Kareela
Kareela stands out for a 95.9th-percentile household income alongside a compact population of 3,572 and an 88.2% separate-house share. Its median age of 42 is 2 years above the national comparison, while university qualification levels reach 41.8%, or 11.7 percentage points above national. Couples with children make up 57.3% of families and 64.0% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, reinforcing a settled family market. Against nearby Sylvania and Jannali, Kareela's defining local pattern is its low rental share of 4.8% and high mortgage tenure of 47.4%, so owner-occupier demand shapes the suburb.
Population
3,572
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,765/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
24
For buyers, Kareela's $3,000 monthly mortgage figure sits alongside a 25.1% mortgage-to-income ratio, while 47.4% of households are paying a mortgage and 47.0% own outright. The stock is strongly detached, with 88.2% separate houses, 11.1% semi-detached homes and 0.6% apartments. Space is a major filter because 64.0% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, compared with 34.8% with 3 bedrooms. That mix suits established families who need room for children or home working, especially with 49.3% working from home. A current house-price median should be checked by street and land size, as the 1.6 sq km suburb contains a compressed range of housing choices rather than a uniform product.
For Buyers
For buyers, Kareela's $3,000 monthly mortgage figure sits alongside a 25.1% mortgage-to-income ratio, while 47.4% of households are paying a mortgage and 47.0% own outright. The stock is strongly detached, with 88.2% separate houses, 11.1% semi-detached homes and 0.6% apartments. Space is a major filter because 64.0% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, compared with 34.8% with 3 bedrooms. That mix suits established families who need room for children or home working, especially with 49.3% working from home. A current house-price median should be checked by street and land size, as the 1.6 sq km suburb contains a compressed range of housing choices rather than a uniform product.
For Investors
Investor conditions are shaped by a small rental pool: only 4.8% of occupied dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $695 and vacancy is 2.4%. Low rental representation can reduce available comparable stock, while the 24 development applications in 12 months create a need to separate genuine dwelling additions from pools and renovations. A secondary-dwelling application is a relevant signal for selected blocks, but it does not establish a suburb-wide pipeline. Compared with a higher-density investment market, Kareela is more dependent on detached-house demand, with 88.2% separate houses and 64.0% containing 4 or more bedrooms. Investors should stress-test maintenance, insurance, tenant depth and resale liquidity rather than relying on the low vacancy figure alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
136
Last 12 Months
24
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+41.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kareela
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Kareela's median age of 42 is 2 years above the national comparison, and its 3.0-person average household is 0.5 above national. University qualifications reach 41.8%, 11.7 percentage points above national, while 23.8% of residents were born overseas, 2.2 points above the national comparison. English ancestry is recorded for 1,228 people, followed by Irish at 420, Chinese at 316 and Scottish at 314; Mandarin is spoken by 74 residents and Greek by 47. Couples with children represent 57.3% of families, compared with 32.9% of couples without children, helping explain the demand for larger homes. With 87.3% staying at the same address, turnover is lower than the 12.7% moving share.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.2%
Houses
11.1%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Kareela is a high-ownership, detached-house market: 47.0% of dwellings are owned outright, 47.4% are mortgaged and just 4.8% are rented. Separate houses account for 88.2%, well above the 11.1% semi-detached share and 0.6% apartment share. Bedroom supply is similarly weighted to family formats, with 64.0% at 4 or more bedrooms and 34.8% at 3 bedrooms. The $3,000 monthly mortgage and 25.1% mortgage-to-income ratio suggest repayment exposure is material but not flagged as stress, while household income of $2,765 per week sits at the 95.9th percentile. Compared with a higher-density housing mix, this structure supports privacy and land value but narrows entry points for apartment buyers.
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $695.
$740
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,000 · units $700
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$983
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
2.4%
Unoccupied
29
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
57.3%
Couples with children
32.9%
Couples, no children
10.0%
Single parent
1,035
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kareela's employment base is led by healthcare at 13.9% or 175 workers, professional and technical services at 13.0% or 164, education at 12.1% or 153, construction at 11.4% or 144, and finance at 8.9% or 112. The occupation mix is similarly skilled, with 496 professionals and 333 managers ahead of 261 clerical and administrative workers, 198 trades workers and 149 in sales. A 62.3% participation rate, 56.8% full-time rate and 3.2% unemployment rate point to a functioning labour market, while household income of $2,765 weekly ranks at the 95.9th percentile. Compared with a lower-income suburb, this professional and service mix can support renovation demand and local spending, although 49.3% working from home also reduces routine commuting.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
1,758
Unemployed
57
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.8%
Part-time
32.4%
Participation
62.3%
Employed
1,701
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.8%
Postgraduate
10.9%
Born Overseas
23.8%
Dwellings
1,157
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented but home-based: 43.5% drive to work, 2.7% use public transport, 1.4% walk or cycle and 49.3% work from home. That pattern suits a compact 1.6 sq km suburb with density of 2,232.9 people per sq km, although public-transport reliance is far below the car-driver share. Families have access to 2 local government schools, with one primary school and one school for specific purposes; check enrolment zones against the exact address because they can cross suburb boundaries. The 42 median age and 57.3% share of couples with children support a settled household rhythm. For safety, use current NSW Police Crime Mapping rather than infer risk from housing, as no crime-rate measure is stated. Compared with a more transit-dependent area, Kareela rewards proximity to daily services and flexible work.
Drive
43.5%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
49.3%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kareela compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kareela a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Kareela can suit households seeking a settled, low-turnover setting. The suburb has 3,572 residents, a median age of 42 and 88.2% separate houses, while 49.3% work from home. Couples with children make up 57.3% of families, so the local housing and daily rhythm are more family-focused than apartment-led. Check transport and school catchments for the exact address.
What is the median house price in Kareela?
A current median house price should be checked against live sales because block size, renovation and bedroom count can vary materially across 1.6 sq km. Kareela has 64.0% of dwellings with 4 or more bedrooms and 88.2% separate houses, so a single suburb median may conceal meaningful differences between properties. Use recent comparable sales rather than relying on an old headline figure.
What schools are in Kareela?
Kareela has 2 local government schools: Kareela Public School, classified as a primary school, and Bates Drive School, classified as a school for specific purposes. Families should confirm the enrolment zone, year level and current placement rules for the exact address, since boundaries can differ even within a 1.6 sq km suburb.
Is Kareela safe?
Safety decisions should use current NSW Police Crime Mapping and recent local reports rather than infer risk from housing or income. Kareela has 4.8% renting and 49.3% working from home, but neither measure indicates crime exposure. Check the latest incidents around the exact street, nearby routes and activity centres before choosing a home.
Is Kareela good for property investment?
Kareela may suit investors targeting detached, family-sized housing, but the tenant pool is relatively small at 4.8% of households. Weekly rent is $695 and vacancy is 2.4%, while 24 development applications in 12 months warrant a check of local competition. The 88.2% separate-house share supports a clear property type, but investors should test insurance, maintenance, tenant depth and resale demand rather than rely on vacancy alone.
How is Kareela's population changing?
Kareela has 3,572 residents, and 87.3% stayed at the same address while 12.7% moved. That low turnover points to a stable base, while 24 development applications over 12 months indicate ongoing household upgrades and some infill potential. Because many applications involve additions, pools or a secondary dwelling, near-term change is more likely to be gradual than a sudden shift to high-density housing.
What development is occurring in Kareela?
Development activity reached 24 applications in 12 months. Examples include a secondary dwelling, alterations and additions, and swimming-pool or spa works. This mix points more to incremental changes within the 88.2% separate-house stock than to a large apartment pipeline. Owners should check approval status, site constraints and whether a proposal adds a dwelling, because 24 applications do not all represent new homes.
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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