Moree
Agriculture employs 14.5% of Moree's workforce, the top industry, placing the town among the few Australian suburbs where farming outranks healthcare and education. Yet the median house price of $355,000 and 16.5% vacancy rate tell a story of population contraction: the town has shrunk 6.5% over 10 years, losing about 65 people annually. SEIFA decile 2 across all four indices ranks Moree in the bottom 20% nationally for socioeconomic advantage, driven by university attainment 11.2 points below the national rate and household income in just the 51st percentile.
Population
8,962
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,575/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
64
Median House
$355K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $355,000, Moree offers houses at roughly one-third of the Sydney median. Three-bedroom homes (43.4%) and 4+ bedroom homes (35.3%) are plentiful, and mortgage-to-income at 19.4% is among the lowest in NSW. Separate houses make up 83.0% of stock, with 13.9% semi-detached. Prices edged up 1.4% from $355,000 to $360,000 year-on-year, indicating a flat market rather than growth. Buyers should consider the 16.5% vacancy rate as a resale risk signal, because high vacancy typically means weak demand and slow price recovery compared to metro markets where vacancy runs 2-3%.
For Buyers
At $355,000, Moree offers houses at roughly one-third of the Sydney median. Three-bedroom homes (43.4%) and 4+ bedroom homes (35.3%) are plentiful, and mortgage-to-income at 19.4% is among the lowest in NSW. Separate houses make up 83.0% of stock, with 13.9% semi-detached. Prices edged up 1.4% from $355,000 to $360,000 year-on-year, indicating a flat market rather than growth. Buyers should consider the 16.5% vacancy rate as a resale risk signal, because high vacancy typically means weak demand and slow price recovery compared to metro markets where vacancy runs 2-3%.
For Investors
The 39.9% renter share is high, and $230/week rent on a $355,000 property delivers a gross yield near 3.4%, better than most capital cities. However, vacancy at 16.5% is roughly 5-6 times the healthy benchmark, meaning finding and retaining tenants is a real challenge. Rents grew 43.8% over the decade, well above the national rate, likely because the base was very low. Population is declining at -0.81% per year, with internal migration at -80/year. The 65 development applications in 12 months show activity, including commercial conversions, but this reflects land use change in a contracting town rather than growth-driven supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
364
Last 12 Months
64
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+4.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Moree iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Moree Christian School
K-11 · 126 students
St Philomena's School
K-10 · 336 students
Mallawa Public School
K-6 · 11 students
Moree Public School
K-6 · 432 students
Moree Secondary College
7-12 · 369 students
Demographics
Only 7.8% of residents were born overseas, 13.8 percentage points below the national average, making Moree one of the most homogeneous suburbs of its size. University attainment at 18.9% is 11.2 points below the national rate. 'Ancestry not stated' is the second-largest heritage group at 1,697 residents, which in regional NSW often indicates Indigenous population. Median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure. The 18.1% volunteering rate exceeds the national average, consistent with rural communities where civic participation fills service gaps. Labour force participation at 51.4% is notably low.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.0%
Houses
13.9%
Townhouse
2.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Renters (39.9%) outnumber mortgage holders (27.6%), which inverts the typical national pattern. Outright owners at 32.5% are close to the national average. Stock is 83.0% separate houses, 13.9% semi-detached, and 2.3% apartments. Prices moved from $355,000 to $360,000, a modest 1.4% gain year-on-year. Rent at $230/week and a rent-to-income ratio of 14.6% make Moree one of the most affordable rental markets in NSW. Mortgage-to-income at 19.4% is also well below stress levels. The high renter share and low ownership reflect both affordability barriers from low incomes and transient workers in agriculture and government.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,326
Rent / wk
$230
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$851
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.5%
Unoccupied
586
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.5%
Couples, no children
5,813
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture leads at 14.5% of employment, reflecting Moree's position as one of Australia's most productive farming regions (cotton, wheat, pecans). Education (13.8%) and healthcare (13.6%) follow as the next-largest employers, both serving a regional catchment far larger than the town itself. Public administration (10.4%) is also prominent, consistent with a regional administrative centre. Managers (564) rank second in occupations after professionals (619), an unusually high manager share driven by farm operators. Unemployment at 4.1% is at the national rate, but participation at 51.4% is well below average, indicating many residents are outside the formal workforce.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
4,637
Unemployed
205
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.2%
Part-time
23.7%
Participation
51.4%
Employed
3,501
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.9%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
7.8%
Dwellings
2,944
Transport to Work
Six schools serve the area with a very wide ICSEA range: Moree Christian School (1002, 126 students) and St Philomena's Catholic (952, 336) sit near or above the benchmark, while government schools range from Mallawa Public (874, 11 students) down to Moree East Public (689, 230). The 313-point gap between the top and bottom ICSEA scores is among the widest in any Australian suburb, reflecting deep socioeconomic inequality. Public transport is negligible at 0.6%, but 5.6% walk or cycle. IRSAD decile 2 ranks Moree in the bottom 20% nationally.
Drive
86.4%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
5.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.81%/yr
(-65 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is contracting at -0.81% per year, losing about 65 residents annually. The medium forecast projects 7,498 by 2031, down from 8,020 in 2025, a 6.5% decline. Internal migration is negative at -80/year, and overseas arrivals add only 22/year, far too few to offset outflows. Over the past decade, population shrank 6.5%, placing Moree among NSW's fastest-shrinking towns. Rent growth of 43.8% over the decade is paradoxically strong because the base was extremely low and housing stock is ageing without replacement. The gentrification score of 0 confirms no demographic upgrading.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+22
Net Internal / yr
-80
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Moree compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moree a good suburb to live in?
Moree suits those working in agriculture or regional services who value affordability (mortgage stress at 19.4%) and community spirit (18.1% volunteering rate). Challenges include SEIFA decile 2 ranking, declining population (-0.81%/year), and limited public transport (0.6%). School quality varies widely, with ICSEA scores ranging from 689 to 1002 across 6 schools.
What is the median house price in Moree?
The median house price is $355,000 based on PSI-derived 2024-2025 data, with the latest quarter showing $360,000. This is roughly one-third of the Sydney median. Mortgage repayments at $1,326/month consume just 19.4% of household income, making Moree one of the most affordable purchase markets in NSW.
What schools are in Moree?
Six schools operate locally: Moree Christian School (ICSEA 1002, 126 students), St Philomena's Catholic (952, 336), Mallawa Public (874, 11), Moree Public (862, 432), Moree Secondary College (771, 369), and Moree East Public (689, 230). The 313-point ICSEA gap between the top and bottom school reflects significant socioeconomic stratification.
Is Moree safe?
Crime data is not available at the suburb level for Moree in NSW reporting. The SEIFA disadvantage decile of 2 and high rental share (39.9%) are indicators typically associated with elevated crime. Labour force participation at just 51.4% is well below the national norm, which can correlate with social disadvantage.
Is Moree good for property investment?
Gross yield near 3.4% ($230/week on $355,000) is better than most capital cities, and rents grew 43.8% over the decade. However, vacancy at 16.5% is roughly 5-6 times the healthy norm, and population is shrinking by 65 people per year. The 65 DAs in 12 months show some commercial activity. This is a high-yield, high-risk regional market suited to investors comfortable with tenant sourcing challenges.
How is Moree's population changing?
Population is declining at -0.81% per year, losing roughly 65 residents annually. The medium projection forecasts 7,498 by 2031, down from 8,020 today. Internal migration runs at -80/year with overseas arrivals adding only 22/year. Over the decade, the town shrank 6.5%, contrasting sharply with national growth of around 15%.
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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