Queanbeyan West

Queanbeyan West is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The population of Queanbeyan West is estimated at around 3,168 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 22 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,146. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of resident population at 3,166 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of four new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of approximately 1,107 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth contributing about 52% of overall gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Future trends indicate a population increase below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas by 2041, with an expected expansion of 218 persons reflecting a total increase of approximately 6.9%.

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

Queanbeyan West has seen minimal construction activity with only two new dwellings approved annually on average over five years (10 approvals total). This low development level reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs typically drive development rather than broad market demand. Note that the small sample size can significantly influence annual growth and relativity statistics.

Compared to Rest of NSW and national patterns, Queanbeyan West has much lower development activity. Recent building activity consists solely of detached houses, mirroring the rural character with larger properties being typical. New construction favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (71.0% at Census), indicating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. With approximately 1267 people per approval, Queanbeyan West shows a mature, established area.

By 2041, it is projected to grow by 219 residents according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Queanbeyan West 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 has identified four projects likely to affect the region: Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, Poplars Innovation Precinct, Jerrabomberra High School Upgrade Stage 2, and DCI Poplars Data Centre. The following 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.

AreaSearch analysis places Queanbeyan West well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Queanbeyan West has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.3%. This is lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%, and workforce participation is higher at 74.8% compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%.

According to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data, 1,830 residents are in work. Census responses indicate that a low 7.6% of residents work from home. The key industries of employment among residents are public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. Public administration & safety has a strong presence with an employment share of 3.8 times the regional level, while health care & social assistance has limited presence at 9.7% compared to the regional figure of 16.9%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 5.6%, with employment decreasing by 5.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.2 percentage points. This is in contrast to Rest of NSW's employment decline of 0.5% and labour force decline of 0.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Queanbeyan West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, although this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates Queanbeyan West's median income among taxpayers is $63,392. The average income in this suburb is $77,192. Nationally, the median income is lower at $52,390 with an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $69,009 (median) and $84,031 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Queanbeyan West rank between the 72nd and 85th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 38.4% of locals (1,216 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category. This is similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing accounts for 14.8% of income. Residents rank within the 74th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Queanbeyan West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Queanbeyan West, as evaluated at the 2016 Census, comprised 71.4% houses and 28.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Queanbeyan West was 24.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.5% and rented dwellings at 34.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent was $350, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Queanbeyan West's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $350 compared to the national figure of $375.

Queanbeyan West has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 71.1% of all households, including 30.2% couples with children, 23.8% couples without children, and 15.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 28.9%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Queanbeyan West shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Queanbeyan West's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks with 23.8% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to NSW's 32.2%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (27.3%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Queanbeyan West has 28 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 25 different routes that together facilitate 246 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average located just 167 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area, with cars being the dominant mode of transport at 94%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 7.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 35 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Queanbeyan West faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 57% of the total population, which amounts to around 1,819 people. This compares to 51.9% across Rest of NSW. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 9.5 and 9.0% of residents respectively. Conversely, 67.7% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 10.6% of residents aged 65 and over, which totals 335 people, lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Queanbeyan West records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Queanbeyan West's cultural diversity aligns with the broader area, as 88.5% of its residents are citizens, 82.5% were born in Australia, and 86.3% speak English exclusively at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Queanbeyan West, practiced by 54.6%, compared to 55.9% in Rest of NSW. The top ancestral groups in Queanbeyan West are Australian (28.1%), English (25.5%), and Irish (8.4%).

Notably, Macedonian (1.8%) and Serbian (0.9%) ancestry are more prevalent than the regional averages of 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively, while Hungarian ancestry is slightly higher at 0.4%.

Queanbeyan West's population is younger than the national pattern

Queanbeyan West has a median age of 34, which is lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and Australia's figure of 38. The 25-34 cohort is over-represented in Queanbeyan West at 17.5%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while the 75-84 year-olds are under-represented at 2.8%. Between 2021 and the present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 13.7% to 15.6% of the population, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.5% to 10.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Queanbeyan West's age profile will change significantly. The 25-34 age group is projected to expand by 101 people (18%) from 554 to 656. Conversely, both the 15-24 and 55-64 age groups are expected to decrease in number.