Cohuna

Cohuna has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

The estimated population of the Cohuna statistical area (Lv2) as of November 2025 is around 2,407 people. This figure reflects a decrease of 8 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,415 people in the area. The current population was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 2,296, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 45 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio in Cohuna (SA2) is 14.9 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, ending in 2021, the area has demonstrated a compound annual growth rate of 0.2%, outpacing its corresponding Statistical Area Level 3 (SA3). Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during this period.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by these data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. According to these projections, over the period from 2025 to 2041, the Cohuna (SA2) population is expected to decline by 576 persons. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow during this time, notably the 85 and over age group, which is projected to expand by 3 people.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Cohuna indicates an average of around 6 new dwelling approvals annually over the past 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, totalling approximately 33 homes. As of FY-26, 3 approvals have been recorded. This averages out to about 0.4 people moving to the area per year for each dwelling built during this period. New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction value of new properties is around $607,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, there have been $3.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of Vic., Cohuna records 14.0% less building activity per person but ranks among the 54th percentile nationally. Recent development has been entirely standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes.

This results in around 297 people per approval. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Cohuna should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

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

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like modifications to local infrastructure, substantial projects, and planning initiatives. In total, zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are predicted to impact the area. Notable projects include Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West), Regional Housing Fund (Victoria), Victorian Renewable Energy Zones, and Melbourne To Adelaide Freight Rail Improvements, with the following list outlining those most likely to be relevant.

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AreaSearch assessment positions Cohuna ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Cohuna has a diverse workforce with representation from both white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent in the area.

As of September 2025, Cohuna's unemployment rate is 2.1%. According to AreaSearch data aggregation, 994 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.7% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Cohuna stands at 46.2%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Employment in Cohuna is concentrated in health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction sectors.

The area has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level. Conversely, accommodation & food services have lower representation at 3.6% compared to the regional average of 6.9%. Over the year ending September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.2% in Cohuna while employment declined by 2.4%, leading to a fall in unemployment by 1.8 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Vic. recorded an employment decline of 0.7% and a labour force decline of 0.6%, with unemployment rising marginally. State-level data from November 25 shows that Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. This is compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cohuna's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for local population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Cohuna had a median taxpayer income of $42,307 and an average income of $49,315 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages; Rest of Vic.'s median income was $50,954 with an average income of $62,728. As of September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $45,797 (median) and $53,383 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Cohuna fall between the 8th and 10th percentiles nationally. The income band of $400 - $799 captures 28.7% of Cohuna's community (690 individuals), differing from regional patterns where the $1,500 - $2,999 band dominates at 30.3%. Housing costs are modest with 91.7% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 15th percentile nationally.

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

In Cohuna, as per the latest Census evaluation, 94.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 5.2% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is compared to Non-Metro Vic., where 90.7% of dwellings are houses and 9.2% are other types. Home ownership in Cohuna stands at 56.2%, with mortgaged properties at 25.6% and rented dwellings at 18.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment is $997, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,083. The median weekly rent in Cohuna is $185, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $200. Nationally, Cohuna's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 62.7% of all households, including 20.7% couples with children, 34.6% couples without children, and 6.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.3%, with lone person households at 35.2% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.2%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.5%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.1%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 35.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (26.8%). Education pursuit is active among 21.2% of the population.

This includes primary education (9.4%), secondary education (6.7%), and tertiary education (1.3%).

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

Cohuna has two operational public transport stops, both serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are served by six different routes in total, offering 44 weekly passenger trips combined. The accessibility of these services is limited, with residents on average being located 782 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, there are six trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 22 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Cohuna is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Cohuna faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Approximately 46% (~1,117 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.5%) and asthma (9.2%). Conversely, 56.8% report no medical ailments, compared to 64.1% in Rest of Vic.. Cohuna has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 37.1% (892 people), exceeding the Rest of Vic.'s 24.0%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are challenging but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Cohuna's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 91.3% of its population being Australian citizens, 94.0% born in Australia, and 96.9% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Cohuna is Christianity, comprising 51.9% of the population, compared to 53.2% across the rest of Victoria. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Cohuna are English (36.3%), Australian (34.1%), and Irish (9.0%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented at 8.5%, Dutch at 1.3%, and Lebanese at 0.2%.

Cohuna ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Cohuna's median age is 55 years, which is higher than Victoria's average of 43 years and significantly older than Australia's national norm of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 18.4% of the population, while those aged 25-34 make up only 7.1%. This concentration of individuals aged 65-74 is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the age group of 75 to 84 has grown from 12.4% to 13.3% of the population, while the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 9.7% to 8.7%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show that the age group of 85 and above is expected to increase by 0 people (0%) from 129 to 130 individuals. This projection indicates a significant shift towards an aging population, with residents aged 65 and older accounting for all anticipated growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for individuals aged 25-34 and those aged 0-4 years.