Queanbeyan East

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of the suburb of Queanbeyan East is around 4,312 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 72 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,240 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,295 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 30 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,024 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 59.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipating future population dynamics, an above median population growth of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is projected, with the suburb expected to increase by 707 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 16.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Queanbeyan East recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Queanbeyan East shows approximately 21 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 106 homes were approved, with a further 9 approved so far in FY-26. The average new resident arrival per new home over these five years was approximately 0.2 persons per year, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand and supporting potential population growth while offering greater buyer choice.

The average construction value of new homes was $459,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaled $16.1 million, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Rest of NSW, Queanbeyan East records around 63% of building activity per person and ranks among the 86th percentile nationally in terms of construction activity. Recent construction comprises approximately 25.0% standalone homes and 75.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

With around 102 people per dwelling approval, Queanbeyan East exhibits characteristics of a low density area. Future projections estimate that Queanbeyan East will add approximately 690 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, although buyers may experience increased competition as the population grows.

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

Ten projects identified by AreaSearch could significantly impact the area's performance due to changes in local infrastructure. These include Celesse Apartments, Spotlight Queanbeyan Retail Redevelopment, Queanbeyan East Public Preschool, and Yass Road, Bungendore Road, and Ellerton Drive Intersection Upgrade. The list below details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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

Queanbeyan East has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.9% as of December 2025, lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation stood at 74.8%, well above Regional NSW's 61.3%.

According to Census data, 7.5% of residents worked from home, though COVID-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. Local employment is concentrated in public administration & safety (3.3 times the regional average), health care & social assistance, and construction. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 0.4% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. Many residents appear to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data.

Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 4.5%, with employment decreasing by a similar percentage, leaving unemployment largely unchanged at 1.9%. In contrast, Regional NSW saw an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decrease of 0.8%, with unemployment rising to 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase in employment over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Queanbeyan East's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Queanbeyan East had a median income among taxpayers of $62,781 and an average level of $73,913. This is higher than the national average and compares to levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year ended June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $68,343 for median income and $80,462 for average income as of September 2025. Census data shows individual earnings rank at the 84th percentile nationally ($1,079 weekly), while household income ranks lower at the 46th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 38.4% of residents (1,655 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket, reflecting patterns seen in the region where 29.9% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 46th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

In Queanbeyan East, as per the latest Census, 28.3% of dwellings were houses while 71.7% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Regional NSW where 82.6% of dwellings were houses and 17.4% were other types. Home ownership in Queanbeyan East stood at 18.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.4% and rented ones at 50.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,647, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Queanbeyan East was $310, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Queanbeyan East's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,647 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $310 against the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 50.8% of all households, consisting of 19.9% couples with children, 19.7% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 49.2%, with lone person households at 44.8% and group households comprising 4.4%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Queanbeyan East exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Queanbeyan East's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 31.6% have university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the Rest of NSW and 24.1% in the SA4 region. The area's educational advantage is evident in its high proportion of residents with bachelor degrees (19.1%), postgraduate qualifications (9.5%), and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.6% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (23.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.0% in primary education, 5.5% in tertiary education, and 4.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Queanbeyan East has 29 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 36 different routes that together facilitate 281 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average located 163 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 91%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 7.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 40 trips per day, resulting in approximately 9 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Queanbeyan East is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Queanbeyan East faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 56% of the total population (~2,420 people) has private health cover, compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW. Mental health issues affect 10.9% of residents, while asthma impacts 8.5%. Conversely, 68.5% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age population health challenges are notable due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 10.6% of residents aged 65 and over (457 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Queanbeyan East was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Queanbeyan East, as of the data provided, had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas with 27.8% of its population born overseas and 24.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Queanbeyan East, accounting for 45.6% of the population. The category 'Other' showed significant overrepresentation in Queanbeyan East with 3.4%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (24.6%), Australian (23.8%), and Other (12.7%). Notably, these percentages were lower than the regional averages for English and Australian, but substantially higher for Other. There were also notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Macedonian at 1.7% versus 0.4%, Serbian at 0.6% versus 0.2%, and Croatian at 1.0% versus 0.3%.

Queanbeyan East hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

The median age in Queanbeyan East is 32 years, which is notably lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and substantially under the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Queanbeyan East has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (27.6%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (6.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.4%. According to the 2021 Census, Queanbeyan East's median age has fallen from 34 years to 32 years since the previous census. Specifically, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 has increased from 23.9% to 27.6%, while those aged 35-44 have risen from 15.9% to 17.1%. Conversely, the percentages of residents aged 45-54 and 55-64 have declined from 12.5% to 10.6% and 10.7% to 8.9%, respectively. By 2041, Queanbeyan East is expected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The demographic shift will be led by the 25-34 age group, which is projected to grow by 22% (264 people), reaching 1,455 from 1,190. Meanwhile, population declines are anticipated for the 15-24 and 65-74 age cohorts.