Karabar

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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Karabar is around 8,449, a decrease of 68 people from the 2021 Census figure of 8,517. This decrease reflects an estimated resident population of 8,446 based on AreaSearch's analysis of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and additional validation of 33 new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 1,210 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth contributed about 57.99999999999999% 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, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, 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. According to these projections, the suburb's population is expected to decline by 508 persons by 2041, with a projected increase of 106 people in the 85 and over age group.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Karabar has seen around 4 new homes approved annually. Approximately 21 homes have been approved in the past five financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, with no approvals recorded so far in FY-26. The population decline over recent years suggests that new supply has likely kept up with demand, offering good choice to buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $589,000, indicating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. This financial year, $98,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating the area's residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Karabar records markedly lower building activity, at 94.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. The level is similarly under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations.

All new construction has been comprised of standalone homes, preserving the area's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests at Census, indicating continued strong demand for family homes. Karabar shows a mature, established area with around 1881 people per approval. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Karabar may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Karabar has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects likely to affect the region. Major initiatives include the Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, Yass Road and Bungendore Road intersection upgrade, Ellerton Drive intersection upgrade, and the Queanbeyan Regional Integrated Transport Plan.

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

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The employment environment in Karabar shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Karabar has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 2.9%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 4624 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Karabar is high at 68.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 7.3% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries for employment among Karabar residents are public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. Karabar has a particular specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 3.1 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance employs only 10.3% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 16.9%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 5.5%, while employment declined by 5.8%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.1%, and an unemployment rate increase of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Karabar's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Karabar's median income is $56,730 and average income is $66,789. This is lower than national averages of $58,415 (median) and $72,032 (average). Comparing to Rest of NSW, Karabar has higher median ($52,390 vs $56,730) but slightly lower average income ($65,215 vs $66,789). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $61,756 (median) and $72,707 (average). Census 2021 data shows Karabar's household income at the 70th percentile nationally. Income distribution reveals that 33.6% of residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually (2,838 people), similar to surrounding regions where this cohort represents 29.9%. After housing costs, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. Karabar'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

In Karabar, as per the latest Census evaluation, dwelling structures comprised 80.4% houses and 19.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Karabar stood at 29.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.0% and rented dwellings at 29.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Karabar was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Karabar's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $350 compared to 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, 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, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (26.3%). Educational participation is high at 29.0%, with primary education enrollment at 10.4%, secondary education at 8.0%, and tertiary education at 4.1%.

Educational participation is notably 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

Karabar has 49 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 42 different routes, offering a total of 613 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 148 meters to the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commutes are outward-bound, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 95%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 7.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency across all routes averages 87 trips per day, equating to roughly 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Kabarar faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is prevalent at approximately 53% of the total population (~4,507 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, impacting 9.5% and 9.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 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 (1,318 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than 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 had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 18.5% of its population born overseas and 15.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Karabar, accounting for 57.0% of its population, slightly higher than the Rest of NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestral groups were Australian (27.7%), English (23.6%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, Macedonian, Serbian, and Croatian ethnicities had higher representations in Karabar compared to regional averages: Macedonian at 3.2% vs 0.4%, Serbian at 0.9% vs 0.2%, and Croatian at 1.2% vs 0.3%.

Karabar's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

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 those aged 25-34 years make up 16.6% of the population, while those aged 65-74 years comprise 8.6%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of those aged 25-34 has increased from 14.9% to 16.6%, and the 35-44 age group has risen from 13.3% to 14.9%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 12.8% to 11.2%, and the 45-54 age group has fallen from 13.5% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Karabar's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to rise by 81 people (54%), from 152 to 234. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 80% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. However, the 45-54 and 65-74 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.