Inverell Surrounds - West

Inverell Surrounds - West 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 - West's population was approximately 5,815 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 81 people, a 1.4% rise from the 2021 Census count of 5,734 individuals. The estimated resident population in June 2024 was 5,749, with an additional 105 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this growth. The population density ratio is 0.70 persons per square kilometer. Since the census, Inverell Surrounds - West's 1.4% population growth places it within 1.5 percentage points of the SA3 area (2.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Interstate migration drove recent population gains, accounting for approximately 82.4%.

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 from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are applied. Growth rates by age group are used for all areas from 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, Inverell Surrounds - West is projected to increase by 663 persons to reach approximately 6,478 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 10.1% over the 17-year period.

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

Inverell Surrounds - West has seen approximately nine new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totaling 48 approvals between FY21 and FY25. An additional eight approvals have been recorded in FY26. Despite a declining population, the new supply of dwellings appears to be meeting demand, providing good options for buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $272,000, which is lower than regional levels, indicating more affordable housing choices. This financial year has seen $3.4 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Comparatively, Inverell Surrounds - West has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person when compared to the Rest of NSW. Nationally, it ranks among the 12th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting more limited housing choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This lower-than-average national ranking may indicate maturity in the area or possible planning constraints.

New building activity in the area shows 78.0% standalone homes and 22.0% medium to high-density housing, maintaining its traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. This shift marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns, which are currently 97.0% houses, potentially indicating diminishing developable land availability or evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The estimated population per dwelling approval in the area is 1436 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Inverell Surrounds - West will gain approximately 587 residents by 2041, based on 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 in the future.

Inverell Surrounds - West has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified five projects likely influencing the region. Notable initiatives include Bunnings Warehouse Inverell, Main Road Gilgai South Rehabilitation, Inverell Hospital Redevelopment, and Inland Rail - Narrabri to North Star - Phase One, with further details provided below.

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

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The labour market in Inverell Surrounds - West shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Inverell Surrounds - West has a balanced workforce with equal representation of white and blue collar jobs across various sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.0% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.5% over the past year.

This is lower than Rest of NSW's unemployment rate of 3.8%. The workforce participation rate in Inverell Surrounds - West is 50.9%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading industries for residents include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has a particularly high concentration with employment levels at 6.3 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance has limited presence with 12.4% employment compared to the regional average of 16.9%. The area may have limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.5%, labour force increased by 0.7%, and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points in Inverell Surrounds - West. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a decrease in employment by 0.5%, contraction of labour force by 0.1%, and an increase in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. State-level data from 25-Nov shows that NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Inverell Surrounds - West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.1% 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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that in Inverell Surrounds - West SA2, median income is $38,769 and average income is $45,056. This is lower than national averages. In comparison, Rest of NSW has a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from financial year 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $43,658 and average income would be around $50,738. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Inverell Surrounds - West fall between the 4th and 5th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that the largest segment is 29.1% earning $800-$1,499 weekly (1,692 residents), differing from regional norms where the $1,500-$2,999 category predominates at 29.9%. Housing costs are modest with 90.0% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 9th percentile nationally.

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

Inverell Surrounds - West had 97.1% houses and 2.9% other dwellings as of the latest Census, compared to Non-Metro NSW's 93.0% houses and 6.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Inverell Surrounds - West stood at 55.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.2% and rented ones at 18.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,100. The median weekly rent was $210, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $240. Nationally, Inverell Surrounds - West'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 - West has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 68.9% of all households, including 23.2% couples with children, 34.4% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 31.1%, with lone person households at 28.9% and group households making up 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.8%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 10.9% of residents holding one, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.7% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15 and above, with 37.9% having them; advanced diplomas account for 8.6%, while certificates make up 29.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.4% in primary education, 8.6% in secondary education, and 1.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Inverell Surrounds - West has 351 active public transport stops. These are a mix of train and bus services. There are 26 individual routes operating in the area.

Together, these routes provide 260 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 354 meters from their nearest stop. On average, there are 37 trips per day across all routes. This equates to approximately 0 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Inverell Surrounds - West faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 49% (~2,855 people) have private health cover, lower than Rest of NSW's 46.9%, but below the national average of 55.3%. The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (11.8%) and asthma (8.3%).

However, 61.9% report no medical ailments, similar to Rest of NSW's 61.0%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29.4% (1,710 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 27.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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

Inverell Surrounds-West had a lower cultural diversity, with 89.6% of its population being citizens, born in Australia at 95.5%, and speaking English only at home at 98.9%. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 72.0%, compared to 64.8% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (36.7%), English (32.9%), and Scottish (8.6%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 4.7% (regional average 6.4%), Irish was at 8.5% (vs regional 8.7%), and German at 3.1% (vs regional 3.9%).

Inverell Surrounds - West ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Inverell Surrounds - West has a median age of 50, which is higher than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and well above the national average of 38. The age group of 65-74 years shows strong representation at 15.5%, compared to Rest of NSW's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 7.8%. This concentration in the 65-74 age group is notably higher than the national average of 9.4%. According to the Census conducted on 2021 August 10th, the 0-4 age group has grown from 4.3% to 5.3%, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.9% to 11.3% and the 5-14 group has dropped from 12.9% to 11.6%. Demographic modeling indicates that Inverell Surrounds - West's age profile will significantly evolve by 2041 June 30th. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to experience strong growth, with an increase of 154 people (26%) from 604 to 759. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 71% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 15-24 cohorts.