Urban Centre · Area profile
Narrabri
18 km²
Daily life in Narrabri centres on a community where most people live in detached houses and work full-time. It is a place with a strong Indigenous presence, as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen sharply to 17.7% since 2011. While the total population of 5,499 has dipped slightly, the town has seen a recent surge in arrivals from overseas. This mix of long-term residents and new arrivals creates a distinctive regional hub in New South Wales.
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The typical resident is 39, and the area has a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than most other regions. While the number of children has fallen since 2011, the proportion of seniors has risen slightly to 19.6%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower percentage of overseas-born residents than the national figure. Australian, English, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language here, and the proportion of people using another language at home is far below the state and national figures. Very few people speak little or no English.
Christianity is the most common religion, with 57.1% of the population identifying as such. Those with no religion make up 32.3% of the community, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Qualifications in Narrabri are lower than the national average, with only 11.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The most common high-level qualification is a Certificate III or IV.
Typical personal and household incomes are higher than in most similar areas, though they remain below the New South Wales average. There has been a notable increase in the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week since 2011.
A higher proportion of people here need help with daily activities compared to most areas. Long-term health conditions are also more common than the state average, with asthma and arthritis being the most reported.
Volunteer rates are lower than most similar areas, and there has been a decline since 2011 in the number of people providing unpaid care or doing housework. Only 2.1% of residents have served in the Defence Force.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas. There has also been a significant increase in people living alone, which now accounts for 33.6% of households.
Detached houses are very common, though renting is much more frequent here than in most similar areas. Typical weekly rent is $260, which is well below the national figure.
Most people drive to work, and very few residents work from home compared to the rest of the state. However, a higher number of homes have no motor vehicle than is typical for similar areas.
Recent arrivals from overseas make up 26.2% of the population, a figure far above the national average. Meanwhile, the proportion of people who moved in the last five years has fallen significantly since 2011.
Full-time employment is very high here, well above the national average. The most common industries for local workers are health care, retail, and mining.
The area is somewhat walkable, with many homes within a short walk of public transport. However, access to parks, schools, and groceries is lower than the state average.