Queanbeyan

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of Queanbeyan is around 6,421, reflecting an increase of 12 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a growth rate of approximately 0.2%. The latest resident population figure was estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the ABS's ERP data release in June 2025 and validation of 43 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of about 2,293 persons per square kilometer, which is higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the suburb.

AreaSearch's projections for Queanbeyan are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for covered SA2 areas, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for non-covered areas. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate significant growth, with Queanbeyan expected to increase by approximately 1,653 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections. This reflects an overall increase of about 25.7% over the 16-year period from 2026 to 2041.

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

AreaSearch analysis indicates Queanbeyan averaged around 11 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY2021 and FY2025, approximately 57 homes were approved, with another 55 in FY2026 so far. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $427,000, reflecting quality-focused development. This financial year saw $27.2 million in commercial approvals, indicating steady investment activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Queanbeyan shows reduced construction (77.0% below regional average per person), which typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction comprises 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% townhouses or apartments, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. Queanbeyan reflects a highly mature market with around 647 people per dwelling approval. Future projections estimate an addition of 1,653 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Ten projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly, notably including the Yass Road, Bungendore Road and Ellerton Drive Intersection Upgrade, 50 Morisset Street Apartments, 202 Crawford Street Apartments, and Queanbeyan East Public Preschool.

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

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Employment performance in Queanbeyan ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Queanbeyan has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors prominently represented. The unemployment rate in December 2025 was 1.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of this date, 3848 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.3% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation stood at 70.7%, surpassing Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses indicated that only 8.3% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among Queanbeyan residents were public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Public administration & safety had notable concentration with employment levels at 3.2 times the regional average.

Conversely, health care & social assistance was under-represented, with only 11.8% of Queanbeyan's workforce compared to Regional NSW's 16.9%. The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicated a higher level of local employment opportunities than usual. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data showed that over a 12-month period, the labour force decreased by 4.1% while employment decreased by 3.6%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and labour force decline of 0.8%, with a rise in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Queanbeyan. These projections suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Queanbeyan's employment mix indicates that local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

Queanbeyan suburb has a median taxpayer income of $58,766 and an average of $69,187 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures are slightly above national averages, which stand at $52,390 median and $65,215 average for Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $64,831 (median) and $76,327 (average). The 2021 Census data shows personal income ranks at the 79th percentile ($1,010 weekly), while household income is at the 46th percentile. Income distribution indicates that 36.5% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (2,343 people). This mirrors metropolitan regions where 29.9% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 47th percentile. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Queanbeyan's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 38.8% houses and 61.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Queanbeyan stood at 23.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.3% and rented ones at 45.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,668, lower than Regional NSW's $1,733. Median weekly rent in Queanbeyan was $340, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Queanbeyan's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,668 against the Australian average of $1,863. Rents were also lower at $340 than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 52.7% of all households, including 19.6% couples with children, 21.6% couples without children, and 10.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 47.3%, with lone person households at 44.0% and group households comprising 3.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Queanbeyan's residents aged 15 and above have a higher proportion with university qualifications than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 32.0% of Queanbeyan residents hold such qualifications compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 24.1% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 18.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 31.2% of residents holding them.

Advanced diplomas account for 10.0% and certificates make up 21.2%. Educational participation is high in Queanbeyan, with 26.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.6% in primary education, 5.3% in tertiary education, and 5.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Queanbeyan has 48 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 102 individual routes, providing a total of 3,914 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 168 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, predominantly by car (88%), with 5% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 8.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 559 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 81 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Queanbeyan is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Queanbeyan faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions impact both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively high at approximately 54% of the total population (around 3,485 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 10.4 and 9.4% of residents respectively. About 65.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents have a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. The area has 16.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,027 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for 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's population, as of the 2016 Census, was more culturally diverse than most local markets with 27.0% born overseas and 22.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion in Queanbeyan, comprising 47.5% of the population. The 'Other' religious category showed significant overrepresentation in Queanbeyan at 2.8%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian was the top group in Queanbeyan at 24.3%, lower than the regional average of 30.0%. English ancestry was also lower at 23.9% (regional avg: 30.5%), while 'Other' ancestry was notably higher at 11.8% (regional avg: 4.8%). Certain ethnic groups showed notable divergences in representation, including Macedonian at 2.3% (regional avg: 0.4%), Serbian at 0.7% (regional avg: 0.2%), and Maori at 1.0% (regional avg: 0.3%).

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

The median age in Queanbeyan is 37 years, significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile reveals that those aged 25-34 are particularly prominent at 21.5%, while those aged 65-74 comprise a smaller proportion at 7.8% compared to Regional NSW. Notably, the 25-34 group's prominence is higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, the median age has decreased by 1 year from 38 to 37, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes include an increase in the 35-44 age group from 14.4% to 16.7%, and a rise in the 25-34 cohort from 19.7% to 21.5%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has declined from 8.8% to 7.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Queanbeyan. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 35%, adding 484 people and reaching 1,865 from its current figure of 1,380. In contrast, the 55-64 cohort shows minimal growth of just 2%, with an increase of only 16 people.