Cootamundra

Cootamundra is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Cootamundra's population is around 7,796 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 91 people (1.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,705 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,722 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 41 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 4.7 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Regarding demographic trends, lower quartile growth of regional areas across the nation is anticipated, with the area expected to expand by 299 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 2.9% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Cootamundra, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Cootamundra has seen around 21 new homes approved per year, with 109 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 9 so far in FY-26. With an average of only 0.2 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts, while new dwellings are developed at an average value of $293,000. Additionally, $7.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Cootamundra shows approximately 57% of the construction activity per person and ranks in the 18th percentile of areas assessed nationally, meaning more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. This is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints. New development consists of 93.0% detached dwellings and 7.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 815 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Looking ahead, Cootamundra is expected to grow by 225 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Cootamundra has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 3 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include The Wired Lab - The Church (Muttama Cultural Tourism Project), Inland Rail - Illabo to Stockinbingal, Smart Water Meter Replacement Program, and Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Single Local Environmental Plan Development, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 Cootamundra presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.3%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Cootamundra features a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of only 3.3%. As of December 2025, 2,926 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.6% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation lags significantly (46.4% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a low 10.3% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care and social assistance, agriculture, forestry and fishing, and retail trade. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in agriculture, forestry and fishing, with employment levels at 2.5 times the regional average. Meanwhile, accommodation and food has a limited presence with 5.1% employment compared to 7.8% regionally. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw the labour force decrease by 3.1% alongside a 3.0% employment decline, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. This compares to Regional NSW, where employment fell by 1.2%, the labour force contracted by 0.8%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Cootamundra. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Cootamundra's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.7% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Cootamundra SA2 is lower than average on a national basis, with the median assessed at $48,048 while the average income stands at $58,797. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $52,305 (median) and $64,006 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Cootamundra all fall between the 5th and 10th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows the largest segment comprises 29.6% earning $400 - 799 weekly (2,307 residents), diverging from the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 29.9%. While housing costs are modest with 88.8% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 10th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure within Cootamundra, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 92.4% houses and 7.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Cootamundra was higher than that of Regional NSW, at 50.7%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (25.9%) or rented (23.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional NSW average at $1,111, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $219, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Cootamundra's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 65.9% of all households, comprising 20.4% couples with children, 34.7% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.1%, with lone person households at 32.3% and group households comprising 1.7% of the total. The median household size of 2.2 people is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Cootamundra 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 (13.4%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 10.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (30.5%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 25.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 1.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 274 active transport stops operating within Cootamundra, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 39 individual routes, collectively providing 925 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 187 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 91%, with 6% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 10.3% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 132 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 3 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Cootamundra, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~3,773 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW, while the national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 12.9% and 9.4% of residents, respectively, while 56.5% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 33.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,595 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Cootamundra is below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 91.5% of its population being citizens, 92.6% born in Australia, and 97.4% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Cootamundra is Christianity, which makes up 69.0% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Cootamundra are English, comprising 33.5% of the population, Australian, comprising 32.9% of the population, and Irish, comprising 10.7% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal is notably overrepresented at 4.9% of Cootamundra (vs 4.6% regionally), Scottish at 7.6% (vs 8.0%) and German at 3.2% (vs 3.1%).

Cootamundra ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

At 51 years, Cootamundra's median age is significantly above the Regional NSW average of 43 as well as considerably older than the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Regional NSW average, the 65 - 74 cohort is notably over-represented (16.7% locally), while 35 - 44 year-olds are under-represented (7.6%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 10.5% to 12.0% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.2% to 10.5%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort has declined from 8.9% to 7.6% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 14.9% to 13.8%. By 2041, Cootamundra is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading the demographic shift, the 85+ group will grow by 45% (161 people), reaching 522 from 360. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those 65+ comprising 54% of projected growth. Conversely, both 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 age groups will see reduced numbers.