Queanbeyan

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

According to an evaluation by AreaSearch, the population in Queanbeyan stands at approximately 11,251 as of May 2026. This figure indicates a reduction of 91 individuals, or 0.8%, compared to the 2021 Census count of 11,342 residents. The adjustment is derived from the ABS estimated resident population of 11,251 recorded in June 2025, combined with 55 confirmed new addresses that have been validated since the Census date. This concentration of residents corresponds to a density of 2,363 people per square kilometer, positioning the region within the upper quartile when compared to other national locations evaluated by AreaSearch. Recent demographic shifts have been largely influenced by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 74.9% of the total population increase over recent years.

AreaSearch relies on ABS/Geoscience Australia forecasts for each SA2 region, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. When such data is unavailable for certain SA2 zones, the organization turns to projections from the NSW State Government, issued in 2022 with 2021 as the reference year. Age-specific growth rates extracted from these projections are then applied uniformly across all areas for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, a substantial population rise is anticipated for this area, which ranks in the top quartile among Australian non-metropolitan regions, with projections indicating an addition of 2,946 residents by 2041, bringing the total to 2041 and marking a 26.2% increase over the 16-year span, based on the most recent annual ERP population figures.

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

Queanbeyan has seen roughly 14 dwellings receive development approval annually, accumulating 73 homes across the last 5 financial years. During the current fiscal period, 81 approvals have been logged. Despite a recent decline in population, housing supply has stayed sufficient compared to demand, resulting in a balanced market that provides buyers with strong selection while new properties are built at an average construction cost of $324,000. In addition, $30.7 million worth of commercial approvals have been filed this financial year, reflecting solid local business investment.

Compared to Rest of NSW, Queanbeyan exhibits significantly lower construction activity, standing 84.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new supply typically strengthens demand and supports values for existing properties. Such activity also falls short of the national average, pointing to the area’s mature status and hinting at possible planning constraints. The new development mix includes 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% attached dwellings. This preference for compact living creates affordable entry points and draws in downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. The region currently has about 1393 people per dwelling approval, underscoring its established character.

Population projections suggest Queanbeyan will add 2,946 residents by 2041 according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If construction rates continue as they are, housing supply may fall behind population growth, which could heighten buyer competition and reinforce upward pressure on prices.

Queanbeyan has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes, major projects and planning initiatives can have the most significant impact on an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 10 projects in total that are expected to affect the area. Among these are Yass Road, Bungendore Road and Ellerton Drive Intersection Upgrade, Queanbeyan East Public Preschool, 50 Morisset Street Apartments, and 202 Crawford Street Apartments, which are highlighted as particularly relevant.

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Queanbeyan ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Queanbeyan boasts a highly skilled labor pool, with essential service industries being well represented, and an unemployment rate of just 2.1%. As of March 2026, 6,755 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 2.0% below Regional NSW's rate of 4.1%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (72.3% compared to Regional NSW's 60.6%). Based on Census responses, a low 8.0% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area has particular employment specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 3.2 times the regional level. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.3% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to March 2026, the labour force decreased by 2.3% while employment declined by 1.7%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NSW, where employment contracted by 0.9%, the labour force fell by 0.4%, and unemployment rose 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Queanbeyan. 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 Queanbeyan's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.8% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

AreaSearch aggregated the most recent postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2023, revealing that the Queanbeyan SA2 recorded a median income among taxpayers of $60,899 and an average income of $69,959. These figures sit slightly above the national average and are higher than the corresponding figures for Regional NSW, which stand at $52,390 for the median and $65,215 for the average. Projected forward using a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the financial year 2023, the estimated median income reaches approximately $67,184 and the average reaches approximately $77,179 by March 2026. Census information indicates that personal income falls at the 78th percentile with a weekly value of $996, whereas household income ranks at the 47th percentile. The distribution data shows that 36.1% of the community, comprising 4,061 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band, a proportion that aligns with regional trends where 29.9% of residents occupy the same category. Housing affordability remains a significant challenge, leaving only 83.9% of income available for rent, placing the area at the 48th percentile for remaining income and positioning the SEIFA income ranking within the 5th decile.

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

Within Queanbeyan, the residential composition recorded by the most recent Census showed that 41.8% of dwellings were houses, while 58.2% consisted of other dwelling types such as semi-detached units, apartments, and other categories. This stands in contrast to Regional NSW, where 82.6% of dwellings were houses and 17.4% were classified as other dwellings. Home ownership in Queanbeyan trailed behind Regional NSW, standing at 23.3%, with the rest of the housing stock allocated to mortgages at 32.4% and rentals at 44.3%. The median monthly mortgage payment in Queanbeyan fell below the Regional NSW benchmark of $1,700, whereas the median weekly rent was reported at $330. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded median weekly rent figures of $330 and monthly mortgage repays of $1,733. On a national scale, mortgage repayments in Queanbeyan remain under the Australian average of $1,863, and rental costs are significantly lower than the national benchmark of $375.

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

Households with family members account for 54.7 percent of all homes, including 21.0 percent of couples raising children, 22.2 percent of childless couples, and 10.1 percent of single parent households. The rest, making up 45.3 percent, are non-family units, where 41.9 percent are occupied by a single person and 3.4 percent are group households. The average number of people per household stands at 2.1, which is lower than the 2.4 average recorded for the broader NSW region.

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

Residents aged fifteen and older in the area demonstrate a regional advantage in educational attainment, with university qualification rates at 31.2 percent surpassing both the Rest of NSW average of 21.3 percent and the SA4 region figure of 24.1 percent. This higher level of academic achievement reflects a strong community focus on pursuing advanced learning. Bachelor degrees represent the largest group at 17.9 percent, while postgraduate qualifications account for 10.5 percent and graduate diplomas make up 2.8 percent.

Vocational training also plays a significant role in the local workforce, as 31.9 percent of residents aged fifteen and older possess trade credentials, including advanced diplomas at 10.5 percent and certificates at 21.4 percent. Current educational engagement remains strong, with 26.6 percent of the population actively enrolled in formal schooling. Among those students, 5.1 percent are in secondary education, 5.4 percent are attending tertiary institutions, and 8.0 percent are in primary education.

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

The analysis of public transport indicates 78 active stops in Queanbeyan, which include both train and bus facilities. These locations are served by 106 distinct routes that together account for 3,939 passenger trips each week. Accessibility to transport is considered excellent, with the average resident living just 158 meters away from the closest stop. Because the area is mainly residential, the majority of people travel out for work, and cars are the most popular mode of transport at 89%. Households own an average of 1.0 vehicle, which is lower than the regional mean. Only 8.0% of residents work from home, according to the 2021 Census, a figure that might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

All routes combined average 562 trips daily, which works out to about 50 weekly trips for each stop.

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

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Queanbeyan, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts , and the rate of private health cover just leading that of the average SA2 area at approximately 54% of the total population (~6,064 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 10.2 and 8.5% of residents, respectively, while 66.5% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 14.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,596 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.

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 demonstrates a higher level of cultural diversity than most local markets, with 28.3% of residents born overseas and 24.4% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity remains the predominant religion in Queanbeyan, accounting for 47.1% of the population. The most significant overrepresentation appears in the Other religious category, which makes up 3.2% of Queanbeyan compared to 0.8% in Regional NSW.

When examining ancestry based on parents' country of birth, the leading groups in Queanbeyan are Australian at 23.8%, which is lower than the regional average of 30.0%, English at 23.2%, also lower than the regional average of 30.5%, and Other at 13.0%, which is much higher than the regional average of 4.8%. Further distinctions exist among specific ethnic groups, including Macedonian at 2.0% in Queanbeyan versus 0.4% regionally, Serbian at 0.7% compared to 0.2%, and Croatian at 0.9% against a regional figure of 0.3%.

Queanbeyan's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Queanbeyan's median age stands at 36, which is notably lower than the 43 average for Regional NSW and also younger than the national figure of 38 years. The 25 - 34 demographic exhibits robust presence at 22.3% relative to Regional NSW, while the 65 - 74 segment registers a lower prevalence at 7.5%. This 25 - 34 cluster exceeds the national benchmark of 14.6%. According to Post-2021 Census information, the 35 to 44 age bracket expanded from 14.5% to 16.8% of the total population, and the 25 to 34 segment rose from 20.9% to 22.3%. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 segment shrank from 9.4% to 8.5%. Demographic projections for 2041 anticipate major shifts within Queanbeyan. The 25 to 34 group leads this transformation, projected to increase by 36% (900 individuals), climbing from 2,506 to 3,407. On the other hand, the 55 to 64 segment experiences only slight growth of 3% (32 people).