Coombs

Coombs lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Coombs' population was around 6,433 as of Feb 2026. This reflected an increase of 1,582 people (32.6%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,851 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,872 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 684 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 2,772 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Coombs' 32.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the state's (6.7%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 57.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and overseas migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections with a base year of 2022 were adopted. Anticipating future population dynamics, a significant population increase in the top quartile of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch was forecast, with the area expected to increase by 2,790 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 34.6% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Coombs was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Coombs has averaged approximately 141 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 706 homes. As of FY-26, 93 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3 people per year move to the area for each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating robust demand that supports property values. New homes are built at an average expected construction cost value of $162,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

In FY-26, there have been $1.8 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Coombs has significantly less development activity, at 62.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. Nationally, this level of development is substantially higher, indicating strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 4.0% detached dwellings and 96.0% townhouses or apartments, demonstrating a trend towards denser development that caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shift reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Currently, Coombs has around 215 people per approval, reflecting a transitioning market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Coombs is projected to add 2,229 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Coombs has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified two projects that could impact the area: Molonglo Group Centre to Town Centre Transition, Molonglo Town Centre, Molonglo River Bridge and John Gorton Drive Extension, Fetherston Weston. The following details those likely most relevant.

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AreaSearch analysis places Coombs well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Coombs has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) 3.6%. Over the past year, employment grew by 2.3%.

As of September 2025, 3,680 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.6% below ACT's rate and workforce participation at 85.6%, higher than ACT's 72.5%. According to Census data, 10.3% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Notably, health care & social assistance employment is at 1.4 times the regional average, while construction employment is lower at 5.2%, compared to the region's 6.8%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.3% and labour force by 2.2%, decreasing unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, ACT's employment rose by 1.4%, labour force grew by 1.2%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across sectors. Applying these projections to Coombs' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data, released for financial year 2023, indicates Coombs SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $79,493 and an average of $92,556. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's median of $72,206 and average of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $86,854 (median) and $101,127 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes all rank highly in Coombs, between the 93rd and 96th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile reveals that 38.6% of residents (2,483 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 34.3% occupy this range. A significant portion, 42.1%, earns over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 16.4% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 92nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Coombs displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Coombs' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 37.5% houses and 62.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coombs was 7.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 64.0% and rented ones at 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Median weekly rent in Coombs was $480, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Coombs' mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Coombs features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 74.0% of all households, including 39.2% couples with children, 22.9% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.0%, with lone person households at 20.4% and group households comprising 5.5%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Coombs demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Coombs has a notably high level of educational attainment, with 57.7% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications. This figure surpasses both the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's average of 46.8%. The area shows strength in knowledge-based opportunities due to this significant educational advantage. Among Coombs' residents aged 15+, bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 33.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%).

Vocational pathways account for a notable proportion of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 10.2% and certificates 10.0%. Educational participation in Coombs is notably high, with 35.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in primary education, 8.7% in tertiary education, and 6.0% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis of public transport in Coombs indicates that there are 13 active transport stops currently operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 65 individual routes providing service to the region. The collective weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 4,528. The accessibility of transport in Coombs is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 231 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuting patterns involve outward travel. The dominant mode of transportation among residents is the car, used by 88% of inhabitants, while only 8% opt for public bus services.

On average, vehicle ownership per dwelling stands at 1.3. According to the 2021 Census data, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions, a relatively low 10.3% of residents work from home. The service frequency averages out to 646 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 348 weekly trips per individual stop.

Coombs's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Coombs shows exceptional health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 67% of the total population (4,297 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 7.4% of residents and asthma impacting 6.1%, while 81.5% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 70.2% in Australian Capital Territory. Coombs has 3.9% of residents aged 65 and over (252 people), lower than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Coombs is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Coombs has a high level of cultural diversity, with 43.8% of its population born overseas and 48.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Coombs, making up 33.7% of the population. However, Hinduism is notably overrepresented, comprising 12.2%, which is substantially higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%.

The top three ancestry groups in Coombs are Other at 23.5%, Australian at 16.9%, and English at 16.2%. These figures differ significantly from regional averages: Other is notably higher (23.5% vs 12.2%), while Australian and English are notably lower (16.9% vs 23.0% and 16.2% vs 23.3%, respectively). Additionally, certain ethnic groups show notable divergences in representation: Indian is overrepresented at 8.2% compared to the regional average of 3.3%, Korean at 1.4% (vs 0.6%), and Filipino at 3.1% (vs 1.2%).

Coombs hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Coombs has a median age of 31, which is younger than both the Australian Capital Territory figure of 35 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Coombs has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (22.2%), but fewer residents aged 65-74 (2.7%). This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.3%. Between 2021 and the present, Coombs' median age has increased by 1.4 years, from 30 to 31, indicating an aging population. During this period, the 45-54 age group has grown from 9.5% to 12.3%, while the 5-14 cohort has increased from 15.0% to 16.3%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 25.9% to 20.2%. By 2041, population forecasts suggest significant demographic changes in Coombs. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 70%, adding 553 residents to reach a total of 1,347. In contrast, the 75-84 age group shows minimal growth of just 10% (an increase of 4 people).