Carrara vs Nerang

In both, most households own their home. In Nerang, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Carrara: a median of $1.24 million, against $1.03 million in Nerang, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Nerang tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Nerang

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (32 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (13 vs 6)
  • But Carrara carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 75/100)

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

First-home buyers

Nerang

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($701,053 vs $867,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,029,000 vs $1,237,500)
  • But Carrara has cheaper land ($871,666 vs $1,415,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nerang

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($390/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Carrara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (51/100 vs 17/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Carrara

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (51/100 vs 17/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 75/100)
  • But Nerang has more GPs (7 vs 4)

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

Investors

Carrara

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (8.9% vs 1.1%)
  • 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 Nerang 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 Nerang
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 Nerang
Walkability 51 / 17
Carrara — Walkability: 51/100 Nerang — Walkability: 17/100
Safety 37 / 25
Carrara — Safety: 37/100 Nerang — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 45
Carrara — Low fire risk: 100/100 Nerang — Low fire risk: 45/100

Demographics

Nerang has more residents (17,048 vs 13,138); Carrara rents higher ($450/wk vs $390/wk).

Carrara Nerang
Population 13,138 17,048
+30% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +1.1%
Median age 42 40
Median household income $81,224/yr
+9% vs other
 $73,996/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+13% vs other
 $390/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carrara Nerang
0-4 5.0% / 5.3%
Carrara — 0-4: 5.0% Nerang — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 11.6% / 11.9%
Carrara — 5-14: 11.6% Nerang — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 5.4% / 5.7%
Carrara — 15-19: 5.4% Nerang — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 5.0% / 5.8%
Carrara — 20-24: 5.0% Nerang — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 12.6% / 13.4%
Carrara — 25-34: 12.6% Nerang — 25-34: 13.4%
35-44 13.1% / 13.0%
Carrara — 35-44: 13.1% Nerang — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 13.6% / 13.1%
Carrara — 45-54: 13.6% Nerang — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 12.9% / 12.0%
Carrara — 55-64: 12.9% Nerang — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 12.0% / 10.4%
Carrara — 65-74: 12.0% Nerang — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 7.1% / 6.7%
Carrara — 75-84: 7.1% Nerang — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 1.7% / 2.9%
Carrara — 85+: 1.7% Nerang — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.6%).

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%
Nerang 35.0% couple families
Nerang — Couple Families: 35.0% Nerang — Lone Person: 36.8% Nerang — One Parent Families: 20.5% Nerang — Group Household: 6.0% Nerang — 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%
Nerang 33.2% renting
Nerang — Owned Outright: 25.9% Nerang — Mortgage: 40.9% Nerang — Renting: 33.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Carrara Nerang
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 18.9%
Carrara — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Nerang — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 11.9% / 8.4%
Carrara — Bachelor Degree: 11.9% Nerang — Bachelor Degree: 8.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 8.4%
Carrara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Nerang — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 2.3%
Carrara — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Nerang — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.3%
Carrara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Nerang — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

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 Nerang
New Zealand 7.2% / 7.6%
Carrara — New Zealand: 7.2% Nerang — New Zealand: 7.6%
England 5.0% / 4.4%
Carrara — England: 5.0% Nerang — England: 4.4%
India 0.6% / 1.8%
Carrara — India: 0.6% Nerang — India: 1.8%
South Africa 1.6% / 0.7%
Carrara — South Africa: 1.6% Nerang — South Africa: 0.7%
Philippines 0.8% / 0.9%
Carrara — Philippines: 0.8% Nerang — Philippines: 0.9%
China 1.2% / —
Carrara — China: 1.2% Nerang — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

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%
Nerang 61.4% houses
Nerang — Houses: 61.4% Nerang — Townhouses: 23.1% Nerang — Flats / Apartments: 15.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Carrara Nerang
Median house price $1,237,500 $1,029,000
Median unit price $867,500 $701,053
Median land price $871,666 $1,415,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 108 sales
 25 days
from 159 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 Nerang
3 bed $1.12M / $954K
Carrara — 3 bed: $1.12M (95 sales) Nerang — 3 bed: $954K (140 sales)

95 vs 140 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $1.11M
Carrara — 4 bed: $1.3M (79 sales) Nerang — 4 bed: $1.11M (79 sales)

79 vs 79 sales

5 bed $1.66M / $1.59M
Carrara — 5 bed: $1.66M (22 sales) Nerang — 5 bed: $1.59M (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 Nerang
1 bed $685K / $524K
Carrara — 1 bed: $685K (6 sales) Nerang — 1 bed: $524K (6 sales)

6 vs 6 sales

2 bed $820K / $699K
Carrara — 2 bed: $820K (26 sales) Nerang — 2 bed: $699K (15 sales)

26 vs 15 sales

3 bed $1.06M / $788K
Carrara — 3 bed: $1.06M (20 sales) Nerang — 3 bed: $788K (21 sales)

20 vs 21 sales

Development activity

Carrara Nerang
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 Nerang
Houses 4.2%
$950/wk on $1.18M
 4.6%
$850/wk on $970K
Units 5.6%
$950/wk on $874K
 4.8%
$725/wk on $790K

Ranking within QLD

Carrara Nerang
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 53% of QLD Higher than 44% of QLD
Schools Higher than 42% of QLD Higher than 13% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 77% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 84% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 64% of QLD

Liveability

Carrara is more walkable (51 vs 17); Carrara scores higher overall (51 vs 27).

Carrara Nerang
Grade B D
Score 51/100 27/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Nerang carries more bushfire risk (55 vs 0); Nerang carries more crime risk (75 vs 63).

Carrara Nerang
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
55/100
Crime Moderate
63/100
 High
75/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Carrara Nerang
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Gold Coast campus, 6.2 km
 1
Gold Coast, 8.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 1.2%

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 Nerang

  • Nerang State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Nerang State School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Brigid's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Mastery Schools Australia Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carrara Nerang
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 8 9
Parks & reserves 2 32
Childcare 6 13
GPs 4 7
Pharmacies 2 7
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 5
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 13
same for both

Mobility

Carrara Nerang
Walkability score 51/100 17/100
Distance to Brisbane 74.8 km 74.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 58 min 59 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 50.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 138.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 4211
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 4211
same for both

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 Nerang
Car (driver) 76.9% / 80.1%
Carrara — Car (driver): 76.9% Nerang — Car (driver): 80.1%
Worked from Home 15.4% / 11.6%
Carrara — Worked from Home: 15.4% Nerang — Worked from Home: 11.6%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.4%
Carrara — Car (passenger): 4.5% Nerang — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 1.3% / 1.3%
Carrara — Walked Only: 1.3% Nerang — Walked Only: 1.3%
Train 0.7% / 1.2%
Carrara — Train: 0.7% Nerang — Train: 1.2%
Bus 0.9% / 0.9%
Carrara — Bus: 0.9% Nerang — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.1%).

Setting

Carrara Nerang
Elevation -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km 10.0 km

NBN connectivity

Carrara Nerang
Connectivity score 77/100 71/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
5,398 premises
 10%
8,658 premises

Climate

Carrara Nerang
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 Nerang
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³ 5.4 µg/m³
PM10 14.3 µg/m³ 19.3 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.43 pphm 0.91 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Carrara Nerang
Division Moncrieff Wright
Member Angie Bell Scott Buchholz
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Carrara Nerang
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

Nerang

Parks Regional Centre River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carrara

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

Other comparisons with Nerang

Nerang vs Pacific Pines Nerang vs Ashmore Nerang vs Maudsland Nerang vs Highland Park Nerang vs Molendinar Nerang vs Gilston
Full data on Carrara Full data on Nerang
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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