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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Cobar is $340k. House values have moved 7.7% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Cobar has an estimated 3,584 residents. The population has thinned by an average 0.7% a year over five years, slower than 94% of areas nationally. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Cobar has an estimated population of approximately 3,584, according to AreaSearch analysis combining post-Census validated address counts with broader ABS demographic releases. In comparison to the 2021 Census tally of 3,603 people, this figure represents a contraction of 19 people (0.5%). This adjustment stems from the resident population estimate of 3,584 derived by AreaSearch from address validation and the ABS June 2025 ERP release. With 1.6 persons per square kilometer, the locality maintains an expansive, low-density environment. Across the prior decade, the suburb of Cobar recorded a -1.3% compound annual growth rate, performing ahead of the wider SA3 area, with natural increase serving as the main demographic contributor by generating roughly 71.0% of recent population additions.
Demographic modelling from AreaSearch incorporates SA2 projections published by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 using 2022 as a baseline, supplementing unlisted SA2 locations with 2022 NSW State Government forecasts based on 2021. For the period spanning 2032 to 2041, cohort-specific growth trends from these datasets are projected forward. Under this framework, the total headcount in the suburb of Cobar is forecast to experience a downturn, contracting by 837 persons by 2041. Despite this broader contraction, certain demographic brackets are expected to rise, most notably the 85 and over segment with a projected gain of 25 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential and building activity in Cobar remains subdued, with planning permissions averaging less than 1 approvals per year and amounting to minimal across the past five years. Such modest construction volumes align with the locality's rural profile, where building activity responds primarily to targeted community requirements rather than wider speculative demand. Because total approval numbers are so low, single building projects have the capacity to substantially sway comparative metrics and year-on-year growth rates. Construction activity across Cobar trails well behind figures observed across Rest of NSW. In addition, local building volumes remain beneath benchmarks seen across the nation.
Anticipated population stability or contraction is likely to alleviate demand on the local housing supply, which may open up favorable conditions for prospective property buyers in Cobar.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cobar
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 5 current infrastructure and development projects inside Cobar, worth an estimated $597 million. A further 54 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $29 billion. 20 are already under construction and 21 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and energy. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Strategic developments, civic planning, and capital works play a defining role in shaping regional prosperity. AreaSearch has identified 6 projects positioned to influence the locality. Notable works feature the Grand Central Precinct Planning and Design Project, Federation Mine, Old Hospital Site Residential Estate, along with the Great Cobar Museum Coach House and Underground Mine Experience, with the following overview highlighting the primary undertakings.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Grand Central Precinct Planning and Design Project
Cobar Shire Council is undertaking the Grand Central Precinct Planning and Design Project to drive economic and social revitalisation in the Cobar town centre. The project delivers detailed planning and design works across five key sites, bringing each to construction and tender-ready status: the Grand Hotel Redevelopment (transforming the heritage building into a cultural-commercial hub with retail, hospitality, co-working and accommodation); Library Upgrade (enhancing youth, technology and community spaces); Town Hall Restoration (multi-purpose community, arts and events use); Brennan Centre Expansion (six new senior housing units and a community room); and streetscape enhancements.No construction works are included in this phase. Tenders for the Brennan Centre Seniors Living Upgrade and CBD Upgrade projects closed in late 2025, with a scoping study for the Grand Hotel underway and an RFQ for the Library Feasibility Study released.
Old Hospital Site Residential Estate
Proposed residential subdivision on the former hospital site on Lerida Road, purchased by Cobar Shire Council in July 2022 to provide new housing options. The development is intended to attract families, professionals, and medical staff to Cobar and complement the adjacent health precinct. The project is currently in the planning phase, aligning with the development of the Cobar Local Housing Strategy.
Federation Mine
High-grade polymetallic underground mine in the Cobar Basin producing zinc, lead, gold, copper, and silver. The project officially transitioned to commercial production on 1 July 2025 and is operating ahead of plan. Ore haulage is directed to the Peak processing plant.
Great Cobar Museum Coach House and Underground Mine Experience
Construction of a new Coach House building to replace the existing one for the safe storage and display of large historical exhibits, and the creation of a new interactive underground mining experience to enhance the visitor experience and showcase Cobar's mining heritage. This is Phase 2 of the Great Cobar Museum upgrades.
Cobar Wind Farm
Proposed wind farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) featuring up to 30 turbines (up to 280m in height) with a 216 MW installed capacity and a 50MW/100MWh BESS across approximately 7,800 hectares of agricultural grazing land. The project aims to power approximately 130,000 homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 498,000 tonnes per year, producing around 756 GWh annually. Currently in the Prepare EIS stage under State Significant Development assessment (SSD-68084467). A key challenge is insufficient existing transmission capacity to support a grid connection without significant upgrades, which WestWind Energy is actively working to resolve.
Lachlan Views Estate (Scott Street Sub-division)
A council led residential subdivision in Condobolin providing around 22 new house and land lots on Scott Street and Officers Parade. Civil and road works were largely completed in the 2024/25 financial year, with Stage 1 lots now released to market through local agents to help address housing supply and support the town's growth.
GrainCorp Condobolin Rail Siding Upgrade
Upgrade of the rail siding at GrainCorp's Condobolin grain receival facility in central west NSW, delivering about 900 metres of additional siding and increasing loading capacity from 30 to 48 wagons. The A$7.96 million project enables longer, heavier trains, cuts round-trip train times by around 12 hours, shifts more grain from road to rail, and is expected to remove up to 900 truck movements a year from local roads, improving safety and freight efficiency for regional grain growers.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Narromine Industrial Precinct
The development of an industrial precinct along the impending Inland Rail. The site will be built with 40 hectares to accommodate interested businesses, with plans to expand to up to 100 hectares in its second phase. The Narromine industrial precinct will have the capacity to generate 700 jobs.
1,775 residents of Cobar are employed, from a labour force of 1,805. Unemployment sits at 1.7%, with participation at 65.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,775, about 77% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labor profile in Cobar displays an even distribution of blue-collar and white-collar roles, supported by prominent industrial and manufacturing activity and an unemployment rate of only 1.7%, according to AreaSearch aggregated figures. As of March 2026, employed residents count 1,775 individuals, while local joblessness sits 2.4% lower than the 4.1% seen in Regional NSW, alongside an active labor participation rate of 65.2% against 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census records indicate that merely 4.5% of the local workforce carried out their duties from home, a metric that may have been influenced by Covid-19 restrictions.
Key industries supporting local workers consist of mining, retail trade, along with education & training. Mining represents an exceptionally high concentration of the workforce, exceeding the regional baseline by 14.1 times. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 6.6% of employment, trailing the 16.9% recorded in Regional NSW. A comparison between Census working figures and the resident population suggests a constrained volume of local job opportunities. According to AreaSearch evaluation of broader ABS and SALM metrics, the 12 months to March 2026 saw local workforce numbers drop by 2.3% and total employment fall by 1.6%, which together resulted in a 0.7 percentage points reduction in the unemployment rate. Over the identical timeframe, Regional NSW witnessed a 0.9% contraction in employment, a 0.4% reduction in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage points uptick in unemployment. Broader labor trends are reflected in Jobs and Skills Australia projections from Mar-26 across five and ten-year intervals, which have been aligned with Cobar's industrial distribution. Nationwide employment is anticipated to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though sector trajectories vary. Weighing these national projections against Cobar's industry makeup suggests local jobs could grow by 4.5% over five years and 10.8% over ten years, representing a basic weighting extrapolation that excludes localized demographic forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cobar is $1,816 a week (about $94,000 a year), with median personal income at $937 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $61,851 a year against an average of $75,331. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Aggregated postcode ATO statistics from AreaSearch indicate that for financial year 2023, median individual taxpayer earnings reached $61,851 with an average of $75,331 in Cobar, standing at elevated levels nationally compared to the Regional NSW median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Factoring in Wage Price Index appreciation of 10.32% since financial year 2023, modeled figures as of March 2026 reach approximately $68,234 for median income and $83,105 for the average. In the Census 2021, individual earnings placed at the 71st percentile ($937 weekly) and household earnings reached the 54th percentile.
The single largest earnings cohort contains 32.5% of the community receiving $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,164 residents), aligning closely with the 29.9% recorded regionally in the same bracket. With 91.9% of income remaining following housing expenditures, local households maintain solid financial capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cobar had 1,257 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 90% detached houses and 5% apartments. 29% are owned with a mortgage, 36% rented and 35% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $200 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,109 a month. Rent absorbs 11.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 14.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the latest Census, separate houses formed 90.0% of Cobar's housing stock, while 10.0% consisted of alternate formats such as semi-detached homes, units, and other dwellings, differing from the 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings recorded across Regional NSW. Fully owned properties accounted for 34.6% of residences, trailing the Regional NSW benchmark, while 29.1% carried a mortgage and 36.3% were occupied by renters. Ongoing housing expenses remained notably modest, with median monthly mortgage payments of $1,109 and median weekly rents of $200, falling well short of Regional NSW averages of $1,733 and $330 respectively.
On a broader scale, Cobar's repayments are markedly lower than the Australian median mortgage of $1,863, and weekly rents track considerably under the national baseline of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cobar counted 1,257 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 26% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family arrangements constitute the majority of domestic living situations at 64.5%, made up of 26.5% couples without children, 25.5% couples with children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family living arrangements represent the other 35.5%, consisting of 33.2% lone person households and 2.2% group accommodations. The typical household size sits at 2.3 people, tracking slightly below the 2.4 figure seen across Regional NSW.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.7% of adults in Cobar hold a university qualification, including 11.2% with a bachelor degree and 2.2% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 87% of areas nationally. A further 36.5% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 553 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 880 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment in the locality sits well behind state metrics, with 14.7% holding higher education qualifications compared to 32.2% across NSW, underscoring clear potential for focused learning programs. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees account for 11.2%, postgraduate degrees represent 2.2%, and graduate diplomas stand at 1.3%. Conversely, vocational and technical expertise is widely held, with 43.8% of residents aged 15+ possessing trade credentials, divided between certificates at 36.5% and advanced diplomas at 7.3%. Student engagement is prominent across the locality, as 35.2% of the population is actively pursuing formal studies.
This cohort includes 14.6% attending primary education, 9.3% enrolled in secondary education, and 3.1% undertaking tertiary education courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Cobar means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Transit analysis records 91 operational transit stops in Cobar spanning buses and train options. A network of 7 routes serves these facilities, delivering a combined total of 79 weekly passenger trips. Local access is exceptionally high, with commuters situated an average of 131 meters from their closest boarding point. Commuters predominantly travel outside the residential setting, relying heavily on private vehicles at 90%, while 8% travel on foot. Private car availability stands at an average of 1.4 per dwelling. Additionally, 4.5% of workers worked from home according to the 2021 Census, a figure potentially impacted by COVID-19 factors.
Daily operations across the transit network average 11 trips per day, translating to virtually no weekly services on average at each individual boarding point.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.5% of residents in Cobar report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 78% of areas nationally. 4.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.7% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Assessments of mortality metrics and chronic illness frequency by AreaSearch indicate notable health difficulties in Cobar, with widespread conditions evident among older and younger demographics alike. Concurrently, private health insurance coverage is elevated, encompassing approximately 57% of the total population (~2,031 people) relative to 51.9% in Regional NSW. Asthma and arthritis constitute the most prevalent long-term diagnoses locally, affecting 8.8 and 7.8% of residents respectively, whereas 68.5% reported no long-term illnesses against 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents experience fairly standard medical outcomes. Senior citizens aged 65 and over comprise 18.3% of the community (655 people), below the 23.3% proportion in Regional NSW, with elderly health measures demonstrating specific issues while reflecting typical national standings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cobar is largely Australian-born, at 90.7% of residents, with 5.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (35.4%) and English (26.9%). 10.9% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics in Cobar remain below broader benchmarks, with Australian citizenship held by 80.0% of residents, 90.7% born in Australia, and 94.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity ranks as the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 64.1% of people in Cobar in comparison to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Looking at parental country of birth and heritage, the leading ancestries identified in Cobar are Australian at 35.4% (well exceeding the 30.0% regional level), English at 26.9%, and Australian Aboriginal at 10.9% (significantly above the 4.6% recorded regionally). Several other backgrounds also show distinct local variations, with Samoan background representing 0.4% in Cobar (vs 0.1% regionally), New Zealand heritage at 0.7% (vs 0.4%), and Maori lineage accounting for 0.5% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cobar is 36. 25.6% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic structure in Cobar skews younger than that of Regional NSW. Projections updated to August 2026 show that children and young adults (0 - 24) account for 34.7% of the populace, compared to 29.3% across Regional NSW, whereas seniors and retirees (65+) represent 18.3% versus 23.3% regionally. The estimated median age stands at 36, matching the 2021 Census outcome and sitting 7 years below the Regional NSW median of 43 recorded during that Census. Following the Census, residents aged 45 - 64 have reduced from 23.6% to an estimated 20.5%.
Projections through to 2041 indicate no substantial expansion across major age brackets, with youth cohorts and young to middle aged adults expected to diminish over this timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cobar
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 5 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,603 at the 2021 Census → 3,584 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL10948). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.