Braidwood
A median age of 50 makes Braidwood 10 years older than the national figure, while 1,720 residents are spread across 234.62 sq km at a density of 7.3 people per sq km. Housing is strongly detached, with 88.8% separate houses and 47.8% owned outright, supporting a settled profile. Compared with nearby Bungendore, Braidwood presents a more mature, lower-density setting, while its overseas-born share of 13.6% is 8.0 percentage points below the national comparison. A 16.7% vacancy rate is high, which can widen short-term choice but may also signal uneven demand across the town.
Local council: Queanbeyan-Palerang
Population
1,720
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,412/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Homebuyers are choosing a predominantly detached market, with 88.8% of dwellings separate houses, 8.4% semi-detached and only 0.4% apartments. The most common formats are 3-bedroom homes at 47.2% and 4-bedroom or larger homes at 27.7%, making the suburb more suited to traditional houses than apartment living. A reported monthly mortgage cost of $1,700 sits alongside mortgage payments at 27.8% of household income, while weekly rent is $345. Compared with apartment-heavy locations, Braidwood provides more land-oriented housing, but buyers should allow for car dependence and a low average household size of 2.2.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a predominantly detached market, with 88.8% of dwellings separate houses, 8.4% semi-detached and only 0.4% apartments. The most common formats are 3-bedroom homes at 47.2% and 4-bedroom or larger homes at 27.7%, making the suburb more suited to traditional houses than apartment living. A reported monthly mortgage cost of $1,700 sits alongside mortgage payments at 27.8% of household income, while weekly rent is $345. Compared with apartment-heavy locations, Braidwood provides more land-oriented housing, but buyers should allow for car dependence and a low average household size of 2.2.
For Investors
Rental investors face a market where 23.5% of occupied dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $345 and vacancy is 16.7%. Compared with the 47.8% owned outright and 27.2% mortgaged, renting is a smaller tenure, which can limit depth of tenant demand despite the availability of homes. Rent growth has reached 50.0% across the shift period, but the high vacancy rate may create pressure on leasing speed and incentives. There were 22 development matters in 12 months, including industrial, pool and dwelling applications. Balanced migration and a gentrification score of 10 point to a selective rather than speculative investment case.
Development Activity
Total DAs
199
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-28.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Braidwood
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
At 50, Braidwood's median age is 10 years above the national comparison. University qualification attainment is 33.1%, or 3.0 percentage points higher than the national figure, while the overseas-born share is 13.6%, 8.0 points below it. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below the national comparison, consistent with 54.7% of families being couples without children. English ancestry is recorded for 751 people, followed by Irish at 297 and Scottish at 240. Christianity accounts for 792 people and no religion for 697. Compared with a younger, more mobile population profile, Braidwood is settled: 78.2% stayed at the same address and turnover was 21.8%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.8%
Houses
8.4%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Braidwood's housing is dominated by established ownership, with 47.8% of homes owned outright, 27.2% held with a mortgage and 23.5% rented. Compared with renting, outright ownership is more than twice as common, helping explain the suburb's stable resident base. Separate houses account for 88.8% of dwellings, versus 8.4% semi-detached homes and 0.4% apartments. Three-bedroom properties make up 47.2%, 4-bedroom or larger homes 27.7% and 2-bedroom homes 20.5%. Household income is $1,412 per week, against a reported monthly mortgage cost of $1,700 and rent of $345 per week. Mortgage payments equal 27.8% of household income and rent 24.4%, with neither stress flag activated.
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$345
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$776
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.7%
Unoccupied
140
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.8%
Couples with children
54.7%
Couples, no children
12.2%
Single parent
450
Total families
Economy & Employment
Braidwood's employment base is led by Public Administration at 13.1% and 68 workers, followed by Education at 11.5% and 60, Construction at 10.9% and 57, Healthcare at 10.2% and 53, and Hospitality at 8.6% and 45. This mix supports local government, services, building and visitor activity because the town serves a broad rural area. Professionals number 151, Managers 138, Trades 115 and Clerical or Administrative workers 102. Unemployment is 3.6% across a labour force of 787, while participation is 54.6% and the full-time rate is 57.4%. Compared with the national income distribution, household income sits at the 41st percentile. SEIFA places education and occupation at the 6th decile, economic resources at the 7th and IRSAD at the 6th, indicating moderate rather than top-tier advantage.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
787
Unemployed
28
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.4%
Part-time
35.3%
Participation
54.6%
Employed
759
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.1%
Postgraduate
9.1%
Born Overseas
13.6%
Dwellings
687
Transport to Work
Braidwood is strongly car-oriented: 62.0% of residents drive, compared with 0.6% using public transport and 13.6% walking or cycling. Working from home is relatively common at 20.1%, which can reduce commuting pressure across a 234.62 sq km suburb with a density of 7.3 people per sq km. Braidwood Central School is the local Government Central or Community School, giving families 1 listed local school and a clear need to check enrolment zones, year levels and transport for the exact address. A suburb-level crime rate should be checked through current NSW Police information before deciding. SEIFA places IRSAD at the 6th decile, IER at the 7th and IRSD at the 6th. Compared with a nationally younger population, the age profile is a more important day-to-day consideration for services and accessibility.
Drive
62.0%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
13.6%
Work from Home
20.1%
Growth Outlook
Growth runs at 1.62% annually, while population change across the wider area is 29.4% over 10 years. The primary migration driver is Balanced, so momentum is not tied to a single inflow source. The shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share increased by 6.3 percentage points, the young share fell by 2.6 points and the working share declined by 2.5 points. Compared with the current gentrification model's score of 10 and stage of Not gentrifying, the separate shift marker is higher at 48 and labelled Active, showing mixed signals rather than a clear renewal cycle. Affordability is described as Stable, moving from 42.6 in 2011 to 43.4 in 2021, while real income growth reached 19.7%.
Population trend: Queanbeyan-Palerang council area
Braidwood sits in the Queanbeyan-Palerang council area. These are the council area's residents, not Braidwood's.
Residents 2025
67,633
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.5%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Braidwood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Braidwood a good suburb to live in?
Braidwood can suit buyers wanting a low-density, detached setting: 88.8% of homes are separate houses, 62.0% of residents drive and the median age is 50, which is 10 years above the national comparison. A 16.7% vacancy rate may improve choice, but local services and car dependence matter.
What is the median house price in Braidwood?
Check recent local sales for the current median house price. Braidwood has 88.8% separate houses, weekly rent of $345 and a reported monthly mortgage cost of $1,700, but those figures should not be treated as a sale-price substitute.
What schools are in Braidwood?
Braidwood Central School is the local Government Central or Community School listed for the suburb, making the local count 1. Families should confirm enrolment zones, year levels and transport against the exact address, particularly across a 234.62 sq km suburb.
Is Braidwood safe?
Check current NSW Police crime data for the exact address before deciding. Travel is car-oriented, with 62.0% driving, 0.6% using public transport and 13.6% walking or cycling. These travel figures describe access patterns rather than safety.
Is Braidwood good for property investment?
Investment may suit a selective landlord rather than a yield-only strategy. Weekly rent is $345, 23.5% of homes are rented and vacancy is 16.7%, while 22 development matters were lodged in 12 months. Balanced migration and a gentrification score of 10 suggest demand should be assessed carefully.
How is Braidwood's population changing?
Braidwood has 1,720 residents today. Across the wider area, population change is 29.4% over 10 years and the annual trend is 1.62%, with Balanced migration. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 6.3 percentage points while the young share fell 2.6.
What development is occurring in Braidwood?
Development activity included 22 matters over 12 months, including industrial work, a swimming pool and a dwelling house. The examples do not state dwelling totals or costs, so buyers should check each application for timing, scale and likely effects on local housing supply.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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