Glen Innes

Glen Innes is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Glen Innes stands at approximately 9,075 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 144 individuals (1.6%) from the 8,931 residents recorded during the 2021 Census. This population shift is calculated utilizing the ABS estimated resident population of 9,069 from June 2025 alongside 69 validated new addresses registered since the Census. Such population numbers translate to a density of 1.7 persons per square kilometer, which ensures a significant amount of space for each resident. The 1.6% post-census growth rate for Glen Innes is within 1.1 percentage points of the 2.7% rate observed in the wider SA3 region, indicating competitive demographic expansion. Interstate migration was the primary driver of this growth, accounting for about 66.0% of the total population increase in recent times.

For projected data, AreaSearch uses the 2024 releases from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, which are built on a 2022 baseline. In instances where an SA2 area is not covered by these datasets, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied instead. Age cohort growth rates derived from these sources are also used for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic trends, the region is projected to experience growth aligned with the lowest national quartile for regional zones. The population is predicted to grow by 43 residents by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP statistics, which is an overall increase of 0.4% over the 16-year timeframe.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Glen Innes, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

The annual average of new dwelling approvals in Glen Innes is approximately 15, resulting in a total of 78 residential approvals over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 8 approvals have been logged. The ratio of population growth to new construction has averaged 1.6 people moving to the area for every new home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating that supply and demand are well balanced and supporting a stable market. The average value of these newly approved homes is $297,000. Additionally, commercial approvals worth $7.9 million have been registered during this financial year, which highlights the predominantly residential profile of the locality.

Dwelling approval rates per capita in Glen Innes are roughly two-thirds of the level seen across the Rest of NSW, placing the area in the 28th percentile of all analyzed locations nationwide. This indicates a relatively restricted pool of properties for buyers, which supports demand for existing homes. This rate also sits below the national average, pointing to the mature nature of the local market and suggesting potential planning constraints. Looking at recent construction types, 83.0% of approvals were for standalone houses and 17.0% were for apartments or townhouses, which helps preserve the traditional low-density landscape and satisfies demand for spacious family residences. The ratio of 647 residents for every dwelling approval highlights a quiet development sector with low construction activity.

Demographic projections indicate that Glen Innes will add 37 new residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. The current rate of home building is expected to supply enough housing to meet this demand, creating positive conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth that surpasses current projections.

Glen Innes has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning changes have a significant influence on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects that are expected to impact the local community. Key developments include the Glen Innes Battery Energy Storage System, New England Highway Safety Upgrades, the Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment, and the St Joseph's Convent Function Centre (Glen Innes), with the following list detailing the most relevant projects.

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

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Employment drivers in Glen Innes are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

The local workforce in Glen Innes features a mix of white-collar and blue-collar roles, with a strong presence of essential service workers and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. In March 2026, 4,173 local citizens were employed. The unemployment rate is 1.1% higher than the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, while the participation rate of 56.9% is lower than the Regional NSW benchmark of 60.6%. Census data indicates that 16.5% of working residents worked from home, although these figures may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The local workforce is heavily concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, which employs workers at 3.6 times the regional average rate. In contrast, the construction sector is underrepresented, accounting for 6.2% of local workers compared to the Regional NSW average of 9.7%. Comparing the Census counts of local jobs to resident workers suggests that local employment opportunities are somewhat limited.

An analysis of ABS and SALM data by AreaSearch shows that over the 12-month period, the local labor force contracted by 2.1% and total employment dropped by 4.4%, leading to a 2.3 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 0.9%, the labor force contract by 0.4%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. Future local labor demand can be analyzed using the national employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These five-year and ten-year forecasts have been adjusted to reflect the local employment structure. Nationally, job numbers are projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry mix suggests that employment in Glen Innes could grow by 5.6% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation that does not account for localized population changes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to the latest postcode-level ATO statistics released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Glen Innes SA2 record a median income of $39,405 and an average income of $45,435. These figures are lower than the national benchmarks, and compare to a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 across Regional NSW. Adjusting these figures for a 10.32% increase in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year yields estimated current figures of approximately $43,472 for the median and $50,124 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places household, family, and personal incomes in Glen Innes within the lowest 1st to 5th percentiles nationally. Income distribution data shows that the $400 - 799 weekly income bracket is the largest, containing 32.3% of the population (2,931 people), which contrasts with the wider region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the most common at 29.9%. With 43.7% of residents earning under $800 weekly, a large segment of the community faces financial constraints. Although living costs are relatively low, with households keeping 87.0% of their income, total disposable income in the area ranks in the 4th national percentile.

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

The housing stock in Glen Innes at the time of the latest Census consisted of 92.6% standalone houses and 7.4% other dwelling types, such as apartments, semi-detached properties, and alternative housing. This compares to Regional NSW where standalone houses made up 82.6% and other dwellings accounted for 17.4%. The rate of outright home ownership in Glen Innes was high at 48.5%, with mortgaged properties making up 25.7% and rented properties accounting for 25.8%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,083 was lower than the Regional NSW average, while the median weekly rent was $220, compared to Regional NSW averages of $1,733 and $330. Globally, mortgage costs in Glen Innes are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also lower than the national figure of $375.

Glen Innes features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 61.8%, consisting of couples with children at 18.2%, couples without children at 31.8%, and single parents at 10.8%. The remaining 38.2% are non-family households, which are dominated by single-person households at 35.6% and group households at 2.7%. The median household size of 2.1 persons is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

Educational outcomes in the area present challenges, as the university qualification rate of 15.2% is below the NSW average of 32.2%. This situation highlights a need for targeted educational programs. Among residents with higher qualifications, bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.3%, followed by graduate diplomas at 2.0% and postgraduate degrees at 1.9%. Vocational and technical training is common, with 41.4% of residents aged 15 and over holding qualification credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 9.7% and certificates at 31.7%.

A high level of educational enrollment is observed in the area, with 28.9% of the population participating in formal study. This student population includes 11.5% in primary schools, 8.8% in secondary schools, and 2.3% in tertiary programs.

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

Public transport services in Glen Innes include 464 active stops, consisting of a network of train and bus services. These stops are served by 37 distinct routes that deliver 1,483 passenger trips weekly. Accessibility is rated as good, with residents living an average of 271 meters from the nearest stop. Because it is a mostly residential area, most workers commute outside the locality, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 89% and walking accounting for 8%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.4 cars per dwelling. Census data from 2021 shows that 16.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

Service frequency averages 211 runs per day across all active routes, which equates to about 3 weekly trips for each transport stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest stops to the center of the area.

Health performance in Glen Innes is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

An assessment of mortality rates and chronic disease indicators by AreaSearch reveals significant health challenges in Glen Innes, with high rates of medical conditions present across both younger and older cohorts. Furthermore, the rate of private health insurance coverage is low, with only about 46% of the population (~4,210 people) holding cover. This compares to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and mental health challenges are the most common medical diagnoses in the region, affecting 12.1% and 9.7% of residents, respectively. A total of 58.6% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age cohort faces notable health challenges, showing high rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and older make up 31.1% of the population (2,819 people), which is higher than the Regional NSW average of 23.4%, with local health rankings showing higher rates of illness than national averages.

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

Glen Innes has lower levels of cultural diversity compared to average figures, with citizens making up 86.7% of the population, 91.6% born in Australia, and 97.4% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 64.4% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

Regarding parental country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Glen Innes are English at 32.9%, Australian at 31.9%, and Scottish at 9.3%. There are also differences in the concentration of other ethnic backgrounds, with Australian Aboriginal residents making up 5.2% of the population (compared to 4.6% regionally), Irish ancestry at 9.1% (compared to 8.8%), and German ancestry at 3.9% (compared to 3.1%).

Glen Innes ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Glen Innes is 50, which is higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38. The 65 - 74 age group represents 15.8% of the local population, whereas the 35 - 44 cohort accounts for only 8.3%. This concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 is higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has increased from 9.6% to 11.4%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 group decreased from 12.0% to 10.6%, and the 55 to 64 group fell from 15.9% to 14.6%. Population models suggest that the demographic structure of Glen Innes will change by 2041, with the 85+ cohort projected to grow by 249 people (71%), from 349 to 599. Combined, the cohorts aged 65 and over are expected to make up 82% of all population growth. Conversely, population declines are forecast for the 5 to 14 and 45 to 54 age brackets.