Queanbeyan

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

Queanbeyan's population, as of Nov 2025, is estimated at around 6,474 people. This reflects a growth of 65 individuals (1.0%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6,409. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 6,467 in Jun 2024 and the validation of 42 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,312 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.0% to 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. By 2041, the Queanbeyan statistical area (Lv2) is forecasted to increase by 1,835 persons, reflecting a total increase of 27.7% over the 17-year period.

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 allocated from statistical area data shows Queanbeyan averaged around 11 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, between FY2021 and FY2025, an estimated 57 homes were approved, with a further 52 approved in FY2026 so far. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced market with good buyer choice.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $427,000, somewhat higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development. This financial year, $27.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Queanbeyan shows substantially reduced construction levels (78.0% 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, reflecting a trend toward denser development that appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 645 people per dwelling approval, Queanbeyan reflects a highly mature market. Future projections estimate Queanbeyan will add 1,792 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate).

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

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

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified ten projects potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Yass Road, Bungendore Road and Ellerton Drive Intersection Upgrade, 202 Crawford Street Apartments, 50 Morisset Street Apartments, Queanbeyan East Public Preschool. The following list details 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.

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

Queanbeyan has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.0% as of AreaSearch's aggregated statistical area data.

By September 2025, 3,815 residents were employed at an unemployment rate of 1.9%, which is below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Queanbeyan was 66.2%, higher than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries for employment among residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Public administration & safety is particularly notable with employment levels at 3.2 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 11.8% of Queanbeyan's workforce compared to 16.9% in Rest of NSW. The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicates a high level of local employment opportunities. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force decreased by 5.4%, and employment also decreased by 5.4%, with unemployment remaining largely unchanged. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's employment decline of 0.5% and labour force decline of 0.1%, along with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03%, losing 2,260 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 12.8% over ten years. Applying these projections to Queanbeyan's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 income of $69,187 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than the national average, compared to Rest of 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 for Queanbeyan 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 income bracket, which is also dominant in the metropolitan region with 29.9%. 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 dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 38.8% houses and 61.2% other types such as semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' dwellings, compared to Non-Metro NSW's 74.5% houses and 25.5% 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 Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,167. Weekly rent median in Queanbeyan was $340, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $355. Nationally, Queanbeyan's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,668 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less 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 account for 52.7% of all households, including 19.6% that are couples with children, 21.6% that are couples without children, and 10.0% that are single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 47.3%, with lone person households making up 44.0% and group households comprising 3.3%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.6.

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

Queanbeyan's educational attainment is notably high, with 32.0% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the Rest of NSW and 24.1% in the SA4 region. The most common university qualification is a bachelor degree, held by 18.4% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 10.4%, and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 31.2% of residents aged 15 and above holding them. Advanced diplomas account for 10.0%, while certificates make up 21.2% of these vocational qualifications.

Educational participation is high, 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. These include both train and bus services. There are 102 different routes operating from these stops.

Together, they facilitate 3,914 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 168 meters. On average, there are 559 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to approximately 81 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Queanbeyan is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Queanbeyan faces significant health challenges with a notably higher prevalence of common health conditions compared to averages, particularly amongst older age groups. Approximately 54% (~3,514 people) have private health cover, which is lower than the 61.9% across Rest of NSW.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions in Queanbeyan, affecting 10.4% and 9.4% of residents respectively. About 65.0% of residents report being free from medical ailments compared to 68.7% in Rest of NSW. The proportion of seniors aged 65 and over is higher in Queanbeyan at 16.1% (1,042 people) than the state average of 13.4%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to these higher percentages.

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 per the 2016 Census, showed higher cultural diversity compared to most other local areas in Australia. Overseas-born residents constituted 27.0%, with 22.6% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 47.5% of Queanbeyan's population.

Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprised 2.8% of Queanbeyan's population, higher than the Rest of NSW average of 1.6%. In terms of ancestry, Australian-born parents were most common at 24.3%, followed by English at 23.9%, and Other at 11.8%. Some ethnic groups showed significant representation: Macedonian (2.3% vs regional 1.5%), Serbian (0.7% vs 0.6%), and Maori (1.0% vs 0.4%).

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

The median age in Queanbeyan is 37 years, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 are prominent at 22.0%, while those aged 65-74 comprise only 7.5%. This is higher than the national percentage for the 25-34 age group, which stands at 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the median age has decreased by one year from 38 to 37 years, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the proportion of individuals aged 25-34 increased from 19.7% to 22.0%, while those aged 35-44 grew from 14.4% to 15.9%. Conversely, the percentage of individuals aged 5-14 decreased from 8.8% to 7.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Queanbeyan. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 40%, adding 576 people to reach a total of 2,001 from its current figure of 1,424. In contrast, the 55-64 cohort is expected to show minimal growth of just 1%, increasing by only 4 people.