Inverell
An 8.1% vacancy rate is a notable feature of Inverell's established regional market, alongside a population of 12,057 and a median age of 41. Housing is strongly detached, with 87.8% of dwellings being separate houses, while household income sits at the 23.8th percentile nationally. Compared with nearby Tingha, Inverell operates as the larger regional centre, with healthcare, education and retail supporting daily needs. Its lower density of 58.1 people per square kilometre suits buyers seeking space, although car reliance and lower incomes shape practical affordability.
Population
12,057
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,187/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
90
Inverell suits buyers prioritising detached housing and manageable repayments rather than high-density living. Household income is at the 23.8th percentile, below the national middle, so borrowing capacity may be more constrained than in higher-income markets. The typical mortgage payment is $1,250 per month and mortgage costs equal 24.3% of household income, below common stress territory. Housing choice is family-oriented, with 45.8% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 34.4% having 4 or more. Compared with apartment-heavy regional markets, the 87.8% separate-house share gives buyers more access to traditional lots, while 36.4% own outright and 28.8% hold a mortgage.
For Buyers
Inverell suits buyers prioritising detached housing and manageable repayments rather than high-density living. Household income is at the 23.8th percentile, below the national middle, so borrowing capacity may be more constrained than in higher-income markets. The typical mortgage payment is $1,250 per month and mortgage costs equal 24.3% of household income, below common stress territory. Housing choice is family-oriented, with 45.8% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 34.4% having 4 or more. Compared with apartment-heavy regional markets, the 87.8% separate-house share gives buyers more access to traditional lots, while 36.4% own outright and 28.8% hold a mortgage.
For Investors
Inverell offers a lower-rent regional investment profile, but the 8.1% vacancy rate is above a tightly supplied market and may reduce leasing urgency. Weekly rent is $270, while 33.3% of households rent, creating a meaningful tenant base across an established population. Development activity is material, with 95 applications recorded over 12 months, although much of the visible activity relates to commercial, retail and dwelling alterations rather than a stated pipeline of new homes. Compared with faster-growth markets, the 0.43% annual trend calls for conservative assumptions. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, while rent growth of 50.0% indicates a substantial recent uplift that may not be repeated.
Development Activity
Total DAs
778
Last 12 Months
90
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-35.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Inverell
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Inverell has a median age of 41, which is 1.0 year above the national comparison, and its population profile is becoming older as the senior share has risen 2.8 percentage points. Overseas-born residents account for 8.1%, or 13.5 percentage points below the national comparison, while university-qualified residents represent 17.0%, 13.1 points below the national figure. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national level by 0.2 people, consistent with 43.6% of families being couples without children. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry are prominent, with counts of 4,788, 1,129 and 1,113 respectively. A 77.7% stay rate is higher than the 22.3% turnover rate, supporting a settled community profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.8%
Houses
10.1%
Townhouse
1.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Inverell's housing stock is dominated by separate houses at 87.8%, compared with only 1.2% apartments and 10.1% semi-detached dwellings. This gives the suburb a lower-density profile than apartment-oriented markets and reflects its regional setting. Homes are generally sized for families or shared households, with 45.8% containing 3 bedrooms and 34.4% containing 4 or more. Tenure is relatively balanced: 36.4% of households own outright, 28.8% have a mortgage and 33.3% rent. Mortgage costs equal 24.3% of household income, while rent is 22.7%, both below typical stress thresholds. Household size is 2.3, lower than the national comparison by 0.2, so larger homes may accommodate fewer residents than their layout suggests.
Mortgage / mo
$1,250
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $270.
$440
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $480 · units $325
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$666
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.1%
Unoccupied
408
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.4%
Couples with children
43.6%
Couples, no children
21.3%
Single parent
3,141
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Inverell's largest listed industry at 21.0%, employing 605 people, followed by education at 14.0% and 403 people. Manufacturing, retail and construction contribute 10.9%, 8.9% and 8.6%, respectively. This mix supports a regional service economy, while occupations span labourers at 825, professionals at 742, community and personal service workers at 718, and trades at 647. The unemployment rate is 6.3%, participation is 52.7% and the full-time rate is 60.0%. Compared with the national middle, socioeconomic advantage is lower: the IEO decile is 1, while IER, IRSD and IRSAD are each in decile 2. Household income at the 23.8th percentile reinforces the gap, despite the strong healthcare and education base.
Unemployment
6.3%
Labour Force
5,110
Unemployed
323
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.0%
Part-time
33.8%
Participation
52.7%
Employed
4,787
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.0%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
8.1%
Dwellings
4,602
Transport to Work
Daily life in Inverell is strongly car-oriented: 78.8% of residents drive to work, compared with 0.2% using public transport, while 4.3% walk or cycle and 8.5% work from home. That pattern makes access to a private vehicle more important than in better-served urban areas. Four government schools serve the suburb, split between 2 primary and 2 secondary options, including Inverell Public School, Ross Hill Public School, Inverell High School and Macintyre High School. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because they can cross local boundaries. IRSAD is in decile 2, below the national middle, while 16.9% volunteering supports local connection. At 207.66 square kilometres and 58.1 people per square kilometre, conditions can vary across the suburb, so review current street-level safety information before choosing a location.
Drive
78.8%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
8.5%
Population Forecast
+0.43%/yr
(+53 people/yr)
EstablishedInverell is tracking as an established, slow-growth market rather than a rapidly expanding one. The annual trend is 0.43%, while population change across the wider area is 5.8% over 10 years, below the pace associated with major growth corridors. The trajectory is labelled Mixed and overseas migration is the primary driver, so future momentum may depend more on regional service demand than on a broad-based development boom. Gentrification signals are also divided: the gentrification measure is scored at 0 and labelled Not gentrifying, while the shift profile records a score of 48 and an Active stage. Compared with fast-growth regional centres, affordability is labelled Stable, with the affordability measure moving from 38.5% in 2011 to 40.5% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+58
Net Internal / yr
-14
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Inverell compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Inverell a good suburb to live in?
Inverell can suit households seeking space, established services and detached housing. Separate houses account for 87.8% of dwellings, while the median age is 41. Compared with larger urban centres, public transport is limited at 0.2%, so car ownership and the suburb's 207.66 square kilometre spread are important lifestyle considerations.
What is the median house price in Inverell?
Check recent local sales for the current median house price, because Inverell's housing mix spans 45.8% three-bedroom and 34.4% four-plus-bedroom homes. Ownership is also split across 36.4% outright owners and 28.8% mortgage households, so a single median can hide meaningful differences between property types.
What schools are in Inverell?
Four government schools serve Inverell: Inverell Public School and Ross Hill Public School provide primary options, while Inverell High School and Macintyre High School provide secondary options. Families should check the relevant enrolment zone for the exact address, particularly when comparing the 2 primary and 2 secondary choices.
Is Inverell safe?
Safety can vary by street and time, so check current NSW Police incident information and visit at different hours before committing. Inverell covers 207.66 square kilometres at 58.1 people per square kilometre, making conditions less uniform than in a compact suburb. A current local crime check should form part of the final decision.
Is Inverell good for property investment?
Inverell may suit an investor seeking a lower-rent regional market, with weekly rent at $270 and 33.3% of households renting. The 8.1% vacancy rate is above a tightly supplied market, creating leasing risk, while 95 development applications and a 0.43% annual growth trend support a cautious rather than aggressive strategy.
How is Inverell's population changing?
Inverell has 12,057 residents today, with the wider area's population change recorded at 5.8% over 10 years. Growth is forecast at 0.43% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver and the trajectory labelled Mixed. Compared with rapid-growth regional markets, this points to gradual change rather than a sudden population surge.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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