Narrabri

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

By May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Narrabri is around 7,361. This figure reflects an increase of 34 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,327. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 38 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 5.7 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Narrabri has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of -0.6%, outperforming the SA3 area. Natural growth contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to population projections, lower quartile growth of Australian non-metropolitan areas is anticipated, with the area expected to increase by 25 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 0.3% in total 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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Narrabri has experienced around 10 dwellings receiving development approval each year over the past five financial years to June 2021. This totals an estimated 50 homes. So far in FY-26 (July 2021 - June 2022), 5 approvals have been recorded. As Narrabri has experienced population decline, new supply likely keeps up with demand, offering good choice to buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $702,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, $112,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Rest of NSW, Narrabri records 71.0% more construction activity per person as of June 2021, offering buyers greater choice, though development activity has moderated in recent periods. This is similarly under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. New development consists of 70.0% standalone homes and 30.0% townhouses or apartments, featuring an increasing blend of attached housing types offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to more accessible compact options. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 87.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options.

The estimated count of 984 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Narrabri will gain 25 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Narrabri has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Stoney Creek Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project, Narrabri Place Strategy, Newell Highway upgrade from Narrabri to Moree involving heavy-duty pavement upgrades, and Narrabri Solar Farm with accompanying BESS system. The following list 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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The labour market in Narrabri shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Narrabri has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, diverse sector representation, and an unemployment rate of 2.4% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 4306 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Narrabri is high at 73.5%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%.

According to Census responses, only 9.6% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment in Narrabri is concentrated in health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade. The area has a notable concentration in mining, with employment levels at 3.4 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 12.9% compared to Regional NSW's 16.9%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.8% while employment declined by 1.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points in Narrabri. This mirrors Regional NSW's trends where employment fell by 1.2%, labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Narrabri's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Narrabri's median income among taxpayers is $52,900. The average income in the suburb is $62,791. This is lower than national averages. Regional NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Narrabri would be approximately $58,359 (median) and $69,271 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals household incomes in Narrabri rank between the 40th and 54th percentiles. Family incomes also fall within this range, as do personal incomes. The dominant earnings bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, with 31.6% of residents earning within this range (2,326 people). This aligns with the regional trend where this cohort represents 29.9%. Housing costs are manageable, with 87.7% retained as disposable income. However, disposable income levels sit below average at the 46th percentile.

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

In Narrabri, as per the latest Census, 87.2% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 12.8% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Narrabri stood at 34.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.7% and rented ones at 33.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,448, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Narrabri was $260, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Narrabri's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,448 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 make up 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 matches the Regional NSW average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.5%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (8.3%) and certificates (30.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 13.0% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 2.4% in tertiary education.

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

Narrabri has 159 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 33 routes providing 362 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 237 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature, with car being the dominant mode at 91%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 9.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

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

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

Narrabri faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 52% of Narrabri's total population (~3,811 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low. The most common medical conditions are asthma (9.7%) and arthritis (9.4%). 63.7% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. Narrabri has 21.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,560 people), 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, as per data from the 2016 Australian Census, had a population with 89.9% being citizens, 94.7% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 65.2%, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (37.8%), English (28.3%), and Australian Aboriginal (10.3%).

These percentages are higher than the regional averages of 30.0% for Australian, 24.6% for English, and 4.6% for Australian Aboriginal. Notably, Samoan, Korean, and Sri Lankan groups were each represented at 0.1%, similar to their respective regional representations.

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

The median age in Narrabri is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Narrabri has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (13.8%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (11.0%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 75 to 84 increased from 6.2% to 7.6%, while the 35 to 44 age group grew from 11.3% to 12.4%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group decreased from 14.3% to 12.1%, and the 55 to 64 age group dropped from 13.7% to 12.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Narrabri's age structure. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 30%, reaching 725 people from the current figure of 559. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 57% of total population growth, reflecting Narrabri's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 65 to 74 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers by 2041.