
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Carey Park's listed industries at 21.4% and 252 workers, followed by construction at 11.4% and 134, retail at 9.5%, manufacturing at 9.1% and hospitality at 7.7%. Labourers are the largest occupation group at 443, ahead of trades at 361 and community or personal services at 295, which fits a practical service and production base. Unemployment is 7.6% and participation is 52.2%, while full-time employment is 56.2%. Income pressure is visible in the $1,018 weekly household income and 13.4th percentile ranking. All four SEIFA measures sit in decile 1, including IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD, placing Carey Park below higher-decile areas despite healthcare's large role.
Unemployment
7.6%
Labour Force
2,236
Unemployed
170
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.2%
Part-time
35.8%
Participation
52.2%
Employed
2,066
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.6%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
19.2%
Dwellings
2,225
Transport to Work
Carey Park is strongly car-oriented: 83.9% drive to work, far higher than the 1.4% using public transport, while only 3.5% walk or cycle and 2.4% work from home. That makes access to a private vehicle more important than in lower-car suburbs, especially across a compact 4.07 square kilometres with a density of 1,265.8 people per square kilometre. Families have access to 1 local government primary school, and enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Volunteering is 13.8%, offering a modest community connection, while IRSAD is in decile 1, below higher-decile areas. For safety, check current police incident information and visit at different times.
Drive
83.9%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
2.4%
Population Forecast
+0.83%/yr
(+63 people/yr)
EstablishedCarey Park is an established suburb with an annual forecast trend of 0.83% and Balanced migration, pointing to measured rather than migration-led expansion. The trajectory is Aging: the senior-share change is +4.2%, higher than the young-share change of -0.1%, while the working-share change is -0.4%. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 7.0% over 10 years, and rent growth is 12.0%. Gentrification remains Not gentrifying, with a score of 19, so growth is more likely to come from gradual household change and infill activity than a rapid prestige-market reset. The 85 development applications in 12 months support ongoing renewal, but not explosive expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+48
Net Internal / yr
+41
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011, Accelerating: 2% → 11%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Carey Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carey Park a good suburb to live in?
Carey Park can suit households seeking mostly detached housing, with 79.7% separate houses, 60.4% three-bedroom dwellings and rent of $270 a week. Car dependence is high at 83.9%, while IRSAD sits in decile 1, so lifestyle fit depends on transport, budget and access to services more than a premium amenity profile.
What is the median house price in Carey Park?
A reliable current median house price is not available for Carey Park. Buyers can use the $1,261 monthly mortgage figure and $270 weekly rent as budgeting references, then compare recent sales by dwelling type because 79.7% of homes are separate houses and 60.4% have 3 bedrooms.
What schools are in Carey Park?
Carey Park has 1 local government primary school, Carey Park Primary School. Families should confirm the current enrolment zone and nearby options against the exact address, particularly if they need secondary schooling. The suburb has 5,155 residents and an average household size of 2.1 people, indicating a mixed household base.
Is Carey Park safe?
Check current police incident information before deciding and visit at different times, as a crime rate is not available for a clear local comparison. Everyday access is car-led, with 83.9% driving and 1.4% using public transport, while IRSAD is in decile 1. Those figures describe mobility and disadvantage, not a safety rating.
Is Carey Park good for property investment?
Carey Park may suit investors targeting rental demand rather than rapid capital-growth speculation. Renting accounts for 46.1%, weekly rent is $270 and vacancy is 9.2%, while 85 development applications in 12 months could add choice. Forecast growth is 0.83% a year with Balanced migration and a Not gentrifying score of 19.
How is Carey Park's population changing?
Carey Park's current population is 5,155. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 7.0% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 0.83% and Balanced migration. The suburb is on an Aging trajectory: senior share has shifted +4.2%, compared with a young-share change of -0.1%, while gentrification is Not gentrifying with a score of 19.
What development is happening in Carey Park?
Development activity is notable at 85 applications over 12 months, including dwelling approvals and swimming-pool work. That volume indicates more activity than a quiet established-market pattern, but applications do not all add homes. With 79.7% separate houses, 20.3% semi-detached dwellings and 9.2% vacancy, check whether each proposal changes local supply or upgrades existing properties.
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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