HILLTOPS PRICES GO UP
Employment opportunities in remote corners of NSW are driving double-digit jumps in rental prices. Narrandera in the central Riverina region, 550 kilometres south-west of Sydney, has the greatest annual rental price increase of any LGA in the state.
Median rents in the agricultural district are up 21.4 per cent over the 12 months to September, Domain’s latest Rent Report shows.
The town beside the Murrumbidgee River has jobs in several industries, local agent Andrew Pellow says, and workers stay for a year or two. A typical rental property costs $425 per week; a year ago, it was $350.
“It is mainly driven by a strong workforce,” Pellow, principal at McGrath Riverina, says. “We have a lot of projects going on, whether it be rail or solar. We have a variety of farming practices in our area – not only dryland farming, but also irrigation farming. There’s nuts, citrus and grape-growing, not to mention the big abattoirs.
“The work available in the area is immense. We need a bigger work-force out this way, so that is putting pressure on that rental market.”
Pellow says the median rental price will secure a tenant a “comfortable three-bedroom, two-bathroom home”. Farming areas are prominent in the top LGAs for rental price increases.
Narrandera is followed by cotton and beef country in Narrabri, which has increased 17.8 per cent, and Upper Hunter, known for beef, wine production and thoroughbred breeding, which has risen 12.2 per cent. The popular Byron shire, ranked fourth, has risen 11.7 per cent.
Also in the top 10 are Glen Innes Severn Shire (up 11.1 per cent), Muswellbrook (10.7 per cent), Broken Hill (10.6 per cent), Clarence Valley (10 per cent), Murray River (10 per cent) and Hilltops (9.8 per cent). Their economies are variously powered by agriculture and agribusiness, mining, tourism, renewable energy and forestry.
Boorowa is the most expensive place to purchase a house, likely due to its closer distance to the nation’s capital. Median house price: Approximately $545,000 to $550,000 (consistent recent medians at $545,000–$550,000, with growth of 5–7% over the past year and some reports up to $560,000–$592,500 for listings).
Median weekly rent: Around $450 to $500 (with medians reported at $450–$500 weekly, and growth of about 11% in some snapshots). Boorowa has seen solid demand and price uplift, supported by its proximity to Canberra and appeal as a quieter lifestyle spot.
Young surprisingly comes in second place likely due to being a little further away from Canberra making a daily commute more difficult, although some do it ever week. Median house price: Approximately $495,000 to $500,000 (recent 12-month medians range from $495,000 to $500,000, with some reports noting up to $520,000–$546,000 depending on the exact period and sales mix).
Prices have shown modest annual growth of around 4–8.7% in the past year. Median weekly rent: Around $400 to $420 for houses (with some listings and reports citing $415–$470 weekly for typical family homes).
Young continues to offer good value, with strong sales volumes (over 200 houses sold in the past year) and average days on market around 60–70.
Harden is the least expensive place to purchase a property and is just a few kilometres further away from Canberra than Boorowa is. Median house price: Approximately $369,500 to $380,000 (recent figures show medians around $370,000, with some local insights suggesting slight upward movement to $392,500 in recent trends). Median weekly rent: Around $390 to $400 (with reports of $391 weekly median and rental returns supporting yields of about 4.9–5.3%).
Harden’s market has been more stable or slightly softer in recent periods, with limited sales volume (around 30–33 houses annually) and longer days on market (up to 90+ days in some data).
These medians are indicative and can vary based on property size, condition, and specific sales in the period (typically trailing 12 months to December 2025/January 2026). The broader Hilltops region benefits from affordability, with house prices well below the NSW regional average.
For the most up-to-date figures, check sites like realestate.com.au, Domain, or local agents, as markets can shift with interest rates, seasonal factors, and new listings.
If you’re buying, selling, or renting in the South West Slopes, these towns continue to offer strong value in a regional context. The South West Slopes Times will keep tracking local property trends.
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