Karawara
At a median age of 31, Karawara runs 9 years younger than the national figure, a gap driven by its university proximity and rental-dominant tenure mix. The suburb packs 1,842 residents into just 0.99 square kilometres, producing a density of 1,863 per km2. Nearly half of all residents were born overseas, which is 26.5 percentage points above the national average, and university qualifications reach 45.8%, some 15.7 points higher than nationally. At $437,000, the median house price sits well below Perth's inner-ring average, making it one of the more affordable pockets within a short distance of the CBD.
Population
1,842
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,718/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$437K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $437,000 positions Karawara as an accessible entry point compared to most established Perth suburbs closer to the city. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is 73.7% separate houses and 26.3% semi-detached, with no apartments recorded, so buyers are choosing between freestanding homes and attached dwellings. Bedrooms skew large: 46% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 41.7% have 3, meaning smaller households can access more space than they need, or buyers can grow into the home. Only 25.6% of residents hold a mortgage, lower than the national norm, because 46.3% rent rather than buy.
For Buyers
The median house price of $437,000 positions Karawara as an accessible entry point compared to most established Perth suburbs closer to the city. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is 73.7% separate houses and 26.3% semi-detached, with no apartments recorded, so buyers are choosing between freestanding homes and attached dwellings. Bedrooms skew large: 46% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 41.7% have 3, meaning smaller households can access more space than they need, or buyers can grow into the home. Only 25.6% of residents hold a mortgage, lower than the national norm, because 46.3% rent rather than buy.
For Investors
The 46.3% renter share is the defining feature for investors, running well above the national average and providing a deep, stable tenant pool. Weekly rent sits at $300, and against the $437,000 median that implies a gross yield of approximately 3.6%, reasonable for a suburb this close to the Perth CBD. The vacancy rate of 7.8% is elevated and warrants attention, suggesting some softness in demand relative to supply. Development activity is low at 8 applications in the past 12 months, limiting near-term new supply pressure. The young median age of 31 and the 48.1% overseas-born population both reinforce consistent rental demand, since transient professionals and international students typically rent rather than buy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
39
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-43.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 31 is 9 years below the national figure, the clearest demographic signal in the suburb. Overseas-born residents account for 48.1% of the population, which is 26.5 percentage points above the national average, reflecting a strongly international character. English ancestry leads at 427 residents, followed by Chinese at 358, and the top spoken non-English languages are Mandarin (71) and Cantonese (29), consistent with a significant East Asian cohort. University qualifications at 45.8% are 15.7 points above national, pointing to a graduate-age resident base rather than a purely student one. Average household size is 2.6, marginally above the national figure, and couples with children (435) outnumber couples without children (272) among recorded families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.7%
Houses
26.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Karawara splits decisively toward renting: 46.3% are tenants, 28.1% own their home outright and 25.6% carry a mortgage. The outright ownership share of 28.1% is notable given the young median age, suggesting some longer-term residents who bought years ago have paid down their loans. All dwellings are either separate houses (73.7%) or semi-detached (26.3%), with no apartment stock, which is unusual for a suburb at this density of 1,863 per km2. The bedroom profile is family-oriented: 4-plus bedrooms at 46% and 3 bedrooms at 41.7% together cover nearly 88% of all dwellings. Rent-to-income sits at 17.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold, so tenants here are not overstretched relative to the $300 weekly rent.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$588
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.8%
Unoccupied
50
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.5%
Couples, no children
1,158
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 13.7% of workers (86 people), followed by Professional and Technical Services at 13.1% (82) and Education at 11.5% (72). This industry mix is consistent with the suburb's location near Curtin University and the Royal Perth Rehabilitation Centre corridor. The full-time employment rate is 53.4%, and unemployment runs at 7.6%, somewhat higher than the national average, which partly reflects the young resident base and students cycling in and out of work. Professionals make up the largest occupation group at 248 workers, while Community and Personal Service workers (147) and Clerical and Administrative workers (95) follow. Weekly household income of $1,718 places the suburb at the 60.3rd national percentile, above the midpoint but not in the upper bracket.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.4%
Part-time
39.0%
Participation
56.5%
Employed
832
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.8%
Postgraduate
14.5%
Born Overseas
48.1%
Dwellings
590
Transport to Work
Car use dominates at 80% of residents driving to work, higher than inner-city norms, while 7.9% use public transport and 6.3% walk or cycle, the latter reflecting flat terrain and proximity to local amenities. No schools are recorded inside Karawara's 0.99 km2 boundary, so families rely on schools in adjoining suburbs. Rent-to-income at 17.5% leaves tenants with financial headroom compared to many Perth suburbs closer to the CBD. Crime data is not available for this suburb, limiting a direct safety comparison. The 5.1% of residents who need daily assistance (87 people) is relatively low given the young median age of 31, which is 9 years below national, suggesting a generally able-bodied resident base. Volunteering at 19.9% is above average and consistent with the graduate-professional demographic.
Drive
80.0%
Public Transport
7.9%
Walk / Cycle
6.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Karawara compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karawara a good suburb to live in?
Karawara suits graduates, young professionals and international residents well. The median age is 31, which is 9 years below the national figure, and university qualifications reach 45.8%, some 15.7 points above national. Rent-to-income sits at just 17.5%, below the stress threshold. The main trade-offs are a 7.8% vacancy rate and limited schooling within the 0.99 km2 boundary.
What is the median house price in Karawara?
The median house price is estimated at $437,000, based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $300, and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb has no apartments, only separate houses (73.7%) and semi-detached dwellings (26.3%).
What schools are in Karawara?
No schools are recorded inside Karawara's 0.99 km2 boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated relative to national norms, with 45.8% holding university qualifications, which is 15.7 percentage points above the national average.
Is Karawara safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Karawara in this dataset. As a proxy, only 5.1% of the 1,842 residents (87 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a young and generally able-bodied population. The suburb's median age of 31 is 9 years below the national figure, and household income sits at the 60.3rd national percentile.
Is Karawara good for property investment?
The 46.3% renter share is well above the national average, providing a strong tenant base. Weekly rent of $300 against a $437,000 median implies a gross yield of roughly 3.6%. The vacancy rate of 7.8% is elevated and should be monitored. Only 8 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, limiting new supply. The young, overseas-born demographic supports ongoing rental demand.
How is Karawara's population changing?
Karawara has a turnover rate of 29.8%, reflecting its graduate and international resident base cycling through regularly. The overseas-born share of 48.1% is 26.5 percentage points above the national average, and international migration continues to drive demand. The population of 1,842 lives in a compact 0.99 km2 at a density of 1,863 per km2, leaving limited room for large-scale expansion.
What languages are spoken in Karawara?
About 48.1% of residents were born overseas, which is 26.5 points above the national average. The most common non-English languages are Mandarin (71 speakers) and Cantonese (29), reflecting a significant Chinese-heritage community. Urdu (23), Arabic (14) and Persian (14) are also spoken, pointing to a genuinely international resident mix within this compact suburb.
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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