NSW · Tamworth Regional Council
Barraba, 2347
Current weather
14.4°CClear sky
84% humidity · 12.3 km/h wind · 18.3° / 12.2° today · 7.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Barraba is a quieter smaller community in Tamworth Regional, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Set in the wider countryside, it offers distance from the capital and a strong sense of place. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in transport and access. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,329
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $776
- Dwelling vacancy
- 18.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 141 of 759
- Median monthly mortgage
- $758
- Employment rate
- 37.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 48 / 8 / 10
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 86
- Against the person
- 24
- Against property
- 45
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 64.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 55 residents
- State safety percentile
- 43.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +10.6%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling9
- Domestic Violence Related Assault9
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment11
- Malicious Damage To Property17
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault11
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 914
- Barraba Central SchoolCombined
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
93 public transport stops in this suburb
- 1592 Trevallyn Rd
- Coreen Property, Trevallyn Rd
- Jumo Up Rd Opp 150
- Jump Rd Opp 110
- Trevallyn Rd Opp Coreen Property
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
26 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space33 RANGE STREET BARRABA 2347Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia56 RODNEY STREET BARRABA 2347Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation21 FLYNN AVENUE BARRABA 2347Determined
2025· 4 proposals
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation12 ASKIN AVENUE BARRABA 2347Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space7 FLOOD STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation49 CHERRY STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation1050 TREVALLYN ROAD BARRABA 2347Determined
2024· 4 proposals
December 2024
- Business premises; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia82-82A QUEEN STREET BARRABA 2347Withdrawn
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home8218 MANILLA ROAD BARRABA 2347Determined
May 2024
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Centre-based child care143 QUEEN STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
April 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture1226-1228 macintyre rd BarrabaDetermined
2023· 8 proposals
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 RANGE STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signageEDWARD STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
August 2023
- Change of use2 Maude Street Barraba NSW 2347Determined
- Farm buildingsMACINTYRE ROAD BARRABA 2347Determined
June 2023
- Other77 QUEEN STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
May 2023
- Waste and resource management facilities80 Wittens Lane, Barraba NSW 2347Determined
February 2023
- Alterations and additions to commercial development137 QUEEN STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
- Dwelling1-3 WILLIAMS STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
2022· 5 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling89 CHERRY STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
November 2022
- Subdivision of land16 MCDOUALL AVENUE BARRABA 2347Determined
September 2022
- Other2 Maude Street Barraba NSW 2347Determined
March 2022
- Dwelling1-3 WILLIAMS STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
February 2022
- Subdivision of land17-19 RAILWAY STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
2021· 2 proposals
October 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces44 QUEEN STREET BARRABA 2347Determined
August 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces20 James Street, Barraba NSW 2347Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Cherry Street ParkPark
- O'Meara ParkPark
- Rotary ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- On site
- Barraba Multi-Purpose Servicehospital
- Barraba Pharmacy & NewsagencyQueen Streetpharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Barraba Preschoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 27.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5767th in Australia
- State rank
- 1804th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #433 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #814 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Break And Enter Dwellingcrime9
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime9
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime11
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime17
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime11
- 1592 Trevallyn Rdtransport
- Coreen Property, Trevallyn Rdtransport
- Jumo Up Rd Opp 150transport
- Jump Rd Opp 110transport
- Trevallyn Rd Opp Coreen Propertytransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Tamworth Regional Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.