Karabar

Karabar has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Karabar's population is around 8,449 as of Feb 2026. This reflects a decrease of 68 people (0.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,517 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,446 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 33 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,210 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, which contributed approximately 58.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to decline by 508 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group, which is projected to increase by 107 people. See the age section for more details.

The level of residential development activity in Karabar is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Karabar has seen around 4 new homes approved per year, with 21 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 0 so far in FY-26. As the area has experienced population decline, new supply has likely been keeping up with demand, offering good choice to buyers, while new homes are being built at an average value of $326,000. There have also been $19.7 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Karabar shows substantially reduced construction (94.0% below regional average per person). This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. This is similarly under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. Meanwhile, recent development has been entirely comprised of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (80.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes. The location has approximately 2117 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market.

With the population expected to remain stable or decline, Karabar should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Karabar has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 5 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, Yass Road, Bungendore Road and Ellerton Drive Intersection Upgrade, and the Queanbeyan Regional Integrated Transport Plan, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment performance in Karabar exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Karabar possesses a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented and an unemployment rate of just 2.8%. As of December 2025, 4,614 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 1.2% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (68.1% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a low 7.3% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. The area has a particular employment specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 3.1 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 10.3% of Karabar's workforce compared to 16.9% in Regional NSW. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.5% and employment decreased by 4.3%, resulting in the unemployment rate falling by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NSW, where employment contracted by 1.2%, the labour force fell by 0.8%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Karabar. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Karabar's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.6% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

The Karabar SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $59,615 and an average of $68,484 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is slightly above average nationally, contrasting with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $64,897 (median) and $74,552 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Karabar cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. The data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 33.6% of the community (2,838 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 29.9% in the same category. After housing, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Karabar is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure within Karabar, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 80.4% houses and 19.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Karabar was lagging that of Regional NSW, at 29.8%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (41.0%) or rented (29.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Regional NSW average at $1,950, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $350, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Karabar's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

Karabar has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 73.2% of all households, comprising 33.0% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 14.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.8%, with lone person households at 24.6% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 people is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Karabar fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (20.2%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 37.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (26.3%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.4% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis reveals 49 active transport stops operating within Karabar, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 42 individual routes, collectively providing 613 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 148 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 95%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling. A relatively low 7.3% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 87 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Karabar is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Karabar faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover slightly exceeds the average SA2 area at approximately 53% of the total population (~4,503 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 9.5% and 9.2% of residents, respectively, while 65.3% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 15.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,317 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Karabar records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Karabar was found to be above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 18.5% of its population born overseas and 15.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Karabar is Christianity, which makes up 57.0% of people in Karabar, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Karabar are Australian, comprising 27.7% of the population, English, comprising 23.6% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 30.5%, and Irish, comprising 7.7% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Macedonian is notably overrepresented at 3.2% of Karabar (vs 0.4% regionally), Serbian at 0.9% (vs 0.2%) and Croatian at 1.2% (vs 0.3%).

Karabar's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The 37-year median age in Karabar is considerably lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 as well as very close to the 38-year national average. The age profile shows 25 - 34 year-olds are particularly prominent (16.6%), while the 65 - 74 group is comparatively smaller (8.6%) than in Regional NSW. In the period since 2021, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 14.9% to 16.6% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 13.3% to 14.9%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 12.8% to 11.2% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 13.5% to 11.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Karabar's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to rise substantially, expanding by 82 people (55%) from 152 to 235. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 78% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. On the other hand, the 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.