Coonamble

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

Coonamble's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 4,104 people. This figure represents an increase from the 3,926 people recorded in the 2021 Census, marking a growth of 178 individuals (4.5%). The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,097 reported by the ABS as of June 2025 and the addition of 20 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 0.30 persons per square kilometer. Coonamble's growth rate surpassed that of its SA3 area (1.3%) and SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 80.2% 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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are utilized, 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. By 2041, Coonamble's population is projected to decrease by 529 persons according to this methodology. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, which is projected to increase by 26 people.

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

Coonamble averaged approximately six new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 31 homes approved during this period. In FY26, three dwellings have been approved so far. The average construction value for these new properties is $364,000.

This year has seen $6.2 million in commercial development approvals, indicating the area's residential focus. Compared to the rest of NSW, Coonamble exhibits moderately higher construction activity, at 15.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. However, this level is below the national average, reflecting the area's maturity and suggesting possible planning constraints. The new building activity consists of 60.0% detached houses and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options and creating a mix of housing opportunities across price brackets. This marks a significant shift from existing housing patterns, which are currently 95.0% houses, potentially indicating diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs.

The estimated population density is 661 people per dwelling approval, reflecting Coonamble's quiet, low activity development environment. With stable or declining population projections, the area should experience reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Coonamble has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified four projects likely affecting this region: Inland Rail from Narromine to Narrabri, Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium Water Resource Plan, Aero Park Residential Estate, and Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan. The following details those most relevant.

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Coonamble faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Coonamble has a balanced workforce consisting of white and blue-collar jobs, with essential services well represented. Its unemployment rate is 4.9%. As of December 2025, 1,639 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 4.8% (0.9% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%).

Workforce participation in Coonamble stands at 55.5%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, 14.6% of residents work from home. The leading employment industries are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Coonamble specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 5.8 times the regional level.

Manufacturing employs just 1.0% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.8%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Over the year to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 5.2%, alongside a 5.1% employment decline, resulting in a 0.1 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2%, labour force decline of 0.8%, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimate that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coonamble's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Coonamble SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $46,133 and an average level of $67,024. Nationally, these figures are approximately average, compared to regional NSW levels of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 would be around $50,894 (median) and $73,941 (average). Census 2021 income data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Coonamble fall between the 17th and 23rd percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 28.4% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (1,165 residents), reflecting patterns seen in the broader area where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing costs are modest with 91.1% of income retained, resulting in a total disposable income ranking at the 26th percentile nationally.

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

Coonamble's dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 94.9% houses with 5.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Regional NSW where 82.6% of dwellings are houses and 17.4% are other types. Home ownership in Coonamble stood at 42.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.3% and rented ones at 32.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $867, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Coonamble was $190, significantly lower than Regional NSW's $330 and the national average of $375 for rents. Nationally, Coonamble's mortgage repayments were well below the Australian average of $1,863.

Coonamble features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 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 account for 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, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 16.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 35.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 27.4%. Educational participation is high, with 32.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 13.7% in primary, 9.3% in secondary, and 2.9% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.7% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Coonamble has 193 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 19 routes, providing a total of 195 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 160 meters. Most commuting in this primarily residential area is outward-bound. Cars are the dominant transport mode at 88%, with 10% walking. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 27 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly one weekly trip per stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Coonamble is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Coonamble faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Several health conditions affect both younger and older age groups, with private health cover at approximately 52% of the total population (~2,138 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (11.3%) and arthritis (8.9%), while 62.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. As of the assessment date, 17.9% of Coonamble's population is aged 65 and over (732 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present additional challenges, with national rankings higher than those of 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's cultural diversity was found to be below average. Its population comprised 84.7% citizens, with 96.2% born in Australia and 97.6% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, accounting for 73.9% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry, Australian heritage made up 32.4%, English 24.4% (lower than the regional average of 30.5%), and Australian Aboriginal 22.1% (substantially higher than the regional average of 4.6%).

Coonamble's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Coonamble is 37 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 0-4 years make up 9.7%, while those aged 65-74 years constitute 9.5%. Since 2021, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 10.6% to 12.6%, and the 0-4 age group has increased from 8.1% to 9.7%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 12.5% to 10.8%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 11.6% to 9.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the 85+ age cohort will increase by 27 people (31%), from 89 to 117. The combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 91% of total population growth, reflecting Coonamble's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 75-84 and 25-34 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.