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

According to evaluations by AreaSearch, the population of Cootamundra stands at approximately 7,727 in May 2026. This represents a gain of 22 individuals (0.3%) relative to the 2021 Census, which recorded 7,705 people. This shift is calculated utilizing the ABS estimated resident population of 7,727 from June 2025 and 44 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 4.7 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious residential environment. The 0.3% increase in Cootamundra since the Census is within 1.9 percentage points of the broader SA4 region (2.2%), showing competitive growth indicators. The population gains were driven almost exclusively by overseas migration, which served as the primary source of growth in recent times.

For each SA2 area, AreaSearch incorporates projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 areas where this dataset is unavailable, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 using 2021 as the baseline are utilized. Age group growth rates derived from these sources are applied to all regions for the period from 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic patterns, regional areas nationwide are projected to experience lower quartile growth, with Cootamundra anticipated to grow by 259 individuals by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP statistics, representing a total expansion of 3.4% over the 16 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 records approximately 21 new dwelling approvals annually, with a total of 109 homes approved during the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 14 approvals recorded during FY-26 so far. With an average addition of just 0.2 new residents per built dwelling over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), construction rates are matching or running ahead of demand, expanding options for buyers and allowing for population growth to potentially outpace forecasts, with new dwellings carrying an average building cost of $293,000. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $7.0 million have been registered in the current financial year, highlighting that the local area is predominantly residential.

In comparison to the Rest of NSW, Cootamundra exhibits roughly two-thirds the volume of new home approvals per capita, placing it in the 18th percentile of all analyzed locations nationally, which constrains options for purchasers and sustains demand for established properties. This rate is also below the national average, indicating a mature area and suggesting potential planning limitations. Recent residential construction is composed of 93.0% standalone houses and 7.0% medium and high-density developments, preserving the low-density profile of the area with a focus on family properties that suit buyers seeking space. An estimated ratio of 815 people in the region for every single dwelling approval underscores the quiet, low-scale nature of local development.

Demographic projections indicate that Cootamundra will add 259 inhabitants by 2041 (starting from the most recent quarterly estimate by AreaSearch). With current construction trends, the volume of new housing should easily satisfy demand, creating favorable buying conditions and potentially enabling growth that exceeds existing population forecasts.

Cootamundra has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and council planning initiatives represent significant influences on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 3 projects that are expected to influence the local area. The main developments include The Wired Lab - The Church (Muttama Cultural Tourism Project), Inland Rail - Illabo to Stockinbingal, the Smart Water Meter Replacement Program, and the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Single Local Environmental Plan Development, with the details of the most significant works listed below.

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

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The employment landscape in Cootamundra presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.4%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Cootamundra has a balanced labor force distributed across white-collar and blue-collar roles, with a strong representation in essential services and an unemployment rate of just 3.4%. As of March 2026, 3,000 residents are employed, and the local unemployment rate sits 0.8% below the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, while workforce participation is notably lower (47.6% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW). According to Census records, a low proportion of 10.3% of the working population performed their jobs from home, though the influence of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account.

The primary employment sectors for local citizens are health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade. The local workforce shows an exceptionally high concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, employing residents at 2.5 times the regional rate. Conversely, accommodation & food services has a small footprint, accounting for 5.1% of local jobs compared to 7.8% across the region. A comparison between the Census working population and the resident population suggests that local job opportunities within the area are limited.

According to AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, the labor force shrank by 3.5% and total employment fell by 2.8% over the 12-month period, resulting in a 0.6 percentage point decrease in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% reduction in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide additional context regarding future employment trends in Cootamundra. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce distribution to project future growth. Nationally, employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary widely by sector. Applying these industry projections to the local employment structure suggests Cootamundra's employment could rise by 6.0% over five years and 12.7% over ten years (note that this calculation is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population forecasts).

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

The most recent ATO data at the postcode level analyzed by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 shows that personal incomes in the Cootamundra SA2 are below national averages, with a median of $48,048 and an average of $58,797. This is lower than the figures for Regional NSW, which recorded a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index rise of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated figures for March 2026 would be approximately $53,007 for the median and $64,865 for the average. Census records indicate that household, family, and personal incomes in Cootamundra all sit within the 5th to 10th national percentiles. The largest income bracket locally consists of 29.6% of residents (2,287 individuals) earning $400 - 799 weekly, which differs from the regional pattern where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is largest at 29.9%. Although living expenses are low, leaving residents with 88.8% of their income, total disposable income falls in the 10th percentile nationally.

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

Residential structures in Cootamundra at the time of the latest Census consisted of 92.4% separate houses and 7.6% other housing types (including semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to 82.6% separate houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership rates in Cootamundra were significantly higher than the regional level, standing at 50.7%, while the remaining properties were either held with a mortgage (25.9%) or rented (23.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,111 was much lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $219 compared to the regional figure of $330. On a national scale, Cootamundra's mortgage repayments are much lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are far below the national median of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 65.9%, consisting of 20.4% couples with children, 34.7% couples without children, and 10.1% single-parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 34.1% of households, with lone person households representing 32.3% and group housing making up 1.7%. The median household size of 2.2 individuals is below the Regional NSW median of 2.4.

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

Educational outcomes in the area present challenges, with the proportion of residents holding a university qualification (13.4%) falling well short of the NSW state average of 32.2%. This gap highlights both an area of concern and an opportunity for focused educational programs. Among university graduates, Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.8% and graduate diplomas at 1.6%. Vocational and technical skills are highly prevalent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 30.5%.

Enrolment rates are high, with 25.0% of the local population engaged in formal study. This student population includes 10.0% in primary schools, 8.1% in secondary education, and 1.5% enrolled in higher education.

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

An evaluation of public transport options shows 274 active stops operating in Cootamundra, including both train and bus options. These stops are served by 39 different routes, which provide a total of 925 weekly passenger journeys. Access to transport is high, with residents living an average of 187 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the area, most workers commute outside the town, with private vehicles being the primary mode of travel at 91%, followed by walking at 6%. Average vehicle ownership stands at 1.3 per household, which is below the regional average. A relatively low proportion of residents work from home, standing at 10.3% in the 2021 Census, which may be influenced by pandemic conditions.

Service frequency across all local routes averages 132 trips per day, which equates to about 3 weekly trips per individual stop. The corresponding map highlights the 100 closest stops relative to the center of the town.

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

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality indices and the occurrence of long-term illnesses, Cootamundra faces significant health challenges, with common medical issues prevalent among both younger and older residents, alongside a very low rate of private health insurance coverage at roughly 48% of the population (~3,739 people). This coverage rate is lower than the 51.9% recorded across Regional NSW and the national benchmark of 55.7%.

The most common medical diagnoses among residents were arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 12.9% and 9.4% of the population, respectively, while 56.5% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Chronic disease rates are elevated among the working-age population. Residents aged 65 and over make up 33.8% of the population (2,608 people), exceeding the Regional NSW proportion of 23.4%. Health profiles for older residents show some challenges, with national comparative rankings matching those of the broader community.

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

Cultural diversity measures in Cootamundra are below national averages, with citizens making up 91.5% of the population, 92.6% of residents born in Australia, and 97.4% using only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, representing 69.0% of the population, which is higher than the 55.9% average across Regional NSW.

Regarding family ancestry, the three largest groups in Cootamundra are English at 33.5%, Australian at 32.9%, and Irish at 10.7%. There are also notable differences in other groups: Australian Aboriginal residents are overrepresented at 4.9% (compared to 4.6% in the region), while Scottish heritage stands at 7.6% (compared to 8.0% regionally) and German heritage represents 3.2% (compared to 3.1% regionally).

Cootamundra ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Cootamundra's median age of 51 years is higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38. Compared to Regional NSW, there is a higher concentration of residents in the 65 - 74 age bracket (16.9% locally compared to 9.4% nationally), while the 35 - 44 age bracket is smaller (7.6%). Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group increased from 10.5% to 12.2% of the population, and the 15 to 24 cohort rose from 9.2% to 10.4%. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 group fell from 14.9% to 13.6% and the 35 to 44 cohort decreased from 8.9% to 7.6%. By 2041, demographic shifts will alter the local age profile. The 85+ cohort is projected to expand by 45% (161 people), growing from 360 to 522. Residents aged 65 and older will represent 54% of the total projected growth, highlighting an aging trend, while the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 cohorts are expected to contract.