Cooma

Cooma has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Cooma's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 6598 as of May 2026. This figure represents a decrease of 163 individuals (2.4%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6761 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6598 in June 2025 and an additional 56 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 63 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the area's population is expected to decrease by 247 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 85 and over group are projected to grow by 99 people during this period.

The level of residential development activity in Cooma is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Cooma has seen approximately 14 new home approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 71 homes. As of FY-26, 14 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline in the area, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. The average expected construction cost for new dwellings is $196,000, which is below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing options.

In FY-26, $105.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Cooma has significantly lower building activity, at 59.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. Additionally, new construction is primarily comprised of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space. The estimated population-to-dwelling-approval ratio is 1604 people per approval, reflecting Cooma's quiet development environment.

With a stable or declining population expected in the future, Cooma should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Cooma has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 40thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include Alpine Rise, Cooma Crown Land Housing Development, 3 Thurrung Street Residential Subdivision, and Cooma Festival Swimming Pool Upgrades. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch analysis indicates Cooma maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Cooma has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of 2.7% as of December 2025. There are 3,150 residents in work, with an unemployment rate 1.3% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is similar to Regional NSW's 60.5%.

According to Census responses, 10.2% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries among residents are retail trade, construction, and health care & social assistance. The area has a notable concentration in electricity, gas, water & waste services, with employment levels at 5.1 times the regional average. However, health care & social assistance employs only 11.3% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 16.9%.

As of the Census, there is a ratio of 0.6 workers for each resident, indicating a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 4.6% alongside a 4.3% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, with the labour force falling by 0.8% and unemployment rising 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cooma's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Cooma SA2 is approximately average nationally. The median income is $55,693 and the average income stands at $67,735. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $61,441 (median) and $74,725 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 42nd percentile ($771 weekly), while household income sits at the 26th percentile. Income analysis reveals that the predominant cohort spans 29.7% of locals (1,959 people) with incomes in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort also represents 29.9%. Housing costs are manageable with 87.1% retained, but disposable income sits below average at the 31st percentile.

Cooma is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Cooma, as recorded in the latest Census, 88.5% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 11.5% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types of dwellings. This compares to Regional NSW where 82.6% of dwellings were houses and 17.4% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Cooma was at 39.8%, similar to the Regional NSW average, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.8% and rented dwellings at 30.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cooma was $1,300, lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Cooma was recorded at $290, compared to $330 in Regional NSW. Nationally, Cooma's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Cooma features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 62.2% of all households, including 22.3% couples with children, 28.5% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.8%, with lone person households at 34.4% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Cooma aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 21.3%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 14.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (30.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 10.2% in primary, 6.9% in secondary, and 3.2% in tertiary education.

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

Cooma has 160 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 27 routes, providing 313 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically 157 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes are outward-bound due to Cooma's residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode at 88%, while 8% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.2% of residents work from home, which might reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 44 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly one weekly trip per stop. The map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Cooma is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Cooma faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age groups. The rate of private health cover is high at approximately 53% of the total population (~3,470 people), slightly above the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.3% and 9.8% of residents respectively. Conversely, 62.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a notable senior population, with 23.4% of residents aged 65 and over (1,541 people). Senior health outcomes present some challenges, generally in line with national rankings.

Cooma ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cooma's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.9% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia at a rate of 82.7%, and speaking English only at home at 90.2%. Christianity is the predominant religion in Cooma, making up 54.9% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (29.9%), English (26.8%), and Irish (9.1%).

Notably, Hungarian representation stands at 0.5%, higher than the regional average of 0.2%. German representation is also higher at 4.5%, compared to 3.1% regionally, while Lebanese representation is at 0.6%, up from the regional average of 0.2%.

Cooma hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Cooma's median age is 44 years, comparable to Regional NSW's 43 years and higher than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Cooma has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (14.0%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (9.4%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of residents aged 35-44 has increased from 12.1% to 14.0%, while those aged 5-14 have risen from 10.6% to 11.7%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 has decreased from 12.3% to 10.7%. By 2041, Cooma's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 85 and over is projected to grow by 46%, reaching 313 from 214. This demographic shift will be led by the growth in the 85+ group, with residents aged 65 and older representing 66% of the anticipated population growth. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 25-34 age groups are expected to decrease in number.