Moree
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Moree's population was approximately 8,012 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 167 people from the 2021 Census count of 7,845. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 7,993 in June 2024 and additional validated addresses since the Census date. The population density was around 115 persons per square kilometer. Moree's growth rate of 2.1% since the 2021 census surpassed the SA3 area's 0.3%, indicating it as a regional growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 74.2% of recent overall population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 using a 2021 base are applied. Growth rates by age group are used for years 2032 to 2041. Future trends forecast significant population increase in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally. By 2041, Moree's population is expected to grow by 2,508 persons, reflecting a total increase of 31.1% over the 17 years.

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

Moree has averaged approximately four new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 23 homes approved during this period. In FY26, up until now, there have been four dwellings approved. The average construction cost value for these new dwellings is $397,000, which is higher than the regional norm, indicating quality-focused development.

This year alone, $10.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, showing steady commercial investment activity. Comparatively, Moree records about three-quarters of the building activity per person when measured against the Rest of NSW. Nationally, it ranks among the 11th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years.

The area's new construction is entirely comprised of detached houses, maintaining its traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Moree is 1504 people, reflecting its quiet and low-activity development environment. Looking ahead, the area is projected to grow by approximately 2,489 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Moree has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 35thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely to affect the region. Key initiatives include Moree Hospital Redevelopment, Moree Special Activation Precinct (SAP), Moree Water Treatment Plant Upgrades, and Burnt and Derelict Housing Remediation Program. 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 performance in Moree exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Moree has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 3.4% as of June 2025. This is 0.3% below the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

The estimated employment growth over the past year was 4.8%. There are 4,605 residents in work currently. Workforce participation is somewhat lower than standard at 53.8%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and education & training.

Moree has a particular specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share of 2.1 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 11.9% compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. Many residents may commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 4.8% while labour force grew by 3.5%, leading to a fall in unemployment by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a rise in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Moree's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows Moree had a median income among taxpayers of $54,510. The average level stood at $65,981. This was just above the national average and compared to levels of $49,459 and $62,998 across Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $61,384 (median) and $74,301 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows personal income ranks at the 55th percentile with a weekly income of $828. Household income sits at the 35th percentile. Income brackets indicate that the largest segment comprises 32.6% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 2,611 residents falling into this category. This is consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing costs are manageable with 88.1% retained, but disposable income sits below average at the 40th percentile.

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

In Moree, as per the latest Census evaluation, 82.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 17.2% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 87.8% houses and 12.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Moree stood at 31.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.5% and rented ones at 40.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,336, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,300. The median weekly rent in Moree was $230, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $220. Nationally, Moree's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,336 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $230 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.8% of all households, including 23.5% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 13.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.2%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households at 3.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 19.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (29.5%). Educational participation is high at 36.2%, comprising 15.6% in primary, 9.0% in secondary, and 3.0% in tertiary education.

Moree has a robust network of 7 schools educating approximately 1,494 students, with varied educational conditions across the area. The educational mix includes 2 primary, 2 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (18.6 places per 100 residents vs 14.6 regionally), indicating Moree serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

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

The analysis of public transport in Moree shows that there are 61 active transport stops currently operating. These include a mix of train and bus services. The stops are served by 14 individual routes which together provide 213 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located approximately 506 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency across all routes is around 30 trips per day, equating to roughly 3 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Moree faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52%, covering about 4,198 people in total, which is higher than the average SA2 area. Asthma and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 9.3% and 7.7% of residents respectively. However, 67.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.7% across Rest of NSW. The area has 18.4% of residents aged 65 and over, totalling 1,476 people.

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

Moree's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 78.8% of its population being Australian citizens, 92.0% born in Australia, and 94.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Moree, accounting for 70.1% of the population, compared to 68.1% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups in Moree were Australian (31.6%), English (25.7%), and Australian Aboriginal (17.8%).

Notably, Lebanese people were overrepresented in Moree at 0.4%, compared to 0.2% regionally, Serbian at 0.3% versus 0.1%, and Samoan at 0.1% versus 0%.

Moree's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Moree has a median age of 38, which is lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 but equivalent to the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group comprises 15.2% of Moree's population, higher than Rest of NSW, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 10.0%, lower than Rest of NSW. According to the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 13.9% to 15.2%, and the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 13.7% to 12.4%. Demographic modeling indicates Moree's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 group is projected to grow by 47% (575 people), reaching 1,797 from 1,221. The 55 to 64 group is expected to grow by 7%, adding only 65 residents.