Queanbeyan Surrounds

Queanbeyan Surrounds lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to AreaSearch, the Queanbeyan Surrounds population stands at approximately 18,217 in May 2026. This figure represents a rise of 1,678 individuals, or 10.1%, compared to the 16,539 people recorded during the 2021 Census. The adjustment derives from the ABS estimated resident population of 18,181 recorded in June 2025 combined with 922 newly validated addresses added after the Census date. This population density amounts to 6.0 persons per square kilometer, indicating generous space availability for residents. Queanbeyan Surrounds growth of 10.1% since the 2021 Census surpassed both the SA4 region at 4.5% and the Rest of NSW, positioning it as a leading growth area. Recent population gains were largely fueled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 56.4% of total increases, while natural growth and overseas migration also contributed positively.

AreaSearch relies on ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, published in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For SA2 areas lacking this data, AreaSearch applies NSW State Government SA2 level projections published in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Age group growth rates from these sources are extended to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future projections indicate a substantial rise in the top quartile of regional areas nationwide, with Queanbeyan Surrounds expected to grow by 7,315 people to reach a total of 2041 by 2041, an increase of 40.0% over the 16 year period based on the latest annual ERP population figures.

The level of residential development activity in Queanbeyan Surrounds was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Queanbeyan Surrounds has seen roughly 189 dwelling approvals annually, totaling 946 homes across the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with 111 approvals registered to date in FY-26. Over that same five year span (between FY-21 and FY-25), an average of 2 people moved to the region for every dwelling constructed, reflecting a balanced supply and demand dynamic that sustains stable market conditions. New properties are being built with an average construction value of $454,000, revealing a developer preference for premium and upmarket housing segments.

Commercial development activity remains low, with only $580,000 in commercial approvals recorded this financial year. Relative to the Rest of NSW, Queanbeyan Surrounds exhibits somewhat elevated construction activity, standing 43.0% above the regional average per person over the 5 year period, which supports healthy buyer options and helps maintain existing property values. This performance is well above the national average, signaling strong developer confidence in the region. The housing mix comprises 91.0% detached houses and 9.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's traditional low density character and emphasizing family homes that offer ample space.

The location shows approximately 83 people per dwelling approval, pointing to an expanding market. Future projections indicate Queanbeyan Surrounds will gain 7,279 residents by 2041 according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development trends appear consistent with anticipated future needs, helping to preserve stable market conditions without generating significant price pressures.

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

Local infrastructure alterations, significant developments, and planning efforts can profoundly affect how an area performs. AreaSearch has pinpointed a total of 338 projects that may influence the region. Among the most notable are the South Jerrabomberra (Tralee) Estate, the Googong Hotel, Googong Public High School, and the Googong Sports and Aquatics Centre. The following list highlights the initiatives considered most pertinent to the area.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in Queanbeyan Surrounds places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Queanbeyan Surrounds has a highly educated labor pool with strong representation in essential services and an unemployment rate of 0.8%. As of March 2026, 10,320 residents are employed, and the local unemployment rate of 3.3% is 3.3% lower than the 4.1% rate in Regional NSW, while workforce participation stands at 71.0%, which is well above the 60.6% regional average. Census data indicates that 15.3% of residents work from home, though the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account.

Employment in the area is mainly found in public administration & safety, construction, and professional & technical fields. Public administration & safety is especially prominent, with employment at 3.5 times the regional level, whereas health care & social assistance has a smaller share, accounting for 8.4% locally compared to 16.9% in the region. The ratio of working population to resident population from Census data suggests that local employment opportunities may be limited. According to AreaSearch analysis using SALM and ABS data, between the 12 months to March 2026, the labor force dropped by 2.3% and employment also fell by 2.3%, while unemployment stayed essentially the same.

In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 0.9%, the labor force shrink by 0.4%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can provide additional perspective on future demand in Queanbeyan Surrounds. These five and ten-year projections have been overlaid on the local employment composition to estimate growth trends. National employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth varies across sectors. When applied to Queanbeyan Surrounds's employment structure, these forecasts suggest local employment should rise by 6.1% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this is a basic weighting exercise for illustration and does not include local population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's compilation of the most recent postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates that the Queanbeyan Surrounds SA2 recorded a median income of $71,777 among taxpayers, while the mean figure reached $84,254. These figures rank among the top in Australia and contrast sharply with the respective figures of $52,390 and $65,215 for Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since financial year 2023, projected values for March 2026 stand at approximately $79,184 for the median and $92,949 for the average. Household, family and personal income metrics from Census 2021 place the Queanbeyan Surrounds between the 93rd and 96th percentiles on a national scale. The income distribution reveals that the $4000+ category is the most prevalent, accounting for 32.4% of residents, which totals 5,902 individuals, whereas the metropolitan region is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 29.9%. High weekly earnings exceeding $3,000 are achieved by 48.8% of households, which fuels robust consumer spending. After deducting housing expenses, residents keep 88.1% of their income, demonstrating considerable purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking situates it within the 9th decile.

Queanbeyan Surrounds is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

According to the most recent Census data, residential structures in Queanbeyan Surrounds consisted of 98.1% houses and 1.8% other dwellings, including semi-detached units, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Regional NSW, where 82.6% of residences were houses and 17.4% fell into other dwelling categories. Home ownership rates in Queanbeyan Surrounds trail slightly behind those in Regional NSW, standing at 35.8%, while 54.2% of homes were mortgaged and 9.9% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Queanbeyan Surrounds reaches $2,417, which exceeds the Regional NSW average. Weekly rent in the area is $465, compared to $1,733 for mortgages and $330 for rent in Regional NSW. On a national scale, mortgage payments in Queanbeyan Surrounds are notably higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rental costs are also substantially above the national benchmark of $375.

Queanbeyan Surrounds features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Households made up of family units account for 84.8 percent of the total, which includes 42.0 percent couples with children, 34.7 percent couples without children, and 7.3 percent single parent families. The remaining 15.2 percent consists of non-family households, where lone person households represent 14.2 percent and group households make up 1.2 percent. The median household size stands at 2.9 people, which exceeds the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Residents in the Queanbeyan Surrounds region demonstrate educational attainment levels that exceed those found across wider geographic areas. The proportion of individuals aged 15 years and older who possess university qualifications stands at 33.3%, which is higher than the 21.3% rate observed in the Rest of NSW and the 24.1% rate recorded in the SA4 region. This elevated level of academic achievement supports strong potential for employment in sectors that rely on specialized knowledge. Bachelor degrees represent the largest share of higher education credentials, accounting for 19.3% of the population, while postgraduate qualifications make up 9.8% and graduate diplomas constitute 4.2%.

Vocational training also plays a significant role, with 35.9% of residents aged 15 years and older holding trade or technical certifications. Advanced diplomas represent 12.3% of these vocational credentials, and certificates account for 23.6%. Engagement with formal schooling remains strong, as 30.5% of residents are actively participating in education at the time of the survey. Current enrollment includes 10.9% in primary education, 9.2% in secondary education, and 4.5% in tertiary education.

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

Analysis of public transport in the Queanbeyan Surrounds area shows 334 active stops in operation, which include both train and bus facilities. These stops are covered by 73 distinct routes, delivering a combined total of 953 passenger trips each week. Accessibility to transport is considered good, with residents usually residing 368 meters from their closest stop. Because the area is mainly residential, the majority of residents travel outward for work, and cars account for 96% of commute choices. Each dwelling on average has 2.3 vehicles, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 15.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 136 trips per day, which works out to about 2 weekly trips per individual stop. The map provided displays the 100 stops closest to the location centrepoint.

Queanbeyan Surrounds's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Queanbeyan Surrounds demonstrates robust health indicators according to AreaSearch, which evaluated mortality rates and the occurrence of chronic illnesses across both younger and older demographics, revealing low rates of typical health issues and an unusually high private health insurance rate of roughly 62% of the total population, amounting to 11,221 individuals. This figure is higher than the 51.9% rate observed in Regional NSW and exceeds the national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the leading medical conditions in the region, affecting 8.9% and 8.2% of residents respectively, whereas 68.3% of residents reported being entirely free of medical problems, a figure that surpasses the 63.3% reported in Regional NSW.

Adults in their working years exhibit a higher-than-average occurrence of chronic health issues. The local population includes 16.7% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling 3,038 people, which is less than the 23.4% proportion in Regional NSW. Health results for older adults are notably positive, with national rankings that align closely with those of the broader population.

Queanbeyan Surrounds is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Queanbeyan Surrounds ranks below average for cultural diversity, as 86.5% of residents were born in Australia, 92.5% hold citizenship, and 94.9% speak only English at home. Christianity is the dominant faith in Queanbeyan Surrounds, accounting for 51.7% of the population, whereas the broader Regional NSW area shows a 55.9% Christian share. When examining parental country of birth, the leading ancestry groups in Queanbeyan Surrounds are Australian at 30.4%, English at 29.3%, and Irish at 9.8%.

Certain other ethnic communities also show distinct representation patterns: Macedonian residents make up 0.3% of Queanbeyan Surrounds (compared to 0.4% regionally), Scottish residents constitute 8.6% (versus 8.0% in the wider region), and Dutch residents represent 1.5% (as opposed to 1.0% regionally).

Queanbeyan Surrounds's median age exceeds the national pattern

Queanbeyan Surrounds has a median age of 41 years, which is slightly below the 43-year average for Regional NSW but still above the national average of 38 years. The 45 to 54 age group is well represented at 14.1% of the population, while the 75 to 84 age group is smaller at 5.3%. Post-2021 Census figures indicate that the 75 to 84 age group increased from 4.0% to 5.3%, whereas the 45 to 54 age group decreased from 16.3% to 14.1% and the 55 to 64 age group fell from 15.5% to 13.9%. Demographic projections indicate that Queanbeyan Surrounds will experience substantial changes in its age structure by 2041. The 35 to 44 age group is expected to grow the most at 54%, bringing an additional 1,333 people to a total of 3,802 residents.