Inverell Surrounds - East

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

Inverell Surrounds - East's population was around 5,273 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure reflects an increase of 73 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,200. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,233 in June 2024 and an additional 45 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 0.60 persons per square kilometer. Inverell Surrounds - East's growth rate of 1.4% since the census is within 1.5 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.9%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 62.5% of overall population gains during recent periods in this area.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the median of regional areas across the nation. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, Inverell Surrounds - East is expected to expand by 602 persons to reach a total of 5,875 by 2041, reflecting a gain of 10.7% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Inverell Surrounds - East is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Inverell Surrounds - East has seen approximately eight new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25. A total of 42 homes have been approved during this period, with two more approved in FY26 so far. Despite a falling population, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average value of new dwellings is $315,000, which is under regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. Commercial approvals this financial year have totalled $1.8 million, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Inverell Surrounds - East shows approximately 57% of the construction activity per person. Nationally, it places among the 32nd percentile of areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes.

However, construction activity has intensified recently. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity in Inverell Surrounds - East shows 86% detached houses and 14% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 500 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections show Inverell Surrounds - East adding approximately 562 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Inverell Surrounds - East has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 38thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects that could impact this region. Notable initiatives include Lake Inverell Recreational Precinct Enhancement, Inverell Hospital Redevelopment, New Residential Areas Structure Plans, and Inverell Sports Complex Upgrade. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Inverell Surrounds - East ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Inverell Surrounds - East, as of June 2025, has an unemployment rate of 2.9% with estimated employment growth of 4.5% over the past year. This is below Rest of NSW's unemployment rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation in Inverell Surrounds - East lags at 49.0%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing (6.3 times the regional level), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Accommodation & food employs just 3.1% locally, below Rest of NSW's 7.8%. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 4.5%, while labour force grew by 3.8%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.7 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.1% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03%, with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. National forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections suggest Inverell Surrounds - East's employment should increase by 5.0% over five years and 11.4% over ten years.

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

The Inverell Surrounds - East SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $39,684 and an average income of $45,631 in financial year 2022, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are lower than those for Rest of NSW, which were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $44,688 and the average income would be around $51,385 by September 2025. The 2021 Census figures indicate that household, family, and personal incomes in Inverell Surrounds - East fall between the 3rd and 5th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that the largest segment comprises 28.5% earning $800-$1,499 weekly (1,502 residents), unlike metropolitan regions where $1,500-$2,999 dominates with 29.9%. While housing costs are modest, with 90.3% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 11th percentile nationally.

Inverell Surrounds - East is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Inverell Surrounds - East had 98.1% houses and 1.9% other dwellings at the latest Census, compared to Non-Metro NSW's 93.0% houses and 6.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Inverell Surrounds - East was 53.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.4% and rented ones at 17.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,000, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,100, and the median weekly rent was $200 compared to Non-Metro NSW's $240. Nationally, Inverell Surrounds - East's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Inverell Surrounds - East has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 70.4% of all households, including 24.6% couples with children, 34.4% couples without children, and 9.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.6%, with lone person households at 26.7% and group households making up 3.0%. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.6%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 30.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.3% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 108 active public transport stops in Inverell Surrounds - East. These are served by 19 routes, offering 227 weekly passenger trips. Residents' access to transport is limited, with an average distance of 7831 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 32 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 2 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Inverell Surrounds - East, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% (~2,457 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.3%) and asthma (8.0%). 61.6% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to Rest of NSW at 61.0%. The area has 24.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,299 people), lower than the 27.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly inline with the general population's health profile.

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

Inverell Surrounds - East had cultural diversity below average, with 87.1% citizens, 92.2% born in Australia, and 98.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 66.0%, compared to 64.8% across Rest of NSW. Top ancestry groups were Australian (33.2%), English (30.6%), and Irish (8.2%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 8.0% (vs regional 6.4%), German at 4.5% (vs 3.9%), and Scottish at 7.9% (vs 8.4%).

Inverell Surrounds - East hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Inverell Surrounds - East's median age at 47 years is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 years make up a prominent 15.2%, while the 15-24 year-olds are comparatively smaller at 9.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 5-14 age group has increased from 12.5% to 13.6% of the population. Conversely, the 45-54 age cohort has decreased from 14.2% to 12.2%, and the 15-24 year-olds have dropped from 10.4% to 9.0%. By 2041, Inverell Surrounds - East is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 35%, reaching 578 people from the current 427. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 50% of the projected growth. Conversely, numbers in the 15-24 age range are expected to fall by 8%.