Quirindi
Quirindi's most striking characteristic is that 43.1% of households own their home outright, a rate well above the national norm and a direct consequence of historically low prices. The median house stands at $385,000, placing Quirindi in the most affordable tier nationally, and household income sits only at the 25.1st percentile. SEIFA IRSD and IRSAD both score decile 2, signalling high relative disadvantage compared to most Australian suburbs. Population is 3,355 across 415 square kilometres, giving a density of just 8.1 persons per km2. The workforce is anchored by healthcare at 20.4% and agriculture at 10.4%, reflecting the town's role as a regional service and farming hub in the Liverpool Plains.
Population
3,355
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,198/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$385K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At a $385,000 median, Quirindi sits well below the NSW state median, making outright purchase accessible for buyers who can manage the regional lifestyle trade-offs. Prices rose 13.1% from $353,750 in 2024 to $400,000 in 2025, suggesting genuine momentum despite the low base. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 93.9%, with apartments at only 2.0%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.9% and four-plus bedroom at 32.0%, so families seeking space will find supply here rather than elsewhere. Outright owners at 43.1% outnumber mortgage holders at 27.5%, indicating a settled, low-turnover base.
For Buyers
At a $385,000 median, Quirindi sits well below the NSW state median, making outright purchase accessible for buyers who can manage the regional lifestyle trade-offs. Prices rose 13.1% from $353,750 in 2024 to $400,000 in 2025, suggesting genuine momentum despite the low base. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 93.9%, with apartments at only 2.0%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.9% and four-plus bedroom at 32.0%, so families seeking space will find supply here rather than elsewhere. Outright owners at 43.1% outnumber mortgage holders at 27.5%, indicating a settled, low-turnover base.
For Investors
Rental yield potential is modest but the entry cost is low: weekly rent is $250 against a $385,000 median, implying a gross yield near 3.4%, higher than most NSW coastal markets. The renter share at 29.4% provides a consistent tenant pool. The 11.6% vacancy rate is elevated compared to capital city averages, pointing to oversupply risk in the rental segment and caution is warranted. Development activity logged 18 applications in the past 12 months, mostly shed additions and solar installations rather than new dwellings. Net internal migration averages negative 2 per year while overseas migration adds 10, leaving demand thin. Rent grew 43.8% over the observed period, outpacing income growth of 16.4% in real terms, which compresses affordability for tenants but signals rental demand firming.
Development Activity
Total DAs
171
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-40.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Quirindi iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Primary School
K-6 · 74 students
Quirindi Public School
K-6 · 277 students
Quirindi High School
7-12 · 352 students
Demographics
The median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national figure, making Quirindi one of the older communities in regional NSW. The aging trajectory is confirmed by the senior share rising 4.6 points and the working-age share falling 2.4 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach only 6.5%, which is 15.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly locally born, Anglo-Celtic population: English (1,274) and Irish (330) are the top ancestries. University qualification rates at 16.2% run 13.9 points below national, consistent with a trade and agriculture workforce. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the 2.5 national average. Volunteering reaches 21.5%, above what low-income areas typically show, suggesting a community where informal support networks are active.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.9%
Houses
4.2%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by outright ownership at 43.1%, which stands in sharp contrast to high-cost urban markets where mortgage holders far outnumber debt-free owners. Mortgage holders account for 27.5% and renters 29.4%. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 93.9%, with semi-detached at 4.2% and apartments at just 2.0%. Three-bedroom homes make up 50.9% and four-plus bedroom 32.0%, skewing toward family-sized dwellings. The price moved from $353,750 in 2024 to $400,000 in 2025, a 13.1% year-on-year gain. Rent-to-income at 20.9% sits below the 30% stress line, meaning renters here are not under pressure by standard measures. Mortgage-to-income at 21.7% is similarly well within comfortable range, lower than most NSW markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,127
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$651
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.6%
Unoccupied
165
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.0%
Couples, no children
2,356
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 20.4% of workers (159 people), followed by Education at 14.2% (111), Agriculture at 10.4% (81), Public Administration at 7.3% (57) and Transport at 6.0% (47). This mix reflects Quirindi's function as a service hub for the surrounding farming region rather than a purely agricultural town. Occupations split almost evenly across Professionals (195), Machinery and Drivers (190), Managers (180), Labourers (177) and Community workers (176), indicating a genuinely mixed blue-collar and white-collar base. Unemployment runs at 6.6%, above state averages, and participation is 47.8%, below national rates, because the older age profile takes more residents outside the labour force. SEIFA IRSD scores decile 2, placing Quirindi among the more disadvantaged communities nationally.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
4,144
Unemployed
116
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.2%
Part-time
27.2%
Participation
47.8%
Employed
1,226
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.2%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
6.5%
Dwellings
1,253
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extreme: 86.8% of residents drive to work, against a national average well below that, and only 0.9% use public transport. Walking and cycling at 7.2% is the second most common mode, which is notable for a low-density town and likely reflects short commute distances. No schools are recorded in the dataset for the suburb itself, so educational services are accessed across the broader Liverpool Plains area. The IRSAD decile 2 score signals that access to economic resources is limited compared to most Australian suburbs. Rent-to-income at 20.9% keeps housing affordable for tenants, and 8.1% of residents (241 people) need daily assistance, a rate consistent with the older median age of 46. The vacancy rate of 11.6% is above the typical regional benchmark, a practical consideration for those assessing housing availability.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.13%/yr
(-10 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is contracting slowly: the trend registers negative 0.13% annually or roughly 10 persons per year. The medium forecast projects a decline from around 7,671 in 2025 to approximately 7,601 by 2031, a cumulative fall of 70 residents. The 10-year change has been only 0.9%, reflecting long-run near-stagnation rather than sharp decline. COVID caused a 2.2% dip that has since recovered fully. The gentrification score of 10 and stage of not gentrifying aligns with the SEIFA decile 2 reading, meaning investment-driven price pressure is not evident. Affordability held virtually flat at 37.0% in 2011 and 37.1% in 2021, suggesting the price-to-income ratio is entrenched rather than structurally improving. Migration is balanced, with overseas arrivals of 10 per year partly offsetting small internal outflows.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+10
Net Internal / yr
-2
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Quirindi compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quirindi a good suburb to live in?
Quirindi suits buyers seeking low-cost homeownership in a regional setting. At a $385,000 median house price, mortgage repayments average $1,127 per month and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Trade-offs include a SEIFA IRSD decile 2 score nationally and limited public transport with 86.8% of residents relying on cars.
What is the median house price in Quirindi?
The median house price is $385,000, rising 13.1% from $353,750 in 2024 to $400,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $250, implying a gross yield near 3.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,127, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%.
What schools are in Quirindi?
No schools are recorded inside the Quirindi suburb boundary in this dataset. Educational facilities are located across the broader Liverpool Plains local government area. University qualification rates in Quirindi reach 16.2%, which is 13.9 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and agricultural workforce.
Is Quirindi safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Quirindi in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on the SEIFA IRSD index of relative disadvantage, among the lower tiers nationally. Volunteering reaches 21.5% of residents, which is above average for low-income areas and points to active community support networks.
Is Quirindi good for property investment?
The $250 weekly rent against a $385,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.4%, higher than most NSW coastal markets. However, the 11.6% vacancy rate is elevated and points to rental oversupply risk. Population is declining at around 10 persons per year and the gentrification score is 10 (not gentrifying), so the investment case rests on yield rather than capital growth.
How is Quirindi's population changing?
Population is declining at a slow rate of negative 0.13% annually, equivalent to about 10 persons per year. The medium forecast projects a fall from approximately 7,671 in 2025 to 7,601 by 2031. COVID caused a 2.2% dip that has since recovered. The age profile is shifting older, with the senior share up 4.6 points over the decade.
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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