Karabar vs Queanbeyan West

Queanbeyan West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 38 in Karabar. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses.

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 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (20 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Karabar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($448,250 vs $670,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Karabar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (292 km vs 296.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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 West 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 West
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 West
Walkability 63 / 58
Karabar — Walkability: 63/100 Queanbeyan West — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 30 / 39
Karabar — Safety: 30/100 Queanbeyan West — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 12 / 34
Karabar — Low fire risk: 12/100 Queanbeyan West — Low fire risk: 34/100

Demographics

Karabar has more residents (8,517 vs 3,146); Karabar skews older (38 vs 35).

Karabar Queanbeyan West
Population 8,517
+63% vs other
 3,146
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% +0.3%
Median age 38 35
Median household income $103,428/yr $109,512/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Karabar Queanbeyan West
0-4 6.2% / 7.8%
Karabar — 0-4: 6.2% Queanbeyan West — 0-4: 7.8%
5-14 12.8% / 12.0%
Karabar — 5-14: 12.8% Queanbeyan West — 5-14: 12.0%
15-19 5.8% / 5.1%
Karabar — 15-19: 5.8% Queanbeyan West — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 6.0% / 5.9%
Karabar — 20-24: 6.0% Queanbeyan West — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 14.9% / 17.4%
Karabar — 25-34: 14.9% Queanbeyan West — 25-34: 17.4%
35-44 13.3% / 13.7%
Karabar — 35-44: 13.3% Queanbeyan West — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 13.5% / 13.4%
Karabar — 45-54: 13.5% Queanbeyan West — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 12.8% / 13.5%
Karabar — 55-64: 12.8% Queanbeyan West — 55-64: 13.5%
65-74 8.8% / 7.4%
Karabar — 65-74: 8.8% Queanbeyan West — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 4.5% / 2.8%
Karabar — 75-84: 4.5% Queanbeyan West — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 1.2% / 0.8%
Karabar — 85+: 1.2% Queanbeyan West — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Karabar 43.8% couple families
Karabar — Couple Families: 43.8% Karabar — Lone Person: 32.2% Karabar — One Parent Families: 19.4% Karabar — Group Household: 2.9% Karabar — Other Families: 1.6%
Queanbeyan West 39.2% couple families
Queanbeyan West — Couple Families: 39.2% Queanbeyan West — Lone Person: 33.7% Queanbeyan West — One Parent Families: 20.6% Queanbeyan West — Group Household: 4.4% Queanbeyan West — Other Families: 2.1%
Couple Families Lone Person 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 West 34.0% renting
Queanbeyan West — Owned Outright: 24.7% Queanbeyan West — Mortgage: 41.4% Queanbeyan West — Renting: 34.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Karabar Queanbeyan West
Certificate III & IV 15.8% / 16.6%
Karabar — Certificate III & IV: 15.8% Queanbeyan West — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 8.5% / 10.8%
Karabar — Bachelor Degree: 8.5% Queanbeyan West — Bachelor Degree: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.2%
Karabar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Queanbeyan West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 4.0%
Karabar — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Queanbeyan West — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.7%
Karabar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Queanbeyan West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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 West
England 1.5% / 1.6%
Karabar — England: 1.5% Queanbeyan West — England: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.7%
Karabar — New Zealand: 1.4% Queanbeyan West — New Zealand: 1.7%
Philippines 1.0% / 1.6%
Karabar — Philippines: 1.0% Queanbeyan West — Philippines: 1.6%
India 1.6% / 0.9%
Karabar — India: 1.6% Queanbeyan West — India: 0.9%
Italy 1.0% / 0.4%
Karabar — Italy: 1.0% Queanbeyan West — Italy: 0.4%
Nepal 0.5% / 0.7%
Karabar — Nepal: 0.5% Queanbeyan West — Nepal: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.7%).

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 West 71.2% houses
Queanbeyan West — Houses: 71.2% Queanbeyan West — Townhouses: 20.0% Queanbeyan West — Flats / Apartments: 8.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Karabar Queanbeyan West
Median house price $835,000 $857,500
Median unit price $448,250 $670,000
Median land price — $800,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 45 days
from 33 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 West
3 bed $785K / $826K
Karabar — 3 bed: $785K (45 sales) Queanbeyan West — 3 bed: $826K (18 sales)

45 vs 18 sales

4 bed $915K / $1.04M
Karabar — 4 bed: $915K (23 sales) Queanbeyan West — 4 bed: $1.04M (11 sales)

23 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Karabar has more land zoned for conservation (41% vs 1%); Queanbeyan West has more industrially zoned land (19% vs 0%).

Karabar Queanbeyan West
Residential 45% 39%
Environmental 41% 1%
Parks and recreation 6% 34%
Industrial 0% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 8%
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 West
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 West
Houses 3.9%
$650/wk on $869K
 3.7%
$675/wk on $942K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Karabar Queanbeyan West
House price Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Schools Higher than 27% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 78% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption —
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW

Liveability

Queanbeyan West scores higher overall (37 vs 27).

Karabar Queanbeyan West
Grade D C
Score 27/100 37/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Karabar carries more bushfire risk (88 vs 66).

Karabar Queanbeyan West
Bushfire High
88/100
 Moderate
66/100
Crime High
70/100
 Moderate
61/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Karabar Queanbeyan West
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km None 1
UNSW Canberra, 8.4 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 West

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Karabar Queanbeyan West
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 20 6
Childcare 6 3
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 2
Waterways 9 0

Mobility

Queanbeyan West sits further from the CBD (296.5 km vs 292 km).

Karabar Queanbeyan West
Walkability score 63/100 58/100
Distance to Sydney 292 km 296.5 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 193 min 194 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 72/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 91.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 31.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
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 West
Car (driver) 82.3% / 81.6%
Karabar — Car (driver): 82.3% Queanbeyan West — Car (driver): 81.6%
Worked from Home 7.6% / 7.8%
Karabar — Worked from Home: 7.6% Queanbeyan West — Worked from Home: 7.8%
Car (passenger) 7.3% / 7.2%
Karabar — Car (passenger): 7.3% Queanbeyan West — Car (passenger): 7.2%
Walked Only 1.3% / 1.8%
Karabar — Walked Only: 1.3% Queanbeyan West — Walked Only: 1.8%
Bus 1.2% / 1.2%
Karabar — Bus: 1.2% Queanbeyan West — Bus: 1.2%

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

Setting

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

NBN connectivity

Karabar Queanbeyan West
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
3,501 premises
 100%
1,671 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Karabar Queanbeyan West
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 West
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 West

Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Karabar

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

Other comparisons with Queanbeyan West

Queanbeyan West vs Jerrabomberra Queanbeyan West vs Queanbeyan Queanbeyan West vs Crestwood
Full data on Karabar Full data on Queanbeyan West
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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