Warana
At just 2.93 square kilometres on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, Warana has a median age of 42, two years above the national figure, and an aging trajectory with the senior share growing 4.8 points over the decade. Household income sits at the 47th percentile nationally, yet 70.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 35.1% of residents own outright. The suburb scores decile 6 on both IRSD and IRSAD, placing it in the moderate advantage tier compared to national averages. Rent grew 24% over the measured period, while the affordability ratio improved from 67.8% in 2011 to 59.5% in 2021.
Population
3,831
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,511/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$540K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $540,000 reflects a separate-house dominant stock at 70.6%, with apartments making up only 4.4%, well below the national average for coastal suburbs. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.3% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms a further 28.8%, so larger homes dominate supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.6%, sitting at the stress threshold given local incomes at the 47th national percentile. Outright owners at 35.1% outnumber mortgage holders at 31.5%, a pattern typical of established coastal suburbs where long-term residents have paid down their loans.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $540,000 reflects a separate-house dominant stock at 70.6%, with apartments making up only 4.4%, well below the national average for coastal suburbs. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.3% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms a further 28.8%, so larger homes dominate supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.6%, sitting at the stress threshold given local incomes at the 47th national percentile. Outright owners at 35.1% outnumber mortgage holders at 31.5%, a pattern typical of established coastal suburbs where long-term residents have paid down their loans.
For Investors
The rental market has 33.4% renter share and $420 weekly median rent, implying a gross yield near 4.0% against the $540,000 median, reasonable by coastal Queensland standards. The vacancy rate of 8.6% is elevated, signalling oversupply in the rental segment and warranting caution. Net internal migration of 126 per year and overseas migration of 110 per year provide balanced demand support. Rent grew 24% over the measured period but only 11 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, limiting new supply pressure. The high vacancy rate remains the primary risk metric for prospective investors.
Development Activity
Total DAs
32
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, driven by a senior share that grew 4.8 points while the working-age share fell 2.4 points over the decade. The overseas-born share of 17.6% is 4.0 points below the national average, with English (1,614), Irish (538) and Scottish (488) the leading ancestries. University qualifications at 29.2% are 0.9 points below national. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure, and couples with children (1,208 families) is the largest household type. Volunteering reaches 13.8% of residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.6%
Houses
25.0%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure divides into outright owners at 35.1%, mortgage holders at 31.5%, and renters at 33.4%. The high outright ownership rate signals a settled, older cohort rather than rapid buyer turnover. Separate houses dominate at 70.6%, with semi-detached at 25.0% and apartments at 4.4%, giving the suburb a far lower density profile than state coastal averages. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.3% of stock. Mortgage-to-income at 30.6% is at the stress threshold, while rent-to-income at 27.8% stays below 30%, meaning renters face less immediate pressure than buyers at current price levels.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$724
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.6%
Unoccupied
129
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.6% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.7%
Couples, no children
2,785
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.0% of local employment (258 workers), above what a suburb of this size typically generates, followed by Construction at 17.3% (202 workers) and Education at 11.6%. By occupation, Professionals (383) and Managers (213) lead the workforce. The unemployment rate of 4.4% sits against a participation rate of 51.0%, which is low because 1,146 residents are outside the labour force, consistent with the aging profile. SEIFA deciles place the suburb at decile 6 across IRSD and IRSAD, meaning moderate advantage nationally rather than high-disadvantage or top-tier territory.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
5,641
Unemployed
149
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
36.6%
Participation
51.0%
Employed
1,525
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.2%
Postgraduate
6.1%
Born Overseas
17.6%
Dwellings
1,370
Transport to Work
Warana is almost entirely car-dependent, with 89.0% commuting by car and only 1.2% using public transport, lower than state and national averages for suburban areas. Active transport accounts for 5.0% of commuters. The IRSAD decile of 6 places the suburb in the moderate advantage tier nationally, and the IRSD decile of 6 signals low to moderate disadvantage relative to comparable suburbs. Rent-to-income at 27.8% keeps renters below the 30% stress threshold. A need-for-assistance rate of 10.3% among 3,831 residents is elevated relative to the median age of 42. No schools are recorded within the Warana boundary itself.
Drive
89.0%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.49%/yr
(+169 people/yr)
EstablishedThe broader SA2 area grew from 10,919 in 2023 to 11,379 by 2025, an annual rate of 1.49%, adding roughly 169 people per year. Medium forecasts project the area reaching 12,325 by 2031. The growth driver is balanced, with net internal migration of 126 and net overseas migration of 110 per year, giving dual demand streams compared to suburbs reliant on a single channel. The gentrification score of 38 indicates early signs, supported by 21% population growth since 2011. Affordability improved from 67.8% in 2011 to 59.5% in 2021, a genuine trend rather than a statistical anomaly.
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 Warana compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Warana a good suburb to live in?
Warana scores decile 6 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the moderate advantage tier. Outright home ownership reaches 35.1% and 70.6% of dwellings are separate houses. The main trade-offs are strong car dependence at 89.0% of commuters, minimal public transport at 1.2%, and no schools recorded inside the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Warana?
The estimated median house price is $540,000, derived from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,000. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.6% sits at the conventional stress threshold given household incomes at the 47th national percentile.
What schools are in Warana?
No schools are recorded inside the Warana boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Sunshine Coast localities. Local residents hold university qualifications at 29.2%, which is 0.9 points below the national average, reflecting a moderate education profile.
Is Warana safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Warana. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a moderate tier nationally. The need-for-assistance rate of 10.3% (371 of 3,831 residents) is notable given the older median age of 42, though no direct crime benchmark is available.
Is Warana good for property investment?
At $420 weekly rent against a $540,000 median, the gross yield is near 4.0%. The vacancy rate of 8.6% is elevated, signalling potential rental oversupply. Net migration of 126 internal and 110 overseas residents per year supports demand, and rent grew 24% over the measured period, but vacancy is the key risk metric to monitor.
How is Warana's population changing?
The broader area grew from 10,919 in 2023 to 11,379 by 2025 at roughly 1.49% per year, with medium forecasts projecting 12,325 by 2031. The suburb has an aging trajectory: the senior share rose 4.8 points over the past decade while the working-age share fell 2.4 points, shaping future service and housing demand.
What is the demographic profile of Warana residents?
The median age is 42, which is 2.0 years above the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 17.6%, which is 4.0 points below national. The most common ancestries are English (1,614), Irish (538) and Scottish (488). Average household size is 2.5 and couples with children (1,208) is the largest family type among 2,785 total families.
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.
Explore Warana on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map