Moama

Moama lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Moama stands at approximately 8,116 in May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,186 residents (17.1%) from the 6,930 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. This population shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 8,036 and a further 790 validated new addresses identified since the Census. With this population level, the density is calculated at 48 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious residential environment. The area's 17.1% expansion since the 2021 census outstripped the 4.8% growth rate of the SA3 region and exceeded the Rest of NSW, establishing it as a local growth hotspot. This population gain was mostly fueled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 89.9% of the overall population rise in recent times.

For each SA2 locality, AreaSearch uses the ABS/Geoscience Australia projections published in 2024, which utilize 2022 as their baseline year. In cases where SA2 areas lack coverage in this dataset, projections from the NSW State Government's 2022 release with a 2021 baseline are applied instead. The age cohort growth rates from these combined datasets are also projected forward for all districts from 2032 to 2041. Looking at upcoming demographic patterns, the location is projected to experience exceptional growth that ranks in the top 10 percent of all non-capital territory locations, adding 3,576 residents by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP statistics, which represents a total increase of 43.1% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Moama was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Approximately 115 new residential dwellings have been approved each year in Moama, resulting in 579 home approvals over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 128 during FY-26 to date. An average of 2.3 new residents per dwelling was recorded over the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, pointing to healthy demand that should help maintain property values, with new builds averaging a construction cost of $381,000. Additionally, commercial building approvals reached $6.7 million this financial year, which highlights that the locality remains predominantly residential in character.

Per capita construction activity in Moama is 184.0% higher than in the Rest of NSW, providing home buyers with a broader selection of properties. This volume of building is significantly higher than the national average, showing strong developer interest. The composition of new construction comprises 99.0% detached houses and 1.0% medium and high-density developments, which preserves the traditional low-density neighborhood style centered around spacious family properties. The region has a ratio of roughly 61 people for every residential approval, demonstrating a growing market.

According to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, future forecasts indicate Moama will add 3,496 residents by 2041. While local building activity is keeping a steady pace with this projected population increase, home buyers may face rising competition as the resident count grows.

Moama has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and council planning schemes are primary drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 13 major projects that are expected to influence the local area. Key developments include the Perricoota Parklands Estate, the Moama Shopping Complex Development, the Moama Preschool Development, and The Vines Estate, with the list below highlighting the most significant undertakings.

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

The local workforce in Moama is evenly split between white-collar and blue-collar occupations, with a strong presence in essential services and a low unemployment rate of 2.1%. As of March 2026, there are 3,864 employed residents, with the unemployment rate tracking 2.0% lower than the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, while workforce participation aligns closely with the Regional NSW average of 60.6%. Census data reveals that a small proportion of residents, 10.4%, worked from home, although this figure may be influenced by pandemic-related lockdowns.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. Accommodation & food is highly represented in the area, employing staff at 1.6 times the regional average rate. In contrast, the mining industry has a small presence, accounting for 0.5% of employment compared to the regional average of 2.5%. A comparison between the Census working population and resident population numbers suggests that local employment opportunities within the immediate area are relatively limited.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that over the 12-month period, the local labor force contracted by 4.1% and total employment fell by 4.2%, which caused the unemployment rate to tick up by 0.1 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Regional NSW saw its employment drop by 0.9% and its labor force decrease by 0.4%, while its unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points. Future workforce needs in Moama can be assessed using the national employment projections from May-25 published by Jobs and Skills Australia. These five and ten-year national projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trends vary widely by industry. When these industry-specific projections are applied to the local employment mix, it suggests Moama's employment could grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation for comparison that does not incorporate local population forecasts.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to the latest postcode ATO statistics released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Moama SA2 earn a median income of $51,169 and an average income of $62,723. These figures are below national averages, and compare to a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 across Regional NSW. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would stand at approximately $56,450 for the median and $69,196 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and individual incomes in Moama lie between the 23rd and 25th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 27.6% of residents (2,240 individuals) are in the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket, which is similar to the broader region where 29.9% of households fall into this group. Residents retain 85.8% of their income after paying for housing, which ranks at the 26th percentile nationally and places the area in the 5th decile of the SEIFA income index.

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

At the time of the latest Census, residential dwellings in Moama consisted of 86.6% stand-alone houses and 13.5% alternative housing types, such as townhouses, apartments, and other dwellings, compared to Regional NSW where houses made up 82.6% and other dwellings made up 17.4%. Home ownership rates in Moama were high at 46.2%, which is well above the average for Regional NSW, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (33.2%) or rented (20.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was $1,638, which is lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $322, compared to $330 regionally. On a national level, housing costs in Moama are significantly lower than the Australian averages of $1,863 for mortgages and $375 for rent.

Moama has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 73.0% of the total, which includes 27.5% couples with children, 37.7% couples without children, and 7.3% single-parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 27.0%, consisting of lone-person households at 25.2% and group households at 1.8%. The median household occupancy is 2.4 people, matching the average across Regional NSW.

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

Educational attainment levels present an opportunity for targeted improvement, as the proportion of residents with a university qualification is 17.5%, which is below the NSW state average of 32.2%. Among those with university degrees, bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.7%, followed by graduate diplomas at 2.5% and postgraduate degrees at 2.3%. Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, including 9.9% with advanced diplomas and 27.8% with certificates.

Engagement in learning is strong throughout the community, with 25.7% of the population currently enrolled in an educational program. This student cohort includes 10.5% in primary schools, 8.2% in high schools, and 1.7% enrolled in higher education.

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

An analysis of public transport infrastructure shows 77 active transit stops within Moama, consisting of a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by 22 unique routes, which provide a total of 542 passenger trips per week. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 178 meters from their nearest transit stop. Because Moama is a residential community, most employed residents travel outside the area for work, with private cars remaining the primary mode of travel at 95%. The average vehicle ownership rate is 1.4 cars per household. A relatively low 10.4% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Across all active routes, service frequency averages 77 trips per day, which translates to roughly 7 weekly trips for each individual public transport stop.

Moama's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Public health metrics for Moama residents are generally positive, with AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and medical conditions showing outcomes that align closely with national baselines, including typical rates of common illnesses across both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is relatively low at about 50% of the population (~4,090 people) compared to a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health issues recorded in the region are arthritis and asthma, affecting 11.2% and 7.8% of the population respectively, while 64.3% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes for residents under the age of 65 are better than the national average. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 31.5% of the local population (2,556 people), which is higher than the Regional NSW average of 23.4%, with their national health rankings aligning with general population benchmarks.

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

Moama has lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens making up 90.8% of the population, 91.4% of residents born in Australia, and 96.6% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 56.0% of the population, which compares to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of parent country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Moama are English at 33.6%, Australian at 32.6%, and Irish at 9.1% of the population. There are also notable differences in other heritage groups, with Scottish ancestry overrepresented at 8.8% of Moama (compared to 8.0% regionally), Italian at 3.2% (compared to 2.1%), and Dutch at 1.3% (compared to 1.0%).

Moama hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Moama has a median age of 49, which is higher than the Regional NSW median of 43 and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, the 65 - 74 age bracket is highly represented at 16.2%, while the 25 - 34 cohort is underrepresented at 7.6%. The concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 is also well above the national figure of 9.4%. Since 2021, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 10.4% to 11.8%, and the 35 to 44 age bracket has increased from 10.0% to 11.2%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 group has decreased from 11.5% to 9.9% and the 25 to 34 group has fallen from 9.1% to 7.6%. Projections for 2041 indicate significant changes in the local age distribution, with the 65 to 74 group expected to grow by 599 people (46%), rising from 1,313 to 1,913.