Karabar

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated since the Census, Karabar's population is estimated at around 8,449 as of Nov 2025. This reflects a decrease of 68 people (0.8%) from the 2021 Census figure of 8,517 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of resident population at 8,446 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 33 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of approximately 1,210 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth contributed about 58% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Projections indicate an overall population decline by 508 persons by 2041, but growth is anticipated in specific age cohorts, notably the 85 and over age group projected to increase by 106 people.

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 over the past five financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, with no approvals 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 by developers. In FY-26, $98,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating Karabar'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 below the national average in terms of building activity, suggesting its established nature and potential planning limitations.

All new construction in Karabar has been standalone homes, preserving its suburban character and attracting space-seeking buyers. Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests at Census, indicating 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified five projects likely affecting the region. Key projects are the Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, Yass Road and Bungendore Road Intersection Upgrade, Ellerton Drive Intersection Upgrade, and the Queanbeyan Regional Integrated Transport Plan. Below is a list of those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

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

Karabar has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 4624 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% lower than Rest of NSW's 3.8%. Workforce participation in Karabar is 65.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. 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.

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 Census working population vs resident population count. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 5.5%, and employment declined by 5.8%, resulting in a rise of 0.3 percentage points in unemployment rate. In comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5% and labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that 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 projections to Karabar's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised 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 ended 30 June 2023 shows median income in Karabar suburb was $56,730, with average income at $66,789. This is lower than national averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from July 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income in Karabar would be approximately $61,756, while average income would be around $72,707 by that date. Census 2021 data indicates incomes in Karabar cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 33.6% of residents (2,838 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which aligns with surrounding regions at 29.9%. After housing costs, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Karabar is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Karabar's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 80.4% houses and 19.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 74.5% houses and 25.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Karabar stood at 29.8%, similar to Non-Metro NSW, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (41.0%) or rented (29.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Karabar was $1,950, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,167. The median weekly rent figure in Karabar was recorded at $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $355. 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 fairly typical 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 account for 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, aligning with the average in the Rest of NSW.

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 NSW's average of 32.2%. This indicates a need for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the 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, with 29.0% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (10.4%), secondary education (8.0%), and tertiary education (4.1%).

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

Transport analysis in Karabar shows 49 active public transport stops operating. These are served by a mix of buses along 42 different routes. Together, these provide 613 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated excellent, with residents typically located 148 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 87 trips per day across all routes, which equals about 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Karabar is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Karabar faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population (~4,507 people), leading that of the average SA2 area but lower than the Rest of NSW's 61.9%.

Mental health issues impact 9.5% of residents, while arthritis affects 9.2%, with 65.3% declaring themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.7% across Rest of NSW. The area has 15.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,318 people), higher than the 13.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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 higher than average 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, making up 57.0%, compared to 52.1% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (27.7%), English (23.6%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, Macedonian ethnicity was overrepresented at 3.2% in Karabar versus the regional average of 1.5%, Serbian at 0.9% compared to 0.6%, and Croatian at 1.2% compared to 0.9%.

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

Karabar's median age in 2021 was 38 years, lower than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 but equivalent to Australia's national norm of 38 years. The age group of 25-34 years showed strong representation at 16.2%, compared to Rest of NSW. Conversely, the 65-74 age group was less prevalent at 8.7%. Post-2021 Census, the 35-44 age group grew from 13.3% to 14.8%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 14.9% to 16.2%. However, the 5-14 age group declined from 12.8% to 11.5%, and the 45-54 age group dropped from 13.5% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Karabar's age profile will significantly change. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 63%, reaching 234 people from the current 143. This growth will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 55% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 65-74 and 45-54 age groups are expected to experience population declines.