Carrara vs Clear Island Waters

Carrara is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 50 in Clear Island Waters. In both, most households own their home. In Clear Island Waters, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Clear Island Waters: a median of $2.25 million, against $1.24 million in Carrara, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Carrara tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Clear Island Waters suits older residents.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Clear Island Waters

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (20 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 63/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (63% vs 52%)
  • But Carrara has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Carrara has cheaper houses ($1,237,500 vs $2,255,000)
  • Clear Island Waters has cheaper units ($707,500 vs $867,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Carrara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $540/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Carrara

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (51/100 vs 42/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (58 min vs 66 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (74.8 km vs 81.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Carrara

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 37%)
  • is more walkable (51/100 vs 42/100)
  • But Clear Island Waters has more residents already 65 and over (30% vs 21%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Carrara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.6% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Carrara and Clear Island Waters drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Walkability 51 / 42
Carrara — Walkability: 51/100 Clear Island Waters — Walkability: 42/100
Safety 37 / 55
Carrara — Safety: 37/100 Clear Island Waters — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Carrara — Low fire risk: 100/100 Clear Island Waters — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Carrara has more residents (13,138 vs 4,395); Clear Island Waters rents higher ($540/wk vs $450/wk).

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Population 13,138
+67% vs other
 4,395
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +6.7%
Median age 42 50
Median household income $81,224/yr $84,084/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk $540/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carrara Clear Island Waters
0-4 5.0% / 3.4%
Carrara — 0-4: 5.0% Clear Island Waters — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 11.6% / 10.5%
Carrara — 5-14: 11.6% Clear Island Waters — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 5.4% / 5.7%
Carrara — 15-19: 5.4% Clear Island Waters — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 5.0% / 4.8%
Carrara — 20-24: 5.0% Clear Island Waters — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 12.6% / 8.0%
Carrara — 25-34: 12.6% Clear Island Waters — 25-34: 8.0%
35-44 13.1% / 10.1%
Carrara — 35-44: 13.1% Clear Island Waters — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 13.6% / 14.1%
Carrara — 45-54: 13.6% Clear Island Waters — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 12.9% / 13.1%
Carrara — 55-64: 12.9% Clear Island Waters — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 12.0% / 14.3%
Carrara — 65-74: 12.0% Clear Island Waters — 65-74: 14.3%
75-84 7.1% / 10.5%
Carrara — 75-84: 7.1% Clear Island Waters — 75-84: 10.5%
85+ 1.7% / 5.4%
Carrara — 85+: 1.7% Clear Island Waters — 85+: 5.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Carrara 39.8% couple families
Carrara — Couple Families: 39.8% Carrara — Lone Person: 34.6% Carrara — One Parent Families: 18.0% Carrara — Group Household: 6.0% Carrara — Other Families: 1.6%
Clear Island Waters 46.2% couple families
Clear Island Waters — Couple Families: 46.2% Clear Island Waters — Lone Person: 34.8% Clear Island Waters — One Parent Families: 13.9% Clear Island Waters — Group Household: 3.4% Clear Island Waters — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Carrara 28.2% renting
Carrara — Owned Outright: 32.4% Carrara — Mortgage: 39.5% Carrara — Renting: 28.2%
Clear Island Waters 21.3% renting
Clear Island Waters — Owned Outright: 47.4% Clear Island Waters — Mortgage: 31.3% Clear Island Waters — Renting: 21.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Bachelor Degree 11.9% / 16.2%
Carrara — Bachelor Degree: 11.9% Clear Island Waters — Bachelor Degree: 16.2%
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 10.6%
Carrara — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Clear Island Waters — Certificate III & IV: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 9.3%
Carrara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Clear Island Waters — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 6.0%
Carrara — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Clear Island Waters — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.7%
Carrara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Clear Island Waters — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Carrara Clear Island Waters
New Zealand 7.2% / 5.0%
Carrara — New Zealand: 7.2% Clear Island Waters — New Zealand: 5.0%
England 5.0% / 5.8%
Carrara — England: 5.0% Clear Island Waters — England: 5.8%
China 1.2% / 5.9%
Carrara — China: 1.2% Clear Island Waters — China: 5.9%
South Africa 1.6% / 2.1%
Carrara — South Africa: 1.6% Clear Island Waters — South Africa: 2.1%
Taiwan — / 1.6%
Carrara — Taiwan: not among its largest Clear Island Waters — Taiwan: 1.6%
Philippines 0.8% / —
Carrara — Philippines: 0.8% Clear Island Waters — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Carrara 52.1% houses
Carrara — Houses: 52.1% Carrara — Townhouses: 33.7% Carrara — Flats / Apartments: 14.2%
Clear Island Waters 63.2% houses
Clear Island Waters — Houses: 63.2% Clear Island Waters — Townhouses: 25.4% Clear Island Waters — Flats / Apartments: 11.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Median house price $1,237,500 $2,255,000
Median unit price $867,500 $707,500
Median land price $871,666 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 108 sales
 32 days
from 62 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Carrara Clear Island Waters
3 bed $1.12M / $1.4M
Carrara — 3 bed: $1.12M (95 sales) Clear Island Waters — 3 bed: $1.4M (12 sales)

95 vs 12 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $2.2M
Carrara — 4 bed: $1.3M (79 sales) Clear Island Waters — 4 bed: $2.2M (53 sales)

79 vs 53 sales

5 bed $1.66M / $2.84M
Carrara — 5 bed: $1.66M (22 sales) Clear Island Waters — 5 bed: $2.84M (28 sales)

22 vs 28 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Carrara Clear Island Waters
1 bed $685K / $625K
Carrara — 1 bed: $685K (6 sales) Clear Island Waters — 1 bed: $625K (10 sales)

6 vs 10 sales

2 bed $820K / $680K
Carrara — 2 bed: $820K (26 sales) Clear Island Waters — 2 bed: $680K (6 sales)

26 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.06M / $1.01M
Carrara — 3 bed: $1.06M (20 sales) Clear Island Waters — 3 bed: $1.01M (6 sales)

20 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Carrara Clear Island Waters
New dwellings approved 7,196
across Gold Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Houses 4.2%
$950/wk on $1.18M
 4.3%
$1,500/wk on $1.82M
Units 5.6%
$950/wk on $874K
 4.8%
$600/wk on $649K

Ranking within QLD

Carrara Clear Island Waters
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 53% of QLD Higher than 55% of QLD
Schools Higher than 42% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 67% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 66% of QLD

Liveability

Clear Island Waters scores higher overall (74 vs 51); Carrara is more walkable (51 vs 42).

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Grade B A
Score 51/100 74/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Carrara carries more crime risk (63 vs 45).

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
63/100
 Moderate
45/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast campus, 6.2 km
 2
Gold Coast campus, 3.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.5%

Schools in Carrara

  • Josiah College Independent · Combined · Special school at peers
  • Emmanuel College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Australian International Islamic College - Carrara Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Clear Island Waters

  • St Vincent's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 8 1
Parks & reserves 2 20
Childcare 6 2
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 13 5

Mobility

Clear Island Waters sits further from the CBD (81.3 km vs 74.8 km).

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Walkability score 51/100 42/100
Distance to Brisbane 74.8 km 81.3 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 58 min 66 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 57/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 50.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 4211
 1.7%
postcode 4226
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 4211
 51
postcode 4226

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Car (driver) 76.9% / 70.4%
Carrara — Car (driver): 76.9% Clear Island Waters — Car (driver): 70.4%
Worked from Home 15.4% / 21.4%
Carrara — Worked from Home: 15.4% Clear Island Waters — Worked from Home: 21.4%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 5.4%
Carrara — Car (passenger): 4.5% Clear Island Waters — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Walked Only 1.3% / 0.7%
Carrara — Walked Only: 1.3% Clear Island Waters — Walked Only: 0.7%
Train 0.7% / 1.0%
Carrara — Train: 0.7% Clear Island Waters — Train: 1.0%
Bus 0.9% / 0.4%
Carrara — Bus: 0.9% Clear Island Waters — Bus: 0.4%
Bicycle 0.3% / 0.7%
Carrara — Bicycle: 0.3% Clear Island Waters — Bicycle: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.9%).

Setting

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Elevation -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km 4.0 km
4.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Connectivity score 77/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
5,398 premises
 0%
1,920 premises

Climate

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Annual rainfall 1,556 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Carrara Clear Island Waters
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.43 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Average residential rate $1,298/yr
same for both
Council Gold Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Division Moncrieff McPherson
Member Angie Bell Leon Rebello
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Carrara Clear Island Waters
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Carrara

Regional Centre Townhouses

Clear Island Waters

Luxury Parks Quiet Retirees River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carrara

Carrara vs Nerang Carrara vs Ashmore Carrara vs Benowa Carrara vs Broadbeach Waters Carrara vs Merrimac Carrara vs Highland Park

Other comparisons with Clear Island Waters

Clear Island Waters vs Robina Clear Island Waters vs Mermaid Waters Clear Island Waters vs Broadbeach Waters Clear Island Waters vs Merrimac
Full data on Carrara Full data on Clear Island Waters
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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