Kareela, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Kareela NSW is 3,572 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Kareela is $983 per week ($51,116 per year). Median rent in Kareela is $695 per week ($3,012 per month). Kareela has a median age of 42 years, older than the national median of 38. Kareela has a population density of 2,233 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Kareela is China. The most common religion is No religion (32.3% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kareela is $3,000.

There were 18 recorded offences in Kareela in 2025-26, a rate of 5 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was assault (6 offences).

Population
3,572
Census 2021
Median income
$983/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$695/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
42years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Kareela vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Kareela is $983 a week, 28% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 380th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $695 a week, $310 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 25.1% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 42, 1 year younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureKareelaTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$983/wk$765/wk +28%$766/wk
Household income$2,765/wk$1,704/wk +62%$1,637/wk
Rent$695/wk$385/wk +81%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$3,000/mo$1,965/mo +53%$1,733/mo
Median age4243 −1 yrs42
Rent share of household income25.1%22.6% +2.5 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Kareela, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Kareela Population

3,572 residents at the 2021 Census.

Kareela Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$983/wk
$51,116 per year
Ranked 1,320 of 14,663
Median Rent
$695/wk
$3,012 per month
Ranked 97 of 14,663
Median Age
42years
4 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$3,000/mo
Avg household size: 3 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Kareela Rent Prices & Affordability

25% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $2,765/wk
Median rent $695/wk
Rent to income 25.1%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Kareela against your income

About $11,982 a month
Median rent $695/wk
Left after rent $2,070/wk
Rent share 25.1%

Kareela Schools

31
schools nearby
24
government
1077
avg ICSEA score
13,115
total students
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Como - Oyster Bay Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 414 students
1127
ICSEA
Bald Face Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 246 students
1123
ICSEA
Sydney Montessori School Independent
Combined · K-11 · 147 students
1118
ICSEA
Como West Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 275 students
1109
ICSEA
St Catherine Labouré Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 596 students
1109
ICSEA
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 603 students
1106
ICSEA
Kareela Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 272 students
1102
ICSEA
Sutherland Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 344 students
1101
ICSEA
Oyster Bay Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 416 students
1098
ICSEA
Yowie Bay Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 329 students
1093
ICSEA
St Patrick's College Sutherland Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,227 students
1093
ICSEA
Kirrawee High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,185 students
1092
ICSEA
Gymea Bay Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 763 students
1091
ICSEA
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Miranda Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 396 students
1090
ICSEA
Bonnet Bay Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 197 students
1090
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 31 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Kareela, with a map

Kareela Map

Kareela, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Kareela, New South Wales: 34.0179°S, 151.0826°E

Kareela Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (31)

People in Kareela

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.8% (1,777) Female 50.2% (1,793)

Population Density

2,233
people per km²
3,572 people · 1.6 km²

Households

3
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,964
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

China
3.8%
England
3.8%
New Zealand
1.5%
Germany
1.0%
Greece
0.7%
Philippines
0.7%
Egypt
0.6%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
4.3%
Greek
2.4%
Cantonese
2.3%
Arabic
1.2%
Italian
1.2%
Russian
0.8%
Spanish
0.8%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
34.4%
Australian
31.8%
Irish
11.8%
Chinese
8.8%
Scottish
8.8%
Greek
5.2%
Italian
5.1%
German
3.8%
Lebanese
1.8%
Indian
1.3%
Maltese
1.2%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
32.3%
Catholic
27.5%
Anglican
17.7%
Eastern Orthodox
7.0%
Not stated
3.2%
Uniting Church
2.2%
Christian (other)
1.5%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.5%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
62.1% 1,759
Separated
1.9% 53
Divorced
4.9% 139
Widowed
5.1% 145
Never married
26.0% 735

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
46.8%
Couple: no children under 15
24.2%
Couple: no children
20.9%
One parent: no children under 15
4.9%
One parent: children under 15
3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
12.6%
2 persons
30.5%
3 persons
18.2%
4 persons
24.3%
5 persons
9.5%
6+ persons
4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Kareela

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,154 occupied private dwellings in Kareela at the 2021 Census, 4.9% were rented, 47.1% owned outright and 47.5% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.8% 9 dwellings
Owned outright
47.1% 544 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
47.5% 548 dwellings
Rented
4.9% 56 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.4% 5 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
88.9%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
9.0%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
0.3%
2 bedrooms
0.9%
3 bedrooms
34.8%
4 bedrooms
48.8%
5 bedrooms
13.4%
6+ bedrooms
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
7.7%
$300-$449/mo
2.4%
$450-$599/mo
0.8%
$600-$799/mo
1.9%
$800-$999/mo
2.1%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
8.5%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
8.5%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
15.2%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
17.3%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
35.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
1.9%
1 vehicle
22.9%
2 vehicles
47.6%
3 vehicles
18.4%
4+ vehicles
9.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Kareela

Employment

Employed full-time
37.4% 960 people
Employed part-time
21.6% 555 people
Unemployed
2.2% 57 people
Not in labour force
38.8% 998 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
35.1%
Managers
21.9%
Clerical & Administrative
15.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
11.2%
Community & Personal Service
7.9%
Sales Workers
4.9%
Labourers
2.1%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.5%
$1-$149/wk
1.2%
$150-$299/wk
1.0%
$300-$399/wk
1.1%
$400-$499/wk
3.2%
$500-$649/wk
1.7%
$650-$799/wk
3.9%
$800-$999/wk
3.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
5.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
3.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.8%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
9.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
9.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
9.9%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
7.0%
$4,000+/wk
29.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
11.5%
$1-$149/wk
5.4%
$150-$299/wk
5.9%
$300-$399/wk
2.8%
$400-$499/wk
2.3%
$500-$649/wk
2.8%
$650-$799/wk
6.6%
$800-$999/wk
7.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.7%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
14.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.5%
$3,500+/wk
7.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
63.4%
Did not go to work
22.7%
Car (passenger)
4.6%
Train
3.4%
Truck
1.9%
Walked only
1.3%
Other
0.8%
Bicycle
0.7%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.6%
Bus
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
71.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
19.8%
Year 11 or equivalent
4.7%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.0%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
35.1%
Certificate III/IV
26.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.3%
Postgraduate Degree
12.3%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.7%
Certificate I/II
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
30.8%
Engineering
15.1%
Society & Culture
12.3%
Health
9.8%
Education
8.0%
Architecture & Building
5.9%
Information Technology
5.7%
Creative Arts
5.5%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
2.6%
Agriculture & Environment
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
36.9%
Secondary: Government
19.2%
Pre-school
10.9%
Secondary: Catholic
9.8%
Vocational Education
8.8%
Primary: Catholic
8.5%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
3.9%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
94.1%
Has need for assistance
3.5%
Need for assistance not stated
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
189
Asthma
118
Heart disease
92
Arthritis
82
Diabetes
82
Cancer
50
Lung condition
41
Kidney disease
40
Stroke
27
Dementia
11

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
12.7% 349
Did not provide
87.3% 2,392

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
13.8% 380
Not a volunteer
86.2% 2,369

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 3
Current ADF: Reserves
0.3% 9
Previously served
2.2% 60
Never served
97.4% 2,686

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
25.8%
1 child
12.6%
2 children
39.2%
3 children
17.6%
4 children
4.0%
5+ children
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
16
1951: 1960
54
1961: 1970
115
1971: 1980
98
1981: 1990
122
1991: 2000
96
2001: 2010
177
2011: 2015
91
2016
20
2017
3
2018
14
2019
14
2020
6

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

7.6%
moved in the last year
22.2%
moved in the last 5 years
3.2%
unemployment rate (Census)
62.3%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,206
Moved from NSW
215
Moved: same area (SA2)
24
Moved from overseas
18
Moved from TAS
5
Moved from VIC
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.2%
5: 14 hours
31.9%
15: 29 hours
16.5%
30+ hours
10.8%
Did not do domestic work
20.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
88.9%
Step family: no other children
6.4%
Blended family: no other children
3.5%
Intact family: other children present
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Kareela Crime Statistics

18 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Assault
6
Other Against Person
4
Theft
3
Property Damage
3
Drug Offences
2

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

South Coogee
Income: $958/wk Rent: $207/wk $488/wk less rent
Yass
Income: $867/wk Rent: $340/wk $355/wk less rent
Hillvue
Income: $839/wk Rent: $350/wk $345/wk less rent
Table Top
Income: $1,052/wk Rent: $380/wk $315/wk less rent
Chifley (NSW)
Income: $841/wk Rent: $400/wk $295/wk less rent
Yellow Rock (Blue Mountains - NSW)
Income: $1,018/wk Rent: $400/wk $295/wk less rent
Mount Kembla
Income: $1,002/wk Rent: $440/wk $255/wk less rent
Hammondville
Income: $827/wk Rent: $440/wk $255/wk less rent

Suburbs near Kareela

The closest suburb to Kareela is Oyster Bay, 1.2 km away.

Oyster Bay
1.2 km away · income $1,096/wk · rent $620/wk
Sylvania
1.7 km away · income $840/wk · rent $530/wk
Jannali
1.8 km away · income $1,023/wk · rent $428/wk
Kirrawee
2.0 km away · income $995/wk · rent $500/wk
Gymea
2.0 km away · income $1,020/wk · rent $500/wk
Como (NSW)
2.4 km away · income $1,149/wk · rent $590/wk

Compare Kareela

Frequently Asked Questions About Kareela

What is the population of Kareela NSW?

The population of Kareela NSW is 3,572 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 2,233 people per km². Kareela is ranked #2,112 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Kareela?

The median personal income in Kareela NSW is $983 per week, or $51,116 per year. The median household income is $2,765 per week. Family income is $2,964 per week. Kareela is ranked #1,320 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Kareela?

Median rent in Kareela NSW is $695 per week ($3,012 per month). Rent represents 25.1% of household income, which is considered moderate. Kareela ranks #97 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Kareela?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kareela NSW is $3,000. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Kareela?

The median age in Kareela NSW is 42 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Kareela a good suburb to live in?

Kareela is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 3,572. The median income is $983/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (25.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12081. All dollar figures in AUD.