Narrabri

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

By Nov 2025, Narrabri's population is estimated around 7,362. This reflects a growth of 35 people since the 2021 Census, which reported 7,327 inhabitants. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 7,385 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 5.7 persons per square kilometer. Narrabri's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area at 0.5% compared to 0.3%. Natural growth contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas until 2041. By 2041, the suburb is projected to increase by 55 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 1.0% 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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Narrabri shows around 10 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past five financial years to FY26. This totals an estimated 52 homes. No approvals have been recorded so far in FY26. The area's population decline suggests new supply has kept up with demand, providing good choice for buyers.

Average construction value of new properties is $703,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment. Commercial approvals registered this financial year totalled $6.6 million, suggesting limited commercial development focus. Compared to Rest of NSW, Narrabri records 79% more construction activity per person, offering buyers greater choice. However, this is below average nationally, reflecting maturity and possible planning constraints. New development consists of 73% detached houses and 27% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 869 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections show Narrabri adding 76 residents by 2041 based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Narrabri has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified six projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Stoney Creek Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project, Narrabri Place Strategy initiative, Newell Highway upgrade from Narrabri to Moree involving heavy duty pavement upgrades, and the Narrabri Solar Farm along with its associated BESS system. The following details these projects in order of relevance.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Narrabri performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Narrabri has a balanced workforce with representation across white and blue collar jobs. The unemployment rate was 1.7% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.3%.

As of June 2025, 4,405 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.9%, lower than Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation is high at 61.7% compared to the regional average of 56.4%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade. Mining stands out with employment levels at 3.4 times the regional average.

However, healthcare & social assistance has lower representation at 12.9% versus the regional average of 16.9%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.3%, labour force grew by 3.6%, and unemployment fell by 0.6 percentage points in Narrabri, contrasting with Rest of NSW's employment contraction of 0.1% and unemployment rise of 0.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Narrabri's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Narrabri's median taxpayer income was $52,900 and average income was $62,791 in financial year 2022. This is slightly below the national average. The Rest of NSW had a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998 during the same period. By September 2025, estimates suggest Narrabri's median income will be approximately $59,571 and average income around $70,709, based on a 12.61% growth in wages since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census ranked household, family, and personal incomes in Narrabri between the 40th and 54th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 31.6% of residents (2,326 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, consistent with regional trends where 29.9% are in the same category. Housing costs accounted for 87.7% of income, but disposable income was below average at the 46th percentile.

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

In Narrabri, houses accounted for 87.2% of dwellings, with other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings making up the remaining 12.8%. This is similar to Non-Metro NSW's dwelling structure, which was 87.8% houses and 12.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Narrabri stood at 34.4%, with mortgaged properties at 32.7% and rented dwellings at 33.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,448, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,300. The median weekly rent in Narrabri was $260, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $220. Nationally, Narrabri's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,448 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $260 compared to the national figure of $375.

Narrabri has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 68.1% of all households, including 26.4% couples with children, 29.4% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.9%, with lone person households at 29.0% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate of 15.5% falls significantly below the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.3%) and certificates (30.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.0% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education. Narrabri's four schools have a combined enrollment of 1,256 students as of the latest data. The area has varied educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 898. Education provision is balanced, with three primary schools and one secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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

Narrabri has 142 active public transport stops. These include both train and bus services. There are 35 different routes operating in total, offering 372 weekly passenger trips combined.

The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 239 meters. On average, there are 53 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop.

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

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

The rate of private health cover is approximately 52%, covering about 3812 people, which is slightly lower than the average SA2 area. Asthma and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in Narrabri, affecting 9.7% and 9.4% of residents respectively. About 63.7% of residents reported no medical ailments, compared to 66.7% across Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 20.9% or about 1538 people, compared to the state average of 18.8%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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 had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 89.9% of its population being Australian citizens, 94.7% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Narrabri, accounting for 65.2% of the population, compared to 68.1% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (37.8%), English (28.3%), and Australian Aboriginal (10.3%).

Notably, Samoan, Korean, and Sri Lankan ethnicities had similar representations in Narrabri as in the broader region.

Narrabri's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Narrabri is 39 years, which is significantly lower than the Rest of NSW average of 43 but aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Narrabri has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (13.6%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (10.8%). According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group increased from 6.2% to 7.5%, while the 5-14 cohort declined from 14.3% to 12.7% and the 55-64 group decreased from 13.7% to 12.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Narrabri's age structure. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 33%, reaching 737 people from 552. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 54% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, both the 65-74 and 15-24 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.