Karabar

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

Karabar's population was 8,517 as of May 2021. By June 2025, it had decreased to an estimated 8,409. This decrease of 108 people reflects a 1.3% reduction since the 2021 Census. The change is inferred from ABS data and validated new addresses since the Census date. Karabar's population density as of June 2025 was 1,204 persons per square kilometer.

Natural growth contributed approximately 57.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate a decline in Karabar's overall population to 7,864 by 2041, a decrease of 553 persons. The 85 and over age group is projected to expand by 87 people during this period.

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

Karabar has recorded approximately four residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 21 homes have been approved, with none yet approved in FY26. The area's population decline suggests new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good choice for buyers.

New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $326,000. In the current financial year, $19.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Rest of NSW, Karabar records significantly lower building activity, 94.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. When measured against national averages, Karabar's activity is also below average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations.

Recent development has been entirely comprised of standalone homes, maintaining Karabar's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. New construction favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest, indicating robust demand for family homes. With around 2117 people per dwelling approval, Karabar reflects a highly mature market. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Karabar may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Karabar has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Four projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to impact the area: Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, Yass Road upgrade, Bungendore Road and Ellerton Drive intersection upgrade, Queanbeyan Regional Integrated Transport Plan, South Jerrabomberra Urban Release Area.

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 has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 2.8% as of December 2025. It has 4,614 residents in work, which is 1.2% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Karabar is 68.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%.

According to Census responses, 7.3% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. Public administration & safety employs 3.1 times the regional level in Karabar. However, health care & social assistance employs only 10.3% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 16.9%.

Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.5%, and employment declined by 4.3% in Karabar, causing unemployment to fall 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 by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Karabar's employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Karabar's employment mix.

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

The Karabar SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $59,615 and an average of $68,484 in financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was slightly above the national average, contrasting with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $65,767 (median) and $75,552 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Karabar cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows 33.6% of the population (2,825 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, similar to regional trends with 29.9% in the same category. After housing expenses, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. 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

Karabar's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.4% houses and 19.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Karabar was at 29.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.0% and rented ones at 29.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, while the median weekly rent was $350. In comparison, Regional NSW's averages were $1,733 for mortgages and $330 for rents. Nationally, Karabar's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 73.2% of all households, including 33.0% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 14.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 26.8%, with lone person households at 24.6% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.6 people, 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's university qualification rate is 20.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 26.3%. Educational participation is high, with 29.0% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.4% in primary, 8.0% in secondary, and 4.1% in tertiary education.

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

Karabar has 49 active public transport stops, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 42 different routes, offering a total of 613 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 148 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. Most commuters travel outwards from Karabar, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 95%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 7.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 87 trips per day, translating to roughly 12 weekly trips per stop.

Health outcomes in Karabar are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Kabarar's health indicators show below-average results, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is at approximately 53% of the total population (~4,481 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues (9.5%) and arthritis (9.2%). 65.3% of residents declare themselves 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 15.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,317 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, mirroring 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's population showed above-average cultural diversity, with 18.5% born overseas and 15.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Karabar, accounting for 57.0%, slightly higher than Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (27.7%), English (23.6%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, Macedonian (3.2%) Serbian (0.9%), and Croatian (1.2%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to Regional NSW's 0.4%, 0.2%, and 0.3% respectively.

Karabar's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Kabarar has a median age of 38, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 but matches the national norm also at 38. The age group of 25-34 makes up 15.9% of Karabar's population, higher than Regional NSW's percentage. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort constitutes 8.7%, lower than Regional NSW's figure. According to the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has increased from 13.3% to 15.1%. The 5-14 age group has decreased from 12.8% to 10.9%, and the 45-54 cohort has fallen from 13.5% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Karabar's age profile. Notably, the 85+ group is expected to grow by 54%, reaching 224 people from its current figure of 145. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 84% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 35-44 and 45-54 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.