Boggabri
Mining accounts for 27.2% of local employment, making Boggabri more resource-linked than its modest population of 1,203 might suggest. The settlement covers 858.49 square kilometres at only 1.4 people per square kilometre, so daily life is dispersed and car dependent. Compared with larger regional centres such as Narrabri and Gunnedah, Boggabri has a strongly detached housing profile, with 95.6% of dwellings separate houses. Its median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, while the 15.6% vacancy rate points to a smaller, less tightly occupied housing market. Agriculture, machinery driving and labouring also matter because employment is shaped by broad rural and industrial land uses.
Local council: Narrabri
Population
1,203
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,506/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Boggabri suits buyers seeking detached housing and a lower-density setting rather than apartment living. Separate houses account for 95.6% of dwellings, compared with 3.4% semi-detached homes, and 46.2% of properties have 3 bedrooms while 32.4% have 4 or more. Weekly rent is $300 and the typical monthly mortgage figure is $1,200. Household income averages $1,506 per week, with mortgage repayments taking 18.4% of income, lower than the 19.9% rent-to-income share. The 38.1% outright ownership rate can support neighbourhood stability, while the 29.0% renting share creates some choice for households not ready to buy.
For Buyers
Boggabri suits buyers seeking detached housing and a lower-density setting rather than apartment living. Separate houses account for 95.6% of dwellings, compared with 3.4% semi-detached homes, and 46.2% of properties have 3 bedrooms while 32.4% have 4 or more. Weekly rent is $300 and the typical monthly mortgage figure is $1,200. Household income averages $1,506 per week, with mortgage repayments taking 18.4% of income, lower than the 19.9% rent-to-income share. The 38.1% outright ownership rate can support neighbourhood stability, while the 29.0% renting share creates some choice for households not ready to buy.
For Investors
Boggabri's rental profile needs careful assessment because the 15.6% vacancy rate is substantial compared with the 29.0% share of households renting and the 25.0% share paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $300, which provides a clear local benchmark, but vacancy can lengthen leasing periods and reduce pricing power. Mining represents 27.2% of employment and agriculture 16.0%, so tenant demand is linked to resource, rural and transport activity rather than a broad professional-services base. Seventeen development applications were recorded across 12 months, including a dwelling, manufactured home and subdivision, which may gradually add supply. Investors should weigh this new activity against the small population of 1,203.
Development Activity
Total DAs
90
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-31.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Boggabri
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Boggabri has an older age profile than Australia overall: the median age is 43, or 3 years above the national figure. University qualification is 10.8%, 19.3 percentage points below the national rate, while the overseas-born share is 4.9%, 16.7 points below national levels. English ancestry is recorded for 459 people, followed by Irish ancestry at 117 and Scottish at 102. Christianity accounts for 657 people and no religion for 339. Average household size is 2.3, which is 0.2 below the national comparison. These patterns align with a long-established, lower-mobility population, with 78.0% staying at the same address and 22.0% turning over.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.6%
Houses
3.4%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Boggabri's housing stock is substantially more detached than semi-detached, with separate houses at 95.6% compared with 3.4% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes make up 46.2% of stock and 4-bedroom or larger homes account for 32.4%, so family-sized properties dominate. Outright ownership is 38.1%, higher than the 25.0% mortgage share and the 29.0% renting share. The 15.6% vacancy rate is higher than the 12.3% working-from-home rate, indicating that available housing is not simply being absorbed by remote workers. With an average household size of 2.3, larger homes may house fewer people than their floor area suggests.
Mortgage / mo
$1,200
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $300.
$350
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $370
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$695
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.6%
Unoccupied
81
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.8%
Couples with children
45.8%
Couples, no children
16.3%
Single parent
288
Total families
Economy & Employment
Boggabri's employment base is led by mining at 27.2% and 73 workers, followed by agriculture at 16.0% and 43 workers. Healthcare contributes 9.0% and 24 workers, construction 8.6% and 23 workers, and education 7.1% and 19 workers. Mining is higher than agriculture, helping explain why machinery and drivers form the largest occupation group at 136 people, ahead of labourers at 78. Managers number 72, trades 57 and community or personal service workers 53. The labour force contains 517 people, participation is 52.4%, unemployment is 5.2% and full-time employment is 69.2%. This mix gives Boggabri a practical industrial and rural economy, with services supporting the local base.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
517
Unemployed
27
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.2%
Part-time
23.3%
Participation
52.4%
Employed
490
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
10.8%
Postgraduate
1.3%
Born Overseas
4.9%
Dwellings
436
Transport to Work
Boggabri provides a low-density lifestyle across 858.49 square kilometres, but services and travel are shaped by distance. Car use is much higher than public transport, with 72.5% driving compared with 4.7% using public transport and 4.7% walking or cycling. A further 12.3% work from home, which can reduce some commuting needs. The local school provision includes 1 government primary school, Boggabri Public School; families should check enrolment zones and current intake arrangements against the exact address. Volunteering is 22.7%, while 9.7% of residents need assistance with core activities. Compared with a denser regional setting, Boggabri places greater value on private transport, local participation and planning around limited services.
Drive
72.5%
Public Transport
4.7%
Walk / Cycle
4.7%
Work from Home
12.3%
Growth Outlook
Boggabri's near-term change is likely to be shaped by housing activity and population stability rather than rapid urban expansion. Seventeen development applications were recorded over 12 months, including a new dwelling, manufactured home, subdivision and shed. Residential additions could improve choice, although the 15.6% vacancy rate means extra supply may take time to be absorbed. Population stability is stronger than turnover: 78.0% of residents stayed at the same address compared with 22.0% who changed address. Across 858.49 square kilometres, the population of 1,203 remains thinly distributed at 1.4 people per square kilometre, so growth is likely to be incremental and tied to mining, agriculture and local housing decisions.
Population trend: Narrabri council area
Boggabri sits in the Narrabri council area. These are the council area's residents, not Boggabri's.
Residents 2025
12,797
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 Boggabri compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boggabri a good suburb to live in?
Boggabri can suit households wanting detached housing, a small population of 1,203 and a rural setting. The median age is 43, 95.6% of homes are separate houses and 72.5% of commuters drive, so it is better suited to residents comfortable with car-based travel.
What is the median house price in Boggabri?
A reliable median house price should be confirmed through current local sales evidence. The rental benchmark is $300 per week, while 38.1% of homes are owned outright and 25.0% are owned with a mortgage, providing useful context when assessing purchase affordability.
What schools are in Boggabri?
Boggabri Public School is the local government primary school. Families should confirm enrolment zones and current intake arrangements for the exact address. With 1,203 residents and 4.7% using public transport, school access is best planned around local routes and private vehicle travel.
Is Boggabri safe?
Safety should be checked using current NSW Police and council information before moving. Boggabri has 1,203 residents spread across 858.49 square kilometres, and its low density does not by itself establish a safety rating. Inspect the immediate street and consider local service access as part of due diligence.
Is Boggabri good for property investment?
Boggabri has investment drivers in mining, which represents 27.2% of employment, and agriculture at 16.0%. However, vacancy is 15.6% and weekly rent is $300, so returns should be tested against leasing risk. Seventeen development applications over 12 months may also add competing supply.
How is Boggabri's population changing?
Boggabri has a population of 1,203, with 78.0% of residents staying at the same address and 22.0% changing address. Seventeen development applications over 12 months included a dwelling, manufactured home and subdivision, indicating measured housing activity rather than a large expansion.
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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