Ironbark vs Karrabin

Ironbark is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 42 in Karrabin. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Ironbark tends to suit young adults.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Ironbark carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 75/100)
  • Karrabin is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 65%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Karrabin

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (21% vs 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $325/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Karrabin

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (48.1 km vs 50.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Karrabin

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (14% vs 6%)
  • But Ironbark carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 75/100)

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

Investors

Ironbark

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (94.2% vs -1.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ironbark Karrabin
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.

Ironbark Karrabin
Walkability 0 / 15
Ironbark — Walkability: 0/100 Karrabin — Walkability: 15/100
Safety 47 / 25
Ironbark — Safety: 47/100 Karrabin — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Ironbark — Low fire risk: 100/100 Karrabin — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ironbark has more residents (1,173 vs 416); Karrabin skews older (42 vs 34).

Ironbark Karrabin
Population 1,173
+65% vs other
 416
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +94.2% -1.7%
Median age 34 42
Median household income $107,900/yr
+6% vs other
 $101,504/yr
Median weekly rent $325/wk
+8% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ironbark Karrabin
0-4 1.5% / 4.8%
Ironbark — 0-4: 1.5% Karrabin — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 2.8% / 12.0%
Ironbark — 5-14: 2.8% Karrabin — 5-14: 12.0%
15-19 2.2% / 5.3%
Ironbark — 15-19: 2.2% Karrabin — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 11.9% / 7.0%
Ironbark — 20-24: 11.9% Karrabin — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 33.2% / 12.5%
Ironbark — 25-34: 33.2% Karrabin — 25-34: 12.5%
35-44 21.4% / 11.8%
Ironbark — 35-44: 21.4% Karrabin — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 12.3% / 15.1%
Ironbark — 45-54: 12.3% Karrabin — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 7.7% / 17.5%
Ironbark — 55-64: 7.7% Karrabin — 55-64: 17.5%
65-74 3.8% / 9.1%
Ironbark — 65-74: 3.8% Karrabin — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 1.8% / 3.4%
Ironbark — 75-84: 1.8% Karrabin — 75-84: 3.4%
85+ 0.3% / 1.0%
Ironbark — 85+: 0.3% Karrabin — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ironbark 54.2% couple families
Ironbark — Couple Families: 54.2% Ironbark — Lone Person: 27.7% Ironbark — One Parent Families: 10.8% Ironbark — Group Household: 3.6% Ironbark — Other Families: 3.6%
Karrabin 53.9% couple families
Karrabin — Couple Families: 53.9% Karrabin — Lone Person: 23.5% Karrabin — One Parent Families: 19.6% Karrabin — Group Household: 2.9% Karrabin — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ironbark 10.1% renting
Ironbark — Owned Outright: 38.7% Ironbark — Mortgage: 51.3% Ironbark — Renting: 10.1%
Karrabin 20.7% renting
Karrabin — Owned Outright: 30.0% Karrabin — Mortgage: 49.3% Karrabin — Renting: 20.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ironbark Karrabin
Certificate III & IV 11.6% / 20.2%
Ironbark — Certificate III & IV: 11.6% Karrabin — Certificate III & IV: 20.2%
Bachelor Degree 4.9% / 11.1%
Ironbark — Bachelor Degree: 4.9% Karrabin — Bachelor Degree: 11.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 1.6% / 6.5%
Ironbark — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 1.6% Karrabin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 0.4% / 1.4%
Ironbark — Postgraduate Degree: 0.4% Karrabin — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.2%
Ironbark — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Karrabin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

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.

Ironbark Karrabin
England 2.3% / 2.9%
Ironbark — England: 2.3% Karrabin — England: 2.9%
New Zealand 4.3% / 0.7%
Ironbark — New Zealand: 4.3% Karrabin — New Zealand: 0.7%
Philippines 0.3% / 1.7%
Ironbark — Philippines: 0.3% Karrabin — Philippines: 1.7%
Thailand 0.9% / —
Ironbark — Thailand: 0.9% Karrabin — Thailand: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.8% / —
Ironbark — Netherlands: 0.8% Karrabin — Netherlands: not among its largest
Scotland 0.6% / —
Ironbark — Scotland: 0.6% Karrabin — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ironbark 100.8% houses
Ironbark — Houses: 100.8%
Karrabin 100.0% houses
Karrabin — Houses: 100.0%
Houses

Development activity

Ironbark Karrabin
New dwellings approved 3,476
across Ipswich
same for both
Approvals change year on year -7%
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Ironbark Karrabin
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 75% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 50% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 62% of QLD Higher than 39% of QLD

Liveability

Karrabin is more walkable (15 vs 0).

Ironbark Karrabin
Grade B —
Score 52/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Karrabin carries more crime risk (75 vs 53).

Ironbark Karrabin
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
53/100
 High
75/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 High
91/100
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Ironbark Karrabin
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Ironbark

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Karrabin

  • West Moreton Anglican College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ironbark Karrabin
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 0 2
Childcare 0 2
Waterways 3 5

Mobility

Ironbark sits further from the CBD (50.4 km vs 48.1 km).

Ironbark Karrabin
Walkability score 0/100 15/100
Distance to Brisbane 50.4 km
+5% vs other
 48.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 46 min 44 min
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4306
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.

Ironbark Karrabin
Car (driver) 77.9% / 81.4%
Ironbark — Car (driver): 77.9% Karrabin — Car (driver): 81.4%
Worked from Home 18.6% / 12.2%
Ironbark — Worked from Home: 18.6% Karrabin — Worked from Home: 12.2%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 1.6%
Ironbark — Car (passenger): 3.4% Karrabin — Car (passenger): 1.6%
Walked Only — / 4.8%
Ironbark — Walked Only: not among its largest Karrabin — Walked Only: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.4%).

Setting

Ironbark Karrabin
Elevation 66 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 46.3 km 45.0 km

NBN connectivity

Ironbark Karrabin
Connectivity score 30/100 28/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
121 premises
 0%
139 premises

Climate

Ironbark Karrabin
Annual rainfall 897 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.3°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Ironbark Karrabin
PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.4 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.64 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Ironbark Karrabin
Average residential rate $1,713/yr
same for both
Council Ipswich
same for both

Federal electorate

Ironbark Karrabin
Division Blair
same for both
Member Shayne Neumann
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Ironbark Karrabin
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Ironbark

Acreage Multicultural Outer

Karrabin

Acreage Outer Quiet Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ironbark

Ironbark vs Walloon Ironbark vs Pine Mountain Ironbark vs Haigslea Ironbark vs Glamorgan Vale Ironbark vs Wanora Ironbark vs Blacksoil

Other comparisons with Karrabin

Karrabin vs Brassall Karrabin vs Walloon Karrabin vs Wulkuraka Karrabin vs Amberley Karrabin vs Blacksoil
Full data on Ironbark Full data on Karrabin
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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