# Karabar

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Rest of NSW › Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional › 2620 crosses NSW/ACT

Area: 7 km²

A significantly higher proportion of First Nations people live in Karabar than in most other Australian areas. This community is defined by a strong working population and a preference for large, detached family homes. While it is largely Australian-born, the area has seen a notable rise in people identifying as having no religion. It is a stable suburb where most residents have lived for several years, creating a settled environment for many families.

## Demographics & Identity

The area has a strong First Nations presence at 7.2%, which is well above the national figure. While the typical resident is 38, there are more children under 15 than in most similar areas, though this figure has fallen slightly since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 8,517 | -1.0% since 2011 |
| Median age | 38 yrs | +8.6% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 7.2% | +39.1% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 14.5% | +47.5% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 19.0% | -10.1% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 12.6% | +20.8% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Young adults (25–44) 28.2%, Older adults (45–64) 26.3%, Children (0–14) 19.0%, Seniors (65+) 14.5%, Youth (15–24) 11.8%

**Marital status** — Married 44.1%, Never married 38.6%, Divorced 8.8%, Widowed 5.0%, Separated 3.4%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Karabar is far less diverse than the state average, with only 17.3% of people born overseas. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry, and the proportion of people born in Australia is high at 76.6%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 17.3% | +5.9% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 76.6%, India 1.6%, England 1.5%, New Zealand 1.4%, Philippines 1.0%, Italy 1.0%, Nepal 0.5%, China 0.3%, Vietnam 0.3%, South Africa 0.1%

**Ancestry** — Australian 37.5%, English 32.0%, Irish 10.4%, Scottish 9.0%, Italian 5.2%, German 4.0%, Filipino 1.4%, Indian 1.4%, Chinese 1.3%, Dutch 1.2%, Greek 0.9%, Vietnamese 0.4%

## Language

English is the primary language for 79.3% of the community, and the share of people using another language at home is well below the national figure. Only a small number of residents speak little or no English.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 14.4% | +5.2% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 1.9% | +6.6% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 79.3%, Italian 1.3%, Punjabi 1.0%, Mandarin 0.5%, Tagalog 0.4%, Vietnamese 0.4%, Cantonese 0.3%, Hindi 0.3%, Greek 0.3%, Arabic 0.2%

## Religion

Over half the population identifies as Christian, while 35.3% of residents have no religion. This last group has grown significantly, rising 18 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 35.3% | +107.2% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 52.5%, No religion 35.3%, Not stated 7.6%, Hinduism 1.6%, Other religions 1.4%, Buddhism 1.0%, Islam 0.6%

## Education & Qualifications

The proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is far below the state average at 17.2%. However, more people have completed Year 12 than in 2011, and many hold certificates in trades and technicians.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 53.7% | +17.9% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 17.2% | +37.9% since 2011 |
| Schools | 3 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 1.85 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 11 | — |
| School enrolments | 1,176 | — |
| Average school size | 392 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 966 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 53.7%, Year 10 22.5%, Year 9 or below 10.8%, Year 11 5.7%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 34.0%, Bachelor degree 18.5%, Advanced diploma / diploma 15.9%, Postgraduate degree 8.0%, Graduate diploma / certificate 3.5%, Certificate I / II 2.0%

**Field of qualification** — Management & commerce 18.0%, Society & culture 15.1%, Engineering & related 13.2%, Architecture & building 7.7%, Health 6.8%, Education 6.5%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.0%, Information technology 4.5%, Creative arts 3.1%, Natural & physical sciences 2.4%, Agriculture & environment 1.7%

## Income

Typical incomes are higher than the national figure, with 26.4% of households earning over $3,000 a week. This is a significant increase from 2011, when only 12.8% of homes reached that level.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $975 | +31.4% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,989 | +27.5% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,334 | +28.7% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 12.3% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 26.4% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 31.2%, $650–$1,499 22.0%, Under $650 13.4%, $4,000 or more 13.3%, $3,000–$3,999 13.2%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 33.1%, $650–$1,499 33.1%, $1,500–$2,999 23.4%, $3,000 or more 3.3%

## Health & Disability

Mental health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 10.7% of residents. Long-term health conditions are also well above the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 31.6% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 10.7% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 5.4% | +47.2% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Mental health 10.7%, Arthritis 10.4%, Asthma 10.2%, Other condition 8.6%, Diabetes 5.5%, Heart disease 3.7%, Cancer 2.9%, Lung condition 2.2%, Stroke 0.9%, Dementia 0.4%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 59.6%, One condition 20.7%, Two conditions 7.0%, Three or more 3.9%

## Community Participation

A higher than average 13.0% of people provide unpaid care, and 27.6% care for children. There is also a much higher rate of former Defence Force members compared to the rest of the state.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 12.6% | -11.1% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 13.0% | +20.2% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 27.6% | -7.7% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 5.3% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 19.0% | -7.8% since 2011 |

## First Nations

With 617 First Nations people, this area is larger than 85% of similar places. Unemployment among this group is well below the national rate, and 6.8% speak a First Nations language.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 617 | — |
| First Nations median age | 23 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 34.4% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 6.3% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $672 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,789 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 6.8% | — |

## Family & Households

Homes tend to be larger, with 2.6 people per household. One-parent families are much more common here than in most other areas, making up 17.5% of households.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.6 | -3.7% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 17.5% | -7.7% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 24.6% | +1.6% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 57.6%, Couples without children 23.9%, One-parent families 17.5%, Other families 1.0%

**Household size** — 2 people 31.7%, 1 person 24.6%, 3 people 17.6%, 4 people 16.6%, 5 people 6.4%, 6 or more 3.1%

## Housing & Dwellings

The suburb is dominated by detached houses, with 83.5% of homes having three or more bedrooms. This is far above the state average, and most residents own their homes with a mortgage.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $350 | +25.0% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,950 | +2.6% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.80 | -27.3% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 28.6% | -5.0% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 29.1% | +3.2% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 80.4% | -3.0% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 83.5% | +2.0% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned with a mortgage 40.2%, Owned outright 29.1%, Rented 28.6%, Not stated 1.7%, Other tenure 0.6%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 80.4%, Townhouse / semi-detached 16.8%, Flat or apartment 2.8%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 48.2%, 4 bedrooms 28.2%, 2 bedrooms 12.0%, 5 or more 7.1%, 1 bedroom 2.7%, Studio / none 0.3%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $350–$549 38.5%, $200–$349 28.2%, Under $200 20.2%, $550–$749 9.3%, $750 or more 1.0%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,800–$2,999 41.4%, $1,000–$1,799 27.9%, $3,000 or more 13.2%, Under $1,000 12.4%

## Transport & Vehicles

Cars are essential here, as only 0.7% of people commute by public transport. Very few people work from home compared to the rest of the state, where the figure is 31.0%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 4.8% | -31.8% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 6.7% | +270.1% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.7% | -43.7% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 33 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 3.87 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 503.5 | — |
| Public transport routes | 3 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 1 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 72.8%, Worked at home 6.7%, Car (passenger) 6.5%, Walked 1.1%, Bus 0.7%, Bicycle 0.3%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 37.0%, 1 vehicle 33.1%, 3 vehicles 15.5%, 4 or more 9.2%, No vehicle 4.8%

## Migration & Movement

Karabar is a stable community where people tend to stay, as the share of those who moved in the last five years is well below the national average. Recent overseas arrivals have also fallen since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 31.6% | -1.6% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 8.5% | -26.3% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Full-time employment is very high at 67.7%, which is well above the national figure. Many residents work in public administration and safety, construction, or health care.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | +32.4% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 65.4% | -5.8% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 67.7% | -2.7% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Public administration & safety 22.5%, Construction 14.3%, Health care & social assistance 9.9%, Retail trade 7.7%, Education & training 6.8%, Professional & technical 6.3%, Accommodation & food 5.3%, Other services 4.2%, Manufacturing 3.9%, Transport & warehousing 3.9%, Administrative & support 3.2%, Wholesale trade 1.7%, Rental & real estate 1.5%, Electricity, gas & water 1.3%, Arts & recreation 1.3%, Media & telecommunications 0.8%, Finance & insurance 0.8%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.3%, Mining 0.2%

**Occupations people work in** — Clerical & administrative 17.4%, Technicians & trades 16.9%, Professionals 16.5%, Managers 11.8%, Community & personal service 11.6%, Labourers 9.2%, Sales workers 7.5%, Machinery operators & drivers 6.8%

## Economy & Advantage

The area has a moderate level of overall advantage, sitting around the middle for most similar areas. However, population growth has been negative since 2021, which is well below the state trend.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 5 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 5 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 5 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 5 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 982 | — |
| Population estimate | 8,409 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | -1.6% | — |
| Businesses | 411 | — |

## Environment & Climate

The area is cooler than most of New South Wales, with a minimum temperature that is among the lowest for its level. Rainfall is well above the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 756 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 20.4 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 6.3 | — |

## Walkability

While almost everyone lives within a short walk of a park or public transport, the area is poorly served for other needs. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 4.6 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 4.3 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 41.5% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 36.2% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 99.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 65.3% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 99.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 0.0% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 8.5 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 130 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 7.4% | — |

## Schools serving Karabar

11 schools, 4,664 students, average ICSEA 1,023.

By sector: Government 10, Catholic 1

By type: Primary 6, Secondary 3, Combined 2

Nearest 10 shown:

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Queanbeyan South Public School | Government | Primary | 1.3 km | 419 |
| Tirriwirri School | Government | Combined | 1.3 km | 34 |
| Karabar High School | Government | Secondary | 1.5 km | 723 |
| Queanbeyan Public School | Government | Primary | 2.0 km | 361 |
| St Gregory's Primary School | Catholic | Primary | 2.5 km | 730 |
| Finigan School of Distance Education | Government | Combined | 2.7 km | 84 |
| Queanbeyan High School | Government | Secondary | 2.8 km | 448 |
| Queanbeyan West Public School | Government | Primary | 3.5 km | 387 |
| Queanbeyan East Public School | Government | Primary | 3.5 km | 280 |
| Jerrabomberra Public School | Government | Primary | 3.6 km | 865 |

## Areas within Karabar

[Karabar Block 1](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100801/10102100801) · [Karabar Block 2](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100802/10102100802) · [Karabar Block 3](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100803/10102100803) · [Karabar Block 4](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100804/10102100804) · [Karabar Block 5](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100805/10102100805) · [Karabar Block 6](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100806/10102100806) · [Karabar Block 7](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100807/10102100807) · [Karabar Block 8](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100808/10102100808) · [Karabar Block 9](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100809/10102100809) · [Karabar Block 10](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100810/10102100810) · [Karabar Block 11](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100811/10102100811) · [Karabar Block 12](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100812/10102100812) · [Karabar Block 13](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100813/10102100813) · [Karabar Block 14](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100814/10102100814) · [Karabar Block 15](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100815/10102100815) · [Karabar Block 16](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10102100816/10102100816)

## Nearby areas

[Queanbeyan](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101021009/queanbeyan) · [Queanbeyan West - Jerrabomberra](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101021012/queanbeyan-west-jerrabomberra) · [Queanbeyan - East](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101021010/queanbeyan-east) · [Googong](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101021610/googong) · [Hume](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/801031031/hume) · [Canberra Airport](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/801031114/canberra-airport) · [Fyshwick](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/801061130/fyshwick) · [Canberra East](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/801031113/canberra-east)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101021008/karabar