Narrabri

Narrabri has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch indicates that Narrabri has a population of approximately 6,942 as of May 2026. This represents an increase of 44 individuals (0.6%) compared to the 2021 Census, which recorded 6,898 residents. This change is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 6,942 alongside 47 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The population density stands at 38 persons per square kilometer, which indicates substantial space per resident. Although the growth rate of 0.6% since the 2021 census was slightly above the SA3 regional average of 0.5%, it is still considered minimal. The primary driver of this population growth was natural increase, which accounted for roughly 55.0% of the total population gains in recent times.

For projected data, AreaSearch utilizes the ABS and Geoscience Australia forecasts published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline for each SA2 region. In cases where this data is unavailable, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 using a 2021 baseline are applied. Age bracket growth trends derived from these datasets are projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on the most recent annual ERP data, the region is projected to experience growth aligned with the lowest quartile of regional Australia, with an increase of 23 residents expected by 2041. This represents a total growth of 0.3% over the 16 years.

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

Residential development in Narrabri averages approximately 10 new home approvals annually, resulting in 50 residential approvals over the preceding 5 financial years. In the current financial year of FY-26, 7 approvals have been logged. In the context of a declining population, this rate of construction is relatively sufficient, offering a favorable landscape for home buyers, with the average construction cost of these new residences at $358,000. Additionally, commercial building approvals have reached $15.1 million during this financial year, reflecting ongoing commercial development.

Per capita, Narrabri boasts a new home approval rate that is 82.0% higher than the Rest of NSW average, expanding options for prospective purchasers despite a recent deceleration in overall building activity. Conversely, this rate falls short of the national average, suggesting a mature market or potential building constraints. The composition of recent construction is 75.0% separate houses and 25.0% medium to high-density dwellings, which preserves the historically low-density profile of the region and prioritizes spacious family residences. A ratio of 1042 residents per single residential approval underscores the subdued and quiet pace of local development.

According to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, Narrabri is projected to add 23 new residents by 2041. The current pace of residential construction is anticipated to easily satisfy this future demand, maintaining favorable purchasing conditions and potentially accommodating population growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Narrabri has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and major developments have a significant impact on regional progress. AreaSearch has identified 4 key projects likely to affect the local area. The most relevant developments include the Narrabri Place Strategy, the Newell Highway Upgrade - Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrades (Narrabri to Moree), the Stoney Creek Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), and the Narrabri Solar Farm and BESS, with the details of these primary projects outlined below.

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

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.5%, Narrabri has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

The local workforce in Narrabri is evenly distributed between professional and manual roles across a variety of sectors, and the unemployment rate stands at a low 3.5%. As of March 2026, there are 3,951 employed residents, yielding an unemployment rate that is 0.6% lower than the 4.1% rate for Regional NSW. The workforce participation rate is exceptionally high at 72.6%, compared to the Regional NSW average of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a modest 8.6% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are healthcare & social assistance, retail trade, and mining. The area displays a strong specialization in the mining sector, which employs a share of the workforce that is 3.6 times the Regional NSW average. By contrast, the healthcare & social assistance sector is less prominent, accounting for 13.0% of local employment compared to 16.9% regionally. A comparison between the census-recorded working population and the total local population suggests that a significant number of residents travel outside the area for employment, despite the presence of local jobs.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch indicates that in the year ending March 2026, the local workforce shrank by 2.1% and total employment dropped by 3.8%, which led to a 1.7 percentage point rise in unemployment. Over the same period, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% reduction in the workforce, and a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. Employment projections for the five- and ten-year horizons from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, help estimate future employment trajectories when applied to the local industry mix. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with substantial variance among different sectors. Applying these national sector trends to the Narrabri workforce configuration suggests local employment growth of 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local population forecasts.

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

Taxpayer income levels in the Narrabri SA2 are comparable to national averages based on financial year 2023 ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch. The median taxpayer income is $55,981, and the average taxpayer income is $67,264, compared to Regional NSW statistics of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, these figures are estimated to be approximately $61,758 for the median and $74,206 for the average as of March 2026. Census statistics show that household, family, and individual incomes are modest, falling between the 38th and 52nd percentiles. The $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket contains 31.5% of the population (2,186 people), which aligns closely with the metropolitan average of 29.9% in this bracket. Housing expenses are manageable, with residents keeping 87.5% of their income, though disposable income is below average at the 43rd percentile.

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

Census data shows that the housing stock in Narrabri consists of 86.7% separate houses and 13.2% other housing types, such as townhouses and apartments, compared to 82.6% separate houses and 17.4% other options in Regional NSW. Home ownership stands at 34.0%, which is lower than the Regional NSW average, with the remaining dwellings occupied by individuals with mortgages (32.3%) or tenants (33.7%). The median mortgage repayment of $1,443 per month is considerably below the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median rent of $260 per week is below the regional figure of $330. When compared to national averages, Narrabri mortgage payments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent is below the national average of $375.

Narrabri has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 67.3%, consisting of couples with children (25.6%), couples without children (28.8%), and single-parent households (11.8%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 32.7%, with single-person households at 29.8% and group homes making up 2.8%. The median household size of 2.4 persons is identical to the Regional NSW average.

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

The region shows lower rates of tertiary education, with 15.2% of the population holding a university qualification compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. This gap presents an opportunity for focused educational programs. Among those with university degrees, bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.7% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Technical and trade qualifications are common, with 39.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, which include advanced diplomas (8.0%) and certificates (31.0%).

Participation in education is high, with 29.8% of the local population enrolled in a course of study. This cohort is composed of 13.0% in primary schools, 7.7% in secondary schools, and 2.3% in tertiary institutions.

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

Analysis of the local transport network shows 142 active public transport stops in Narrabri, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops support 33 unique routes, which together provide 362 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transport is favorable, with residents living an average of 237 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, and most workers commute out of the district, with private vehicles serving as the primary mode of travel for 91% of commuters. Households own an average of 1.5 vehicles. Census data from 2021 indicates that a relatively low 8.6% of residents work from home, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

The average service frequency across all routes is 51 trips per day, which translates to approximately 2 weekly trips per public transport stop. The provided map displays the 100 closest stops relative to the geographical center of the area.

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

An assessment of mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses by AreaSearch highlights significant health concerns for Narrabri. Notable levels of common medical conditions are observed across both youth and elderly populations, while the rate of private health insurance coverage is slightly above the average SA2 region at approximately 53% of the population, which equals about 3,651 individuals.

Asthma and arthritis represent the most prevalent medical issues, affecting 9.8% and 9.5% of the population respectively. Meanwhile, 63.3% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, matching the 63.3% rate across Regional NSW. Working-age residents experience higher than average rates of chronic health issues. Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 21.4% of the population (1,483 individuals), which is below the Regional NSW average of 23.4%. Health profiles for this older cohort show some difficulties, with national rankings generally matching those of the overall population.

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

Cultural diversity in Narrabri is below average, with citizens making up 90.1% of the population, 94.5% of residents born in Australia, and 96.5% of households speaking only English. The primary religious affiliation is Christianity, representing 64.7% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

Looking at ancestral origins, the three most common backgrounds in Narrabri are Australian at 37.8% of the population (well above the regional average of 30.0%), English at 28.4%, and Australian Aboriginal at 10.6% (significantly higher than the regional average of 4.6%). Other demographic variations include the overrepresentation of Samoan ancestry, which accounts for 0.1% of the population in Narrabri, compared to 0.1% across the region.

Narrabri's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Narrabri is 39, which is younger than the Regional NSW average of 43 and similar to the national average of 38. Compared to Regional NSW, the area contains a higher proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 (14.2%) and a smaller share of seniors aged 65 - 74 (11.0%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 6.4% to 7.7%, while the 5 to 14 age group has shrunk from 14.5% to 12.1% and the 55 to 64 group has declined from 13.4% to 11.9%. Projections for 2041 indicate that the cohort aged 75 to 84 will increase by 30% (159 people) to reach 696 from 536. Combined cohorts aged 65 and over will constitute 59% of total population growth, pointing to an aging demographic, whereas the populations of the 65 to 74 and 5 to 14 age brackets are expected to decline.