Inverell
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Inverell reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Inverell's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, stands at approximately 12,339 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 282 individuals, a rise of 2.3%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 12,057 people. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,280 from the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 92 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 59 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Inverell has shown resilience with a compound annual growth rate of 0.4%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 74.3% to overall population gains recently, although all factors including natural growth and interstate migration were positive contributors.

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 released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilised. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends indicate an increase just below Australia's regional median, with the area expected to grow by 648 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, reflecting a total increase of 4.8% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Inverell according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Inverell has granted approximately 40 residential property approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 200 homes were approved, with an additional seven approved so far in FY26. On average, about 0.9 new residents have arrived per new home each year over these five years.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choices and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost of new homes was $509,000. Inverell has registered $27.3 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the rest of NSW, Inverell has slightly more development, at 17.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand.

However, development activity has moderated in recent periods. New development consists of 58.0% standalone homes and 42.0% attached dwellings, expanding the range of medium-density options. This creates a mix of opportunities across price brackets, from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. This shift represents decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Inverell is 670 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, Inverell is expected to grow by 588 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Inverell has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include New Residential Areas Structure Plans, Sapphire City Lifestyle Village, Bunnings Warehouse Inverell, and Lake Inverell Recreational Precinct Enhancement. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Inverell demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Inverell has a balanced workforce with equal representation of white and blue collar jobs. Key sectors include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade.

Manufacturing is particularly prominent, employing 2.4 times the regional average. Construction employs 7.6% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 9.7%. As of June 2025, 6,255 residents are employed with an unemployment rate of 1.1%, lower than Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation is 52.7%, slightly below the regional average of 56.4%.

Employment growth over the past year was 4.2%, compared to a contraction of 0.1% in Rest of NSW. The labour force grew by 3.3% and unemployment fell by 0.8 percentage points, contrasting with Rest of NSW where unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Inverell's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.7% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

Inverell's median income among taxpayers was $45,263 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $52,563 during the same period. These figures are lower than those for Rest of NSW, which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By September 2025, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%, median income is estimated to be approximately $50,971 and average income around $59,191. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Inverell fall between the 12th and 22nd percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The most common income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, with 28.3% of residents (3,491 people) falling into this category. After housing costs, 85.2% of income remains, ranking at the 15th percentile nationally.

Inverell is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Inverell's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.8% houses and 12.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 93.0% houses and 6.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Inverell was at 37.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.5% and rented ones at 33.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,250, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,100. The median weekly rent figure in Inverell was $270, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $240. Nationally, Inverell's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 66.5% of all households, including 22.4% couples with children, 29.0% couples without children, and 13.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.5%, with lone person households at 30.7% and group households making up 2.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.5%, substantially lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (32.4%). Educational participation is high at 29.8%, including primary education (12.2%), secondary education (8.9%), and tertiary education (1.9%).

Inverell's five schools have a combined enrollment of 2,520 students. The educational mix includes two primary, two secondary, and one K-12 school. The area functions as an education hub with 20.4 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 13.2, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Inverell has 35 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 12 different routes that together offer 112 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents typically living 336 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 16 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 3 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Inverell faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 47% (around 5,762 people), lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (10.4%) and asthma (9.0%). About 63.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 61.0% in Rest of NSW. Inverell has 22.6% (around 2,791 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the 27.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

Inverell is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Inverell's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.1% of its population being Australian citizens, 91.9% born in Australia, and 94.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Inverell, accounting for 63.9% of people, compared to 64.8% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (33.8%), English (31.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.9%).

Notably, Filipino representation is higher at 0.9% in Inverell than the regional average of 0.4%, German representation stands at 3.1% compared to 3.9% regionally, and Samoan representation is similar at 0.1%.

Inverell's median age exceeds the national pattern

Inverell's median age is 41 years, which is lower than the Rest of NSW average of 43 but exceeds the national average of 38. The 15-24 age group comprises 12.6%, higher than the Rest of NSW figure, while the 55-64 cohort makes up 11.4%. According to data from the Census conducted in August 2021, the 15-24 age group has increased from 11.7% to 12.6%, and the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 13.7% to 12.7%. By 2041, Inverell's age profile is expected to change significantly. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 17%, adding 251 residents to reach a total of 1,761. Conversely, population declines are anticipated for the 5-14 and 15-24 cohorts.