Carrara
Carrara's standout signal is age, not density: 13,138 people live at 993 residents per sq km, while the median age of 42 sits 2.0 years above the national benchmark. Overseas-born residents are 29.5%, 7.9 points above national, and 91.4% drive to work, so daily life is settled and car-based. Compared with nearby Nerang and Merrimac, Carrara reads as a family and downsizer market because 52.1% of homes are separate houses and 33.7% are semi-detached.
Population
13,138
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,562/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$551K
Estimated from rent (2025)
For homebuyers, Carrara is less about a single median price signal and more about dwelling fit, because the suburb mixes 52.1% separate houses with a high 33.7% semi-detached share and only 8.9% apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.1%, while 4-plus bedroom stock is 28.4%, so family options are deeper than the apartment share might suggest. A $1,900 median monthly mortgage takes 28.1% of income, below common stress settings.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Carrara is less about a single median price signal and more about dwelling fit, because the suburb mixes 52.1% separate houses with a high 33.7% semi-detached share and only 8.9% apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.1%, while 4-plus bedroom stock is 28.4%, so family options are deeper than the apartment share might suggest. A $1,900 median monthly mortgage takes 28.1% of income, below common stress settings.
For Investors
Investors get a moderate rental base rather than a pure renter market: 28.2% of homes are rented, the median rent is $450 a week and rent-to-income sits at 28.8%. The 5.0% vacancy rate is higher than a tight market, so tenant selection and pricing matter. With 0 recent development approvals, supply pressure is limited, while forecast migration averages 157 overseas gains and 31 internal gains a year, supporting demand because new residents are the primary driver.
Schools in Carrara iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Emmanuel College
Prep-12 · 1686 students
Demographics
Carrara's 13,138 residents skew older and internationally connected. The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above national, while 29.5% born overseas is 7.9 points higher than national. University attainment at 28.9% is 1.2 points below national, so Carrara reads as mixed rather than student-heavy because the age structure is older. English ancestry leads at 5,467 people, Christianity counts 6,358, and Mandarin is the largest listed non-English language at 105 speakers.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
52.1%
Houses
33.7%
Townhouse
8.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Within the Gold Coast's inland corridor near Nerang and Merrimac, housing tenure is balanced: 32.4% own outright, 39.5% have a mortgage and 28.2% rent. A current median house price is not available, so affordability is better read through costs and structure. The $1,900 median mortgage equals 28.1% of income and rent takes 28.8%, both below stress markers. Carrara suits buyers who want space because 52.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 33.7% are semi-detached.
Mortgage / mo
$1,900
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$771
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
271
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.4%
Couples, no children
10,442
Total families
Economy & Employment
Carrara's economy sits around the state average rather than at either extreme, with all 4 SEIFA measures in decile 6: IEO 994, IER 1011, IRSD 1021 and IRSAD 1002. Healthcare leads local employment at 17.6% or 772 workers, followed by construction at 12.0% and education at 11.8%. Professionals number 1,308, but clerical roles at 869 and managers at 855 show a broad service mix. Unemployment is 6.0% because participation is a modest 56.7%.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
8,124
Unemployed
259
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.7%
Part-time
32.3%
Participation
56.7%
Employed
5,845
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.9%
Postgraduate
6.2%
Born Overseas
29.5%
Dwellings
5,173
Transport to Work
Livability is practical and car-led because public transport commuting is just 1.4%, far lower than car driving at 91.4%, so daily comfort depends on road access rather than rail use. Education is anchored by Emmanuel College, an Independent combined school with ICSEA 1139 and 1,686 enrolments; the local school count is 1, with the ICSEA range also 1139. SEIFA IRSAD decile 6 and volunteering at 12.8% point to a middle-ranked, stable suburb rather than a high-advantage enclave.
Drive
91.4%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.17%/yr
(+168 people/yr)
EstablishedCarrara is forecast to keep growing slowly rather than surge. The trend rate is 1.17% a year, or 168 people, taking the medium path from 14,335 in 2026 to 15,173 in 2031. Migration is the key driver because average net overseas migration is 157 a year compared with 31 net internal movers. The shift is also ageing: seniors are up 7.3 points and working-age share is down 3.3 points, while the gentrification score of 21 remains at Early signs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+157
Net Internal / yr
+31
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +19% since 2011, Accelerating: 5% → 14%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Carrara compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carrara a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Carrara is a good fit for residents who want an established inland Gold Coast setting with space and car access. It has 13,138 people, a median age of 42 and 52.1% separate houses, while 91.4% of commuters drive, so it suits car-based households more than transit-first buyers.
What is the median house price in Carrara?
Carrara's current suburb-level median house price is not available. Buyers can still benchmark costs against the $1,900 median monthly mortgage, 28.1% mortgage-to-income ratio and $450 weekly rent, then compare recent sales by dwelling type.
What schools are in Carrara?
Carrara has 1 listed local school: Emmanuel College, an Independent combined school with ICSEA 1139 and 1,686 enrolments. Families wanting other sectors may compare nearby suburbs, since the in-suburb school mix is narrower than areas with government and Catholic campuses.
Is Carrara safe?
Carrara's safety should be checked at street level because a suburb crime rate is not available. Broader context is mid-market: IRSD is decile 6, IRSAD is decile 6 and 4.9% of residents need assistance, so disadvantage indicators are not unusually high.
Is Carrara good for property investment?
Carrara can work for property investment if priced for vacancy risk. It has 28.2% renters, $450 median weekly rent and a 5.0% vacancy rate, which is higher than a tight market. Demand support comes from forecast net overseas migration of 157 people a year.
How is Carrara's population changing?
Carrara's population is rising at a moderate forecast pace of 1.17% a year, equal to about 168 people annually. The medium path moves from 14,335 in 2026 to 15,173 in 2031, with overseas migration averaging 157 net arrivals a year.
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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