Carine
SEIFA decile 10 across both IRSD and IRSAD places Carine in Australia's least disadvantaged 10%, yet the estimated median house price of $580,000 remains below Perth's western suburbs average. This gap between socioeconomic rank and price explains the suburb's appeal: household incomes at the 91st percentile purchasing homes at a fraction of what equivalent decile-10 suburbs cost in Sydney or Melbourne. With 46.1% owning outright, 48.9% holding university degrees, and 21.8% volunteering (roughly 45% above the national average), Carine presents as an established, civic-minded suburb that has quietly accumulated advantage over decades.
Population
7,330
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,442/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
46
Median House
$580K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $580,000 estimated median, Carine offers decile-10 living at a fraction of eastern-seaboard equivalents. Monthly mortgage payments of $2,340 consume 22.1% of household income, below stress levels. Stock is 85.8% detached houses, with 68.0% having 4+ bedrooms. Outright owners at 46.1% and mortgage holders at 44.1% together account for over 90% of tenure, leaving just 9.8% renting, the lowest rental share in this analysis. Buyers entering this market compete primarily with established owner-occupiers in a suburb where 85.2% of residents stayed at the same address.
For Buyers
At $580,000 estimated median, Carine offers decile-10 living at a fraction of eastern-seaboard equivalents. Monthly mortgage payments of $2,340 consume 22.1% of household income, below stress levels. Stock is 85.8% detached houses, with 68.0% having 4+ bedrooms. Outright owners at 46.1% and mortgage holders at 44.1% together account for over 90% of tenure, leaving just 9.8% renting, the lowest rental share in this analysis. Buyers entering this market compete primarily with established owner-occupiers in a suburb where 85.2% of residents stayed at the same address.
For Investors
The 9.8% rental share is the thinnest in this analysis, making tenant acquisition challenging. Weekly rent of $450 on $580,000 purchase implies a gross yield of 4.0%. Vacancy at 4.5% sits above the balanced benchmark. With population growing at 1.31% annually (322 persons/year) and overseas migration contributing +280/year, demand is building. 36 DAs in 12 months include single-house builds and grouped dwelling extensions, suggesting active renewal. The suburb's established-wealth profile means most new demand comes from upgraders, not renters.
Development Activity
Total DAs
46
Last 12 Months
46
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Carine iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Carine Primary School
K-6 · 578 students
Carine Senior High School
7-12 · 2545 students
Demographics
English ancestry dominates at 3,223, followed by Irish (874), Scottish (849), and Italian (473). University attainment at 48.9% sits 18.8pp above the national average. Only 30.5% were born overseas, 8.9pp above the national figure, but the language profile is moderate: Mandarin (51), Italian (35), German (32), Cantonese (16), Macedonian (14). The 43-year median age sits 3 years above the national figure, with senior share growing 5.9pp over the decade. Average household size of 2.8 (0.3 above national) and 47.9% couples with children indicate a mature family suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.8%
Houses
10.1%
Townhouse
4.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses account for 85.8%, with semi-detached at 10.1% and apartments at 4.1%. The bedroom mix is large: 68.0% have 4+ bedrooms and 23.2% have 3. Outright owners (46.1%) and mortgage holders (44.1%) dominate, with renters at just 9.8%. This owner-occupier concentration is among the strongest in this analysis. Mortgage stress at 22.1% and rent stress at 18.4% are both comfortable. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 10 and IRSAD decile of 10 confirm minimum disadvantage and maximum advantage, the highest combined ranking in this analysis.
Mortgage / mo
$2,340
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$969
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
115
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.6%
Couples, no children
6,331
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment distributes across Healthcare (16.1%, 428), Professional/Tech (14.9%, 397), Education (14.6%, 390), Construction (8.3%, 222), and notably Mining (7.5%, 201). The Mining share, well above the national average, reflects Perth's FIFO economy, where residents work on remote sites while living in established northern suburbs. Professionals lead occupations at 1,190, with Managers at 614. Unemployment at 3.7% is below the national average. Participation at 61.0% is moderate, slightly reduced by the aging demographic. SEIFA IEO decile 9 confirms strong educational advantage.
Unemployment
1.3%
Labour Force
13,593
Unemployed
181
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.4%
Part-time
37.9%
Participation
61.0%
Employed
3,375
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.9%
Postgraduate
10.7%
Born Overseas
30.5%
Dwellings
2,464
Transport to Work
Two schools serve the suburb: Carine Primary (Government, ICSEA 1,123, 578 students) and Carine Senior High School (Government secondary, ICSEA 1,105, 2,545 students). Both score well above the national benchmark, and the high school's 2,545 enrolment makes it one of Perth's larger government secondary schools. Public transport at 5.7% is moderate for Perth. Walking/cycling at 2.1% is low. Volunteering at 21.8% is roughly 45% above the national average, the highest in this analysis, reflecting strong community engagement.
Drive
87.0%
Public Transport
5.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.31%/yr
(+322 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is forecast to grow from 24,578 (2025) to 26,532 by 2031, at 1.31% annually (322 persons/year). Overseas migration (+280/year) is the primary driver, with internal migration adding +56/year. Growth accelerated from 4% to 17% per period. The aging trajectory is notable: senior share grew 5.9pp while working-age share fell 5.1pp. Gentrification score of 39 (early signs) reflects population growth and gradual renewal. Real income grew only 4.4% over the decade, indicating the suburb maintains rather than improves its already high socioeconomic standing.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+280
Net Internal / yr
+56
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Net internal migration +56/yr, Strong overseas inflow +280/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 17%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Carine compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carine a good suburb to live in?
Carine ranks decile 10 across both IRSD and IRSAD (top 10% nationally), with 48.9% university education, 21.8% volunteering (highest in this analysis), and 2 schools above ICSEA 1,105. Mortgage stress at 22.1% is comfortable. At $580,000 median, it achieves decile-10 living at a fraction of Sydney or Melbourne equivalent costs.
What is the median house price in Carine?
The estimated median house price is $580,000 (2025 rent-derived), with monthly mortgage repayments of $2,340 at 22.1% of household income. For a decile-10 suburb, this is unusually affordable compared to eastern-seaboard equivalents where decile-10 medians typically exceed $2 million.
What schools are in Carine?
Carine has 2 schools: Carine Primary (Government, ICSEA 1,123, 578 students) and Carine Senior High School (Government, ICSEA 1,105, 2,545 students). Both score well above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1,000. The high school's 2,545 enrolment is among the largest government secondary schools in Perth.
Is Carine safe?
Suburb-level crime data is not available. SEIFA IRSD decile 10 (lowest disadvantage in Australia), 3.7% unemployment, 46.1% outright ownership, and 85.2% residential stability are among the strongest safety indicators in this analysis. These metrics typically correlate with very low crime rates.
Is Carine good for property investment?
Gross yield of 4.0% ($450/week on $580,000) is reasonable, but only 9.8% of stock is rented (thinnest in this analysis), creating a very small tenant pool. Vacancy at 4.5% exceeds the 3% benchmark. Population growth of 1.31%/year adds demand gradually. Best suited for owner-occupiers or long-term capital growth plays, not yield seekers.
How is Carine's population changing?
Population is forecast to grow from 24,578 to 26,532 by 2031 at 1.31% annually. Overseas migration adds 280 net people per year. The aging trajectory is notable: senior share grew 5.9pp over the decade. Median age of 43 (3 years above national) and working-age share declining 5.1pp indicate gradual demographic maturation.
How much development is happening in Carine?
36 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, including single-house builds, grouped dwelling extensions, and additions. For a suburb of 7,330 census population, this represents moderate renewal activity at roughly 5 DAs per 1,000 residents, consistent with the knock-down-rebuild cycle in established Perth suburbs.
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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