Bingara
With a median age of 61, Bingara's population is 21 years older than the national figure, making it one of the most age-advanced communities in regional NSW. The town of 1,318 people sits on household income in the 6.3rd percentile nationally, reflecting its status as a low-income agricultural and services hub in the New England region. Yet 61.6% of residents own their homes outright, higher than most Australian suburbs, because long tenure rather than wages drives ownership here. The median house price of $322,500 is well below state and national medians, and 95.2% of dwellings are separate houses.
Population
1,318
Median Age
61.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$853/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
31
Median House
$322K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $322,500, the median house price is far below both the NSW state median and the national median, which makes entry costs low for first buyers or downsizers. Prices rose from $310,000 in 2024 to $333,500 in 2025, a 7.6% annual gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,062, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8% stays below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 95.2%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 48.2% of dwellings, and 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 21.2%. The 61.6% outright-ownership rate is exceptionally high compared to national averages, suggesting most existing owners bought in earlier decades and paid down debt over time.
For Buyers
At $322,500, the median house price is far below both the NSW state median and the national median, which makes entry costs low for first buyers or downsizers. Prices rose from $310,000 in 2024 to $333,500 in 2025, a 7.6% annual gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,062, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8% stays below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 95.2%, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 48.2% of dwellings, and 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 21.2%. The 61.6% outright-ownership rate is exceptionally high compared to national averages, suggesting most existing owners bought in earlier decades and paid down debt over time.
For Investors
A 20.8% rental share and weekly rent of $200 give a gross yield around 3.2% on the $322,500 median, which is modest but higher than many coastal markets. The more cautious signal is the 16.0% vacancy rate, which is elevated and points to thin rental demand relative to stock. Development activity totalled 29 applications in the past 12 months, including subdivision and dwelling approvals, indicating some local activity. The low household income at the 6.3rd percentile nationally limits rent growth potential, and the high median age of 61 means the population is unlikely to grow through younger family formation. Investment here suits long-term holders comfortable with low liquidity rather than those seeking rapid capital gains.
Development Activity
Total DAs
147
Last 12 Months
31
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-16.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bingara iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bingara Central School
K-12 · 175 students
Demographics
The median age of 61 sits 21 years above the national figure, making Bingara's age profile one of the oldest in regional NSW. Only 6.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 15.2 percentage points below the national average, and the community is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English ancestry leads at 611 residents, followed by Irish at 152 and Scottish at 137. University qualifications reach 17.0% of adults, which is 13.1 percentage points below the national rate. Average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national, consistent with the dominant household type of couples without children, who make up 48.3% of families. The volunteering rate of 24.2% is notably high, reflecting the age profile and community orientation of the town.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.2%
Houses
2.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split strongly favours outright ownership: 61.6% own without a mortgage, compared to 17.6% who are mortgaged and 20.8% who rent. This ownership structure is consistent with an older population that has paid off long-held homes. Separate houses represent 95.2% of stock, with semi-detached at 2.4% and no meaningful apartment supply. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.2%, with 4-plus bedroom properties at 21.2% and two-bedroom at 24.3%. Prices moved from $310,000 in 2024 to $333,500 in 2025, a 7.6% gain over one year. Rent-to-income at 23.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters here face less housing pressure than in higher-cost markets despite low incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,062
Rent / wk
$200
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$479
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.0%
Unoccupied
113
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.3%
Couples, no children
898
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 27.9% of local employment (67 workers), reflecting the town's role as a service centre for an aging regional population. Public administration follows at 15.0% (36 workers) and Education at 14.2% (34 workers), while Agriculture accounts for 10.4% (25 workers) given the surrounding grazing country. Construction employs 8.3% (20 workers). The unemployment rate of 6.9% is above most metropolitan benchmarks, and the participation rate of only 34.9% is low because the high median age of 61 means 655 residents are not in the labour force. Full-time employment accounts for 52.5% of those working, with 199 full-time and 180 part-time workers. Household income sits in the 6.3rd percentile nationally, so the local economy supports basic services rather than discretionary spending.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.5%
Part-time
40.6%
Participation
34.9%
Employed
379
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.0%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
6.4%
Dwellings
585
Transport to Work
The car is the dominant mode of transport at 80.4% of commuters, which is typical for a rural town with no public transport infrastructure. Walking and cycling account for 11.8% of trips, relatively high for a regional setting because the town centre is compact and walkable. The need-for-assistance rate of 12.0% (149 residents) is notable, consistent with the high median age and the concentration of healthcare services locally. Rent-to-income at 23.4% keeps housing affordable for renters relative to national benchmarks. No schools are recorded inside the Bingara boundary in the available data, so families rely on schools in surrounding areas. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8% is below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers here face lower financial pressure than in most NSW markets.
Drive
80.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
11.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bingara compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bingara a good suburb to live in?
Bingara suits retirees and long-term residents well: 61.6% own their homes outright, housing costs are well below national levels, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8% stays below the 30% stress threshold. The median age of 61 is 21 years above the national figure, so the community skews heavily toward older residents rather than young families.
What is the median house price in Bingara?
The median house price is $322,500 as of 2025, having risen from $310,000 in 2024, a 7.6% annual gain. Weekly rent averages $200 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,062. Both figures are substantially below NSW state and national medians.
What schools are in Bingara?
No schools are recorded inside the Bingara boundary in the available data, so families rely on schools in surrounding communities. The local university qualification rate of 17.0% is 13.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the rural and retirement-focused character of the town.
Is Bingara safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bingara in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the 16.0% vacancy rate and the 12.0% need-for-assistance rate are worth noting. The small population of 1,318 and high outright-ownership rate of 61.6% are both consistent with a stable, settled community.
Is Bingara good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $200 against a $322,500 median implies a gross yield of around 3.2%, modest but competitive with higher-cost markets. The risk factors are a 16.0% vacancy rate and household incomes in the 6.3rd percentile nationally, which limit rent growth. Prices rose 7.6% in one year, but sustained capital growth depends on demand drivers that are currently thin.
How is Bingara's population changing?
The population of 1,318 is concentrated in older age groups, with a median age of 61, which is 21 years above the national median. The 79.9% residential stay rate shows limited turnover. A 16.0% vacancy rate suggests the town is not absorbing new residents at a pace that fills existing stock.
How much development is happening in Bingara?
There were 29 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including subdivision and dwelling house approvals. This level of activity is moderate for a town of 1,318 people and reflects ongoing land use interest in the area, though it is unlikely to shift the housing supply balance significantly.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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