Moving to Carrara QLD 4211
What the official numbers say about living in Carrara — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $450 a week, against a median household income of $1,562 a week.
About 71% of homes are owner-occupied and 28% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Carrara grew 14% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (11,569 → 13,138 people).
Around 71% of households are families, averaging 2.4 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, England, South Africa; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Japanese, Cantonese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Carrara scores a little above the national average (decile 6 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (82% of workers), while 15% work from home.
Nearest train station: Nerang, 3 km north-west.
Nearest bus interchange: Greyhound Bus Terminal Surfers Paradise, 6.4 km east.
Nearest ferry wharf: HOTA, Home of the Arts, 5.6 km east.
Nearest airport: Southport Flying Club, 10.6 km north.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 69 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 18 schools · 15 cafes & restaurants · 2 supermarkets · 30 parks — see them all on the Carrara profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Emmanuel College 650 m · Australian International Islamic College 1.9 km · Worongary State School 2.2 km · Benowa State High School 2.7 km · Merrimac State School 2.8 km · St Michael's College 2.9 km · Benowa State School 2.9 km · Saint Kevin's Catholic School 3 km
Groceries: Coles 2.3 km · IGA 2.9 km
Parks and reserves: Birmingham Sports Fields 500 m · Graham Dillon (OAM) Park 1.5 km · Mataranka Reserve 1.7 km · Amelia Park 1.7 km · Nabalek Park 2.1 km · Fred Cass Family Park 2.2 km · Delta Reserve 2.3 km · Display Garden 2.3 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Carrara, most often seen first: Australian White Ibis · Rainbow Lorikeet · Noisy Miner · Torresian Crow · Magpie-lark · Pacific Black Duck.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Carrara, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrara here | 13,138 | — | 6/10 | 19% |
| Benowa | 9,889 | — | 9/10 | 10% |
| Worongary | 6,021 | — | 7/10 | 44% |
| Highland Park | 6,576 | — | 6/10 | 26% |
| Merrimac | 7,212 | — | 5/10 | 16% |
| Ashmore | 12,415 | — | 7/10 | 15% |
| Nerang | 17,048 | — | 3/10 | 67% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Gold Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Moncrieff — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4211 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Carrara profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $450 a week, and about 28% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 14% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 11,569 people to 13,138. It sits about 69 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Nerang station is roughly 3 km away. Local government is Gold Coast council, and the federal seat is Moncrieff.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Carrara vs Benowa · Carrara vs Worongary.
Nearby guides: Benowa · Worongary · Highland Park · Merrimac · Ashmore · Nerang.
Keep an eye on Carrara
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