Tumbarumba
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Tumbarumba's population is approximately 3,607 as of August 2025. This figure represents a rise of 85 individuals (2.4%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,522 people. The increase was inferred from an estimated resident population of 3,543 in June 2024 and the addition of 60 validated new addresses since the Census date. This translates to a density ratio of 0.80 persons per square kilometer. Tumbarumba's growth rate surpassed that of its SA3 area (1.8%), making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 93.8% of overall population gains recently.

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 from 2022, using 2021 as the base year, are utilized. Growth rates by age group for these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Tumbarumba's population is projected to decrease by 11 persons. However, specific age cohorts like the 75-84 group are expected to grow, with a projected increase of 82 people.

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

Tumbarumba has received around 12 dwelling approvals annually. ABS data shows 64 homes approved over the past five financial years (FY-20 to FY-25), with none recorded so far in FY-26. On average, 0.6 new residents per year per dwelling have been added during this period. New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, offering ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost of new properties is $376,000, below the regional average. In FY-26, there have been $7.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited commercial development focus. Compared to Rest of NSW, Tumbarumba has had 15.0% higher construction activity per person over the past five years. However, this level is below national average, suggesting possible planning constraints.

All new constructions have been detached dwellings, preserving Tumbarumba's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 737 people. Population projections indicate stability or decline in Tumbarumba, which should reduce housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Tumbarumba has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified fifteen projects that could impact the region. Notable ones are Batlow Water Security Concept Design Project, Talbingo Battery Energy Storage System, Snowy 2.0 Transmission Connection Project, and Tumut River Works Program. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Tumbarumba has been broadly consistent with national averages

Tumbarumba's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs with diverse industry representation. The unemployment rate in June 2025 was 3.4%, lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 7.6%. As of June 2025, 1,636 residents were employed with workforce participation at 54.1%, below Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, manufacturing, and public administration & safety. Tumbarumba has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share five times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 8.1% compared to Rest of NSW's 16.9%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 7.6%, labour force by 8.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.1 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections suggest Tumbarumba's growth could be approximately 4.7% over five years and 10.8% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Tumbarumba is below the national average. The median assessed income was $48,813, while the average income stood at $58,858. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures, where the median income was $49,459 and the average income was $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Tumbarumba would be approximately $53,987 (median) and $65,097 (average) as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Tumbarumba all rank modestly, between the 23rd and 30th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that the predominant cohort spans 30.0% of locals (1,082 people) with incomes in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, aligning with regional levels where this cohort likewise represents 29.9%. Housing costs are manageable, with 91.4% retained, although disposable income sits below average at the 33rd percentile.

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

Tumbarumba's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 97.0% houses and 3.0% other dwellings. In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tumbarumba stood at 51.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.3% and rented ones at 22.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,127, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,300. The median weekly rent in Tumbarumba was $208, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $230. Nationally, Tumbarumba's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Tumbarumba has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.5% of all households, including 23.1% couples with children, 36.4% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 27.8% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Tumbarumba 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 16.6%, substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 12.2%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.1%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 41.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (31.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.0% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education. Tumbarumba's five schools have a combined enrollment reaching 438 students while Tumbarumba demonstrates varied educational conditions across the area. Education provision is balanced with four primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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

Tumbarumba has 195 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 16 distinct routes that collectively facilitate 142 weekly passenger trips. The town's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically situated about 205 meters from their nearest transport stop.

On average, service frequency across all routes stands at approximately 20 trips per day, which equates to roughly 0 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Tumbarumba faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, covering about 1,771 people, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (affecting 11.2% of residents) and asthma (8.9%). Around 62.8% report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 62.9%. Tumbarumba has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 28.7% (1,035 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 24.8%. Health outcomes among seniors are notably better than average, surpassing general population metrics.

Tumbarumba is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Tumbarumba, as per the census conducted on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, showed lower cultural diversity compared to average standards. The population was predominantly citizens with 85.8%, born in Australia with 89.3%, and speaking English only at home with 96.7%. Christianity was the dominant religion in Tumbarumba, accounting for 61.4% of its population, slightly lower than the 65.3% recorded across Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.2%), English (31.4%), and Scottish (9.0%). Notably, German ancestry was higher in Tumbarumba at 4.7%, compared to the regional average of 3.7%. Similarly, Australian Aboriginal ancestry stood at 4.4% in Tumbarumba versus 4.8% regionally, while Maltese ancestry was recorded at 0.5% compared to 0.2% elsewhere.

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

Tumbarumba's median age in 2021 was 47 years, significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38 years. The age profile showed that those aged 65-74 were particularly prominent, making up 16.2% of the population, compared to 9.4% nationally and a lower proportion in the Rest of NSW. The 25-34 age group was smaller at 8.5%, compared to other regions. Between 2021 and the present day, the percentage of those aged 65-74 has increased from 13.9% to 16.2%, while the 15-24 cohort has grown from 8.8% to 10.2%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 15.5% to 13.8%, and the 25-34 group has dropped from 9.7% to 8.5%. By 2041, Tumbarumba's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 17 people, reaching 387 from 331, and those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 71% of the population growth. Conversely, declines are projected for the 0-4 and 15-24 cohorts.