Carina Heights
At 7,103 residents in just 3.38 sq km, Carina Heights combines an aging trajectory with a highly educated, relatively established household base. The median age is 36, four years below the national figure, while 45.9% hold university qualifications, 15.8 percentage points above the national comparison. Renting is common at 41.8%, higher than the 22.8% owning outright, and the housing stock is split between separate houses at 51.1% and semi-detached homes at 43.4%. Compared with nearby Carina and Camp Hill, its compact footprint and attached dwelling mix suit buyers seeking a middle-ring Brisbane setting without limiting their search to detached houses.
Population
7,103
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,997/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
33
For buyers, the key decision is the trade-off between dwelling type, borrowing cost and tenure. Separate houses account for 51.1%, semi-detached homes 43.4% and apartments 5.5%, while 3-bedroom homes dominate at 52.6%, giving families more attached options than a detached-only search. The indicative mortgage figure is $1,950 a month, and mortgage-to-income is 22.6% versus rent-to-income at 20.2%; mortgage stress is not flagged. Household income is $1,997 a week at the 74.7th percentile, so compare individual properties across Carina, Camp Hill and Mount Gravatt East rather than assuming one format fits every budget. A current median sale figure is not available, making land, condition and body-corporate costs especially important.
For Buyers
For buyers, the key decision is the trade-off between dwelling type, borrowing cost and tenure. Separate houses account for 51.1%, semi-detached homes 43.4% and apartments 5.5%, while 3-bedroom homes dominate at 52.6%, giving families more attached options than a detached-only search. The indicative mortgage figure is $1,950 a month, and mortgage-to-income is 22.6% versus rent-to-income at 20.2%; mortgage stress is not flagged. Household income is $1,997 a week at the 74.7th percentile, so compare individual properties across Carina, Camp Hill and Mount Gravatt East rather than assuming one format fits every budget. A current median sale figure is not available, making land, condition and body-corporate costs especially important.
For Investors
Investor demand has a workable rental base: 41.8% of households rent, compared with 22.8% owning outright, and weekly rent is $403. Vacancy is 4.5%, so tenant competition should be assessed alongside property condition rather than assumed from tenure alone. Development activity reached 33 matters over 12 months, including a 1-dwelling subdivision example, which may support infill interest without proving a large supply wave. Rent growth is 15.8%, and overseas migration is the primary growth driver; the annual trend is 1.3%, giving demand broader support than local turnover alone. Returns should be tested against the $1,950 monthly mortgage figure and the suburb's aging trajectory.
Development Activity
Total DAs
110
Last 12 Months
33
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+65.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Carina Heights has a relatively young profile for an aging-trajectory area: median age is 36, four years below the national figure, yet senior share has risen 3.1 percentage points and the working share has fallen 0.5 points. University attainment is 45.9%, 15.8 points above national, while overseas-born residents make up 27.5%, 5.9 points above national. English ancestry counts 2,482, Irish 961 and Scottish 714; Christianity counts 3,287 against 2,900 reporting no religion. Average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below national. Couples without children represent 40.7% of households versus 36.3% with children, while 68.9% stayed at the same address, suggesting more continuity than the 31.1% turnover rate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
51.1%
Houses
43.4%
Townhouse
5.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is unusually mixed for a suburban market: separate houses make up 51.1%, semi-detached dwellings 43.4% and apartments 5.5%, while 3-bedroom homes dominate at 52.6%, higher than 4-plus-bedroom homes at 22.6%. Tenure is similarly split, with 41.8% renting, 34.5% paying a mortgage and 22.8% owning outright. Mortgage-to-income is 22.6% versus rent-to-income of 20.2%, and neither stress flag is raised, but the 4.5% vacancy rate still gives renters more choice than a tightly constrained market. This mix matters because buyers can trade land and privacy against lower-maintenance attached stock. With no current median sale figure to anchor the suburb, compare properties on land, condition and body-corporate costs, especially against Carina and Camp Hill.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $403.
$765
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $765 · units $600
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$984
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
139
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.3%
Couples with children
40.7%
Couples, no children
20.8%
Single parent
1,992
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is service-led, with healthcare the largest industry at 19.5% and 575 workers, followed by education at 12.8% and 377, professional and technical work at 12.4% and 367, construction at 8.5% and 251, and public administration at 8.2% and 241. This mix aligns with 1,245 professionals and 553 managers, while clerical and administrative roles add 593. Participation is 70.0%, unemployment 5.0% and full-time employment 60.9%, supporting household spending through several sectors rather than one employer. Household income is $1,997 weekly at the 74.7th percentile, above the national midpoint. SEIFA is uneven: education and occupation decile 8 is higher than economic-resources decile 4, while IRSAD is 7, indicating qualifications do not translate evenly into material advantage.
Unemployment
5.0%
Labour Force
4,185
Unemployed
208
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.9%
Part-time
29.4%
Participation
70.0%
Employed
3,977
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.9%
Postgraduate
10.9%
Born Overseas
27.5%
Dwellings
2,904
Transport to Work
Daily life is practical but car-oriented. 61.5% travel as car drivers, compared with 8.5% using public transport, while 24.9% work from home and only 1.7% walk or cycle. That pattern means a home near reliable bus routes, shops and services can be worth more than a small difference in floor area because routine trips otherwise depend on a vehicle. Families should check school catchments against the exact address; nearby options can extend into Carina, Camp Hill and Mount Gravatt East, and sector or type should be confirmed before signing. Socioeconomic advantage is above the midpoint at IRSAD decile 7, with IRSD decile 6, while the 3.38 sq km footprint makes street-level checks of lighting, traffic and current incidents sensible because suburb-wide safety assumptions can hide local variation.
Drive
61.5%
Public Transport
8.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
24.9%
Population Forecast
+1.3%/yr
(+168 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth appears gradual rather than speculative. The established-area trend is 1.3% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 14.8% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging: senior share has increased 3.1 points, working share has slipped 0.5 points and rent growth is 15.8%. Gentrification is scored 7 and labelled Not gentrifying, so demand is building without a strong re-rating signal. Compared with a fast-growth corridor, this pattern favours patient owners because steady overseas-led demand is paired with an older household profile, not a sudden population surge.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+174
Net Internal / yr
+26
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +20% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Carina Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carina Heights a good suburb to live in?
Carina Heights can suit households wanting a compact Brisbane suburb with 7,103 residents, a median age of 36 and a strong professional base. Daily travel is more car-dependent than public transport, at 61.5% versus 8.5%, so compare street access, services and school catchments before choosing a property.
What is the median house price in Carina Heights?
A current median house price is not available to quote. Buyers should compare recent sales for similar homes rather than infer a sale value from the $1,950 monthly mortgage figure or $403 weekly rent. Land size, renovation condition and body-corporate costs can materially change the comparison.
What schools are in Carina Heights?
School enrolment is address-dependent, so confirm the exact Queensland catchment for the property before relying on a school choice. Carina Heights covers 3.38 sq km and nearby options may extend into Carina, Camp Hill or Mount Gravatt East. Check sector, year levels and current enrolment rules directly.
Is Carina Heights safe?
Treat safety as an address-level check rather than relying on a suburb-wide assumption. Review recent Queensland Police incident information, inspect lighting and traffic conditions, and visit at different times. The suburb covers 3.38 sq km and has 7,103 residents, so conditions can vary between streets.
Is Carina Heights good for property investment?
It has several investable characteristics: 41.8% of households rent, weekly rent is $403, vacancy is 4.5% and the annual growth trend is 1.3%. Development activity reached 33 matters over 12 months. Compare the likely return with the $1,950 monthly mortgage figure and account for the aging trajectory.
How is Carina Heights's population changing?
Growth is running at 1.3% annually across the established area, driven primarily by overseas migration, while population change across the wider area is 14.8% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 3.1 points and working share down 0.5 points.
Is there much development in Carina Heights?
Development activity reached 33 matters over the past 12 months, including a subdivision example involving 1 dwelling. That points to ongoing small-scale infill and design activity rather than evidence of a large apartment-led supply wave. Check individual approvals and construction timing before assuming a project will affect nearby values.
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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