Nabiac
With a median age of 48, Nabiac runs 8 years above the national figure, making it one of the more age-skewed rural communities in the Manning Valley. Population sits at 1,294 across 143.7 square kilometres, a density of just 9 residents per km2 compared to most coastal NSW towns. Household income falls at the 27.9th percentile nationally, well below average, yet mortgage-to-income at 28.0% and rent-to-income at 26.3% both stay below the 30% stress threshold because the $630,000 median house price is modest relative to coastal peers. Nearly 99.4% of homes are separate houses, ownership rates are high at 46.5% outright, and the labour force participation rate of 48.5% reflects a community weighted toward retirees and semi-retirees.
Population
1,294
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,253/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$630K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $630,000 median house price is the entry point for a market where 99.4% of dwellings are separate houses on large lots, a figure well above the national share. Bedrooms skew larger: 41.7% are 3-bedroom and 39.4% are 4-plus bedroom homes, which suits families or buyers wanting space. The price has fallen from $707,500 in 2024 to $605,000 in 2025, a 14.5% decline that shifts the market firmly in favour of buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, generating a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.0%, below the 30% stress threshold even at the 27.9th percentile income level nationally. The 81% of residents who stayed in the same address the year before census signals low turnover, so listings are scarce and buyers compete for limited stock.
For Buyers
The $630,000 median house price is the entry point for a market where 99.4% of dwellings are separate houses on large lots, a figure well above the national share. Bedrooms skew larger: 41.7% are 3-bedroom and 39.4% are 4-plus bedroom homes, which suits families or buyers wanting space. The price has fallen from $707,500 in 2024 to $605,000 in 2025, a 14.5% decline that shifts the market firmly in favour of buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, generating a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.0%, below the 30% stress threshold even at the 27.9th percentile income level nationally. The 81% of residents who stayed in the same address the year before census signals low turnover, so listings are scarce and buyers compete for limited stock.
For Investors
Rental demand is thin: renters make up only 15.0% of households compared to a much higher national average, and the vacancy rate sits at 9.1%, which is elevated and signals excess supply in the rental segment. Weekly rent of $330 against a $630,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.7%, below most regional benchmarks. The 13 development applications lodged in the past 12 months include subdivision and structural works, pointing to incremental land activity rather than a pipeline of new rental stock. The price decline of 14.5% from peak to 2025 indicates recent capital loss, so the investment case depends on a recovery in regional demand rather than current yield or growth momentum.
Development Activity
Total DAs
120
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-44.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Nabiac iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Nabiac Public School
K-6 · 165 students
Demographics
Nabiac's median age of 48 is 8 years above the national figure, the clearest identity signal in the data. The overseas-born share is only 8.1%, which is 13.5 percentage points below national, reflecting a deeply Anglo-Celtic community: English (609), Irish (129) and Scottish (124) are the dominant ancestries. University qualifications reach just 13.7%, which is 16.4 percentage points below national, consistent with a rural workforce centred on trade and service roles rather than professional ones. Average household size of 2.6 is slightly above national, and couples with children (370 families) and couples without children (340) are roughly balanced, suggesting a mix of young families and empty-nesters rather than a single life-stage skew.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.4%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure leans strongly toward ownership: 46.5% own outright and 38.5% carry a mortgage, leaving renters at just 15.0%, well below the national renter share. The outright ownership rate is high because the aging demographic has had decades to pay down debt. Separate houses account for 99.4% of all dwellings, with no apartments recorded. The bedroom profile is generous: 41.7% are 3-bedroom and 39.4% are 4-plus bedroom, so buyers get more space per dollar than in metropolitan markets. The median house price declined from $707,500 in 2024 to $605,000 in 2025, a 14.5% fall, and the vacancy rate of 9.1% suggests some surplus supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and rent-to-income of 26.3% stays below the 30% stress line.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$562
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.1%
Unoccupied
47
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.3%
Couples, no children
1,052
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 18.4% of workers (61 people), followed by Construction at 17.2% (57) and Retail at 10.3% (34). By occupation, Labourers (73), Managers (71) and Community/Personal service workers (70) rank first, a mix that reflects both the farming and service character of the area. The full-time employment rate is 56.4% and unemployment sits at 4.8%, slightly above the national rate. Participation at 48.5% is low nationally, because 460 residents are not in the labour force, driven by the older age profile where retirement rather than unemployment explains most of the gap. Household income at the 27.9th percentile nationally indicates earnings well below average for the region.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.4%
Part-time
38.8%
Participation
48.5%
Employed
491
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.7%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
8.1%
Dwellings
463
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 88.9% of residents drive to work, well above national averages, while public transport use is just 1.1%, consistent with a rural area lacking rail or bus frequency. Walking and cycling account for 4.0% of commutes, higher than many rural towns. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in Forster, Taree or surrounding towns, a meaningful consideration for households with children. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset. Volunteering runs at 16.2% of the population and 8.1% of residents need daily assistance, the same share as the overseas-born population, indicating a community with some demand for care services consistent with the median age of 48.
Drive
88.9%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Nabiac compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nabiac a good suburb to live in?
Nabiac suits buyers seeking space and affordability in a rural setting. The $630,000 median house price is lower than coastal neighbours, mortgage repayments average $1,517 per month, and 99.4% of homes are separate houses. The trade-off is limited services, no schools inside the boundary, and near-total car dependence, with only 1.1% of residents using public transport.
What is the median house price in Nabiac?
The median house price is $630,000, down from $707,500 in 2024 to $605,000 in 2025, a 14.5% decline. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517. Weekly rent is $330. Household income sits at the 27.9th percentile nationally, so affordability depends on the lower price relative to metro markets.
What schools are in Nabiac?
No schools are recorded inside the Nabiac suburb boundary in this dataset. With 1,294 residents across 143.7 square kilometres, families rely on schools in nearby Taree, Forster or other Manning Valley towns. University qualifications in the suburb reach only 13.7% of residents, which is 16.4 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Nabiac safe?
Crime statistics for Nabiac are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a high owner-occupier rate of 85.0% (outright plus mortgage) and a stable population with 81.0% of residents remaining in the same address year to year, both patterns associated with settled, low-transience communities.
Is Nabiac good for property investment?
The investment case is cautious. The median declined 14.5% from $707,500 in 2024 to $605,000 in 2025. The rental market is thin, with renters at only 15.0% of households, and the vacancy rate of 9.1% is elevated. Weekly rent of $330 implies a gross yield near 2.7%. Returns depend on a regional recovery rather than current yield or tenant demand.
How is Nabiac's population changing?
Nabiac's population stands at 1,294. Population projections are not available for this suburb. The demographic trend points toward aging, with a median age of 48 which is 8 years above national and a participation rate of only 48.5% because 460 residents are outside the labour force, most likely retirees. Mobility is moderate, with 19.0% having moved in the year before census.
What industries drive employment in Nabiac?
Healthcare is the largest employer at 18.4% of the local workforce (61 workers), followed by Construction at 17.2% (57 workers) and Retail at 10.3% (34 workers). Hospitality accounts for 7.6% and Public Administration 7.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.8% and the full-time employment rate is 56.4%, with 214 residents employed part-time.
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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