Narrogin

Narrogin is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Narrogin's population is approximately 4,609 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 239 people, a 5.5% rise from the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 4,370. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,603 in June 2024 and three validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 9.0 persons per square kilometer. Narrogin's growth rate of 5.5% since the census is within 0.9 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 6.4%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains in recent periods.

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 and to estimate post-2032 growth, AreaSearch employs age cohort growth rates provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population trends project an above-median growth for non-metropolitan areas. Narrogin is expected to grow by 697 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 15.0% over the 17-year period.

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

Narrogin has granted approximately 6 residential property approvals per year on average. Between Financial Year 2021 (FY-21) and FY-25, 31 homes were approved, with an additional 2 approved in FY-26 so far. Over these past five financial years, an average of 0.3 people moved to the area per dwelling built.

This indicates that new supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes was $278,000. In FY-26, Narrogin recorded $4.8 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting its primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of WA, Narrogin has significantly less development activity, at 51.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties, although there has been a pickup in recent periods.

Nationally, development activity is also below average, suggesting possible planning constraints. New development in Narrogin consists of 80.0% detached dwellings and 20.0% medium to high-density housing. This preserves the area's low-density nature and attracts space-seeking buyers. As of now, there are an estimated 613 people per dwelling approval in the area. Future projections estimate that Narrogin will add 691 residents by 2041 (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Narrogin has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects that may impact this region. Key projects include the Narrogin Health Service Redevelopment, Narrogin Biodiesel Plant, Narrogin Solar Farm & BESS, and Narrogin BESS Project. The following list details those 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 positions Narrogin ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Narrogin has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.3%.

As of September 2025, there are 2,416 residents employed, which is 0.9% below the Rest of WA's unemployment rate of 3.3%. Workforce participation in Narrogin is somewhat lower at 56.0%, compared to Rest of WA's 59.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance employs 1.5 times more residents than the regional level.

Mining employs only 1.8% of local workers, below Rest of WA's 11.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and May 2025, Narrogin's labour force decreased by 4.3%, while employment declined by 2.9%, causing unemployment to fall by 1.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of WA saw employment rise by 1.4% and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Narrogin's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates that median income in Narrogin SA2 is $49,719. The average income stands at $60,584. This contrasts with Rest of WA's median income of $57,323 and average income of $71,163. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Narrogin SA2 would be approximately $56,779 (median) and $69,187 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Narrogin rank modestly, between the 19th and 33rd percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 27.8% of locals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per year. Housing costs are modest, with 87.7% of income retained after expenses. However, total disposable income ranks at just the 24th percentile nationally.

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

Narrogin's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.3% houses and 8.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro WA's 95.1% houses and 4.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Narrogin stood at 37.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.0% and rented ones at 32.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,170, higher than Non-Metro WA's average of $1,105. Median weekly rent in Narrogin was $240, compared to Non-Metro WA's $200. Nationally, Narrogin's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,170 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $240 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 61.0% of all households, including 21.4% couples with children, 27.1% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 39.0%, with lone person households at 36.1% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.1%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.5%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 9.9% and certificates at 29.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in secondary education, 11.0% in primary 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

Narrogin has two active public transport stops operating within the town. These stops are served by a mix of bus routes, with three individual routes in total providing eleven weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents typically located 1019 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages one trip per day across all routes, equating to approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Narrogin faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 50%, covering about 2,304 people, which is lower than the Rest of WA's 52.7% and the national average of 55.3%. Arthritis and mental health issues are the most common conditions, affecting 9.4% and 9.1% respectively.

However, 65.1% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to Rest of WA's 65.6%. Narrogin has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.9%, compared to Rest of WA's 21.7%.

In terms of cultural diversity, Narrogin records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Narrogin's cultural diversity aligns with its wider region, with 82.8% of residents being citizens, 80.9% born in Australia, and 89.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Narrogin, comprising 53.5%, compared to 49.0% across Rest of WA. The top three ancestry groups are English (31.9%), Australian (29.8%), and Scottish (6.8%).

Notably, South African (1.4%) and Dutch (1.8%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Narrogin compared to regional averages of 0.6% and 1.3%, respectively. New Zealanders also slightly exceed regional representation at 1.0%.

Narrogin's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Narrogin was 42 years as of the 2021 Census, which is slightly higher than Rest of WA's average of 40 years and considerably older than Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of WA, Narrogin had a higher percentage of residents aged 15-24 (14.9%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (11.2%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the median age in Narrogin decreased by 1.1 years from 43 to 42 years, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. The key changes showed that the percentage of residents aged 25-34 increased from 11.5% to 13.9%, and the percentage of residents aged 15-24 increased from 12.8% to 14.9%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 55-64 decreased from 13.4% to 12.1%, and the percentage of residents aged 45-54 decreased from 12.2% to 11.1%. Demographic modeling suggests that Narrogin's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The number of residents aged 25-34 is projected to increase markedly, growing by 378 people (59%) from 642 to 1,021. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 15-24 age cohort and the 85+ age cohort.