Kareela
NSW 2232 · Sutherland Shire
3,572 (2021) → 3,688 est. (2025) · Stable
Part of the Sutherland Shire local government area (est. 239,883 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Kareela is a stable suburb in Sutherland Shire, NSW 2232, about 20km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.79M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has 3 schools, a transport score of 79/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Kareela has an overall score of 82/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 100/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2232 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: China (3.84%), England (3.78%), New Zealand (1.48%), Germany (1.01%), Greece (0.73%)
Top languages: Mandarin (4.34%), Greek (2.44%), Cantonese (2.3%), Arabic (1.2%), Italian (1.2%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Strong school options
Well above average — good-quality schools within reach and a healthy range of options to choose from.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1066 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Kareela Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1102
- Bates Drive SchoolCombined · GovernmentICSEA 1018
- Aspect South East Sydney School, KareelaPrimary · Independent
Nearby (within 10km)
- Jannali East Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1kmICSEA 1081
- Oyster Bay Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.1kmICSEA 1098
- Gymea North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.1kmICSEA 1075
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Como - Oyster BayPrimary · Catholic · 1.3kmICSEA 1127
- Sylvania Heights Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1056
- Gymea Technology High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1048
- Sutherland North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.8kmICSEA 1073
- Kirrawee Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 1050
- Sylvania High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 1039
- The Jannali High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 1051
- Jannali Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2kmICSEA 1062
- Como Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.2kmICSEA 1071
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Fitness paradise
Top 20% nationally — gyms, leisure centres, pools and sports fields all close by. Easy to stay active without travelling far.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Outdoor paradise
Top 20% nationally — abundant parks and green space, plus trails, bike paths and places to enjoy the outdoors.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Cultural hotspot
Top 20% nationally — theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and landmarks all within reach. A genuinely vibrant cultural scene.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Quiet area
Pretty light on licensed venues. Good for peace and quiet; less so for spontaneous nights out.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Limited options
Below average for childcare access — fewer services nearby, and families may need to travel further for preferred options.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
StableSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Sutherland Shire
Compare Kareela with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Kareela
Is Kareela safe?
Kareela has a residential safety score of 100/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 1,316 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Kareela?
In Kareela, the median house price is $1.79M and the median unit price is $1.07M. Median weekly house rent is $950.
How far is Kareela from Sydney CBD?
Kareela is about 19.7 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 71 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Kareela?
Kareela has 3 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1060 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Kareela?
Kareela has a transport score of 79/100 and 23 bus stops.