Moree Surrounds

Moree Surrounds 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 research by AreaSearch, the resident count of Moree Surrounds stands at approximately 5,272 as of May 2026. This represents a reduction of 84 individuals (1.6%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 5,356 residents. This shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 5,271 from June 2025 combined with 32 validated new addresses registered after the Census date. With this population level, the area has a density ratio of 0.30 persons per square kilometer, ensuring plenty of space for inhabitants. Although Moree Surrounds saw a 1.6% contraction since the census, the broader SA3 region registered a 0.5% expansion, showing contrasting demographic trends. The primary driver of population growth locally was natural increase, which accounted for roughly 88.8% of all population increases in recent times.

AreaSearch incorporates projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 districts, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied. Age bracket growth trends derived from these sources are also projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic shifts, population expansion is projected to track slightly below the median for non-metropolitan Australia, with the locality anticipated to add 501 residents by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP data, representing a 9.5% overall expansion over the 16 years.

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

Residential construction in Moree Surrounds is very quiet, averaging 2 dwelling approvals per year (amounting to 13 dwellings over the five-year period). These modest construction volumes are typical of rural localities where building is generally prompted by immediate local housing requirements rather than broader market activity. It should be noted that because the total volume of approvals is so low, single building projects can have a major effect on year-on-year growth trends and comparative metrics.

Moree Surrounds exhibits substantially lower building approval volumes relative to the Rest of NSW, a trend that also sits below nationwide averages. Newly approved residential construction consists of 50.0% standalone houses and 50.0% townhouses or apartments. This balanced split toward denser options provides more accessible pricing and draws interest from downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This represents a notable shift from the established housing stock (which is currently 93.0% houses), driven by a scarcity of buildable allotments and evolving preferences for affordability and lifestyle. The ratio of 3290 residents in the locality for every single approved dwelling underscores the quiet, low-scale nature of local construction activity.

Demographic projections indicate that Moree Surrounds is set to add 500 inhabitants through to 2041 (assessed from the latest quarterly estimates by AreaSearch). If current building patterns do not accelerate, residential supply may struggle to match this population growth, potentially heightening competition among purchasers and supporting upward price trends.

Moree Surrounds has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major works, and strategic planning decisions are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 15 projects expected to influence this locality. Primary developments of significance include the Moree Special Activation Precinct, the Moree Secondary College Campus Consolidation, the Moree Hospital Redevelopment, and Phase Two of the Inland Rail - Narrabri to North Star project, with details on the most relevant works provided below.

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The labour market in Moree Surrounds demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

The labor market in Moree Surrounds is characterized by a skilled and industrially diverse workforce, with an unemployment rate of only 2.8%. As of March 2026, there are 3,179 employed residents, representing an unemployment rate 1.3% lower than the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%. Furthermore, the participation rate is exceptionally high at 78.4%, compared to the Regional NSW average of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a moderate 19.2% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and health care & social assistance. The region exhibits a notable concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, which has a workforce representation 9.5 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance is relatively underrepresented, accounting for only 6.8% of the local workforce compared to 16.9% across Regional NSW. A comparison of the Census working population against the resident labor force suggests that local job opportunities within the immediate area are relatively constrained.

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, the latest 12-month period saw a contraction of 2.1% in the labor force and a 3.2% drop in total employment, leading to a 1.1 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe in Regional NSW, employment decreased by 0.9%, the labor force fell by 0.4%, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points. Employment projections published by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 provide a broader outlook on prospective workforce needs for Moree Surrounds. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future opportunities. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these rates vary widely by industry. Applying these sectoral trends to the local employment mix suggests that Moree Surrounds could see employment growth of 4.4% over five years and 10.2% over ten years (noting that this is a simple weighted extrapolation based on industry shares and does not account for specific local population dynamics).

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

According to the latest postcode-level ATO data released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Moree Surrounds SA2 recorded a median income of $53,307 and an average income of $70,642. This exceeds the national benchmarks, and compares to a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 across Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates as of March 2026 would be approximately $58,808 for the median and $77,932 for the average. Census statistics indicate that household, family, and individual incomes in Moree Surrounds are moderate, positioning the area between the 43rd and 52nd percentiles. Looking at the income distribution, 32.2% of the population (representing 1,697 people) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to metropolitan trends where 29.9% of the population fall into this group. Once housing costs are met, households retain 93.5% of their earnings, indicating healthy disposable income, while the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 5th decile for income.

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

The mix of housing types in Moree Surrounds at the time of the last Census consisted of 93.0% separate houses and 7.0% other dwelling types (including semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative structures), compared to 82.6% separate houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership rates were higher than the regional average at 42.9%, with the remaining properties being held under a mortgage (25.9%) or rented (31.2%). Homeowners with a mortgage faced a median monthly payment of $867, which is substantially lower than the Regional NSW average, while tenants paid a median weekly rent of $175, compared to regional figures of $1,733 and $330 respectively. On a national level, mortgage costs in Moree Surrounds are well below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are similarly far below the national median of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 71.7%, consisting of couples with children at 31.1%, couples without children at 28.4%, and single-parent homes at 10.8%. The remaining 28.3% are non-family households, which are predominantly single-person households at 26.0% and group shared arrangements at 2.1%. The area has a median household occupancy of 2.6 people, which is slightly larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Moree Surrounds fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The region presents opportunities for educational advancement, as university completion rates stand at 19.6%, which is lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Among those with higher education, bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.7%, followed by graduate diplomas at 2.5% and postgraduate qualifications at 1.4%. Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 41.9% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas at 12.5% and certificate-level qualifications at 29.4%.

Enrolment rates are particularly high throughout the community, with 42.6% of residents currently undertaking formal study. This student population includes 18.8% attending primary school, 11.1% in secondary education, and 4.7% enrolled in tertiary institutions.

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

An analysis of local transit options shows 342 active public transport stops within Moree Surrounds, providing a combination of rail and bus connections. These stops accommodate 46 distinct routes, which run a combined 469 passenger services each week. Local transit access is favorable, with residents living an average of 205 meters from their nearest stop. Given the residential character of the area, most workers commute out of the district, with private vehicles remaining the primary choice at 88% and walking accounting for 9%. The average number of motor vehicles per household is 1.8, which is higher than the regional average. In addition, 19.2% of residents worked from home at the time of the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic measures.

Transit services average 67 daily runs across all routes, which translates to approximately 1 weekly service per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest transit stops relative to the center of the locality.

Moree Surrounds's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health outcomes for the population of Moree Surrounds are generally positive, with an analysis of mortality and morbidity data showing results that align with national averages. The incidence of common medical issues is low among both younger and older residents, and the rate of private health insurance coverage is high, encompassing approximately 54% of the population (~2,852 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW.

The most prevalent health issues recorded among local residents are asthma and arthritis, which affect 8.5% and 6.8% of the population respectively. In contrast, 72.9% of the population reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health trends within the working-age demographic are typical for the state. Residents aged 65 and over constitute 16.5% of the population (870 people), which is lower than the Regional NSW proportion of 23.4%. Seniors in the area display strong health profiles, with national health rankings that exceed those of the broader local population.

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

Moree Surrounds has a relatively low level of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 72.9% of the community, 94.6% of residents born in Australia, and 96.9% speaking only English at home. The predominant religious affiliation is Christianity, chosen by 68.2% of the local population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds based on parents' birthplace, the three largest groups in Moree Surrounds are Australian at 29.9%, English at 29.4%, and Australian Aboriginal at 12.3%, which sits significantly higher than the regional average of 4.6%. Other European backgrounds also show distinct local concentrations, with Irish ancestry represented at 9.9% of the population (compared to 8.8% regionally), Scottish at 8.5% (compared to 8.0%), and German at 3.9% (compared to 3.1%).

Moree Surrounds's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age of residents in Moree Surrounds is 39 years, which is notably lower than the Regional NSW average of 43 and closely matches the national figure of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Moree Surrounds has a larger proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (15.1%) but fewer older residents aged 75 - 84 (5.1%). Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 demographic has expanded from 12.5% to 15.1% of the total population. Meanwhile, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 14.1% to 11.5% and the 35 to 44 group fell from 11.6% to 10.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate notable shifts in the local age structure, led by the 25 to 34 group which is expected to grow by 28% (226 people) to reach 1,022 from 795, while the 45 to 54 and 15 to 24 age brackets are projected to contract.