Karabar vs Queanbeyan

In Karabar, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Queanbeyan, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. On these figures, Karabar tends to suit families with children, while Queanbeyan suits renters and people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Karabar

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 39%)
  • has more parks and reserves (20 vs 11)
  • is already more of a family suburb (63% vs 38%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Queanbeyan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($389,000 vs $448,250)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Queanbeyan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (46% vs 29%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Queanbeyan

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 63/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (288.1 km vs 292 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Queanbeyan

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (61% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 63/100)
  • But Karabar carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 93/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Karabar and Queanbeyan drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Karabar Queanbeyan
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Karabar Queanbeyan
Walkability 63 / 94
Karabar — Walkability: 63/100 Queanbeyan — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 30 / 7
Karabar — Safety: 30/100 Queanbeyan — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 12 / 100
Karabar — Low fire risk: 12/100 Queanbeyan — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Karabar has more residents (8,517 vs 6,409); Karabar has higher household incomes ($103,428 vs $88,036).

Karabar Queanbeyan
Population 8,517
+25% vs other
 6,409
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% +2.8%
Median age 38
same for both
Median household income $103,428/yr
+15% vs other
 $88,036/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+3% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Karabar Queanbeyan
0-4 6.2% / 5.6%
Karabar — 0-4: 6.2% Queanbeyan — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 12.8% / 8.8%
Karabar — 5-14: 12.8% Queanbeyan — 5-14: 8.8%
15-19 5.8% / 3.8%
Karabar — 15-19: 5.8% Queanbeyan — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 6.0% / 5.8%
Karabar — 20-24: 6.0% Queanbeyan — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 14.9% / 19.7%
Karabar — 25-34: 14.9% Queanbeyan — 25-34: 19.7%
35-44 13.3% / 14.4%
Karabar — 35-44: 13.3% Queanbeyan — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 13.5% / 12.1%
Karabar — 45-54: 13.5% Queanbeyan — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 12.8% / 12.0%
Karabar — 55-64: 12.8% Queanbeyan — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 8.8% / 8.3%
Karabar — 65-74: 8.8% Queanbeyan — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 4.5% / 5.6%
Karabar — 75-84: 4.5% Queanbeyan — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 1.2% / 4.0%
Karabar — 85+: 1.2% Queanbeyan — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Karabar 32.2% lone person
Karabar — Lone Person: 32.2% Karabar — Couple Families: 43.8% Karabar — One Parent Families: 19.4% Karabar — Group Household: 2.9% Karabar — Other Families: 1.6%
Queanbeyan 56.0% lone person
Queanbeyan — Lone Person: 56.0% Queanbeyan — Couple Families: 25.1% Queanbeyan — One Parent Families: 12.7% Queanbeyan — Group Household: 4.2% Queanbeyan — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Karabar 29.2% renting
Karabar — Owned Outright: 29.7% Karabar — Mortgage: 41.1% Karabar — Renting: 29.2%
Queanbeyan 45.6% renting
Queanbeyan — Owned Outright: 23.1% Queanbeyan — Mortgage: 31.3% Queanbeyan — Renting: 45.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Karabar Queanbeyan
Certificate III & IV 15.8% / 13.4%
Karabar — Certificate III & IV: 15.8% Queanbeyan — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Bachelor Degree 8.5% / 13.8%
Karabar — Bachelor Degree: 8.5% Queanbeyan — Bachelor Degree: 13.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.5%
Karabar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Queanbeyan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 7.8%
Karabar — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Queanbeyan — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.4%
Karabar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Queanbeyan — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Karabar Queanbeyan
India 1.6% / 3.9%
Karabar — India: 1.6% Queanbeyan — India: 3.9%
England 1.5% / 2.0%
Karabar — England: 1.5% Queanbeyan — England: 2.0%
Nepal 0.5% / 2.7%
Karabar — Nepal: 0.5% Queanbeyan — Nepal: 2.7%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.6%
Karabar — New Zealand: 1.4% Queanbeyan — New Zealand: 1.6%
Philippines 1.0% / 2.0%
Karabar — Philippines: 1.0% Queanbeyan — Philippines: 2.0%
Italy 1.0% / —
Karabar — Italy: 1.0% Queanbeyan — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Karabar 80.4% houses
Karabar — Houses: 80.4% Karabar — Townhouses: 16.8% Karabar — Flats / Apartments: 2.8%
Queanbeyan 38.7% houses
Queanbeyan — Houses: 38.7% Queanbeyan — Townhouses: 25.1% Queanbeyan — Flats / Apartments: 36.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Karabar Queanbeyan
Median house price $835,000 $870,000
Median unit price $448,250 $389,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 45 days
from 33 sales
 30 days
from 56 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Karabar Queanbeyan
3 bed $785K / $850K
Karabar — 3 bed: $785K (45 sales) Queanbeyan — 3 bed: $850K (41 sales)

45 vs 41 sales

4 bed $915K / $935K
Karabar — 4 bed: $915K (23 sales) Queanbeyan — 4 bed: $935K (18 sales)

23 vs 18 sales

5 bed $1.03M / $1.09M
Karabar — 5 bed: $1.03M (10 sales) Queanbeyan — 5 bed: $1.09M (5 sales)

10 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Karabar has more land zoned for conservation (41% vs 2%); Queanbeyan has more commercially zoned land (17% vs 0%).

Karabar Queanbeyan
Residential 45% 63%
Environmental 41% 2%
Commercial 0% 17%
Parks and recreation 6% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 4%
same for both
Rural and farming 4% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Karabar Queanbeyan
New dwellings approved 510
across Queanbeyan-Palerang
same for both
Approvals change year on year +231%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Karabar Queanbeyan
Houses 3.9%
$650/wk on $869K
 4.3%
$635/wk on $764K
Units — 5.4%
$450/wk on $435K

Ranking within NSW

Karabar Queanbeyan
House price Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Income Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
Schools Higher than 27% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
EV adoption —
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 81% of NSW

Liveability

Queanbeyan scores higher overall (52 vs 27); Queanbeyan is more walkable (94 vs 63).

Karabar Queanbeyan
Grade D B
Score 27/100 52/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Karabar carries more bushfire risk (88 vs 0); Queanbeyan carries more crime risk (93 vs 70).

Karabar Queanbeyan
Bushfire High
88/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
70/100
 High
93/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Karabar Queanbeyan
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km None 1
UNSW Canberra, 9.8 km

Schools in Karabar

  • Karabar High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Queanbeyan South Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Tirriwirri School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Queanbeyan

  • Queanbeyan Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Gregory's Primary School - Lowe Street Campus Catholic · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Karabar Queanbeyan
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 8
Parks & reserves 20 11
Childcare 6 8
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 1 3
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 5
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 9 1

Mobility

Karabar sits further from the CBD (292 km vs 288.1 km).

Karabar Queanbeyan
Walkability score 63/100 94/100
Distance to Sydney 292 km
+1% vs other
 288.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 193 min 190 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 91.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 124.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 2620
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Karabar Queanbeyan
Car (driver) 82.3% / 77.2%
Karabar — Car (driver): 82.3% Queanbeyan — Car (driver): 77.2%
Worked from Home 7.6% / 8.6%
Karabar — Worked from Home: 7.6% Queanbeyan — Worked from Home: 8.6%
Car (passenger) 7.3% / 5.7%
Karabar — Car (passenger): 7.3% Queanbeyan — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Walked Only 1.3% / 5.1%
Karabar — Walked Only: 1.3% Queanbeyan — Walked Only: 5.1%
Bus 1.2% / 2.9%
Karabar — Bus: 1.2% Queanbeyan — Bus: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.3%).

Setting

Karabar Queanbeyan
Elevation 615 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 583 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Karabar Queanbeyan
Connectivity score 100/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
3,501 premises
 87%
4,084 premises

Climate

Karabar Queanbeyan
Annual rainfall 622 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.8°C
same for both

Council rates

Karabar Queanbeyan
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Queanbeyan-Palerang
same for both

Federal electorate

Karabar Queanbeyan
Division Eden-monaro
same for both
Member Kristy Mcbain
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Karabar Queanbeyan
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Karabar

Parks Regional Centre River

Queanbeyan

Affordable Apartments Parks Townhouses Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Karabar

Karabar vs Jerrabomberra Karabar vs Googong Karabar vs Queanbeyan West Karabar vs Carwoola Karabar vs Greenleigh

Other comparisons with Queanbeyan

Queanbeyan vs Crestwood Queanbeyan vs Queanbeyan East Queanbeyan vs Queanbeyan West Queanbeyan vs Greenleigh
Full data on Karabar Full data on Queanbeyan
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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