Australians are moving to regional communities in record numbers, with the latest Regional Movers Index showing the shift beyond the nation’s capital cities continues to gather pace.
The March 2026 quarter recorded the highest level of capital-to-region movement since the index began, with people moving from capital cities to regional Australia outnumbering those heading in the opposite direction by 29.7 per cent.
The Regional Movers Index, a partnership between the Regional Australia Institute and Commonwealth Bank, tracks population movements between Australia’s cities and regions.
Regional Australia Institute chief executive Liz Ritchie said the results highlighted the enduring appeal of regional living.
“This is the highest level of capital to regional movement the RMI has ever recorded,” she said. “Australians are continuing to choose regional life in greater numbers, even as economic conditions shift.”
While Sydney and Melbourne continue to account for most people leaving capital cities, the latest figures show the trend is becoming more broad-based, with Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide all recording an increased share of net outflows.
The Sunshine Coast remained the most popular destination for city movers, while Greater Geelong, Fraser Coast, Moorabool and Lake Macquarie also featured among the top destinations.
The data also points to growth emerging across a wider range of regional communities.
Toowoomba recorded the strongest year-on-year growth in net inflows from capital cities of any local government area in Australia. Other locations attracting increasing numbers of city residents included Broome, Townsville and the Mid-Coast region of New South Wales.
Ritchie said the data helps identify emerging growth hotspots and highlights where communities may need additional housing and infrastructure as populations grow.
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