Cooma
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Cooma's population was around 6724 as of November 2025. This reflected a decrease of 37 people, or approximately 0.5%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6761 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6720 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 51 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of approximately 64 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration which contributed approximately 96.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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, AreaSearch utilised the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations were applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, over this period, the area's population was expected to decline by approximately 239 persons by 2041. However, growth across specific age cohorts was anticipated, notably the 85 and over age group which was projected to grow by approximately 103 people.

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 homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 71 homes. In the current financial year FY-26, three approvals have been recorded to date. 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 of new dwellings is $196,000, which is below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers.

This financial year has seen $105.2 million in commercial development approvals, suggesting robust local business investment. However, Cooma records significantly lower building activity compared to the rest of NSW, with 59.0% fewer approvals per person than the regional average. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. The area's new construction activity is also below the national average, suggesting its established nature and potential planning limitations. All new construction in Cooma has been comprised of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

With an estimated 1604 people per dwelling approval, the development environment is quiet and low activity. Given the expected stable or declining population, Cooma should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers in the future.

Cooma has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eleven projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Cooma Festival Swimming Pool Upgrades, Alpine Rise, Cooma Crown Land Housing Development, and 3 Thurrung Street Residential Subdivision. The following list details those expected to be 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.

The employment landscape in Cooma presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.2%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Cooma's workforce is skilled with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.2% as of June 2019.

As of June 2025, 3,238 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.7%, 0.5% below Rest of NSW's rate. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries include 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 Rest of NSW's 16.9%. The ratio of 0.6 workers per resident indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Cooma's labour force decreased by 3.6%, with employment declining by 4.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.1%, labour force grow by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cooma's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in Cooma is $51,670 and average income is $63,060. This is slightly lower than national averages of $54,898 (median) and $71,722 (average). In Rest of NSW, the median income is $49,459 and average income is $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Cooma would be approximately $58,186 (median) and $71,012 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 43rd percentile ($771 weekly), while household income sits at the 26th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 29.7% of locals (1,997 people) have incomes in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the surrounding region where this cohort represents 29.9%. Housing costs allow for retention of 87.1% of income, but disposable income is below average at the 31st percentile.

Cooma is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Cooma's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 87.0% houses and 13.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cooma stood at 39.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.8% and rented ones at 30.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,408. Median weekly rent in Cooma was $290, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Cooma's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 versus Australia's 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 make up the remaining 37.8%, with lone person households at 34.4% and group households comprising 3.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 21.3%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 14.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (30.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education. Cooma operates a network of 8 schools educating approximately 1,411 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 994) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 3 primary, 2 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools. Cooma functions as an education hub with 21.0 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 13.3, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

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

Cooma has 155 active public transport stops. These include both train and bus services. There are 28 different routes operating in total, providing a combined weekly passenger trip count of 307.

The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 157 meters. Across all routes, there is an average service frequency of 43 trips per day, which equates to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

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, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover stands at approximately 51% of the total population (~3,435 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (11.3%) and mental health concerns (9.8%), with 62.2% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 67.2% in Rest of NSW. Residents aged 65 and over make up 23.2% (1,560 people) of the population, higher than the 20.6% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Cooma has a lower than average cultural diversity, with 84.9% of its population being Australian citizens, 82.7% born in Australia, and 90.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Cooma, comprising 54.9% of the population, compared to 51.3% across the rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (29.9%), English (26.8%), and Irish (9.1%).

Some ethnic groups have higher representation than average: Hungarian at 0.5% vs regional 0.3%, German at 4.5% vs regional 4.0%, and Lebanese at 0.6% vs regional 0.4%.

Cooma hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Cooma's median age is 44 years, similar to Rest of NSW's 43, and above the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Cooma has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (13.8%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (9.6%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 increased from 12.1% to 13.8%, while the proportion of those aged 45 to 54 decreased from 12.3% to 10.5%. By 2041, Cooma's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The number of residents aged 85 and over is projected to grow by 46%, reaching 316 from 215. Residents aged 65 and older will represent 75% of the anticipated population growth. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 25-34 age groups are expected to decrease in number.