Parrearra

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census date, Parrearra's population is estimated at around 4628 as of November 2025. This reflects a decrease of 33 people (0.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4661 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4324 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 27 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1912 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Parrearra has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.5%, outpacing the non-metro area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 54% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. As we examine future population trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan areas is forecast. The Parrearra (SA2) is expected to increase by 1412 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 38.8% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Parrearra according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates Parrearra has had approximately 27 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 138 homes. As of FY-26, there is one recorded approval so far. On average, each home built between FY-21 and FY-25 accommodates about 3.3 new residents annually.

This demand significantly exceeds new supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction value of new homes is around $896,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Parrearra has substantially reduced construction levels, about 60.0% below the regional average per person. This limited supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. Recent building activity consists entirely of attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living which can be more affordable and suitable for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift contrasts with the area's current housing composition, which is 55.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options.

Parrearra has an estimated population density of around 1660 people per approval, suggesting a mature, established area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Parrearra is projected to grow by approximately 1,797 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Oceanside Birtinya, Kawana Health Precinct Expansion, BHC Affordable Housing Birtinya, and The Point Buddina. 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.

AreaSearch analysis places Parrearra well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Parrearra has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.4%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, there are 2,407 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7% below the Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. The workforce participation rate is lower at 53.4%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Employment in Parrearra is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.6% compared to the regional average of 4.5%.

The area appears to have limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.6%, and employment declined by 2.4% in Parrearra, causing unemployment to fall by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data up to 25-Nov shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%, closely aligned with the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Parrearra's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, although this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Parrearra had a median taxpayer income of $49,584 and an average income of $71,323 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was higher than the national average for Queensland, which had a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $54,498 and the average income $78,391, based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Parrearra rank modestly, between the 33rd and 43rd percentiles. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 26.9% of the community (1,244 individuals), which is consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 31st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Parrearra, as per the latest Census evaluation, 55.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 44.7% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 70.4% houses and 29.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parrearra stood at 45.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.6% and rented ones at 26.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, exceeding Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent in Parrearra was $490, higher than Non-Metro Qld's $450. Nationally, Parrearra's mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 69.2% of all households, including 22.6% couples with children, 36.9% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.8%, with lone person households at 28.1% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Parrearra shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational qualifications in Parrearra trail regional benchmarks, with 25.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 30.4% in Australia. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 17.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 37.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.4%) and certificates (24.1%).

A substantial 22.3% of the population actively pursues formal education, including 7.5% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The Parrearra public transport analysis indicates 13 operational stops, offering a variety of bus services. These stops are served by 7 distinct routes, facilitating 1,124 weekly passenger trips in total. The accessibility to transport is deemed good, with residents on average located 292 meters from the nearest stop.

The service frequency averages 160 trips daily across all routes, which translates to approximately 86 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Parrearra faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~2,566 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 10.9 and 7.4% of residents respectively, while 64.8% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 66.2% across Rest of Qld. The area has 30.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,388 people), which is higher than the 22.3% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

In terms of cultural diversity, Parrearra records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Parrearra's cultural diversity aligns with its broader regional average, with 75.0% of residents born in Australia, 87.6% being citizens, and 93.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Parrearra, practiced by 54.7% of people. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented, comprising 0.2% of Parrearra's population compared to 0.1% across the rest of Queensland.

The top three ancestral groups are English (35.7%), Australian (22.7%), and Irish (9.6%). Some ethnic groups show significant variations: Scottish is notably overrepresented at 9.6%, New Zealand at 1.2%, and French at 0.8%.

Parrearra ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Parrearra has a median age of 52, which exceeds the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and is also above the national average of 38. The 65-74 age group makes up 15.7% of Parrearra's population, compared to Rest of Qld's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort comprises 7.0%. This 65-74 concentration is higher than the national figure of 9.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 9.2% to 11.8%, while the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 9.8% to 8.6%. Demographic modeling indicates that Parrearra's age profile will significantly change by 2041, with the 65 to 74 age group projected to grow by 305 people (42%) from 726 to 1,032.