Carina Heights

Population growth drivers in Carina Heights are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Carina Heights' population, as of May 2026, is approximately 7529. This figure represents a growth of 645 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6884. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 7500 in June 2025 and an additional 82 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 2214 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Carina Heights' 9.4% growth since the 2021 Census exceeded both the SA3 area's 8.1% and the national average, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 71.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023, based on 2021 data, are adopted. These state projections lack age category splits; thus, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Future population trends indicate a slight increase below the median of statistical areas across the nation, with Carina Heights expected to gain 868 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 11.1% over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Carina Heights when compared nationally

Carina Heights has received approximately 31 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 155 homes. As of FY26, 7 approvals have been recorded. Each year, an average of 2.9 new residents per dwelling has been observed between FY21 and FY25, reflecting strong demand which supports property values. The average construction cost value of new homes is $398,000, higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development.

In FY26, commercial approvals worth $29.0 million have been registered, indicating robust commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Carina Heights has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks in the 46th percentile nationally for areas assessed, suggesting limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties. Recent construction consists of 54.0% detached dwellings and 46.0% townhouses or apartments, offering options across different price points.

With approximately 368 people per approval, Carina Heights indicates a mature market. By 2041, it is expected to grow by 839 residents (AreaSearch quarterly estimate), and current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Carina Heights has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Greendale Village Shopping Centre, Aveo Parkside Carindale Redevelopment, Belmont Private Hospital Expansion, and Fairway Carindale Stage 2. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment landscape in Carina Heights shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Carina Heights' workforce is well-educated with significant representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 5.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.9%. As of December 2025, 4,415 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 5.0%, 0.9% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation stands at 73.9%, slightly above Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. According to Census responses, 24.2% of residents work from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services, with the latter showing strong specialization at 1.2 times the regional level. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing has lower representation at 4.0% versus the regional average of 5.6%.

The area's predominantly residential nature suggests limited local employment opportunities. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 1.9%, while labour force grew by 2.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded higher employment growth of 3.2% and a slight fall in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Carina Heights' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The Carina Heights SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $65,491 and an average income of $86,037 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799. By March 2026, these figures are estimated to be approximately $72,931 (median) and $95,811 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023. Census data indicates that incomes in Carina Heights cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. The earnings band of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 34.3% of the community (2,582 individuals), which is consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 33.3% in the same category. High housing costs consume 16.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 64th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Carina Heights displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Carina Heights' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 53.8% houses and 46.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Carina Heights was 23.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.9% and rented ones at 41.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, compared to Brisbane metro's $1,863. Median weekly rent was $400, against Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Carina Heights' mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863 and rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

Carina Heights features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 67.7% of all households, including 25.2% couples with children, 26.8% couples without children, and 14.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.3%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households comprising 6.2%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Carina Heights exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Carina Heights has a notably high educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with 38.9% holding university qualifications compared to the broader Queensland state average of 25.7% and the national average of 30.4%. This higher proportion of residents with university degrees positions Carina Heights favourably for opportunities that require a strong educational background. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent, held by 26.6% of residents in this age group, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.4% and graduate diplomas at 3.9%. Vocational credentials are also widely held among Carina Heights residents aged 15 and above, with 30.8% having such qualifications.

This includes advanced diplomas held by 11.7% of residents in this age group and certificates held by 19.1%. Educational participation is particularly high in Carina Heights, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes tertiary education (7.9%), primary education (7.8%), and secondary education (6.1%).

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Carina Heights has 49 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 13 different routes that together facilitate 2,671 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 141 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 82%, while bus usage stands at 12%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 24.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 381 trips per day, equating to approximately 54 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Carina Heights is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Carina Heights shows better-than-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average among older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 62% of Carina Heights' total population (4,667 people) has private health cover, compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.6% and 8.1% of residents respectively. 68.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 13.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,038 people), lower than Greater Brisbane's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than those of the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Carina Heights was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Carina Heights, surveyed in June 2021, had a higher level of cultural diversity compared to most local areas. It was found that 27.4% of its population were born overseas, and 19.3% spoke a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Carina Heights, as of June 2021, was Christianity, accounting for 50.4% of the population.

However, Buddhism showed an apparent overrepresentation with 2.0%, compared to the Greater Brisbane average of 2.0%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Carina Heights were English (24.8%), Australian (21.9%), and Other (10.1%). Notably, certain ethnic groups showed significant differences: Russian was overrepresented at 0.7% compared to the regional average of 0.3%, New Zealand at 1.2% versus 1.0%, and Spanish at 0.7% compared to 0.4%.

Carina Heights's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Carina Heights' median age of 36 years is equal to Greater Brisbane's but younger than the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 17.9%, higher than Greater Brisbane, while the 5-14 cohort stands at 10.2%. Between 2021 and now, the 75-84 age group has grown from 3.6% to 4.8%, and the 45-54 cohort increased from 12.2% to 13.3%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort decreased from 8.4% to 7.5%. By 2041, forecasts show significant demographic shifts in Carina Heights. The 45-54 age group is projected to increase by 219 people (22%), from 1,001 to 1,221. Conversely, population declines are forecast for the 35-44 and 0-4 cohorts.