Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional

The area is younger than most, with a typical resident aged 38 and a higher proportion of children under 15 than the national average. Seniors make up only 13.5% of the population, which is well below the New South Wales and national figures.

While 18.4% of residents were born overseas—higher than in many similar areas—this is still well below the state and national averages. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Irish and Scottish.

About 13.5% of people use a language other than English at home, which is higher than most similar areas but far below the New South Wales average. Very few residents, just 1.2%, speak little or no English.

Nearly 39% of the community reports no religion, a figure that is about the same as the national average and rose by 9.7 percentage points since 2016. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 48.6%.

This is a highly qualified community, with 28.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also much higher than in most similar areas, reaching 64.2%.

Earnings here are among the highest in the region; typical weekly family income is $2,801, which is well above the national figure of $2,120. About 20.2% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.

The area has a lower rate of people needing help with daily activities than most other areas. However, mental health conditions are reported at 9.8%, which is a little above the state and national figures.

Community service is strong, with 16.5% of people volunteering and a very high proportion of former Defence Force members at 8.2%. Unpaid childcare is also much more common here than in most similar areas.

First Nations residents in the region experience much better outcomes than those in most similar areas, with a much lower unemployment rate of 5.8% and higher typical personal incomes.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.6 people per household and 61.7% of families consisting of couples with children. Only 25.2% of people live alone, which is much lower than in most areas.

Detached houses are common, making up 73.9% of dwellings. While rental rates are lower than the state average, typical weekly rents of $355 and monthly mortgage payments of $2,167 are both much higher than in most similar areas.

Car dependence is very high, with 68.4% of people driving to work and only 0.8% using public transport. Very few homes, just 3.5%, have no motor vehicle.

The region is quite dynamic, with 41.9% of residents moving in the last five years. This movement is higher than in most other areas and rose slightly since 2016.

Job security is a hallmark of the area, where 67.7% of people are employed full-time and the unemployment rate is a very low 3.1%. Public administration and safety is the most common industry.

The region is ranked among the most advantaged in the state, with a perfect score for access to money and resources. It has seen strong growth, with the population increasing by 6.7% since 2021.

The climate is cooler and wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 909mm and an average minimum temperature of 5.9 degrees, which is among the lowest for its level.

The region is generally safe, with robbery and theft rates that are among the lowest or much lower than most similar areas. The total recorded offence rate is also lower than average.

Walking to amenities is difficult, as the walkability score is well below the state average. Most homes are far from health services, schools and groceries compared to the New South Wales average.