Cooma Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

Cooma Surrounds has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Cooma Surrounds' population is approximately 3,610 as of November 2025. This figure represents a growth of 138 people, an increase of 4.0%, since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 3,472. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,555 in June 2024 and the addition of 87 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 0.60 persons per square kilometer. Cooma Surrounds' growth rate of 4.0% since the census is within 0.5 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.5%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 84.6% 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 years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics project an above median growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with Cooma Surrounds expected to increase by 498 persons to 2041, a total increase of 12.2% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Cooma Surrounds recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Cooma Surrounds has recorded approximately 12 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 60 homes. In FY-26 so far, 1 approval has been recorded. On average, around 3 people have moved to the area per new home constructed in the past five financial years (FY-21 to FY-25), reflecting robust demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $413,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments.

This year has seen $3.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to residential growth. Compared to Rest of NSW, Cooma Surrounds records about 68% of the building activity per person and places among the 54th percentile of areas assessed nationally, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New development consists of 90.0% detached dwellings and 10.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The location has approximately 298 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

Looking ahead, Cooma Surrounds is expected to grow by 442 residents through to 2041. Construction is maintaining a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers could encounter growing competition as population increases.

Cooma Surrounds has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 28 projects that may impact the region. Notable ones include Cooma Solar Farm, Polo Flat Road Roundabout, Monaro High School upgrade, and Cooma Festival Swimming Pool upgrades. The following list details those likely 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.

Employment conditions in Cooma Surrounds demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Cooma Surrounds has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation as of June 2025. The unemployment rate is 2.1%.

There are 2,005 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 1.6% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation stands at 60.5%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, public administration & safety, and construction. The area shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 3.6 times the regional level.

Health care & social assistance has limited presence at 7.0%, compared to 16.9% regionally. Labour force decreased by 3.6% over a 12-month period ending June 2025, while employment declined by 4.3%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.6 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cooma Surrounds' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.4% over five years and 11.5% over ten years.

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

Cooma Surrounds had a median taxpayer income of $49,932 and an average of $60,967 in the financial year 2022. This was lower than national averages, with Rest of NSW reporting a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998. By September 2025, estimates suggest these figures would be approximately $56,228 (median) and $68,655 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Cooma Surrounds ranked modestly, between the 41st and 48th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income brackets showed that 30.1% of individuals fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Housing costs were manageable with 89.5% retained, but disposable income was below average at the 48th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

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

Cooma Surrounds' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 98.7% houses and 1.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's figures of 87.0% houses and 13.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cooma Surrounds stood at 53.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (36.7%) or rented (10.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,627, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,408. Median weekly rent in Cooma Surrounds was $290, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $300. Nationally, Cooma Surrounds' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,627 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were lower at $290 compared to the national figure of $375.

Cooma Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.1% of all households, including 27.8% couples with children, 37.2% couples without children, and 6.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.9%, with lone person households at 26.7% and group households making up 1.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Cooma Surrounds fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational qualifications in Cooma Surrounds lag behind regional benchmarks, with 22.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. The most common qualification is a bachelor degree at 15.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 31.4%. Educational participation is high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.3% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education. Cooma Surrounds has three schools with a combined enrollment of 35 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 950) and balanced educational opportunities. All three schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Local school capacity is limited at 1.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.3, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

The analysis of public transport in Cooma Surrounds indicates that there are currently 118 operational transport stops. These stops offer a combination of train and bus services, with a total of 24 unique routes operating weekly. The collective passenger trips across these routes amount to 178 per week.

Residents' accessibility to public transport is considered limited, as the average distance to the nearest stop is 1368 meters. On average, each route provides 25 daily trips, which translates to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Cooma Surrounds is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Cooma Surrounds faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~1,805 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.9 and 8.1% of residents respectively. A total of 64.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.2% across Rest of NSW. The area has 26.0% of residents aged 65 and over (938 people), which is higher than the 20.6% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

Cooma Surrounds is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Cooma Surrounds had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 88.4% of its population being Australian citizens, 87.2% born in Australia, and 95.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Cooma Surrounds, accounting for 58.6%, compared to 51.3% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (30.7%), Australian (28.9%), and Irish (11.4%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was slightly overrepresented at 10.1%, while German and Lebanese ancestries were roughly equal to regional averages at 4.1% and 0.4%, respectively.

Cooma Surrounds ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Cooma Surrounds is 49, which is higher than the Rest of NSW figure at 43 and well above Australia's median age of 38. The 55-64 age cohort is notably over-represented in Cooma Surrounds at 16.2%, compared to the Rest of NSW average of 13.9% and the national average of 11.2%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group is under-represented at 9.7%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.1% to 10.6%, while the 25-34 cohort has risen from 8.2% to 9.7%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 age group has declined from 16.1% to 13.8%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 11.7% to 9.7%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Cooma Surrounds' age structure. The 35-44 age cohort is projected to grow by 120 people (34%), increasing from 353 to 474. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 45-54 age cohorts.