Parrearra - Warana

Population growth drivers in Parrearra - Warana are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

AreaSearch's analysis shows Parrearra - Warana's population is around 11,713 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,321 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,392. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 11,118 in June 2024 and an additional 612 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,700 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Parrearra - Warana's 12.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the non-metro area (8.8%) and the national average. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 54.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. Considering projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecast for the top quartile of national non-metropolitan areas. The area is expected to increase by 3,178 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 22.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Parrearra - Warana among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Parrearra-Warana has seen approximately 179 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 895 homes. As of FY26, 18 approvals have been recorded. On average, one person moves to the area per dwelling built each year between FY21 and FY25, indicating a balanced supply-demand market with stable conditions. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost value of $414,000.

This financial year has seen $29.6 million in commercial approvals, reflecting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Parrearra-Warana shows slightly higher development activity, with 13.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This balances buyer choice while supporting current property values, although recent periods have seen some moderation in development activity. Notably, this activity is well above the national average, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New building activity comprises 15.0% standalone homes and 85.0% medium to high-density housing. This shift from the area's existing housing (currently 68.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for more diverse, affordable housing options.

With around 243 people per approval, Parrearra-Warana reflects a transitioning market. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by approximately 2,580 residents. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Parrearra - Warana 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 26 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Oceanside Birtinya, Kawana Health Precinct Expansion, BHC Affordable Housing Birtinya, and Azzure Bokarina Beach. 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 labour market in Parrearra - Warana shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Parrearra-Warana has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

As of September 2025, 5,566 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7% below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Qld's at 59.1%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.5% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 4.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the year to September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.6%, employment by 2.4%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point fall in unemployment rate. Meanwhile, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%. State-level data (as of 25-Nov) shows QLD employment contracted by 0.01%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parrearra-Warana's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

The median income among taxpayers in Parrearra-Warana SA2 was $50,098 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $72,062 during the same period. These figures are higher than those for Rest of Qld, which had a median income of $50,780 and an average income of $64,844. By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99%, the estimated median income would be approximately $57,107 and the average income around $82,143. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Parrearra-Warana rank modestly, between the 41st and 45th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. In this area, 27.7% of individuals earn within the $1,500-$2,999 bracket, which is consistent with broader trends in the surrounding region at 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 39th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Parrearra - Warana displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Parrearra-Warana's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.5% houses and 32.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 70.4% houses and 29.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parrearra-Warana was at 39.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.4% and rented ones at 28.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,048, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $465, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $450. Nationally, Parrearra-Warana's mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

Parrearra - Warana has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 71.2% of all households, including 27.9% couples with children, 32.3% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.8%, with lone person households at 25.2% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Parrearra - Warana performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 26.3% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of Qld average of 20.6%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 18.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas at 12.0% and certificates at 25.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.9% in primary, 8.0% in secondary, and 4.1% in tertiary education.

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

Parrearra-Warana has 30 active public transport stops. These are served by a mix of buses operating along seven routes. Together, these routes facilitate 1,253 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents living an average of 256 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 179 daily trips across all routes, equating to around 41 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Parrearra - Warana is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Parrearra-Warana faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 55% of its total population (~6,477 people) has private health cover, compared to 52.7% across the rest of Queensland.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.8 and 7.7% of residents respectively. About 66.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.2% across the rest of Queensland. As of 2016 (the latest available data), 23.9% of residents are aged 65 and over (2,794 people), which is higher than the 22.3% in the rest of Queensland.

Parrearra - Warana ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Parrearra-Warana was found to have a below average level of cultural diversity, with 79.1% of its population born in Australia, 87.7% being citizens, and 94.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Parrearra-Warana, comprising 49.0% of the population. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented, making up 0.1% of the population compared to the regional average of 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (33.6%), Australian (25.5%), and Irish (9.7%). There are also notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: New Zealand is overrepresented at 1.1% compared to the regional figure of 1.1%, Scottish at 9.1% versus 8.8%, and German at 4.7% compared to 4.6%.

Parrearra - Warana hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Parrearra-Warana's median age of 46 years is significantly higher than Rest of Qld's 41 and the national average of 38. Compared to Rest of Qld, Parrearra-Warana has a higher proportion of 75-84 year-olds (8.5%) but fewer 25-34 year-olds (9%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.5% to 12.1%, while the 5-14 cohort has declined from 12.3% to 11.2%. By 2041, Parrearra-Warana's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 39%, adding 405 people to reach 1,455 from 1,049. The 15-24 group is expected to grow more modestly at 5%, with an increase of 74 residents.