There’s plenty happening across our towns that doesn’t always make the news.
People are renting. Property values are growing. Businesses are investing. New jobs are being created. And there are plenty of reasons to feel positive about the regions we call home.
So, we’ve taken a look at some of the things happening across Boorowa, Harden, Cootamundra, Young, Cowra, Forbes and Parkes that give us reason to feel positive about where we live.
01 | Rental demand remains strong
Regional NSW continues to experience tight rental conditions.
According to NAB’s Regional NSW Property Market Insights, the regional NSW vacancy rate was 1.7% in March 2026, with house rents across the region increasing 5.3% over the year.
Locally, rents have continued to rise too. According to realestate.com.au market data, house rents are up 11.1% in Cootamundra, 6.7% in Young and 4.2% in Boorowa over the past year.
It’s a sign that demand for rental property remains strong across many of our towns.
02 | Rental returns remain attractive
Rental yields also remain an interesting part of the regional property story.
According to realestate.com.au market data, current gross house rental yields are around or above 5% in Cootamundra, Young, Boorowa, Parkes and Forbes, reaching 6.1% in Boorowa and 5.3% in Cootamundra.
For investors, the combination of rental demand, rising rents and comparatively attractive yields continues to make regional property an interesting proposition.
03 | Some of our towns are recording strong price growth
According to realestate.com.au market data, house values over the past year have increased 14.9% in Cootamundra, 9.3% in Harden, 9.1% in Parkes, 8.7% in Boorowa, 6.7% in Forbes and 6.1% in Young.
Every town, suburb and property has its own story, but there is plenty of positive movement across our local markets.
04 | People are still investing in our regions
Across our towns, significant investment continues in health, infrastructure, agriculture, industry and local business.
In Cowra, the new $110.2 million hospital redevelopment has delivered a new purpose built facility and expanded health services for the community and surrounding region.
Residential development is also continuing, with projects including Donohoe’s Estate in Boorowa, Willow Acres and Chardonnay Hills in Cowra creating new housing opportunities and supporting continued growth in our towns.
It’s another sign that people are continuing to invest in the future of our communities.
05 | Parkes is positioning itself for significant growth
Parkes continues to build on its position as an important freight, logistics and industrial hub.
The 4,800 hectare Parkes Special Activation Precinct is one of the most significant economic development projects in the region.
According to the NSW Government’s Central West and Orana Regional Plan, the precinct could generate up to 3,000 jobs by 2041, across industries including freight and logistics, resource recovery, value added agriculture, critical minerals processing and energy generation.
The investment happening around Parkes has the potential to benefit the broader region for years to come.
06 | Forbes is showing some strong numbers
Forbes is another market worth watching.
According to the latest realestate.com.au market data, the median house price in Forbes is currently $480,000, up 6.7% over the past year.
Median house rents have increased 4.8% to $440 per week, while three bedroom house prices have increased 15.4% over the same period.
It’s a good example of how individual towns can tell a very different story from the broader market headlines.
07 | Regional property continues to offer value
For many people, our towns still offer something that is becoming harder to find in larger centres: the opportunity to buy a home at an affordable price point.
At Flemings, we’re seeing strong movement and demand for homes in the $450,000 to $600,000 price range across many of our towns.
At this price point, buyers can often secure a larger home, more land and more space than they might expect in a larger city or regional centre.
For buyers looking for value, that affordability continues to be one of the strengths of our local property markets.
08 | The lifestyle is still something special
And perhaps this is the thing that matters most.
There’s a growing body of research showing that people living in regional Australia report strong levels of wellbeing and life satisfaction.
The University of Canberra’s Regional Wellbeing Survey found regional Australians recorded a Personal Wellbeing Index score of 72.7, compared with 67.3 for metropolitan Australians. Global Life Satisfaction was also higher in regional Australia, at 73.3 compared with 67.7.
The numbers tell us something we already know. The things that make our towns great places to live haven’t changed.
Space. Community. A different pace of life. And the opportunity to build a good life close to the people and places that matter.
There’s more to the story.
The headlines will always focus on what’s changing, what’s slowing down and what’s not going well.
But look a little closer and there’s another story being told across Southern NSW and the Central West.
People are investing. Businesses are growing. Rental demand is strong. Some of our towns are recording solid price growth. And, importantly, people continue to choose these communities for the lifestyle, space, opportunity and connections they offer.
There’s plenty happening across our region, and plenty of reasons to feel positive about where we live and where we’re heading.