Demand for property in Australia’s regional centres is set to rise, with new data showing an increasing number of people leaving city areas.

The Regional Australia Institute’s (RAI) Regional Movers Index for the September quarter reveals that over a third (35.6%) of movers are relocating from capital cities to regional areas.

RAI CEO Liz Ritchie says this trend is driven by strong job opportunities in regional areas and more affordable housing, with far fewer people making the move back to cities.

“The population flow into regional Australia is at its highest since March 2022 and is 80% above pre-COVID-19 levels,” Ritchie notes.

The top destinations for city-to-region movers are the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Greater Geelong, Moorabool, and Lake Macquarie.

Ritchie stresses the importance of governments stepping in to help regional centres handle this growth. “It’s crucial to recognise this demographic shift and provide regional communities with the infrastructure, services, and support they need.

As a nation, we’re entering a new era of migration, and regional Australia is at the forefront,” she says.

“Regional Australia is expanding, and for this growth to continue sustainably, we must act now to build the necessary foundations,” Ritchie adds.