Coonamble
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Coonamble's population is approximately 4,105 as of August 2025, marking a rise of 179 people since the 2021 Census figure of 3,926. This increase reflects an estimated resident population of 4,077 in June 2024 and the addition of 17 new addresses after the Census date. The population density is around 0.30 persons per square kilometer. Coonamble's growth rate of 4.6% since the 2021 Census exceeds the SA3 area (2.6%) and the SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader in the area. Natural growth accounted for approximately 78.3% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a 2022 base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where no data is available, released in 2022 with a 2021 base year.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the population is projected to decrease by 505 persons overall, but specific age cohorts like those aged 85 and over are expected to grow, with a projected increase of 34 people in this group.

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

Coonamble has averaged approximately 7 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis. Between FY-20 and FY-25, 37 dwellings were approved in total. As of FY-26, there have been 3 approvals so far.

Given population decline in the area, new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice. New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $562,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments. In FY-26, $6.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to residential. Compared to Rest of NSW, Coonamble records elevated construction activity, at 21.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This has preserved reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand, despite being below national averages, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

New development consists of 60.0% detached dwellings and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a notable shift from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 95.0% houses. This shift may indicate decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles favouring more diverse, affordable housing options. With an estimated population of 661 people per dwelling approval, Coonamble's development environment is quiet and low activity. Given expected stable or declining population, pressure on housing should remain relatively low, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Coonamble has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 16thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified three projects potentially affecting this region: Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium Water Resource Plan, Inland Rail - Narromine to Narrabri, Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan, and Newell Highway Upgrade. These are the most relevant projects.

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

The labour market performance in Coonamble lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Coonamble has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, featuring prominently essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of June 2025.

In that month, 1,659 residents were employed at an unemployment rate of 7.3%, which is 1.8% higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Coonamble was 52.4%, lower than the Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries employing residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly strong with an employment share 5.8 times higher than the regional level, while manufacturing employs just 1% locally compared to Rest of NSW's 5.8%.

The labour force decreased by 1.8% over a 12-month period ending June 2025, alongside a 3.9% employment decline, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 2.1 percentage points. In contrast, the Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points during this period. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. Nationally, employment grew by 0.26%, and the unemployment rate was 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coonamble's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.5% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for local population changes.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Coonamble was $43,964 and average income was $62,322. This is lower than Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. By March 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 10.6%, median income in Coonamble would be approximately $48,624 and average income $68,928. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Coonamble fall between the 18th and 24th percentiles nationally. The largest earnings segment comprises 28.4% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly. Housing costs are modest, with 91.1% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 26th percentile nationally.

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

In Coonamble, as per the latest Census evaluation, 94.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 5.1% comprising semi-detached units, apartments, and other dwelling types. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's distribution of 90.0% houses and 10.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coonamble stood at 42.4%, mirroring the rate in Non-Metro NSW. Of the remaining dwellings, 25.3% were mortgaged and 32.3% rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $867, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,000 and significantly lower than the national average of $1,863 as of the latest available data. The median weekly rent in Coonamble was recorded at $190, compared to Non-Metro NSW's figure of $180 and substantially below the national average of $375.

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

Family households account for 65.6% of all households, including 22.5% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 15.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.4%, with lone person households at 31.3% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

Coonamble faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 16.2%, substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.1% and graduate diplomas at 1.3%. Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 35.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 27.4%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 13.7% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing tertiary education. Coonamble's five schools have a combined enrollment reaching 666 students as of the latest data available. The educational mix includes three primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school.

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

Coonamble has 173 active public transport stops. These are served by a mix of trains and buses along 19 different routes. Together, these routes offer 185 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 157 meters. On average, there are 26 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately one weekly trip per stop.

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

Health data shows significant health challenges in Coonamble, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups.

The area has private health cover at approximately 51%, slightly lower than the average SA2 area. Asthma and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 11.3% and 8.9% of residents respectively. A total of 62.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 65.9% in Rest of NSW. Coonamble has 18.2% of residents aged 65 and over (747 people), lower than the 20.2% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors show similar challenges to those faced by the general population.

The latest Census data sees Coonamble placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Coonamble has a cultural diversity index below average. Its population is predominantly citizens (84.7%), born in Australia (96.2%), and speaking English at home (97.6%). Christianity is the predominant religion, practised by 73.9%, compared to 67.2% across Rest of NSW.

Ancestry shows Australians are the largest group (32.4%), followed by English (24.4%) and Australian Aboriginal (22.1%).

Coonamble's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Coonamble is 37 years, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and close to Australia's national average of 38 years. The age profile shows a prominent percentage (8.9%) of individuals aged 0-4 years, while the percentage of those aged 65-74 years is comparatively smaller at 9.6% than in Rest of NSW. From 2021 to present, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 10.6% to 12.1%. Conversely, the age groups of 45-54 have declined from 11.6% to 10.0%, and those aged 25-34 have dropped from 12.5% to 11.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Coonamble's age structure. The population aged 85 years and above is projected to increase by 25 people (a rise of 27%), from 93 to 119 individuals. Notably, the combined age groups of 65+ are expected to account for 97% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the populations aged 75-84 years and 35-44 years are projected to experience declines.