Karabar

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

As of Feb 2026, Karabar's population is estimated at around 8,449, a decrease of 68 people since the 2021 Census which reported 8,517 inhabitants. This estimate is based on AreaSearch validation of new addresses and examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024, indicating a resident population of 8,446 plus additional validated new addresses. The population density is approximately 1,210 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed about 57.99999999999999% to recent population gains in the suburb. 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.

These projections indicate an overall population decline of 510 persons in Karabar by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 85 and over age group projected to increase by 106 people during this period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Karabar shows approximately 4 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 21 homes were approved. No approvals have been recorded so far in FY-26.

The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice. New properties are constructed at an average value of $589,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. This financial year, $98,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Karabar records significantly 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 area also falls under the national average, suggesting its established nature and potential planning limitations. All new construction in the area has been standalone homes, preserving Karabar'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, indicating continued strong demand for family homes. With around 1881 people per approval, Karabar shows a mature, established area. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Karabar may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

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

Local infrastructure changes significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified five projects likely affecting the region. Key projects are: Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade (completed in 2017), Yass Road and Bungendore Road intersection upgrade (scheduled for completion in June 2023), Ellerton Drive intersection upgrade (commenced in 2020, with no specified completion date), and the Queanbeyan Regional Integrated Transport Plan (initiated in 2019, ongoing).

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 2.8%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 4614 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.2% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Karabar is at 68.0%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. Census responses show that only 7.3% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries for employment among 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.

In contrast, health care & social assistance employs only 10.3% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 16.9%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.5%, while employment declined by 4.3% in Karabar, resulting in a fall of 0.2 percentage points in the unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2%, labour force decline of 0.8%, and an increase of 0.4 percentage points in unemployment. 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 projections to Karabar's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 ending June 2023 indicates that Karabar suburb has a median income of $56,730 and an average income of $66,789. This is lower than the national averages of $61,466 (median) and $71,727 (average). In comparison, Regional NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year ending June 2023 to September 2025, the estimated median income in Karabar would be approximately $61,756, with an average income of around $72,707. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Karabar cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 33.6% of residents (2,838 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, similar to the surrounding region where this group represents 29.9%. After housing expenses, 85.6% of income remains for other expenditures. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Karabar is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Karabar's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.4% houses and 19.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Karabar was at 29.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.0% and rented ones at 29.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Karabar was recorded at $350, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Karabar's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

Karabar has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 26.8%, with lone person households at 24.6% and group households making up 2.2%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Regional 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%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 37.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas comprise 10.7% and certificates make up 26.3%.

Educational participation is 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

Public transport analysis conducted in Karabar reveals 49 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops are serviced by a total of 42 individual routes, collectively providing 613 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 148 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 95%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 7.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 87 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 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, as assessed by AreaSearch.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is more prevalent here than average, at approximately 53% of the total population (~4,507 people). Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, impacting 9.5 and 9.2% of residents respectively. However, 65.3% of residents claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. As of 15th March 2022, 15.7% of the population is aged 65 and over (1,326 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings 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's population showed high cultural diversity, with 18.5% born overseas and 15.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Karabar, accounting for 57.0%, slightly higher than Regional NSW's average of 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (27.7%), English (23.6%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, Macedonian ancestry was overrepresented at 3.2% compared to the regional average of 0.4%, Serbian at 0.9% versus 0.2%, and Croatian at 1.2% against 0.3%.

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

The median age in Karabar is 37 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 make up a prominent 16.6% of the population, while those aged 65-74 constitute a relatively smaller 8.7%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of 25 to 34-year-olds has increased from 14.9% to 16.6%, and the 35 to 44 age group has risen from 13.3% to 15.0%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has decreased from 12.8% to 11.2%, and the 45 to 54 cohort has fallen from 13.5% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate a substantial rise in Karabar's 85+ age cohort, from 152 to 234 individuals, an increase of 81 people (54%). Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 78% of total population growth. Meanwhile, the 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.