Karuah, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Karuah NSW is 1,618 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Karuah is $555 per week ($28,860 per year). Median rent in Karuah is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Karuah has a median age of 50 years, older than the national median of 38. Karuah has a population density of 22 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Karuah is England. The most common religion is No religion (35.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Australian Indigenous Languages. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Karuah is $1,444.

There were 25 recorded offences in Karuah in 2025-26, a rate of 15 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (8 offences).

Population
1,618
Census 2021
Median income
$555/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$300/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
50years
Census 2021

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

Karuah vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Karuah is $555 a week, 27% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,900th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $300 a week, $85 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 28.3% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 50, 7 years older 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.
MeasureKaruahTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$555/wk$765/wk −27%$766/wk
Household income$1,061/wk$1,704/wk −38%$1,637/wk
Rent$300/wk$385/wk −22%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,444/mo$1,965/mo −27%$1,733/mo
Median age5043 +7 yrs42
Rent share of household income28.3%22.6% +5.7 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 Karuah, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Karuah Population

1,618 residents at the 2021 Census.

Karuah Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$555/wk
$28,860 per year
Ranked 7,668 of 14,663
Median Rent
$300/wk
$1,300 per month
Ranked 4,529 of 14,663
Median Age
50years
12 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,444/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

Karuah Rent Prices & Affordability

28% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,061/wk
Median rent $300/wk
Rent to income 28.3%

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

Median rent in Karuah against your income

About $4,598 a month
Median rent $300/wk
Left after rent $761/wk
Rent share 28.3%

Karuah Schools

1
schools nearby
1
government
875
avg ICSEA score
157
total students
Karuah Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 157 students
875
ICSEA

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

All schools near Karuah, with a map

Karuah Map

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

People in Karuah

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.5% (834) Female 48.5% (786)

Population Density

22
people per km²
1,618 people · 73.9 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,372
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

England
2.5%
New Zealand
1.1%
Scotland
1.0%
Germany
0.6%
Philippines
0.6%
Thailand
0.3%
Fiji
0.2%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Australian Indigenous Languages
0.5%
German
0.4%
Serbian
0.3%
Tagalog
0.3%
Korean
0.2%
Hindi
0.2%
Filipino
0.2%

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

Ancestry

Australian
44.5%
English
38.4%
Irish
11.5%
Australian Aboriginal
11.4%
Scottish
9.2%
German
3.2%
Filipino
1.2%
Dutch
1.1%
Welsh
1.1%
Maltese
0.8%
Greek
0.7%

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
35.8%
Anglican
19.5%
Catholic
19.5%
Not stated
10.0%
Uniting Church
5.3%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.9%
Baptist
1.5%
Christian (other)
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

12.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
45.8% 609
Separated
4.1% 55
Divorced
11.7% 156
Widowed
7.6% 101
Never married
30.8% 410

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
38.0%
Couple: children under 15
31.9%
One parent: children under 15
12.2%
Couple: no children under 15
10.8%
One parent: no children under 15
7.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
28.3%
2 persons
42.3%
3 persons
11.6%
4 persons
9.1%
5 persons
4.9%
6+ persons
3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Karuah

Housing Tenure

Of the 633 occupied private dwellings in Karuah at the 2021 Census, 20.1% were rented, 47.7% owned outright and 28.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.9% 12 dwellings
Owned outright
47.7% 302 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
28.9% 183 dwellings
Rented
20.1% 127 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.7% 11 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
96.7%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.3%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
7.0%
2 bedrooms
24.1%
3 bedrooms
36.6%
4 bedrooms
27.5%
5 bedrooms
3.6%
6+ bedrooms
1.3%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.1%
$300-$449/mo
5.1%
$450-$599/mo
4.0%
$600-$799/mo
6.9%
$800-$999/mo
8.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
18.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
14.9%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
21.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
10.9%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.7%
1 vehicle
41.8%
2 vehicles
36.6%
3 vehicles
11.1%
4+ vehicles
6.8%

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

Work, income and education in Karuah

Employment

Employed full-time
24.2% 278 people
Employed part-time
16.3% 188 people
Unemployed
2.3% 27 people
Not in labour force
57.2% 658 people

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

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
22.0%
Community & Personal Service
17.7%
Professionals
14.0%
Clerical & Administrative
11.0%
Managers
9.7%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
9.3%
Sales Workers
8.3%
Labourers
8.0%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
3.8%
$1-$149/wk
2.4%
$150-$299/wk
1.2%
$300-$399/wk
2.4%
$400-$499/wk
7.5%
$500-$649/wk
9.6%
$650-$799/wk
13.7%
$800-$999/wk
8.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.5%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
9.6%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
3.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.8%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.0%
$4,000+/wk
3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
11.7%
$1-$149/wk
4.6%
$150-$299/wk
6.5%
$300-$399/wk
10.3%
$400-$499/wk
6.5%
$500-$649/wk
5.5%
$650-$799/wk
12.7%
$800-$999/wk
10.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.0%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.9%
$3,500+/wk
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
69.6%
Did not go to work
20.0%
Car (passenger)
3.8%
Walked only
3.0%
Truck
2.5%
Bicycle
1.1%

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

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
43.4%
Year 12 or equivalent
30.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
17.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
9.4%

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

Certificate III/IV
64.8%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
14.5%
Bachelor Degree
11.7%
Certificate I/II
4.5%
Postgraduate Degree
2.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
1.7%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
22.6%
Society & Culture
16.8%
Architecture & Building
14.7%
Management & Commerce
14.3%
Education
8.2%
Health
6.8%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.1%
Agriculture & Environment
6.1%
Information Technology
1.8%
Creative Arts
1.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.1%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
36.9%
Secondary: Government
24.5%
Pre-school
12.8%
Vocational Education
12.4%
Primary: Catholic
7.1%
Secondary: Catholic
2.5%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.1%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.8%

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
81.2%
Has need for assistance
9.1%
Need for assistance not stated
9.6%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
184
Arthritis
119
Asthma
83
Heart disease
77
Lung condition
74
Diabetes
69
Cancer
43
Kidney disease
36
Stroke
31

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
17.4% 208
Did not provide
82.6% 989

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
14.8% 178
Not a volunteer
85.2% 1,024

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
5.2% 63
Never served
94.8% 1,146

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
20.3%
1 child
9.7%
2 children
33.4%
3 children
23.1%
4 children
10.1%
5+ children
3.4%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
4
1951: 1960
14
1961: 1970
34
1971: 1980
20
1981: 1990
17
1991: 2000
3
2001: 2010
13
2011: 2015
7
2019
6

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

Population Mobility

11.8%
moved in the last year
40.4%
moved in the last 5 years
5.4%
unemployment rate (Census)
42.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,268
Moved from NSW
107
Moved: same area (SA2)
49
Moved from VIC
5
Moved from QLD
4

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
16.9%
5: 14 hours
27.6%
15: 29 hours
14.2%
30+ hours
13.3%
Did not do domestic work
28.0%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
79.1%
Step family: no other children
11.9%
Blended family: no other children
9.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Karuah Crime Statistics

25 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
8
Property Damage
5
Assault
3
Other Against Person
3
Other Against Property
3
Weapons
2
Sexual Offences
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Karuah

The closest suburb to Karuah is Tanilba Bay, 13.0 km away.

Tanilba Bay
13.0 km away · income $582/wk · rent $380/wk
Lemon Tree Passage
13.3 km away · income $533/wk · rent $365/wk
Soldiers Point
13.5 km away · income $719/wk · rent $400/wk
Medowie
14.4 km away · income $845/wk · rent $430/wk
Salamander Bay
16.9 km away · income $600/wk · rent $380/wk
Anna Bay
18.9 km away · income $612/wk · rent $390/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Karuah

What is the population of Karuah NSW?

The population of Karuah NSW is 1,618 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 22 people per km². Karuah is ranked #3,301 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Karuah?

The median personal income in Karuah NSW is $555 per week, or $28,860 per year. The median household income is $1,061 per week. Family income is $1,372 per week. Karuah is ranked #7,668 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Karuah?

Median rent in Karuah NSW is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Rent represents 28.3% of household income, which is considered moderate. Karuah ranks #4,529 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Karuah?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Karuah NSW is $1,444. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Karuah?

The median age in Karuah NSW is 50 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Karuah a good suburb to live in?

Karuah is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,618. The median income is $555/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (28.3% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12084. All dollar figures in AUD.