Carina Heights
A $522,000 median house price places Carina Heights well below Brisbane's metropolitan benchmark, yet household income sits in the 74.7th percentile nationally, which is why mortgage-to-income runs at just 22.6%, under the stress threshold. The suburb reads as quietly affordable rather than cheap: the IEO decile of 8 and a university rate of 45.9% (15.8 points above national) point to an educated base. Separate houses make up 51.1% of stock and 52.6% of dwellings have three bedrooms, signalling a settled family and downsizer market rather than a churn-heavy rental zone. The median age of 36 is 4 years below national, but the senior share grew 3.1 points over the decade.
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
28
Median House
$522K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $522,000 median (estimated from 2025 rents) is the headline draw, with monthly mortgage repayments near $1,950 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, below stress because household income ranks in the 74.7th percentile. Stock favours owner-occupiers: 51.1% are separate houses and 43.4% semi-detached, with apartments at only 5.5%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.6% and four-plus bedroom houses at 22.6%, so buyers find genuine family floorplans rather than the compact units common in inner-ring suburbs. The trade-off is car dependence: 81.9% drive to work versus only 2.2% who walk or cycle, so budgeting for two cars is realistic.
For Buyers
The $522,000 median (estimated from 2025 rents) is the headline draw, with monthly mortgage repayments near $1,950 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, below stress because household income ranks in the 74.7th percentile. Stock favours owner-occupiers: 51.1% are separate houses and 43.4% semi-detached, with apartments at only 5.5%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.6% and four-plus bedroom houses at 22.6%, so buyers find genuine family floorplans rather than the compact units common in inner-ring suburbs. The trade-off is car dependence: 81.9% drive to work versus only 2.2% who walk or cycle, so budgeting for two cars is realistic.
For Investors
Renters make up 42.2% of households, a solid tenant pool, and the vacancy rate of 4.5% sits at the soft end of a balanced market, leaving limited room for aggressive rent pushes. Weekly rent of $403 against the $522,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, materially stronger than the sub-2% yields typical of premium inner-Brisbane suburbs. Rents grew 15.8% over the decade and net overseas migration of 174 per year underpins demand, though internal migration adds only 26 annually, so growth is migration-led. Development is active at 26 applications in 12 months, several reconfiguring lots for subdivision, signalling infill pressure that could lift land values but also add competing supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
99
Last 12 Months
28
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+40.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 36 sits 4 years below the national median, yet the population is aging: the senior share rose 3.1 points over the decade while the young share barely moved at plus 0.3 points. Overseas-born residents at 27.5% are 5.9 points above national, with English ancestry leading at 2,482, followed by Irish (961) and Scottish (714), plus a modest minority led by Mandarin (74) and Korean (29) speakers. University qualifications at 45.9% run 15.8 points above national. Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, and couples with children (1,896) outnumber couples without (1,632), reflecting an established family demographic rather than a young-renter profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
51.1%
Houses
43.4%
Townhouse
5.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is evenly spread: 42.2% rent, 34.9% carry a mortgage and 23.0% own outright, a more owner-skewed mix than inner-city suburbs where renters dominate. The stock is house-heavy, with 51.1% separate houses and 43.4% semi-detached against just 5.5% apartments, and three-bedroom dwellings at 52.6% set the tone. At a $522,000 median, both mortgage-to-income (22.6%) and rent-to-income (20.2%) sit below the 30% stress line, a rare profile for a suburb with 74.7th-percentile household income. The IER decile of 4 looks low against that income, but it reflects the 42.2% renter share suppressing aggregate wealth rather than disadvantage, which the IRSAD decile of 7 corrects upward.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$403
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
30.4%
Couples, no children
5,373
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 19.5% (575 workers), ahead of Education at 12.8% (377) and Professional/Tech at 12.4% (367), a services and knowledge mix rather than an industrial one, with Construction (8.5%) and Public Admin (8.2%) rounding out the top five. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 1,245, well above Clerical/Admin (593) and Managers (553), which aligns with the IEO decile of 8. Full-time employment runs at 67.4% and unemployment at 5.5% near the national average, while participation at 63.6% is moderate, dampened by an aging base with 1,531 people not in the labour force. Real income grew 14.5% over the decade, a steady rather than rapid gain.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
7,715
Unemployed
203
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.4%
Part-time
27.1%
Participation
63.6%
Employed
3,592
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.9%
Postgraduate
10.9%
Born Overseas
27.5%
Dwellings
2,904
Transport to Work
Carina Heights is built for drivers: 81.9% commute by car against only 2.2% who walk or cycle and 11.3% on public transport, so private vehicle access is close to essential. The affordability story supports day-to-day livability, with rent-to-income at 20.2% and mortgage-to-income at 22.6%, both below the 30% stress threshold and leaving more disposable income than higher-priced Brisbane suburbs. The IRSAD decile of 7 places the area in the upper-middle tier of advantage nationally, and the volunteering rate of 15.0% signals settled engagement. Residential turnover of 31.1% means about two-thirds of residents stayed put over five years, reinforcing a stable owner-occupier character.
Drive
81.9%
Public Transport
11.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.3%/yr
(+168 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 1.3% per year (about 168 persons), a steady established-suburb pace rather than a boom, with a 14.8% increase over the decade. Net overseas migration of 174 per year is the primary driver, while internal migration contributes only 26, so the suburb relies on new arrivals rather than domestic relocation. The aging trajectory is clear: the senior share rose 3.1 points and the working-age share fell 0.5 points over ten years, pointing to households aging in place rather than turning over. Affordability improved from 52.4% of income in 2011 to 43.1% in 2021 as incomes outpaced costs. The gentrification score of 7 marks the suburb as not gentrifying.
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 suits families and owner-occupiers who value affordability and space. The $522,000 median is well below Brisbane's premium suburbs, mortgage-to-income sits at 22.6% below the stress line, and 51.1% of homes are separate houses. The IRSAD decile of 7 places it in the upper-middle advantage tier, though car dependence is high with 81.9% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Carina Heights?
The median house price is approximately $522,000 (estimated from 2025 rents). That produces monthly mortgage repayments near $1,950 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, below the stress threshold because household income ranks in the 74.7th percentile nationally. Weekly rent of $403 gives a gross yield near 4.0%.
What schools are in Carina Heights?
Specific school data for Carina Heights is not available in this dataset. The suburb's educational profile is strong overall, with a university qualification rate of 45.9%, which is 15.8 points above the national average and consistent with its IEO decile of 8 in the top education tier.
Is Carina Heights safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Carina Heights are not available in this dataset. Indirect indicators suggest a settled, low-turnover community: 68.9% of residents stayed put over five years, the volunteering rate is 15.0%, and the IRSAD decile of 7 places the area in the upper-middle tier of socioeconomic advantage nationally.
Is Carina Heights good for property investment?
The investment case rests on yield: $403 weekly rent on a $522,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, well above the sub-2% yields of premium inner-Brisbane suburbs. The 42.2% renter share and 4.5% vacancy rate support demand, and 26 development applications in 12 months signal infill activity, though capital growth has been steady rather than rapid.
How is Carina Heights's population changing?
The population grows at 1.3% per year, around 168 persons, with a 14.8% rise over the decade. Growth is led by overseas migration at 174 per year versus just 26 from internal migration. The suburb is aging, with the senior share up 3.1 points and the working-age share down 0.5 points, pointing to households settling in place.
Is Carina Heights affordable?
Yes by Brisbane standards. The $522,000 median sits below the metro benchmark, and despite household income ranking in the 74.7th percentile, mortgage-to-income is 22.6% and rent-to-income is 20.2%, both under the 30% stress line. Affordability improved from 52.4% of income in 2011 to 43.1% in 2021.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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