Queanbeyan

Population growth drivers in Queanbeyan are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Queanbeyan's population, as of Feb 2026, is approximately 11,387 people. This figure represents an increase of 45 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,342. The change is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 11,373 in June 2024 and the validation of 55 new addresses after the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,392 persons per square kilometer, placing Queanbeyan in the upper quartile compared to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.4% of overall population gains recently.

For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for SA2 areas covered, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for uncovered areas. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the population is forecasted to increase by 3,295 persons, reflecting a total gain of 28.8% over the 17 years based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Queanbeyan has received approximately 14 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 73 homes were approved. By May 2026, another 67 dwellings have been approved in this financial year.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $324,000. This financial year has seen $30.7 million in commercial development approvals, indicating high local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Queanbeyan has significantly less development activity, with 84.0% below the regional average per person. The scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction comprises 50.0% standalone homes and 50.0% medium and high-density housing. With around 1400 people per dwelling approval, Queanbeyan reflects a highly mature market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Queanbeyan is projected to add 3,281 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Ten projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Yass Road upgrade, Bungendore Road and Ellerton Drive intersection upgrade, Queanbeyan East Public Preschool construction (commencing 2023), 50 Morisset Street Apartments development (expected completion 2024), and 202 Crawford Street Apartments redevelopment (scheduled for completion in late 2022). The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Queanbeyan shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Queanbeyan's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate stands at 2.3%. In comparison to Rest of NSW's 3.8% unemployment rate and 61.5% workforce participation rate, Queanbeyan has a lower unemployment rate of 1.5% and higher participation rate of 71.1%.

According to Census responses, only 8.0% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety (3.2 times the regional average), health care & social assistance, and construction. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.3% of local workers, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's 5.3%. Many Queanbeyan residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 5.6%, with employment decreasing by a similar percentage, leaving unemployment relatively unchanged at 2.3%. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.1%, and unemployment rise of 0.4 percentage points during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion in employment over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Queanbeyan's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, although this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Queanbeyan SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $60,899 and an average level of $69,959. These figures are slightly above the national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 for Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated median income is approximately $66,295 and average income is around $76,157 as of September 2025. Census data shows personal income ranks at the 78th percentile with a weekly income of $996, while household income sits at the 47th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 36.1% of residents (4,110 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, reflecting regional patterns where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 48th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Queanbeyan displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Queanbeyan's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 41.8% houses and 58.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Queanbeyan was at 23.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.4% and rented ones at 44.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,700, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Queanbeyan was $330, the same as Non-Metro NSW's figure. Nationally, Queanbeyan's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $330 compared to the national figure of $375.

Queanbeyan features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 54.7% of all households, including 21.0% couples with children, 22.2% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 45.3%, with lone person households at 41.9% and group households making up 3.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Queanbeyan aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable within the region, with university qualification rates at 31.2% for residents aged 15+, surpassing both the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA4 region average of 24.1%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 17.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 10.5% and graduate diplomas at 2.8%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 31.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 21.4%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.0% in primary education, 5.4% in tertiary education, and 5.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Queanbeyan has 78 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 106 individual routes, collectively providing 3939 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 158 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant transport mode at 89%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

Only 8% of residents work from home (2021 Census). Service frequency averages 562 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 50 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Queanbeyan is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Queanbeyan faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 54% of the total population (~6,137 people), leading the average SA2 area but slightly lower than Rest of NSW's 51.9%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.2 and 8.5% of residents respectively. However, 66.5% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age residents show a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 14.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,603 people), 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.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Queanbeyan was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Queanbeyan's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most other local areas, with 28.3 percent born overseas and 24.4 percent speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Queanbeyan, comprising 47.1 percent of its population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category made up 3.2 percent of Queanbeyan's population, compared to just 0.8 percent across the rest of New South Wales (NSW).

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Queanbeyan were Australian at 23.8 percent (lower than the regional average of 30.0%), English at 23.2 percent (also lower than the regional average of 30.5%), and Other at 13.0 percent (substantially higher than the regional average of 4.8%). There were also notable differences in the representation of specific ethnic groups: Macedonian was notably overrepresented at 2.0 percent in Queanbeyan compared to 0.4 percent regionally, Serbian at 0.7 percent versus 0.2 percent regionally, and Croatian at 0.9 percent compared to 0.3 percent regionally.

Queanbeyan's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Queanbeyan is 36 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 23.4% of the population in Queanbeyan, compared to 19.7% in Rest of NSW and 14.4% nationally. Conversely, the 65-74 age cohort is less prevalent at 7.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows that Queanbeyan has become younger, with its median age dropping from 37 years to 36 years between 2016 and 2021. Specifically, the 25-34 age group grew from 20.9% to 23.4%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 14.5% to 16.4%. Meanwhile, the 5-14 age group declined from 9.4% to 8.1%, and the 55-64 age group dropped from 11.1% to 9.9%. By 2041, Queanbeyan is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25-34 age cohort expected to grow by 1,024 people (38%), from 2,669 to 3,694. In contrast, the 55-64 age cohort is projected to show minimal growth of just 5% (52 people).