Queanbeyan

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

Queanbeyan's population is estimated at around 6,475 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 66 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,409. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 6,467 residents following examination of ABS data released in June 2024, and an additional 43 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,312 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 73.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by this data. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate a significant increase, with the suburb expected to increase by 1,857 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 28.6% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Queanbeyan averaged around 11 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 57 homes were approved, with a further 52 approved in FY-26. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average construction value of new properties is $427,000, higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development. This year, commercial approvals totalled $27.2 million, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Queanbeyan shows significantly reduced construction levels, at 78.0% below the 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, reflecting a trend towards denser development that caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 644 people per dwelling approval, Queanbeyan exhibits a highly mature market. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Queanbeyan will add 1,849 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting 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, influencing its performance more than any other factor. These include the Yass Road, Bungendore Road, and Ellerton Drive Intersection Upgrade, 202 Crawford Street Apartments, 50 Morisset Street Apartments, and Queanbeyan East Public Preschool. The following list details those projects likely to be 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.

Employment conditions in Queanbeyan demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Queanbeyan has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors being well represented. The unemployment rate as of December 2025 is 1.7%. This figure is based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data.

There are 3,806 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 2.2% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is higher than regional average at 69.6%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, 8.3% of residents work from home. Key industries of employment among residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction.

Public administration & safety has notable concentration with employment levels at 3.2 times the regional average. Health care & social assistance is under-represented with only 11.8% of Queanbeyan's workforce compared to Regional NSW's 16.9%. The ratio of 0.7 workers for each resident indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, labour force decreased by 4.4% and employment decreased by 3.9%, resulting in a fall in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Queanbeyan. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Queanbeyan's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.8% over ten years.

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

The suburb of Queanbeyan had a median taxpayer income of $58,766 and an average of $69,187 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is slightly above the national average, contrasting with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $63,973 (median) and $75,317 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 79th percentile ($1,010 weekly), while household income sits at the 46th percentile. Distribution data shows that 36.5% of residents (2,363 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, mirroring the metropolitan region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 47th percentile. The area'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). In comparison, Regional NSW had 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 lower at $1,668 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less 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 account for the remaining 47.3%, with lone person households at 44.0% and group households comprising 3.3%. 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 educational attainment exceeds broader standards. Among residents aged 15 and above, 32.0% have university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 24.1% in the SA4 region. University graduates comprise 18.4%, postgraduate qualifications 10.4%, and graduate diplomas 3.2%. Vocational credentials are prominent, with 31.2% holding such qualifications: advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 21.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.5% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.6% in primary, 5.3% in tertiary, and 5.2% in 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, collectively facilitating 3,914 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 168 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuting in this primarily residential area is outward-bound, with car being the dominant mode at 88%, and walking at 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 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 individual 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, according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Several health conditions impact both younger and older age groups notably.

Private health cover is relatively high, at approximately 54% (around 3,515 people), compared to Regional NSW's 51.9%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 10.4% of residents, and arthritis impacting 9.4%. Conversely, 65.0% claim to be free from medical ailments, slightly higher than Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age residents have a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. As of 2021, 16.0% of Queanbeyan's population is aged 65 and over (around 1,036 people), lower than Regional NSW's 23.4%. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, with rankings generally in line with the national average.

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 was found to be more culturally diverse than most local areas, with 27.0% born overseas and 22.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Queanbeyan, comprising 47.5% of its population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category represents 2.8%, higher than Regional NSW's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (24.3%) and English (23.9%) are the top groups in Queanbeyan, both lower than regional averages of 30.0% and 30.5% respectively. 'Other' ancestry is substantially higher at 11.8%, compared to Regional NSW's 4.8%. Certain ethnic groups show notable differences: Macedonian (2.3%) and Serbian (0.7%) are overrepresented in Queanbeyan, while Maori (1.0%) is also notably present compared to regional averages of 0.4%, 0.2%, and 0.3% respectively.

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

The median age in Queanbeyan is 37 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are prominent at 22.6%, while those aged 65-74 are smaller at 7.5%. This is higher than the national percentage for the 25-34 group, which is 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the median age decreased by 1.2 years from 38 to 37, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the 25-34 age group grew from 19.7% to 22.6%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 14.4% to 16.3%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort declined from 8.8% to 7.5% and the 45-54 group dropped from 12.1% to 10.9%. Population forecasts for Queanbeyan in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 38%, adding 549 people, reaching 2,013 from 1,463. In contrast, the 55-64 cohort shows minimal growth of just 5%, with an increase of 38 people.