Narrandera

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

Narrandera's population is around 6,311 as of November 2025. This reflects a growth of 406 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,905. The increase is inferred from an estimated resident population of 5,901 in June 2024 and an additional 316 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 1.2 persons per square kilometer. Narrandera's growth rate of 6.9% since the 2021 census exceeds that of its SA4 region (4.0%) and SA3 area, indicating it is a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during this period.

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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the population is projected to decline by 227 persons overall, but specific age cohorts like the 25 to 34 age group are expected to grow by 96 people.

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

Narrandera averaged approximately 13 new dwelling approvals per year. From financial years 2021 to 2025, 66 homes were approved, with an additional 12 approved in the current financial year of 2026. The average expected construction cost value for these properties was $346,000.

This year has also seen $9.6 million in commercial development approvals. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely been meeting demand, providing good options for buyers. Compared to the rest of NSW, Narrandera shows approximately 57% of the construction activity per person, placing it among the 32nd percentile nationally. This indicates more limited choices for buyers and supports demand for existing properties.

The area's building activity is dominated by detached houses at 82.0%, with townhouses or apartments making up 18.0%. This preserves Narrandera's low-density nature, attracting space-seeking buyers. With an estimated 522 people per dwelling approval, the development environment is quiet and low-activity. Population projections indicating stability or decline suggest reduced housing demand pressures in the future, benefiting potential buyers.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 38 potential impact projects, including key ones like Narrandera Water Treatment Plant Upgrade, Cedar Grove Estate, Yanco Battery Energy Storage System, and Yanco Solar Farm. The following list details those likely to be 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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Narrandera faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Narrandera has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs. Its unemployment rate is 6.3%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.8% in the past year. As of September 2025, there are 2,571 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 2.5% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation is lower at 57.6%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Only 12.4% of residents work from home, though COVID-19 lockdown impacts may have affected this figure. Key industries are agriculture, forestry & fishing (employing 3.5 times the regional average), health care & social assistance (12.1%), and manufacturing. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparisons between working population and resident population.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.8% while labour force rose by 5.0%, leading to a 2.0 percentage point unemployment rise. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.4 percentage point unemployment increase. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Narrandera's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 5.2% over five years and 11.6% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The Narrandera SA2's income level is lower than average on a national basis according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Narrandera SA2 is $48,917 and the average income stands at $56,687. These figures compare to Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Narrandera SA2 would be approximately $53,251 (median) and $61,709 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Narrandera fall between the 12th and 18th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Distribution data shows that 27.0% of the population (1,703 individuals) fall within the $800 - 1,499 income range, unlike trends in the region where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Housing costs are modest with 89.8% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 18th percentile nationally.

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

In Narrandera, as per the latest Census, 94.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 5.0% being semi-detached, apartments, or 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Narrandera stood at 44.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.5% and rented ones at 25.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,000, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Narrandera was $200, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Narrandera's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.8% of all households, including 23.4% couples with children, 28.7% couples without children, and 12.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.2%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households comprising 2.3%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4 people.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.4%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 8.5% and certificates at 28.9%. Educational participation is high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 13.0% in primary, 9.0% in secondary, and 2.1% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.0% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Narrandera has 270 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 37 routes, providing 415 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 193 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with outward commuting being common. Car remains the primary mode of transport, used by 90% of residents, while walking accounts for 8%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 12.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 59 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly one weekly trip per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, illustrating the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

Health performance in Narrandera is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Narrandera faces significant health challenges as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and prevalence of chronic conditions are high across various age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% (around 2,997 people), compared to 51.9% in the rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 10.7% of residents) and asthma (10.0%). However, 61.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in the rest of NSW. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.3% (1,533 people), compared to 23.0% in the rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but generally align with national rankings for the general population.

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

Narrandera's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.7% of its population being citizens, 93.8% born in Australia, and 96.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Narrandera, comprising 65.0% of people, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (32.5%), English (29.4%), and Irish (9.7%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 8.7% in Narrandera than the regional average of 4.6%. German ancestry is also slightly overrepresented at 3.9%, compared to 3.1% regionally, as is Scottish ancestry at 7.6% versus 8.0%.

Narrandera hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Narrandera's median age is 44 years, similar to Rest of NSW's 43 and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Narrandera has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (13.2%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (10.1%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 15-24 grew from 10.1% to 11.7%, while those aged 75-84 increased from 7.5% to 8.7%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 45-54 decreased from 11.9% to 10.6%, and the 5-14 age group dropped from 14.4% to 13.2%. By 2041, Narrandera's population is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 33 people, reaching 268 from 201. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 68% of the anticipated growth. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are anticipated to decrease in number.