Narrabri

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Narrabri's population is around 7,077 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 179 people (2.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,898 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,965 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 40 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 39 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Narrabri's 2.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (1.3%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, which contributed approximately 64.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Regarding demographic trends, lower quartile growth of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is anticipated, with the area expected to expand by 39 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a decline of 1.0% in total over the 17 years.

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

Narrabri has recorded around 10 residential properties granted approval each year, totalling 50 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded. With population declining over recent years, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a well-balanced market with good buyer choice, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $358,000. Additionally, $15.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity.

Relative to the Rest of NSW, Narrabri records 83.0% more development activity (per person), offering buyers greater choice, though construction activity has eased recently. This level is similarly under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. New building activity shows 75.0% standalone homes and 25.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 1045 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, Narrabri may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Narrabri has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 4 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Narrabri Place Strategy, Newell Highway Upgrade - Heavy Duty Pavement Upgrades (Narrabri to Moree), Stoney Creek Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), and Narrabri Solar Farm and BESS, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

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

Narrabri possesses a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with diverse sector representation, and an unemployment rate of just 2.6%. As of December 2025, 4,002 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.4% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (72.6% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a low 8.6% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and mining. The area shows particularly strong specialization in mining, with an employment share of 3.6 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 13.0% versus the regional average of 16.9%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.8% alongside a 1.2% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NSW, where employment contracted by 1.2%, the labour force fell by 0.8%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Narrabri. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Narrabri's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Narrabri SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $55,981 with the average level standing at $67,264. This is in line with the national averages and compares to levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $60,941 (median) and $73,224 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Narrabri, between the 38th and 52nd percentiles. The data shows the largest segment comprises 31.5% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (2,229 residents), reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 29.9% similarly occupy this range. Housing costs are manageable with 87.5% retained, though disposable income sits 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

Dwelling structure within Narrabri, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 86.7% houses and 13.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Narrabri lagged that of Regional NSW, at 34.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (32.3%) or rented (33.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional NSW average at $1,443, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $260, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Narrabri's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 67.3% of all households, comprising 25.6% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.7%, with lone person households at 29.8% and group households comprising 2.8% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people matches the Regional NSW average.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (15.2%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 39.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (8.0%) and certificates (31.0%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.0% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 2.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 142 active transport stops operating within Narrabri, comprising a mix of train and buses. These stops are serviced by 33 individual routes, collectively providing 362 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 237 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 91%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. A relatively low 8.6% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 51 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Narrabri, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover just leads the average SA2 area at approximately 53% of the total population (~3,722 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and arthritis, impacting 9.8 and 9.5% of residents, respectively, while 63.3% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show an above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 21.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,525 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general 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

Narrabri was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 90.1% of its population being citizens, 94.5% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Narrabri is Christianity, which makes up 64.7% of people in Narrabri, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Narrabri are Australian, comprising 37.8% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 30.0%, English, comprising 28.4% of the population, and Australian Aboriginal, comprising 10.6% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 4.6%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Samoan is notably overrepresented at 0.1% of Narrabri (vs 0.1% regionally).

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

The 39-year median age in Narrabri is significantly below Regional NSW's average of 43 while essentially aligned with Australia's 38 years. Relative to Regional NSW, Narrabri has a higher concentration of 25 - 34 residents (14.2%) but fewer 65 - 74 year-olds (10.9%). Following the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.4% to 8.0% of the population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 14.5% to 12.2% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 13.4% to 11.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Narrabri's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 28% (156 people), reaching 720 from 563. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 65% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 65 to 74 and 5 to 14 age groups will see reduced numbers.