Sarina QLD 4737
Located in Queensland, Sarina sits 933 km from Brisbane CBD, around 10 hours 35 minutes by car. The town has 5,619 residents, a median age of 40, and a median household income of $83,460 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population grew 1.8% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $300 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,733. The area shows high coastal erosion risk and high crime risk. 4 schools sit within the town boundary, and walkability is low.
Is Sarina a good town?
Sarina scores a D (23/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — weaker on schools, transit, safety, and community.
Below the state average
4 schools
Car-dependent
Walkability 15/100 · 933.4 km · 635 min drive to Brisbane
Median available
Median $543K
High crime risk
Fire 14/100 · Crime 79/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 2/10 · median age 40 · 5,619 residents
Liveability Rating
23 / 100 · Ranked #1008 in QLDEach bar is Sarina's rank among QLD suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better).
Flood data for Queensland covers only the areas mapped there — a blank here is not an all-clear.
How do you rate the liveability in Sarina?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
23 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataSarina's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $543,000, roughly 17% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$543,000
21% below its 4 neighbours (median $685,000)
Based on 103 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 26 days — median across 51 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 12 sales $398K
- 3 bed 55 sales $525K
- 4 bed 31 sales $700K
Land
$372,000
Based on 16 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 45 days — median across 11 sales that recorded a listing period
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Sarina are currently listed at around $699,000 on average. Based on 46 houses listed in the past six months.
$699K
46 houses listed in the last 6 months.
46 of the suburb's 1,948 dwellings (2.4%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Sarina rent for around $650 a week on average, based on 18 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$650/wk
18 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$370/wk
7 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
25 rentals advertised against an estimated 522 rented homes (4.8%) in the last 6 months.
Rent agreed on new leases
Jul–Sep 2026- All rentals
- $550/wk
- 27 bonds
- +57% since 2021
Median weekly rent on bonds lodged for new tenancies. Change since 2021 compares the median of the first four quarters with the last four. Asking rents above come from advertised listings.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025103 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 29% of its income on the median rent in postcode 4737.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$650/week ($34,000 a year) on a $699,000 median
Not enough unit sales and rentals in the window to calculate a yield.
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Is Sarina safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Sarina sits in the high band, with 174 incidents recorded in 2025 — up about 7% on the prior year.
174 offences
7.4% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–202447 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 3 of them fatal
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the town carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Coastal Erosion
Shoreline Change Summary
1988–2025Nearest Eroding Coastline
- Distance
- 9.7 km
- Rate
- -0.86 m/yr
- Net Movement
- -44.2 m
- Certainty
- good
Data Quality
Schools
Four schools serve Sarina, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 1,410 students across 4 schools (avg 352)
- • Sectors: 3 Government, 1 Catholic
- • ICSEA 890-962, median 926 (below the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Sarina State High School (775 students)
Primary
Secondary
Walkability
Sarina is very car-dependent on foot — at 15/100, nearly all errands require a car. Within the town there are 2 supermarkets, 10 parks and 3 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
We hold no public transport timetable data for this area, so public transport is not rated here and the score is spread across the remaining components. It is not counted as zero.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Sarina.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 2.8 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 2.1 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 0.0 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 1.5 min
- Span of service
- 12.3 hours
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Sarina.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 23%
- Premises covered
- 2,568
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Mackay: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this town alone — this town's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 12 small areas inside this town and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 3 different deciles — a narrow range, so the average describes the town closely.
Sarina is home to about 5,600 residents, with a median age of 40, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $83,000 a year, with unemployment at 4.9%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
5,619
Median Age
40
Median Household Income
$83,460/yr
Census Median Rent
$300/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg Household Size
2.6
Median Personal Income
$36,920/yr
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Unoccupied Dwellings
13.3%
Total Dwellings
1,948
Owner-Occupier Rate
73.2%
Houses
91.2%
Rental Stress
18.7%
Mortgage Stress
24.9%
Work From Home
6.0%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
36 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 25 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 499 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 81.8%
- English Spoken at Home
- 86.8%
- Employment Rate
- 53.5%
- Completed Year 12
- 28.5%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
63 residents (1.1%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
2.0% of residents (104) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Brisbane (69).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 5,272 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,873 a year through Mackay based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Mackay
In the year to August 2026, 574 new dwellings were approved across Mackay. That mix is 508 houses and 66 units. Approvals are down 5.8% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this town: at least 691 homes
- Within 2 years 57 to 120 homes
- In 2 to 5 years at least 609 homes
- In 10 years or more 25 to 95 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (16 parcels), by when it expects lots to be registered. Yields are published in ranges, so these are too.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Aboriginal party for this area is Yuwibara People.
Under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party for an area follows native title. Native title over this area has been determined.
Climate & Setting
from Mackay Aero, 29.7 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 111 m
- above sea level, at the town centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 9.7 km
- Near high-voltage lines
- 0.4% of addresses
- 12 within 100 m of an overhead line of 110 kV or more
- Annual rainfall
- 1,517 mm
- 95 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 30.8°C
- 3 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 12.4°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the town centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
2 facilities within 5 km- 3.1 kmSugar ManufacturingTop reported: Carbon monoxide · Oxides of Nitrogen · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10)
- 3.1 kmBasic Organic Chemical ManufacturingTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Ethanol · Oxides of Nitrogen
EV adoption
In postcode 4737, 8 of 8,178 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 1.2% (97 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 1.3%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4737, 2,214 rooftop-solar systems totalling 16.2 MW have been installed since 2001, against 3,370 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 144 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$30,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
$30,000 for contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023, with no end date. IT DID NOT REVERT TO $15,000: the tier was due to end 30 June 2026 and the 2026-27 Queensland Budget (23 June 2026) continued it for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. This file carried a "due to revert" note until 2026-09-18 — it was never true, and a note predicting a change is not the same as a change. Cap is "less than $750,000" including land and contract variations — less than, not up to. New homes only: "There are no home owner grants for established homes."
Mortgage repayments
1 mortgage broker is registered in postcode 4737.
Transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with Queensland Revenue Office
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $30,000 — see what qualifies with Queensland Revenue Office.
At $543,000 this is under the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $30,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with Queensland Revenue Office.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Michelle Landry Liberal National Party of Queensland
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Michelle Landry | 44.2% | 55.8% | +0.8 |
| 2022 | Michelle Landry | 43.4% | 56.6% | -5.8 |
| 2019 | Michelle Landry | 37.6% | 62.4% | +11.7 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact town's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Glen Kelly Liberal National Party of Queensland
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Glen Kelly LNP | 51.0% |
| 2020 | Stephen Andrew ON | 59.0% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2017, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this town's voters. Results: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Looking at a specific address in Sarina?
Every figure above is a town average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 5,619 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Armstrong Beach QLD 4737
Alligator Creek QLD 4740
Koumala QLD 4738
Grasstree Beach QLD 4740
Sarina Beach QLD 4737
Sarina Range QLD 4737
Compare Sarina to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other QLD suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Sarina
Is Sarina a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Sarina is high (79/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect Sarina?
Sarina has a low recorded bushfire history (14/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). These are town-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Sarina a good place to live?
Sarina has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of D (23/100), ranked against other QLD suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Sarina?
Sarina, QLD had a population of 5,619 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Sarina, QLD?
The postcode for Sarina, QLD is 4737.
How far is Sarina from Brisbane?
Sarina is 933 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 635 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Sarina?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Sarina was $83,460 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Sarina?
The median advertised rent in Sarina is $650 a week for houses (18 listings) and $370 a week for units (7 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Sarina?
The median age of residents in Sarina was 40 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Sarina at risk of bushfire?
Sarina has a low recorded bushfire history (14/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the town relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
How are the schools in Sarina?
There are 4 schools inside the Sarina boundary: 1 at and 3 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Sarina walkable?
Sarina scores 15/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it very car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the weather like in Sarina?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Sarina, Mackay Aero (29.7 km away), summer days average 30.8°C, winter nights 12.4°C, 1,517 mm of rain a year over 95 rainy days, and 3 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Sarina?
First-home buyers in QLD may be eligible for $30,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by Queensland Revenue Office; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Sarina belong to?
Sarina sits within the Mackay local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Sarina?
The average residential rates bill through Mackay is $1,873 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Sarina?
Across Mackay, 574 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 5.8% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Sarina in?
Sarina sits within the federal Division of Capricornia, currently held by Michelle Landry (Liberal National Party of Queensland).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2025–26
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2020–2024
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2024
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.