Parrearra - Warana
Statistical Area - sa2

Parrearra - Warana lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

AreaSearch's analysis shows Parrearra - Warana's population is approximately 11,551 as of Aug 2025. This represents an increase of 1,159 people, a 11.2% rise from the 2021 Census figure of 10,392. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 11,117 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 1,676 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Parrearra - Warana's growth rate exceeded non-metro areas (8.6%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 54.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 are adopted, based on 2021 data but without age category splits. Proportional growth weightings align with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Projected demographic shifts indicate a significant population increase in the top quartile of national non-metropolitan areas by 2041, with Parrearra - Warana expected to increase by 3,178 persons, reflecting a 23.7% total rise 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. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, totalling 895 approvals across the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25, and two so far in FY26. On average, one new resident arrives per new home each year over the past five financial years. This indicates a balanced market with stable conditions, as developers focus on premium developments with an average dwelling value of $896,000.

Commercial approvals registered this financial year amount to $29.6 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Parrearra-Warana has slightly more development, 13.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This balances buyer choice while supporting current property values, although development activity has moderated in recent periods. The area's developer interest is significantly above the national average. New building activity shows 15.0% detached dwellings and 85.0% townhouses or apartments. This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

It reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements, changing from the current housing mix of 68.0% houses. The location has approximately 243 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. Looking ahead, Parrearra-Warana is expected to grow by 2,742 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Parrearra - Warana has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 30 potential impact projects, with key ones being BHC Affordable Housing Birtinya, Oceanside Birtinya, St Clair Birtinya, and Kawana Health Precinct Expansion. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Parrearra - Warana demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Parrearra-Warana has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 2.1% as of June 2025. It has 5,653 residents in work, with an unemployment rate 1.8% lower than the Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation is similar to the Rest of Qld at 59.1%. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction is particularly specialized, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.5% compared to the regional average of 4.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population data.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, Parrearra-Warana's labour force decreased by 2.2%, with employment declining by 1.8%, leading to a 0.5 percentage point fall in unemployment. Meanwhile, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. As of Sep-25, Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23%, losing 8,070 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5% with employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parrearra-Warana's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.0% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

Parrearra-Warana has a median taxpayer income of $50,098 and an average income of $72,062 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year ended 30 June 2022. This is higher than the national averages of $50,780 median and $64,844 average for Queensland excluding Parrearra-Warana. Based on a 11.71% increase from March 2022 to March 2023 in the Wage Price Index, estimated current incomes are approximately $55,964 median and $80,500 average as of March 2025. The 2021 Census data shows that Parrearra-Warana ranks modestly for household, family, and personal incomes, between the 41st to 45th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that 27.7% (3,199 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income band, similar to the surrounding region at 31.7%. Housing affordability is a severe issue, with only 82.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 40th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the sixth decile.

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

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

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 28.8%, with lone person households at 25.2% and group households making up 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 region's educational profile is notable with university qualification rates at 26.3% for residents aged 15+, surpassing Rest of Qld's average of 20.6%. Bachelor degrees lead 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 such qualifications - advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (25.7%).

Educational participation is high at 26.6%, including primary education (9.9%), secondary education (8.0%), and tertiary education (4.1%). Kawana Waters State College serves as the anchor institution, educating 2,249 students. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities. All 1 schools offer integrated K-12 education, providing continuity throughout students' academic journey. School capacity exceeds residential needs at 19.5 places per 100 residents versus the regional average of 13.3, indicating the area serves as an educational hub for the broader region.

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, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by seven different routes, collectively providing 1,253 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 256 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 179 daily trips across all routes, which equates to approximately 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% (~6,387 people) have private health cover, higher than the 52.7% across the rest of Queensland.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (9.8%) and mental health issues (7.7%). About 66.9% report no medical ailments, similar to the 66.2% in the rest of Queensland. Around 23.9% (~2,756 people) are aged 65 and over, slightly 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 below average cultural diversity, with 79.1% of its population born in Australia, 87.7% being citizens, and 94.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 49.0% of people in Parrearra-Warana. Judaism was overrepresented, making up 0.1% compared to 0.1% across Rest of Qld.

The top three ancestry groups were English (33.6%), Australian (25.5%), and Irish (9.7%). Notably, New Zealand (1.1% vs 1.1%), Scottish (9.1% vs 8.8%), and German (4.7% vs 4.6%) were overrepresented in Parrearra-Warana compared to regional figures.

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 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, Parrearra-Warana has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (8.5%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (9.0%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 9.5% to 12.1%, while the 5-14 age group has decreased from 12.3% to 11.2%. By 2041, Parrearra-Warana's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 41%, adding 420 people and reaching a total of 1,455 residents from the current figure of 1,034. The 15-24 age group is expected to grow more modestly at 7%, with an increase of 94 residents.