QLD · Gold Coast Council
Carrara, 4211
Current weather
17.2°CClear sky
87% humidity · 8.1 km/h wind · 21.8° / 15° today · 0.2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Gold Coast, Carrara is a settled established suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar metro suburbs, even with housing affordability and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 13,138
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,562
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 271 of 5,450
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,900
- Employment rate
- 59.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 424 / 1,742 / 461
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $850
Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- RTA bond statistics — Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland) · Period: Mar 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Jul 2026)
- 413
- Against the person
- 60
- Against property
- 215
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 31.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 219 residents
- State safety percentile
- 31.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +13.9%
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Assault144
- Drug Offences396
- Other Property Damage157
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)594
- Traffic And Related Offences194
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Period: Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Jul 2026; Jan 2026 to Jul 2026 · Updated on site · Calendar-year aggregates
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 1,111.5
- Emmanuel CollegeCombined
- Josiah CollegeSpecial
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
31 public transport stops in this suburb
- Gooding Dr at Palm Meadows Drive
- Gooding Rd at Cararra Markets
- Nerang Broadbeach Rd at Nielsens Road
- Nerang Broadbeach Rd at Nielsens Road
- Riverside Home Caravan Park
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Amenities
26 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Birmingham Rd at Emerald Lakes DriveBus stop
- Birmingham Rd at The BoulevardBus stop
- Birmingham Rd near The BoulevardBus stop
- Bonooroo Park Shopping CentreBus stop
- Michelmore Rd near Alison RdBus stop
- Michelmore Rd near Hickey WayBus stop
- Michelmore Rd near Woolmere StBus stop
- Murev Way near Alzino PlBus stop
- Murev Way near Mayjohn AveBus stop
- Nielsens Rd at Hickey WayBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Amelia ParkPark
- Birmingham Sports FieldsPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Pharmacypharmacy
- The White Bitedentist
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Carrara Tiny Tots Child CareAlison Roadkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 48.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 31% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 2068th in Australia
- State rank
- 467th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #234 among Metro Brisbane · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #248 among Metro Brisbane suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bar Lagoamenitiesrestaurant
- Birmingham Rd at Emerald Lakes Driveamenitiesbus_stop
- Birmingham Rd at The Boulevardamenitiesbus_stop
- Birmingham Rd near The Boulevardamenitiesbus_stop
- Bonooroo Park Shopping Centreamenitiesbus_stop
- Cabukeeamenitiescafe
- Drinking wateramenitiesdrinking_water
- Emerald Lakes Tennis Centeramenities3 Alabaster Drivesports_centre
- Fountainamenitiesfountain
- Gloria Jean'samenitiesUnit Shop 4 3029 The Boulevard, Carraracafe
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Gold Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.