Cooma

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

Cooma's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 6724 people. This figure reflects a decrease of 37 individuals since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 6761 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6720 in June 2024 and an additional 51 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 64 persons per square kilometer, indicating ample space per person. Overseas migration primarily drove population growth, contributing approximately 96.8% of overall population gains 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, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, Cooma's population is expected to decline by 239 people by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 85 and over age group which is projected to increase by 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 FY26 so far, there have been three approvals 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 value of new dwellings is $859,000, indicating developers' focus on the premium market and high-end developments.

This financial year, $105.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to the rest of NSW, Cooma records significantly lower building activity, at 59.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. The area's construction activity is also below the national average, reflecting its established nature and potential planning limitations. All new constructions in the area have been standalone homes, maintaining Cooma'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 area has a quiet, low activity development environment. Given the expected stable or declining population, Cooma should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers in the future.

Cooma has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 such projects that may affect this region. Notable ones include Alpine Rise, Cooma Crown Land Housing Development, 3 Thurrung Street Residential Subdivision, and Cooma Festival Swimming Pool Upgrades. The following list outlines those most likely to be 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 has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.2%.

As of June 2025, there are 3,238 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 0.5% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Cooma is similar to Rest of NSW at 56.4%. Leading employment industries include retail trade, construction, and health care & social assistance. Notably, electricity, gas, water & waste services have employment levels at 5.1 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance employs only 11.3% of local workers compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. The ratio of 0.6 workers per resident indicates a higher level of employment opportunities than usual. 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 percentage point. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.1%, the labour force grew by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. State-wide, NSW's employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs) from Nov-25 to Jun-25, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts 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 employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The latest AreaSearch postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Cooma SA2 had a median income of $51,670 and an average income of $63,060. This is slightly lower than the national averages of $49,459 (median) and $62,998 (average) for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimates as of September 2025 would be approximately $58,186 (median) and $71,012 (average). According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 42nd percentile ($771 weekly), while household income is at the 26th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 29.7% of locals (1,997 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, which aligns with the surrounding region where this cohort also represents 29.9%. Housing costs are manageable with 87.1% retained, 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, comprised 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 87.0% houses and 13.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cooma was 39.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.8% and rented ones at 30.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cooma was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro NSW's $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 against 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 comprise 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 account for 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 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's university qualification rate is 21.3%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 30.1%. Educational participation is high, with 28.6% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.2% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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, operating a mix of trains and buses. These stops are served by 28 individual routes, offering a total of 307 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 157 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 43 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per stop.

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

Health data shows significant challenges in Cooma with high prevalence of common health conditions 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 prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.3%) and mental health issues (9.8%). A total of 62.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.2% across Rest of NSW. Cooma has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.2% (1,560 people), compared to the Rest of NSW's 20.6%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges despite performing 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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, 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 predominant religion in Cooma, accounting for 54.9% of the population, compared to 51.3% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups in Cooma are Australian (29.9%), English (26.8%), and Irish (9.1%).

Notably, Hungarian (0.5%) and German (4.5%) populations are higher than regional averages of 0.3% and 4.0%, respectively, while Lebanese residents make up 0.6%, slightly above the regional average of 0.4%.

Cooma hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

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 35-44 age group grew from 12.1% to 13.8%, while the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.3% to 10.5%. By 2041, Cooma's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 46%, reaching 316 from 215. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 75% of the population growth. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 25-34 age groups are anticipated to decrease in numbers.