Narara

An assessment of population growth drivers in Narara reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

By Feb 2026, the estimated population of Narara was around 8,688. This figure reflects a growth of 217 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,471. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 8,633 residents as per their analysis of ERP data released by ABS in June 2024 and the validation of 20 new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of approximately 1,054 persons per square kilometer. Narara's population growth rate of 2.6% since the Census compares favourably with its SA3 area's growth of 3.2%. Overseas migration contributed largely to this growth, accounting for nearly 57% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch projections for Narara are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia figures from 2024 using 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. These projections indicate an expected increase of 761 persons to 2041, reflecting an 8.1% total increase 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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Narara had around 14 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25, totalling an estimated 72 homes. As of FY26, seven approvals have been recorded. This results in approximately 3.4 new residents arriving per dwelling constructed yearly. The average construction value is $428,000.

In FY26, $3.5 million in commercial approvals were registered. Compared to Greater Sydney, Narara has significantly less development activity, at 55.0% below the regional average per person. Recent construction comprises 86.0% detached houses and 14.0% townhouses or apartments. The population is forecast to grow by 706 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth.

Population forecasts indicate Narara will gain 706 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Narara has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects that may impact the region. Notable initiatives include Narara Valley Estate, Narara Ecovillage, Narara Community Centre and Library Redevelopment, and Wyoming Shopping Village Upgrade. The following list details those expected 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.

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 3.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.5%. As of December 2025, 4652 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.1% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, 31.3% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Narara showed strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services had lower representation at 6.3% compared to the regional average of 11.5%. The predominantly residential area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 3.5% while labour force increased by 3.6%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. This contrasted with Greater Sydney where employment rose by 2.2%, the labour force grew by 2.3%, and unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered further insight into potential future demand within Narara. These projections estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Narara's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Narara's median income is $52,431 and the average is $67,757. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Narara are approximately $57,076 (median) and $73,760 (average) as of September 2025. Census data indicates that incomes in Narara cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 36.1% of residents fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket (3,136 people), consistent with broader regional trends of 30.9%. Housing costs consume 15.8% of income in Narara, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 59th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Narara's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.4% houses and 12.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Narara was at 31.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 47.6% and rented ones at 20.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Narara was $420, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Narara's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 77.9% of all households, including 37.1% couples with children, 26.3% couples without children, and 14.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.1%, with lone person households at 19.4% and group households making up 2.5%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 24.7%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent (17.6%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are held by 39.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 27.9%. Educational participation is high, with 29.3% currently enrolled in formal education: 10.6% in primary, 8.0% in secondary, and 4.0% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 4.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Narara has 67 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 73 routes, facilitating 1,688 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated good with residents located an average of 212 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 90%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 31.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 241 trips per day, equating to approximately 25 weekly trips per 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 based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is also higher than average at approximately 54% of the total population (~4,668 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. Mental health issues and asthma were found to be the most common medical conditions, impacting 9.6 and 9.4% of residents respectively. However, 66.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Narara has 17.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,476 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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 its broader region, with 80.0% born in Australia, 90.9% being citizens, and 88.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 52.0%. Judaism, however, is overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (29.7%), Australian (28.7%), and Irish (7.9%), all higher than regional averages of 19.0%, 17.8%, respectively. Notably, Russian (0.4%), Korean (0.5%), and Spanish (0.5%) ethnicities show significant representation in Narara compared to regional figures of 0.4%, 1.1%, and 0.6% respectively.

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

The median age in Narara is 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Narara has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (14.0%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.2%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 75-84 grew from 4.1% to 5.9%, while those aged 15-24 increased from 11.3% to 12.7%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 55-64 decreased from 12.6% to 11.3%, and the 25-34 group dropped from 12.4% to 11.2%. By 2041, Narara's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 25%, reaching 1,439 from 1,155. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 51% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 35-44 age cohorts.