Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Carrara

Carrara sits inland on the Gold Coast, on the edge of the hinterland and a short drive from the coast. The suburb mixes established low-set family homes with pockets of newer townhouses and medium-density housing set among leafy streets and local parks. It is home to 13,138 people, with a median age of 42 and a median household income of $1,562 a week. About seven in ten homes are owner-occupied while 28.2% are rented, and families make up a large part of the community.

Everyday life in Carrara centres on its event and leisure focus: Metricon Stadium and the wider sports precinct, the long-running Carrara Markets and specialised facilities such as the national BMX freestyle park. Residents value the sporting facilities, weekend market culture and easy road access via the M1, and many choose Carrara for a quieter residential feel while remaining close to beaches and entertainment precincts. Whether it suits you depends on what you want from a suburb, but its mix clearly leans towards people and families after established housing with strong local amenities.

On the figures for Carrara, housing costs sit well above local incomes recorded at the last Census. A house rent of $900 a week is about 57.6% of the median local household's weekly income of $1,562, and a unit rent of $888 a week is about 56.8% of that income, so rent would take a large share of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census. Buying is further above incomes: the median house price of $1,145,000 is about 14.1 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, and the median unit price of $910,000 is about 11.2 times a typical local annual household income.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Over the past 12 months in Carrara, unit rents jumped 16.8% and house values rose 15.8% — both strong gains. Unit values increased 8.1% (a solid rise) while house rents were up 5.9% (a solid increase).

Put simply, the figures show stronger capital growth on the house side this year, and the biggest lift in rental income was for units, where rent growth outpaced both unit value growth and house rent growth. Which of those outcomes matters most depends on whether you prioritise capital growth or rental income and on your own goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.