Queanbeyan
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Queanbeyan are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Queanbeyan's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 11,388 by Aug 2025. This figure represents an increase of 46 individuals (0.4%) from the 2021 Census total of 11,342 people. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 11,376 in Jun 2024 and an additional 54 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,392 persons per square kilometer, placing Queanbeyan in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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. Looking ahead based on demographic trends, Queanbeyan is forecasted to experience significant population growth, expected to expand by 3,295 persons by 2041. This would result in a total gain of 28.8% over the 17-year period.

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

Queanbeyan has averaged approximately 19 new dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 96 dwellings approved over the past five financial years, from FY-20 to FY-25, and two approvals so far in FY-26. The population has been declining recently, but development activity has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a balanced market with good buyer choice. New homes are being built at an average construction cost of $427,000, aligning with broader regional development.

There have also been $30.7 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Queanbeyan shows substantially reduced construction, 85.0% below the regional average per person, which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. This level is also lower than nationally, suggesting market maturity and potential development constraints. New development consists of 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% attached dwellings, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. The location has approximately 1400 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. Future projections show Queanbeyan adding 3,280 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Queanbeyan has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified ten projects likely to affect this region. Notable ones are Spotlight Queanbeyan Retail Redevelopment, Yass Road upgrade, Bungendore Road and Ellerton Drive Intersection Upgrade, Queanbeyan East Public Preschool construction, and 202 Crawford Street Apartments development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Queanbeyan has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.7% as of June 2025.

The employment rate stood at 68.2%, compared to the Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Notably, public administration & safety employs 3.2 times more residents than the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.3% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

Many Queanbeyan residents commute elsewhere for work, as indicated by Census data analysis. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 3.6%, while employment declined by 4.3%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a 0.1% employment contraction, a 0.3% labour force growth, and a 0.4% unemployment increase. Statewide in NSW, employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs) as of Sep-25, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Queanbeyan's employment mix indicates potential local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Queanbeyan had a median income among taxpayers of $57,952 and an average level of $68,228. This is higher than the national average and compares to levels of $49,459 and $62,998 across Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, estimates as of March 2025 would be approximately $64,095 (median) and $75,460 (average). Census data reveals personal income ranks at the 78th percentile ($996 weekly), while household income sits at the 47th percentile. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 36.1% of the community (4,111 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.9% of income remaining, 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 structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 41.8% houses and 58.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's structure which was 74.5% houses and 25.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Queanbeyan stood at 23.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.4% and rented ones at 44.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,700, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,167. Weekly rent median was $330, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $355. Nationally, Queanbeyan's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 45.3%, with lone person households at 41.9% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.6.

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

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

Educational participation is 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. Queanbeyan's 5 schools have a combined enrollment of 1,385 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1005) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 3 primary, 1 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 12.2 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 10.1, indicating that the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

The analysis of public transportation in Queanbeyan shows that there are currently 56 operational transport stops serving a combination of train and bus services. These stops are supported by 110 different routes which together facilitate approximately 3,894 weekly passenger journeys. The accessibility of these transport services is deemed excellent, with the average resident residing just 160 metres away from their nearest stop.

On average, there are about 556 trips per day across all routes, translating to roughly 69 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Queanbeyan is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Queanbeyan faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent among its residents. Mental health issues affect 10.2% of residents, while arthritis impacts 8.5%.

Approximately 66.5% of residents report having no medical ailments. The private health cover rate is around 54%, compared to the Rest of NSW's 61.0%. As of 2019, about 14.2% of Queanbeyan residents are aged 65 and over (1,614 people). Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those of the broader population.

Queanbeyan was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Queanbeyan's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 28.3% born overseas and 24.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Queanbeyan, comprising 47.1% of its population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 3.2%, higher than the Rest of NSW average of 1.6%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian is the largest group (23.8%), followed by English (23.2%) and Other (13.0%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 7.9%. Some ethnic groups are overrepresented in Queanbeyan compared to the region: Macedonian at 2.0% vs 1.5%, Serbian at 0.7% vs 0.6%, and Croatian at 0.9% vs 0.9%.

Queanbeyan's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Queanbeyan is 36 years, significantly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group comprises 22.9% of the population, compared to Rest of NSW's percentage, while the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent at 7.2%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.5%. According to data from the post-2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has grown from 20.9% to 22.9%, and the 35-44 cohort has increased from 14.5% to 15.9%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has declined from 9.4% to 8.2%, and the 65-74 group has dropped from 8.2% to 7.2%. Population forecasts for Queanbeyan indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 42%, adding 1,086 people and reaching a total of 3,694 from the current figure of 2,607. In contrast, the 55-64 cohort shows minimal growth of just 1%, with an increase of only 11 people.