Boggabilla
A 19.3% vacancy rate in a town of 1,022 people tells the story of Boggabilla before anything else does. The economy runs almost entirely on agriculture, which accounts for 40% of local employment, followed by healthcare at 17%. Weekly household income averages $1,105, placing Boggabilla in the 17.8th percentile nationally, meaning roughly 82% of Australian households earn more. These numbers together describe a small, remote, affordability-driven community where the cost of entry is low but the growth fundamentals differ significantly from metropolitan and coastal markets.
Local council: Moree Plains
Population
1,022
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,105/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Monthly mortgage repayments average $867, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.1%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 94.3%, and 45% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, which is higher than typical metropolitan areas. Buyers should weigh the affordability advantage against that price correction and the high vacancy rate of 19.3%, which reflects genuine demand constraints rather than temporary factors.
For Buyers
Monthly mortgage repayments average $867, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.1%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 94.3%, and 45% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, which is higher than typical metropolitan areas. Buyers should weigh the affordability advantage against that price correction and the high vacancy rate of 19.3%, which reflects genuine demand constraints rather than temporary factors.
For Investors
A 52.3% renter share means more than half of Boggabilla households are tenants, which is well above the national average. Weekly rent averages $155, low in absolute terms. However, the 19.3% vacancy rate is a serious counterweight, indicating that finding and retaining tenants is harder than in tighter markets. Development activity was modest at 6 applications in 12 months, including a dual occupancy and a new dwelling, suggesting limited speculative new supply. Investors should treat the yield positively while accounting for the substantial vacancy risk and the 30.5% price correction recorded between 2024 and 2025.
Development Activity
Total DAs
24
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+25.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Boggabilla
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Boggabilla has a median age of 36, which is 4 years below the national figure, giving the community a younger profile than the Australian average. Overseas-born residents make up just 3.9%, compared to the national average of around 21.6%, a gap of roughly 17.7 percentage points. University qualifications are held by 9.5% of residents, which is 20.6 points below the national figure, reflecting both the rural location and the agriculture-dominated economy. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (190) and Irish (55). Average household size is 2.9, slightly above the national average. Couples with children (189 families) outnumber couples without children (103 families), consistent with the younger age profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.3%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Boggabilla diverges sharply from national norms: 52.3% rent, compared to the national renter share of around 31%, while only 33.5% own outright and 14.2% carry a mortgage. That low mortgage penetration reflects both the affordable price point and the limited lending activity in remote markets. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.3%, with apartments at just 4.4%. The bedroom profile skews large, with 45% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms. Rent-to-income at 14% is comfortable, meaning the typical renting household is not in rental stress despite the low income base.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$155
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$486
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
19.3%
Unoccupied
57
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.0%
Couples with children
27.7%
Couples, no children
37.2%
Single parent
188
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture dominates Boggabilla's employment base at 40% of workers, far above state and national norms, which reflects the surrounding farming region near the Queensland border. Healthcare follows at 17% and education at 13%, the two sectors that provide the most stable public-sector employment in remote communities. By occupation, Managers (55 workers) form the largest group, followed by Labourers (39) and Community/Personal service workers (35). The unemployment rate is 14.8%, well above the national average, and the participation rate of 31.4% is low, with 272 residents not in the labour force. Weekly household income of $1,105 places the suburb in the 17.8th percentile nationally, underscoring the income gap relative to urban centres.
Unemployment
13.8%
Labour Force
268
Unemployed
37
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.2%
Part-time
29.0%
Participation
33.6%
Employed
231
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.5%
Postgraduate
1.2%
Born Overseas
3.9%
Dwellings
229
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 78.5% of workers driving to work, which is typical for remote NSW towns where public transport is limited at 3.1%. Walking and cycling account for 10.4%, relatively high for a rural area, reflecting the compact town layout within a large statistical boundary. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset. The need-for-assistance rate is 5.3%, covering 38 residents, which is above the national average and consistent with a lower-income community. Volunteering reaches 17.9%, which is above average nationally and suggests strong community participation. Rent-to-income at 14% means tenants are not financially stressed, which is a practical livability positive compared to higher-cost regional centres.
Drive
61.8%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
8.2%
Work from Home
21.3%
Growth Outlook
Population stands at 1,022 across a large 1,340 square kilometre area, producing a density of just 0.8 persons per square kilometre, far below any urban comparison. Resident stability is moderate, with 85.8% having stayed at the same address, while the turnover rate of 14.2% is neither exceptionally high nor low. Development activity of 6 applications in 12 months, including renewable energy and residential works, shows modest but ongoing building interest. The combination of declining prices and high vacancy rate suggests demand growth has not kept pace with available supply.
Population trend: Moree Plains council area
Boggabilla sits in the Moree Plains council area. These are the council area's residents, not Boggabilla's.
Residents 2025
12,845
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.3%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.3%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Boggabilla compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boggabilla a good suburb to live in?
Boggabilla suits people who value affordability and open space over urban amenity. Household income sits in the 17.8th percentile nationally, so most residents have limited discretionary spending. The main trade-offs are the 14.8% unemployment rate and limited services compared to larger towns.
What schools are in Boggabilla?
No schools are recorded inside the Boggabilla boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Goondiwindi (Queensland, approximately 10 kilometres away) or other surrounding towns. University qualifications are held by only 9.5% of local residents, which is 20.6 points below the national average.
Is Boggabilla safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Boggabilla in this dataset. As context, the suburb has a 14.8% unemployment rate and household income in the 17.8th percentile nationally, both of which are factors associated with higher vulnerability in remote communities. Volunteering at 17.9% indicates active community engagement.
Is Boggabilla good for property investment?
Investors should weigh the yield advantage against occupancy and liquidity challenges.
How is Boggabilla's population changing?
Boggabilla has a population of 1,022 spread across 1,340 square kilometres. Resident stability is relatively high, with 85.8% having stayed at the same address. The median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, suggesting the community retains a younger working-age base rather than experiencing the aging drift common to many small rural towns.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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