- Est. Median Value
- $557K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $400/wk
- Safety Score
- 50/100
- Green Space
- 24%
- Current Weather
- 9.0°C
- Median Age
- 48 yrs
~75 crimes/1k/yr
overcast clouds
Living in Carterton
Carterton is a small Wairarapa town between Greytown and Masterton, around 80 km northeast of Wellington on SH2. Population around 5,000. It was founded in 1857 as part of the Small Farms Association settlement and has remained a quiet, agriculturally-anchored country town since.
The standout local event is the Carterton Daffodil Festival, held each September. Started in 1957, the festival celebrates the daffodil fields planted by Mary Stewart in the 1930s, with a parade, market stalls and the kind of small-town energy that genuinely brings the whole district together. Visitor numbers spike noticeably each spring.
Carterton's town centre on High Street has the bakery (a long-running local fixture), the Carterton Events Centre (which hosts much of the district's cultural programming), a few good cafés and the standard country-town retail. The Wild Oats café and the heritage buildings give the strip its character.
Pūkaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre is 35 minutes north, with kiwi, takahē and saddleback enclosures plus excellent guided tours. The Tararua Forest Park sits to the west. Carterton School handles the local primary. Kuranui College in Greytown takes the secondary catchment. The Wairarapa Connection train stops at Carterton Station for the Wellington commute.
Is Carterton a good place to live?
Carterton is home to roughly 5,856 people. On Suburb's overall livability scale, Carterton scores 69 out of 100, with a safety score of 50/100 and 24% green space.
Schools: Carterton has 6 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $557K, and weekly rent typically sits around $400.
Lifestyle: Carterton has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. Public transport stops are within easy reach. The current temperature is 9.0°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Carterton is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.
Map
Livability Breakdown
- Safety50
- Amenities100
- Schools64
- Housing Affordability67
- Green space79
- Community67
- Transport20
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $557K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $400/wk
- Median HH Income
- $70K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +12.6%
- Data Year
- 2023
Key Financial Indicators (NZD)
† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Carterton?
- Carterton is a Wairarapa town on SH2, around 80 km northeast of Wellington and between Greytown (south) and Masterton (north). The Wairarapa Connection train stops at Carterton Station.
- When is the Carterton Daffodil Festival?
- The Carterton Daffodil Festival is held each September, with the main parade and market day usually on a Saturday in mid-month. It's been running since 1957 and draws large crowds from across the Wairarapa.
- What is the Carterton Events Centre?
- The Carterton Events Centre on Holloway Street is the main venue for district cultural events, concerts, expos and council functions. It opened in 2011 and includes a theatre, conference rooms and a foyer.
- How do I get from Wellington to Carterton?
- The Wairarapa Connection train from Wellington takes around 85 minutes to Carterton Station. By car, around 90 minutes via SH2 over the Remutaka Hill.
- What is Pūkaha Mount Bruce?
- Pūkaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre is a forest reserve and conservation centre 35 minutes north of Carterton, with enclosures for kiwi, takahē, saddleback and other native birds. Guided tours and walking trails on site.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Carterton
Schools in zone for Carterton
Children living in Carterton have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Kuranui College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 778 · decile 6
Carterton School
Full Primary · roll 186 · decile 6
South End School
Full Primary · roll 187 · decile 6
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Carterton. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.
Other nearby schools
Schools close to Carterton that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Ponatahi Christian School
Composite · roll 137 · decile 8 · 1.1 km away
St Mary's School (Carterton)
Full Primary · roll 123 · decile 6 · 1.1 km away
Dalefield School
Full Primary · roll 74 · decile 7 · 3.1 km away
Explore Carterton
Things to do(5)
Jacqui Murray School Of Dance
Strength Nation Carterton
Carrington Park
Howard Booth Park
Howard Booth Squash Club
Parks & green spaces(2)
Carrington Park
Howard Booth Park
Healthcare(1)
Carterton Pharmacy
Eat & Drink in Carterton
Places to eat & drink(25)
Marquis of Normanby
Buckhorn Bar & Grill
Regent 58
Royal Oak Tavern Carterton
Levitate Coffee
Wild Oats
Tasti Takeaways
Almo's Café
Carterton Bakery
Page 42 Café & Gelato
Evs Bar Carterton
The Olive Branch Carterton
The Marquis Hotel
Pit Stop Espresso
Downtown Country Fried Chicken and Pizza
Hop & Vine
Human Beans
Buckhorn Bar and Grill
Indian Taj
Club Carterton
Aunt Gingers Kitchen
Balter Bar & Kitchen
Chop Sticks Restaurant
Domino's Pizza
Kainga Eatery
Tradies & Services in Carterton
Tradies & services(13)
AC Floor Sanding
AllSorts Upholstery
Carterton Auto Services
Carterton Kindergarten
Cheers Auto & Tyres
Creative Kitchens Wairarapa
Green & Clean Wairarapa
Masson Implement Co Ltd
RTM Rileys Truck Mechanical Services
Skyline Buildings
Wairarapa Electrical & Appliances
Wairarapa Locksmiths Ltd
Wood Developments Group
Shops in Carterton
Shops(9)
Carterton Bottle Store
Dragon Flight
Flair Flooring Xtra Carterton
Jewel Centre
New World Carterton
Paua World
Rummages Building Recyclers
Tractor Lawnmower Chainsaw Services
Wright Pools & Spas
Beauty & Fitness in Carterton
Beauty & fitness(10)
Barbershop Jordy Carterton
Headquarters
Howard Booth Squash Club
Jacqui Murray School Of Dance
Lavish Hair Design
MoleMap
Serene
Strength Nation Carterton
The Cutting Room
Vivo Hair Salon Carterton
Professional Services in Carterton
Professional services(8)
askpeter
AskPeter Graphic Designer
Business Wairarapa
Casita Flora Homestay
My Physio Job
NUMB1Z Chartered Accountants
Sophisticated Accounting
The Workshop
Stay in Carterton
Places to stay(3)
Matador Motel
The Winedrinkers cottage
Marquis of Normanby Ltd
Carterton Weather
Current conditions: 9.0°C, overcast clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 21.85 | 12.84 | 3.78 | 10.05 |
| ☀️ Feb | 21.12 | 12.93 | 7.32 | 8.76 |
| 🍂 Mar | 19.05 | 10.8 | 3.17 | 8.41 |
| 🍂 Apr | 17.73 | 9.33 | 3.66 | 7.36 |
| 🍂 May | 15.23 | 7.5 | 3.43 | 6.41 |
| ❄️ Jun | 13.02 | 6.26 | 3.01 | 5.51 |
| ❄️ Jul | 12.15 | 5.16 | 4.64 | 5.13 |
| ❄️ Aug | 12.57 | 4.99 | 5.12 | 5.68 |
| 🌸 Sep | 14.33 | 6.4 | 4.23 | 7.17 |
| 🌸 Oct | 15.79 | 7.29 | 3.81 | 8.02 |
| 🌸 Nov | 18.09 | 9.96 | 4.17 | 9.21 |
| ☀️ Dec | 20.43 | 12.33 | 4.09 | 8.87 |
Carterton Community
Reviews of Carterton
No reviews yet. Be the first to share what living in Carterton is really like.
Local tips
No tips yet. Be the first to share what makes Carterton special.