Queanbeyan
Sitting just across the border from Canberra, Queanbeyan runs on the public sector: Public Administration employs 27.7% of the local workforce, more than double the next industry, because the suburb functions as an affordable residential overflow for ACT government jobs. That spillover shows in the numbers. The $620,000 median house price is a fraction of Sydney levels, yet household income reaches the 59.4th percentile nationally and university qualifications hit 39.9%, which is 9.8 points above the national figure. The renter share is high at 45.6%, pushing vacancy to 10.1%, while net internal migration of 220 people a year drives 1.5% annual growth and a 17.2% population rise over the past decade.
Population
6,409
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,693/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
59
Median House
$620K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At a $620,000 median, Queanbeyan offers Canberra-adjacent access well below ACT prices, which explains the steady inflow of buyers priced out across the border. The market softened recently, with the median easing 1.6% from $625,000 in 2024 to $615,000 in 2025, a buyer-friendly pause rather than a slide. Stock is mixed: separate houses make up 38.8% of dwellings, apartments 35.6% and semi-detached 25.1%, so detached-house buyers face more competition than the headline median suggests. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 39.9% and three-bedroom at 31.9%, while 4-plus bedroom houses are scarce at 12.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,668, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and far more manageable than most Sydney markets.
For Buyers
At a $620,000 median, Queanbeyan offers Canberra-adjacent access well below ACT prices, which explains the steady inflow of buyers priced out across the border. The market softened recently, with the median easing 1.6% from $625,000 in 2024 to $615,000 in 2025, a buyer-friendly pause rather than a slide. Stock is mixed: separate houses make up 38.8% of dwellings, apartments 35.6% and semi-detached 25.1%, so detached-house buyers face more competition than the headline median suggests. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 39.9% and three-bedroom at 31.9%, while 4-plus bedroom houses are scarce at 12.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,668, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and far more manageable than most Sydney markets.
For Investors
Renters make up 45.6% of households, well above the national norm, giving landlords a deep tenant pool anchored by ACT public servants who commute across the border. Weekly rent of $340 against the $620,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.9%, stronger than premium Sydney suburbs though modest in absolute terms. The 10.1% vacancy rate is the main caution and reflects the apartment-heavy 35.6% segment competing for tenants. Demand support is real: net internal migration adds 220 residents a year and overseas migration another 63, while rent grew 36.8% over the decade. Development is moderate at 52 applications in 12 months, mostly alterations and demolition work rather than new supply, so the rental shortage that supports yields is unlikely to ease quickly.
Development Activity
Total DAs
273
Last 12 Months
59
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+7.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Queanbeyan iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Finigan School of Distance Education
K-12 · 84 students
St Gregory's Primary School
K-6 · 730 students
Queanbeyan East Public School
K-6 · 280 students
Queanbeyan Public School
K-6 · 361 students
Queanbeyan West Public School
K-6 · 387 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 sits 2.0 years below the national figure, a relatively young profile for a regional centre, though the trajectory is aging as the senior share rose 6.4 points and the working-age share fell 2.9 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 27.0%, which is 5.4 points above national, and the migrant mix is distinctive: Nepali (106 speakers), Punjabi (84) and Macedonian (78) lead the non-English languages, with Hinduism (309) the second religion behind Christianity. Ancestry stays Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,026), Irish (756) and Scottish (599). Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below national, consistent with the 30.4% of families that are couples with no children and a renter-heavy population that skews toward smaller households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
38.8%
Houses
25.1%
Townhouse
35.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure leans toward renters: 45.6% rent, 31.3% carry a mortgage and only 23.1% own outright, an unusual split that reflects the suburb's role housing mobile ACT workers rather than long-settled owners. The stock is 38.8% separate houses, 35.6% apartments and 25.1% semi-detached, a denser mix than most regional centres at 2,285 residents per square kilometre. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 39.9% and three-bedroom 31.9%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are just 12.4%. The median house price eased 1.6% from $625,000 to $615,000 across 2024 to 2025. Affordability is the standout: mortgage-to-income at 22.8% and rent-to-income at 20.1% both sit comfortably below the 30% stress line, well under what comparable Sydney commuter suburbs demand.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,668
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,010
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.1%
Unoccupied
314
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.4%
Couples, no children
4,075
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is built on government work: Public Administration leads at 27.7% (659 workers), more than double Healthcare at 13.7% (325), with Construction at 9.1%, Education at 8.7% and Professional/Tech at 7.9%. By occupation, Professionals (712) and Clerical/Admin (594) dominate, reflecting the ACT public-service tilt. Unemployment is low at 4.4% and the full-time rate reaches 72.0%, above many regional centres, because secure government employment underpins the workforce. The SEIFA picture is mid-tier: IRSAD and IRSD both score decile 6, IEO decile 6, but IER drops to decile 4, a gap driven by the 45.6% renter base that depresses household-wealth measures even where incomes sit at the 59.4th percentile nationally.
Unemployment
2.0%
Labour Force
6,827
Unemployed
137
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.0%
Part-time
23.6%
Participation
63.2%
Employed
3,314
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.9%
Postgraduate
14.4%
Born Overseas
27.0%
Dwellings
2,796
Transport to Work
Queanbeyan is car-dependent: 84.7% of residents drive to work and only 2.8% use public transport, well below the national average, a reflection of the cross-border commute to Canberra without integrated rail. Walking and cycling account for just 6.3%. The suburb scores decile 6 on IRSAD and decile 6 on IRSD, a solidly mid-range position nationally, while 8.2% of residents (498 people) need daily assistance and volunteering runs at 13.8%. No schools are recorded inside the 2.8 square kilometre boundary in this dataset, so families rely on the wider Queanbeyan and Canberra catchments. Housing affordability is the practical draw: with rent-to-income at 20.1%, tenants keep more disposable income than in most commuter markets.
Drive
84.7%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
6.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.5%/yr
(+272 people/yr)
EstablishedQueanbeyan is growing steadily at 1.5% a year, adding about 272 residents annually, with a 17.2% population rise over the past decade. Internal migration is the engine, contributing a net 220 people a year as ACT workers seek cheaper housing across the border, while overseas migration adds another 63. Medium forecasts lift the population from 18,203 in 2026 to 19,563 by 2031, a continuation of the established trend. Gentrification reads as active with a score of 48, supported by signals of 25% population growth since 2011 and real income growth accelerating from 8% toward 16%. Affordability has stayed stable, easing only slightly from 36.3% in 2011 to 37.4% in 2021, so the growth is broad-based rather than displacement-driven.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+63
Net Internal / yr
+220
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +25% since 2011, Net internal migration +220/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Queanbeyan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Queanbeyan a good suburb to live in?
Queanbeyan combines affordability with Canberra access. The median house price is $620,000, well below ACT levels, while household income sits in the 59.4th percentile nationally and mortgage-to-income runs at 22.8%, below the 30% stress line. University qualifications reach 39.9%, which is 9.8 points above national.
What is the median house price in Queanbeyan?
The median house price is $620,000. It eased 1.6% from $625,000 in 2024 to $615,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $340 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,668, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Queanbeyan?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.8 square kilometre Queanbeyan boundary in this dataset, so families rely on the wider Queanbeyan and Canberra catchments. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 39.9%, which is 9.8 points above the national figure.
Is Queanbeyan safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Queanbeyan in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a mid-range national position, and 8.2% of its residents (498 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a moderate-disadvantage area.
Is Queanbeyan good for property investment?
Rent of $340 a week against a $620,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.9%, higher than premium Sydney suburbs. Renters make up 45.6% of households and net internal migration adds 220 residents a year, though the 10.1% vacancy rate signals apartment oversupply to watch.
How is Queanbeyan's population changing?
Population is growing 1.5% a year, about 272 residents annually, with a 17.2% rise over the past decade driven by net internal migration of 220 people a year. Medium forecasts lift the population from 18,203 in 2026 to 19,563 by 2031, though the profile is gradually aging.
What languages are spoken in Queanbeyan?
About 27.0% of residents were born overseas, 5.4 points above the national figure. English dominates, but the leading non-English languages are Nepali (106 speakers), Punjabi (84), Macedonian (78) and Urdu (41), reflecting a growing South Asian and Balkan migrant presence.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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