Karalee vs Karana Downs

Karalee is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 41 in Karana Downs. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Karalee: a median of $1.22 million, against $1.03 million in Karana Downs. Karana Downs is closer to the city centre: 28.2 km, against 40.9 km. On these figures, Karalee tends to suit families with children, while Karana Downs suits buyers on a tighter budget.

Karalee is larger with 5521 residents and sits in a higher income bracket, with a median household income of $133,068 compared to Karana Downs' $117,260. However, Karana Downs is notably closer to the CBD at 28.2 km versus Karalee's 40.9 km, and offers a stronger liveability score of 79 against Karalee's 75. Karana Downs also delivers a higher rental yield at 4.1% for houses. Both suburbs share similar rental costs at $400 per week and carry no bushfire or flood risk, though Karalee has a slightly higher crime risk of 29 compared to 22.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Karana Downs

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Karana Downs

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,028,000 vs $1,217,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Karana Downs

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (28.2 km vs 40.9 km)
  • is more walkable (34/100 vs 24/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Karana Downs

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (34/100 vs 24/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Karalee is growing faster (26.9% vs -1.6%)
  • Karana Downs returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 2.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Karalee Karana Downs
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.

Karalee Karana Downs
Walkability 24 / 34
Karalee — Walkability: 24/100 Karana Downs — Walkability: 34/100
Safety 71 / 78
Karalee — Safety: 71/100 Karana Downs — Safety: 78/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Karalee — Low fire risk: 100/100 Karana Downs — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Karalee has more residents (5,521 vs 3,800); Karalee has higher household incomes ($133,068 vs $117,260).

Karalee Karana Downs
Population 5,521
+31% vs other
 3,800
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +26.9% -1.6%
Median age 37 41
Median household income $133,068/yr
+12% vs other
 $117,260/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Karalee Karana Downs
0-4 7.0% / 4.7%
Karalee — 0-4: 7.0% Karana Downs — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 17.0% / 14.8%
Karalee — 5-14: 17.0% Karana Downs — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 7.1% / 7.7%
Karalee — 15-19: 7.1% Karana Downs — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 5.3% / 3.8%
Karalee — 20-24: 5.3% Karana Downs — 20-24: 3.8%
25-34 10.8% / 10.0%
Karalee — 25-34: 10.8% Karana Downs — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 15.3% / 14.6%
Karalee — 35-44: 15.3% Karana Downs — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 14.9% / 15.8%
Karalee — 45-54: 14.9% Karana Downs — 45-54: 15.8%
55-64 12.0% / 13.7%
Karalee — 55-64: 12.0% Karana Downs — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 7.4% / 9.7%
Karalee — 65-74: 7.4% Karana Downs — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 2.8% / 4.2%
Karalee — 75-84: 2.8% Karana Downs — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 0.6% / 0.6%
Karalee — 85+: 0.6% Karana Downs — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Karalee 69.9% couple families
Karalee — Couple Families: 69.9% Karalee — Lone Person: 15.4% Karalee — One Parent Families: 12.6% Karalee — Group Household: 1.9% Karalee — Other Families: 0.2%
Karana Downs 61.5% couple families
Karana Downs — Couple Families: 61.5% Karana Downs — Lone Person: 19.8% Karana Downs — One Parent Families: 16.6% Karana Downs — Group Household: 1.4% Karana Downs — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Karalee 13.3% renting
Karalee — Owned Outright: 25.9% Karalee — Mortgage: 60.7% Karalee — Renting: 13.3%
Karana Downs 11.8% renting
Karana Downs — Owned Outright: 29.9% Karana Downs — Mortgage: 58.4% Karana Downs — Renting: 11.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Karalee Karana Downs
Certificate III & IV 17.7% / 16.3%
Karalee — Certificate III & IV: 17.7% Karana Downs — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 15.3%
Karalee — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Karana Downs — Bachelor Degree: 15.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 9.2%
Karalee — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Karana Downs — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 5.6%
Karalee — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Karana Downs — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 3.4%
Karalee — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Karana Downs — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

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.

Karalee Karana Downs
England 4.9% / 6.7%
Karalee — England: 4.9% Karana Downs — England: 6.7%
New Zealand 3.0% / 4.1%
Karalee — New Zealand: 3.0% Karana Downs — New Zealand: 4.1%
South Africa 1.6% / 2.8%
Karalee — South Africa: 1.6% Karana Downs — South Africa: 2.8%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.6%
Karalee — Scotland: 0.6% Karana Downs — Scotland: 0.6%
Germany — / 0.7%
Karalee — Germany: not among its largest Karana Downs — Germany: 0.7%
India 0.6% / —
Karalee — India: 0.6% Karana Downs — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Karalee 98.2% houses
Karalee — Houses: 98.2% Karalee — Townhouses: 1.0% Karalee — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Karana Downs 94.1% houses
Karana Downs — Houses: 94.1% Karana Downs — Townhouses: 4.1% Karana Downs — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Karalee Karana Downs
Median house price $1,217,500 $1,028,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,284,500 $1,149,896
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 65 sales
 30 days
from 30 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.

Karalee Karana Downs
3 bed $950K / $920K
Karalee — 3 bed: $950K (19 sales) Karana Downs — 3 bed: $920K (28 sales)

19 vs 28 sales

4 bed $1.25M / $1.11M
Karalee — 4 bed: $1.25M (72 sales) Karana Downs — 4 bed: $1.11M (30 sales)

72 vs 30 sales

5 bed $1.31M / $1.08M
Karalee — 5 bed: $1.31M (27 sales) Karana Downs — 5 bed: $1.08M (9 sales)

27 vs 9 sales

Development activity

Karalee Karana Downs
New dwellings approved 3,476
across Ipswich
 9,382
across Brisbane
Approvals change year on year -7% +9%

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.

Karalee Karana Downs
Houses 2.5%
$615/wk on $1.3M
 4.1%
$820/wk on $1.05M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Karalee Karana Downs
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 83% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of QLD Higher than 58% of QLD

Liveability

Karana Downs is more walkable (34 vs 24).

Karalee Karana Downs
Grade A
same for both
Score 77/100 80/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Karalee Karana Downs
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
29/100
 Low
22/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
 —
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Karalee Karana Downs
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Karalee

  • Karalee State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Karana Downs

  • Mount Crosby State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Karalee Karana Downs
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 3 9
Childcare 5 3
GPs 1 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 1
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Karalee sits further from the CBD (40.9 km vs 28.2 km).

Karalee Karana Downs
Walkability score 24/100 34/100
Distance to Brisbane 40.9 km
+31% vs other
 28.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 42 min 38 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.

Karalee Karana Downs
Car (driver) 72.9% / 69.3%
Karalee — Car (driver): 72.9% Karana Downs — Car (driver): 69.3%
Worked from Home 19.5% / 23.8%
Karalee — Worked from Home: 19.5% Karana Downs — Worked from Home: 23.8%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.6%
Karalee — Car (passenger): 4.2% Karana Downs — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Train 2.4% / 1.4%
Karalee — Train: 2.4% Karana Downs — Train: 1.4%
Bus 0.2% / 1.1%
Karalee — Bus: 0.2% Karana Downs — Bus: 1.1%
Walked Only 0.7% / 0.6%
Karalee — Walked Only: 0.7% Karana Downs — Walked Only: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.9%).

Setting

Karalee Karana Downs
Elevation 50 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32.5 km 32.2 km

NBN connectivity

Karalee Karana Downs
Connectivity score 78/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 59%
1,959 premises
 54%
1,460 premises

Climate

Karalee Karana Downs
Annual rainfall —
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Karalee Karana Downs
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

Karalee Karana Downs
Average residential rate $1,713/yr $1,519/yr
Council Ipswich Brisbane

Federal electorate

Karalee Karana Downs
Division Blair
same for both
Member Shayne Neumann
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Karalee Karana Downs
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Karalee

Acreage Family Outer

Karana Downs

Large Blocks Outer Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Karalee

Karalee vs Bundamba Karalee vs Riverview Karalee vs Chuwar Karalee vs Mount Crosby Karalee vs Anstead Karalee vs Barellan Point

Other comparisons with Karana Downs

Karana Downs vs Chuwar Karana Downs vs Mount Crosby
Full data on Karalee Full data on Karana Downs
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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