Parrearra
Age is the standout feature of Parrearra: its median age is 52, or 12 years above the national comparison, and 4,661 people live within only 2.42 sq km. That compact, established setting helps explain the density of 1,924.5 people per sq km and the 20.3% working from home. Housing is mixed rather than purely detached, with 55.4% separate houses and 26.3% apartments. Compared with nearby Buddina's beachfront orientation and Kawana Waters' larger activity-centre role, Parrearra reads as a quieter residential base. Its 42.9% outright ownership supports stability, while 10.3% vacancy signals more choice for some renters.
Population
4,661
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,467/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Buyer decisions in Parrearra need property-level pricing because a current suburb median house price is not available. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,000, while mortgage-to-income pressure is 31.5%, below the 33.4% rent-to-income measure. Housing is mixed: 55.4% separate houses, 18.2% semi-detached homes and 26.3% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 37.9% and 4 or more bedrooms for 33.8%. With 42.9% owning outright versus 26.1% paying a mortgage, established owners outnumber mortgaged households. Compared with a detached-only market, the mix suits downsizers and buyers seeking lower-maintenance options, although the median age of 52 points to an older buyer environment.
For Buyers
Buyer decisions in Parrearra need property-level pricing because a current suburb median house price is not available. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,000, while mortgage-to-income pressure is 31.5%, below the 33.4% rent-to-income measure. Housing is mixed: 55.4% separate houses, 18.2% semi-detached homes and 26.3% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 37.9% and 4 or more bedrooms for 33.8%. With 42.9% owning outright versus 26.1% paying a mortgage, established owners outnumber mortgaged households. Compared with a detached-only market, the mix suits downsizers and buyers seeking lower-maintenance options, although the median age of 52 points to an older buyer environment.
For Investors
Parrearra has a renter share of 25.1% and weekly rent of $490, but the 10.3% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly held rental market, so investors should allow for leasing variability. The 24.0% rent growth figure indicates that rental costs have moved materially, yet current vacancy may moderate near-term negotiating power. Development activity is modest at 10 applications over 12 months, mostly residential additions, detached dwelling work and ancillary improvements rather than a large pipeline. Forecast growth runs at 1.49% annually with Balanced migration, supporting a steady rather than migration-led thesis. Compared with a high-yield strategy, the suburb suits investors who value mixed housing and owner stability, but who can tolerate vacancy risk and the absence of a current median sale price.
Development Activity
Total DAs
13
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1000.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Parrearra's demographic profile is older and smaller-household than the national picture. Median age is 52, 12 years above the national comparison, while average household size is 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national figure. Couples without children account for 53.3% of households, compared with 32.4% for couples with children, which helps explain the compact household pattern. English ancestry is reported by 2,281 people, followed by Scottish at 614 and Irish at 612, giving the suburb a clear Anglo-Celtic tilt. University attainment is 31.6%, 1.5 percentage points above the national comparison, while 25.0% were born overseas, 3.4 points above the national figure. The 71.2% who stayed at the same address earlier suggests more continuity than turnover, supporting a settled feel near Buddina and Kawana Waters.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
55.4%
Houses
18.2%
Townhouse
26.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Parrearra's housing mix is more varied than a conventional detached-house suburb. Separate houses make up 55.4% of dwellings, while apartments are 26.3% and semi-detached homes 18.2%; the latter two categories total 44.5%, below the separate-house share. Three-bedroom homes are the largest group at 37.9%, followed by 4 or more bedrooms at 33.8%, while 2-bedroom dwellings account for 26.4%. Tenure is comparatively stable, with 42.9% owned outright and 26.1% under mortgage, versus 25.1% renting and 5.9% in other tenure. That ownership pattern fits the median age of 52 and 2.2-person households, because established couples and downsizers can occupy smaller or lower-maintenance homes. Compared with nearby Buddina, Parrearra's apartment and semi-detached share gives buyers more format choice away from a purely beachfront stock profile. Weekly rent is $490 and vacancy is 10.3%, so rental conditions are looser than in a tightly held market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $490.
$850
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $850 · units $700
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$773
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.3%
Unoccupied
229
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.4% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.5% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.4%
Couples with children
53.3%
Couples, no children
13.2%
Single parent
1,397
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Parrearra's dominant industry, employing 344 people or 24.2% of the industry base, followed by Construction at 148 and 10.4%, Education at 140 and 9.8%, Professional and Technical services at 133 and 9.3%, and Retail at 98 and 6.9%. This concentration gives the local employment profile a service and care emphasis, while the leading occupations are Professionals at 495, Managers at 304, Clerical and Administrative workers at 276, Trades at 249 and Community and Personal Service workers at 229. Labour conditions are solid but participation is moderate: unemployment is 4.5%, participation is 53.5%, and full-time employment is 54.2% or 1,119 people, compared with 730 part-time workers. SEIFA is mid-to-upper range, with IEO, IRSD and IRSAD all at decile 6, while IER is higher at decile 7. That IER result points to stronger economic resources than education or disadvantage measures alone, helping explain household income at the 45.1 percentile.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
2,160
Unemployed
97
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.2%
Part-time
35.4%
Participation
53.5%
Employed
2,063
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.6%
Postgraduate
6.7%
Born Overseas
25.0%
Dwellings
1,994
Transport to Work
Parrearra is compact at 2.42 sq km, but daily movement is strongly car dependent: 71.9% drive as a car driver, compared with only 0.9% using public transport and 2.9% walking or cycling. A further 20.3% work from home, which can reduce commuting for some households but does not replace the need to check routes for errands and appointments. The suburb's socioeconomic position sits around the middle deciles: IRSAD is decile 6, IEO is decile 6 and IER is higher at decile 7. Volunteering is 17.1%, and 6.5% of residents, or 289 people, need assistance. Compared with a transit-oriented coastal centre, Parrearra will suit residents who have a car and value a quieter residential setting more than rail-style connectivity. With 4,661 residents and density of 1,924.5 people per sq km, local convenience depends on nearby centres and exact address.
Drive
71.9%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
20.3%
Population Forecast
+1.49%/yr
(+169 people/yr)
EstablishedParrearra's growth outlook is steady, but its composition matters more than headline expansion. Forecast trend is 1.49% a year and migration is labelled Balanced, suggesting growth should not be framed as a single-source migration surge. The wider area records 14.2% population change over 10 years, while the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.8 percentage points and the working-age share down 2.4 points. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 38, and the shift measure also records 24.0% rent growth. Affordability is labelled Improving, with the reported measure moving from 67.8 in 2011 to 59.5 in 2021. Because older households, balanced migration and rising rents are all present, future demand is more likely to favour accessible homes, low-maintenance stock and services than a rapid young-family expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+110
Net Internal / yr
+126
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +21% since 2011, Net internal migration +126/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Parrearra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parrearra a good suburb to live in?
Parrearra can suit residents who prefer a compact, established setting and do not rely heavily on public transport. It has 4,661 residents, a median age of 52, 20.3% working from home and 71.9% car drivers, so lifestyle fit depends on comfort with driving and an older local age profile.
What is the median house price in Parrearra?
A current median house price is not available for Parrearra, so buyers should assess recent sales for the exact property type. Useful context is weekly rent of $490, a monthly mortgage figure of $2,000, and outright ownership of 42.9%. The mixed 55.4% separate-house and 26.3% apartment profile makes a single median less representative.
What schools are in Parrearra?
No named school is confirmed within Parrearra. Families should check the exact address, enrolment zone and travel time, because nearby options can differ across suburb boundaries. Parrearra covers 2.42 sq km, so proximity should be assessed street by street rather than assumed from the suburb name.
Is Parrearra safe?
A suburb-specific crime rate is not stated, so current police and council information should be checked before making a safety judgement. Parrearra has 4,661 residents, 17.1% volunteering and an IRSAD decile of 6, providing community and socioeconomic context but not a crime outcome.
Is Parrearra good for property investment?
Parrearra may suit a cautious, income-focused investor, but the rental settings are mixed. Weekly rent is $490, renting households are 25.1% and vacancy is 10.3%, which is high compared with a tightly held market. Forecast growth is 1.49% annually, migration is Balanced and 10 development applications were recorded over 12 months, so the case leans to steady demand rather than rapid expansion.
How is Parrearra's population changing?
Population change is steady but increasingly shaped by age. The forecast annual trend is 1.49%, migration is Balanced and the wider area's 10-year population change is 14.2%. Parrearra's trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.8 percentage points and the working share down 2.4 points, so demand may favour accessible, low-maintenance housing over fast-growing young-family stock.
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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