Karabar

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

Karabar's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 8,449 people. This figure reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census count of 8,517 people, indicating a drop of 68 individuals (0.8%). The estimated resident population in June 2024 was 8,446, with an additional 33 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this change. This results in a population density ratio of 1,210 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth accounted for approximately 58.4% 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. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area's population is projected to decline by 508 persons. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, which is projected to increase by 107 people.

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

Karabar has seen approximately four new homes approved annually over the past five financial years. Between FY21 and FY25, 21 homes were approved, with zero approvals recorded so far in FY26. The area's population decline suggests that new supply has likely been meeting demand, providing good options for buyers.

The average construction value of new homes is $326,000. This financial year has seen $19.7 million in commercial approvals, indicating steady investment activity in the area. Compared to the rest of NSW, Karabar shows significantly reduced construction levels, with 94.0% fewer approvals per person than the regional average. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings, which is also below the national average, suggesting an established market with potential planning limitations. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining Karabar's traditional suburban character focused on family homes.

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 stable or declining population expected in the future, potentially creating opportunities for buyers due to reduced housing pressure.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects that may affect this area. Notable ones are the Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, Yass Road and Bungendore Road Intersection Upgrade, Ellerton Drive Intersection Upgrade, and the Queanbeyan Regional Integrated Transport Plan. Below is a list of those most likely to be relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

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

Karabar has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 2.9% as of September 2025. It has 4,624 residents in work, which is below the Rest of NSW's unemployment rate of 3.8%. The workforce participation rate is higher at 68.3%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%.

According to Census responses, 7.3% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. Karabar specialises in public administration & safety with an employment share 3.1 times the regional level, but it is under-represented in health care & social assistance at 10.3% compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 5.5%, and employment fell by 5.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points.

This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.5%, labour force fell by 0.1%, 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 its 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 income of $68,484 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was slightly above the national average, contrasting with Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $64,897 (median) and $74,552 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Karabar cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. The income band of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 33.6% of the community (2,838 individuals), similar to broader trends across the broader area at 29.9%. 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

Kabarar's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.4% houses and 19.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Karabar stood at 29.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.0% and rented ones at 29.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Karabar was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. 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, which is larger than the Rest of 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% 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

The analysis of public transportation in Karabar shows that there are currently 49 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 42 individual routes providing service. Together, these routes facilitate 613 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Karabar is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 148 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward to other parts of the city for work or other purposes. Despite this, the car remains the dominant mode of transportation among residents, with an average vehicle ownership rate of 1.6 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 7.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages out to approximately 87 trips per day, resulting in about 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, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~4,503 people), leading that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 9.5% and 9.2% of residents respectively. 65.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of 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 Rest of 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'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%, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestral groups were Australian (27.7%), English (23.6%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, Macedonian (3.2%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.4%. Similarly, Serbian (0.9%) and Croatian (1.2%) groups had higher representations than their respective regional averages of 0.2% and 0.3%.

Karabar's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Karabar is 37 years, which is lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 25-34 year-olds make up 16.6% of the population, a significant proportion compared to other age groups. Conversely, the 65-74 year-old group comprises only 8.6%. Since 2021, there has been an increase in the percentage of 25-34 year-olds from 14.9% to 16.6%, and a rise in the 35-44 age group from 13.3% to 14.9%. However, the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 12.8% to 11.2%, and the 45-54 year-olds have dropped from 13.5% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the number of people aged 85 and above will rise significantly, increasing by 82 individuals (a 55% increase) from 152 to 235. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above are projected to account for 78% of total population growth, reflecting Karabar's aging demographic trend. Conversely, the 35-44 and 45-54 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.