Far West

Far West has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Far West's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, stands at 2,302 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,288 people. The change is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 2,302 in June 2025 and an additional 231 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 0.00 persons per square kilometer. Far West's growth rate of 0.6% since the 2021 census surpassed the SA3 area's rate of -0.3%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 51.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Projections indicate an overall population decline over this period, with Far West's population expected to shrink by 395 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 85 and over group are projected to grow, with an increase of 51 people anticipated.

The level of residential development activity in Far West is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Far West has had minimal residential development activity in recent years. Specifically, there have been only 2 dwelling approvals annually on average over the past five years, totalling 13 approvals during this period. This low level of development is typical of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

It should be noted that due to the small sample size, individual development projects can significantly influence annual growth and relativity statistics in Far West. Compared to other regions like Rest of NSW, Far West has much lower development activity, with levels also below national averages. Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, reflecting rural living preferences for space and privacy. The estimated population density per dwelling approval is 672 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment in Far West.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, there may be less housing pressure in the area, potentially creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Far West has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 21stth percentile nationally

Ten projects identified by AreaSearch are likely to impact the area, significantly influencing its performance due to changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. These key projects include Silver City Energy Storage Centre, Broken Hill Health Service Redevelopment - MHIPU, ED Upgrade and Key Worker Accommodation, Broken Hill Community Health Centre, and Broken Hill Town Square Redevelopment. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Far West face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Far West has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 6.8%. In this month, 898 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.9% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Far West lags behind Regional NSW at 51.8% compared to 60.5%. According to Census responses, 32.7% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The dominant employment sectors are agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Far West shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 8.6 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance employs only 7.6% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 16.9%. Many residents may commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. In the 12 months prior, Far West experienced a 5.4% decrease in labour force and a 5.9% decline in employment, leading to a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional NSW had an employment decline of 1.2% and labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Far West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 4.5% over five years and 10.4% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates that Far West SA2 has lower median and average incomes compared to national averages. The median income in Far West is $53,186, while the average is $62,688. Regional NSW, however, has a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% from financial year 2023 to March 2026, estimated incomes in Far West would be approximately $58,675 (median) and $69,157 (average). Census 2021 data shows that incomes in Far West fall between the 7th and 10th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution in Far West differs from metropolitan trends; 26.6% of individuals earn between $800 - 1,499 compared to 29.9% earning between $1,500 - 2,999 in metropolitan regions. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 92.3% income retention, Far West's total disposable income ranks at the 15th percentile nationally.

Far West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Far West's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 93.9% houses and 6.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Far West stood at 49.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 13.1% and rented ones at 37.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $932, significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,863. Weekly rent in Far West was recorded at $150, substantially below Regional NSW's figure of $330 and the national average of $375.

Far West features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 61.3% of all households, including 20.4% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 14.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 38.7%, with lone person households at 36.7% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the Regional NSW average.

Far West faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 15.3%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 35.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 27.1%. Educational participation is high, with 33.1% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 14.7% in primary education, 8.9% in secondary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Far West has 18 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 10 routes, providing a total of 1,079 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited with residents typically located 21460 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most commuters traveling outward. Cars are the dominant mode of transport at 66%, while 28% walk. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 32.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 154 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 59 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Far West is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Far West faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~1,160 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 8.2 and 8.2% of residents respectively. 68.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 21.5% of residents aged 65 and over (495 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

The latest Census data sees Far West placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Far West had a cultural diversity below average with 80.6% citizens, 95.1% born in Australia, and 98.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 53.8%, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (27.0%), English (24.5%), and Australian Aboriginal (24.2%).

Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 4.1% (vs regional average of 3.1%) while Macedonian stood at 0.1%.

Far West's median age exceeds the national pattern

Far West has a median age of 43, which is equal to Regional NSW's figure and higher than the national average of 38 years. The age profile indicates that the 55-64 year-olds are notably prominent at 14.1%, while the 35-44 group stands at 9.1%, lower compared to Regional NSW. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 5.7% to 7.8%, and the 0 to 4 cohort has risen from 5.4% to 7.0%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 group has decreased from 11.4% to 9.1%, and the 65 to 74 group has dropped from 12.9% to 11.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Far West's age structure. Notably, the 85+ age group is projected to grow by 76%, reaching 96 people from 54. The combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 100% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. In contrast, the 75 to 84 and 25 to 34 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.