Narrogin
At 3,927 residents spread across 13.13 square kilometres, Narrogin sits at the low end of WA regional towns by density, yet it functions as the main service hub for the surrounding Wheatbelt region. The median house price of $297,000 sits well below the national median, making it one of the most affordable freestanding-house markets in the state. Household income lands at the 27.2nd percentile nationally, reflecting the town's reliance on public-sector and agricultural employment rather than high-wage industries. Median age of 43 runs 3 years above the national figure, and the population has declined 7.7% over the past decade, two signals that point to a slow-aging, slow-shrinking community rather than a growth story.
Population
3,927
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,236/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$297K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $297,000 median house price is the headline figure for buyers, sitting far below state and national medians and making Narrogin accessible to first-home buyers or those relocating from cities. Separate houses dominate at 90.4% of dwellings, so buyers face little competition from apartment stock. The typical bedroom split is 3-bedroom at 46.2% and 4-plus at 31.7%, giving good family-home options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,149, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 35.7% exceeds the mortgage-holding share of 29.9%, which suggests many long-term residents have paid off their homes. Buyers should factor in the 7.7% population decline over 10 years and a 15.8% vacancy rate when assessing resale conditions.
For Buyers
The $297,000 median house price is the headline figure for buyers, sitting far below state and national medians and making Narrogin accessible to first-home buyers or those relocating from cities. Separate houses dominate at 90.4% of dwellings, so buyers face little competition from apartment stock. The typical bedroom split is 3-bedroom at 46.2% and 4-plus at 31.7%, giving good family-home options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,149, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 35.7% exceeds the mortgage-holding share of 29.9%, which suggests many long-term residents have paid off their homes. Buyers should factor in the 7.7% population decline over 10 years and a 15.8% vacancy rate when assessing resale conditions.
For Investors
Narrogin's rental market reflects its regional service-town role: 34.4% of dwellings are rented, and weekly rent averages $240, low compared to metropolitan benchmarks. The 15.8% vacancy rate is elevated and is the single biggest caution for investors, pointing to more supply than active demand at current rent levels. Rent-to-income at 19.4% means renters are not under stress, but it also caps how far rents can rise without compressing affordability. Net internal migration averages minus 22 per year while overseas migration adds 40, producing thin positive net migration overall. Population is forecast to decline from 4,562 in 2025 toward roughly 4,365 by 2031 under the medium scenario. Development activity shows zero applications in the past 12 months, consistent with a market where new supply is not the issue.
Schools in Narrogin iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Matthew's School
PP-6 · 159 students
Western Australian College Of Agriculture - Narrogin
10-12 · 146 students
Narrogin Senior High School
7-12 · 564 students
Narrogin Primary School
K-6 · 266 students
East Narrogin Primary School
K-6 · 85 students
Demographics
Narrogin's median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, and the aging trend is clear: the senior share rose 7.4 points while the young-adult share fell 5.8 points over the decade. University qualifications reach only 19.2% of residents, which is 10.9 points below the national rate, reflecting the dominance of trades, agriculture and community service work rather than knowledge-sector employment. About 19.6% of residents were born overseas, 2 points below the national average. The ancestry profile is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,542), Scottish (314) and Irish (295). Average household size is 2.2, a fraction below the national 2.5, consistent with an older population where couples without children represent 31.2% of families. Volunteering reaches 24.7% of residents, which is notably high and reflects the community-service culture of regional WA towns.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.4%
Houses
8.7%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Narrogin is owner-occupier dominated, with 35.7% owning outright and 29.9% paying a mortgage, while 34.4% rent. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 90.4% are separate houses, semi-detached accounts for 8.7% and apartments barely register at 0.4%. Three-bedroom homes are the modal type at 46.2%, with 4-plus-bedroom homes making up another 31.7%, so larger family homes outnumber the national distribution. The $297,000 median sits at a level where mortgage repayments of $1,149 a month represent 21.5% of household income, below the stress threshold. The 15.8% vacancy rate stands out as high relative to most markets, suggesting that affordability alone is not driving demand and that the town's declining population is leaving units empty. Rent at $240 a week reflects both affordability and the limited rental premium available in a slow-growth regional centre.
Mortgage / mo
$1,149
Rent / wk
$240
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$719
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.8%
Unoccupied
287
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.2%
Couples, no children
2,520
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 23.9% of workers (240 people), followed by Education at 15.9% (160) and Public Administration at 8.3% (83), making Narrogin's economy essentially government-services driven. Agriculture employs 8.1% (81 workers), anchoring the broader Wheatbelt region's rural identity. By occupation, Professionals lead at 275 workers but Labourers are close behind at 247, and Community/Personal service workers (223) reflect the healthcare concentration. The unemployment rate is 6.6%, higher than metropolitan WA, and the participation rate of 52.1% is low because 1,064 residents are not in the labour force, partly an age effect given the median age of 43. SEIFA scores rank Narrogin at decile 3 on IRSD, IRSAD and IEO, placing it in the bottom 30% nationally across disadvantage, advantage and education/occupation measures.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
2,456
Unemployed
72
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.3%
Part-time
28.1%
Participation
52.1%
Employed
1,579
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.2%
Postgraduate
2.2%
Born Overseas
19.6%
Dwellings
1,524
Transport to Work
Transport in Narrogin is almost entirely car-based: 84.6% of residents drive, compared with a much higher walking-and-cycling share of 7.1% for a town of this size, and only 1.6% use public transport, which is typical for regional WA locations not served by rail. The IRSAD decile 3 places Narrogin below average nationally on combined advantage and disadvantage measures, meaning access to services, income and education resources all rank lower than most Australian communities. No schools are recorded in the dataset for this suburb, though Narrogin serves as a regional education hub. About 7.7% of residents (268 people) need daily assistance, above the rate you would find in younger metropolitan suburbs and consistent with the above-average median age of 43. The rent-to-income ratio of 19.4% keeps housing costs manageable for renters, while the mortgage stress rate of 21.5% also stays below the pressure threshold.
Drive
84.6%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
7.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.57%/yr
(-26 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has been falling steadily: a 7.7% decline over the past decade at roughly minus 26 residents per year, and the medium forecast extends that trend to approximately 4,365 by 2031 from 4,562 in 2025. The main migration dynamic is a net internal outflow of 22 people a year, partly offset by 40 overseas arrivals annually, but the net is still negative. Rent growth of 39.5% over the period signals that the rental market tightened despite population decline, likely because household formation fell and some rental stock was removed from the market. Real income growth of 16.6% over the decade shows residents who stayed have gained purchasing power in real terms. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage reads not gentrifying, appropriate for a declining-population regional town rather than a suburb with urban-change momentum. Affordability has remained stable, moving marginally from 34.0% in 2011 to 33.1% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+40
Net Internal / yr
-22
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Narrogin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Narrogin a good suburb to live in?
Narrogin suits people who prioritise affordability and a regional lifestyle over urban amenity. At a $297,000 median house price and with mortgage-to-income at 21.5%, housing costs are low. The SEIFA IRSAD decile is 3, placing it in the lower third nationally for advantage, and the 6.6% unemployment rate runs above metropolitan WA averages. The community volunteers at a 24.7% rate, which is high.
What is the median house price in Narrogin?
The median house price is $297,000, estimated from 2025 rent data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,149, representing 21.5% of household income, well below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $240. Household income sits at the 27.2nd percentile nationally, so prices are calibrated to local earning capacity.
What schools are in Narrogin?
No schools are recorded inside the Narrogin suburb boundary in this dataset. Narrogin functions as a regional service centre for the WA Wheatbelt and has schooling facilities, but they are not captured in the current data extract. University qualifications reach 19.2% of residents, which is 10.9 points below the national rate.
Is Narrogin safe?
Crime statistics are not available in the current dataset for Narrogin. As a proxy indicator, the SEIFA IRSD decile is 3, placing the suburb in the lower third nationally on relative disadvantage, which tends to correlate with higher crime rates than decile 8 to 10 areas. The 6.6% unemployment rate and lower income levels are contextual factors.
Is Narrogin good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. A $240 weekly rent against a $297,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, above what most capital cities offer. However, the 15.8% vacancy rate is elevated, net internal migration is minus 22 per year, and the medium forecast has the population declining to about 4,365 by 2031. Zero development applications in 12 months confirms flat demand conditions.
How is Narrogin's population changing?
Narrogin has lost about 7.7% of its population over the past decade, at roughly minus 26 residents per year. The medium forecast continues the decline from 4,562 in 2025 toward approximately 4,365 by 2031. Net internal migration averages minus 22 per year, partially offset by 40 overseas arrivals annually. The senior share of the population rose 7.4 points over the decade, pointing to an aging trajectory.
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.
Explore Narrogin on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map