Narara
Statistical Area - sa2

Narara has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Narara's population was approximately 7,355 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 198 people, a 2.8% rise from the 2021 Census count of 7,157 residents. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 7,344 in June 2024 and five new addresses validated since the Census date. Narara's population density was around 955 persons per square kilometer at this time. This rate is roughly consistent with averages observed across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Notably, Narara's growth of 2.8% since the 2021 census surpassed the SA3 area average of 2.3%, positioning it as a regional growth leader.

Overseas migration accounted for approximately 51.1% of overall population gains in recent periods. 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, AreaSearch employs NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 using a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Narara is expected to experience population growth just below the median of statistical areas analyzed by AreaSearch. By 2041, the area's population is projected to increase by 837 persons, marking an 11.2% total rise over the 17-year period.

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

Narara has seen approximately 14 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 72 homes. In the current financial year FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded to date. On average, 3.9 new residents per year are associated with each home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a significant demand outpacing supply. The average construction cost of new homes is $260,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

This financial year has seen $3.5 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to Greater Sydney, Narara has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 24th percentile nationally, offering somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established dwellings. Recent construction comprises 82.0% detached dwellings and 18.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Narara's traditional suburban character focused on family homes. With around 688 people per approval, Narara shows a mature, established area.

By 2041, Narara is projected to grow by 826 residents. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Narara has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 14 projects likely impacting this area. Notable ones include Narara Valley Estate, Narara Ecovillage, Narara Community Centre and Library Redevelopment, and The Outlook Narara. Below are details of those most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Narara shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Narara has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.0% as of June 2025, which is 1.2% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.1%. There are 3,900 residents in work and workforce participation is high at 65.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Residents are concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction, with a particularly strong specialization in health care & social assistance (1.5 times the regional level). However, professional & technical employment is lower at 6.4% compared to Greater Sydney's 11.5%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 2.1% while the labour force grew by 2.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney where employment rose by 2.6%, labour force grew by 2.9%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that Narara's local employment growth could be approximately 6.8% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Narara's median income among taxpayers was $52,821 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $68,261 during the same period. This compares to figures for Greater Sydney of $56,994 and $80,856 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $59,482 (median) and $76,869 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Narara cluster around the 57th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment comprises 36.2% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (2,662 residents). This is consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 30.9% in the same category. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income. Despite this, strong earnings place disposable income at the 63rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Narara is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Narara's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.7% houses and 11.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 74.2% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Narara stood at 32.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 47.4% and rented ones at 20.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,993, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,150. Median weekly rent in Narara was $420, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Narara's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,993 against the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $420 compared to the national figure of $375.

Narara features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 78.2% of all households, including 38.0% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 13.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 21.8%, with lone person households at 19.1% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Narara aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area has lower university qualification rates at 25.0% compared to the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 17.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 27.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 4.0% pursuing tertiary education. Narara's 4 schools have a combined enrollment of 1,478 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1014) with balanced educational opportunities. It includes 1 secondary and 3 K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds residential needs at 20.1 places per 100 residents versus the regional average of 15.9, indicating Narara serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Narara has 59 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 63 different routes, collectively facilitating 1,341 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good with residents typically located 224 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 191 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 22 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Narara faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 54%, covering around 3949 people. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.4% and 9.3% of residents respectively. About 66.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 64.8% across Greater Sydney. The area has 16.8%, or around 1234 people aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 24.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

In terms of cultural diversity, Narara records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Narara's cultural diversity aligns with the broader region, having 80.1% born in Australia, 91.6% citizens, and 88.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, at 52.6%, slightly lower than Greater Sydney's 53.4%. Top three ancestries are English (29.5%), Australian (28.8%), and Irish (8.1%).

Russian (0.5%) and Spanish (0.6%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.4% each, while Maltese is slightly underrepresented at 0.6% versus 0.7%.

Narara's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Narara is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. In comparison with Greater Sydney, the 5-14 age group is notably over-represented in Narara at 14.2%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.1%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 4.1% to 5.5% of the population, and the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 11.3% to 12.6%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 12.9% to 11.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Narara. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 70%, adding 284 people and reaching a total of 689, up from 404. Meanwhile, both the 0 to 4 and 55 to 64 age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.