Chart Color Schemes
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 Colo Vale is $972k. House values have moved 4.0% 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.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Colo Vale has an estimated 1,794 residents. Density is about 27 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch evaluations combining ABS broader regional updates with post-Census validated address counts, the suburb of Colo Vale records an estimated population of approximately 1,794 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 19 people (1.1%) relative to the 1,775 people documented in the 2021 Census. This adjustment stems from an Estimated Resident Population figure of 1,793 identified in the ABS June 2025 ERP release, coupled with 14 validated new addresses recorded following the Census. The suburb's density stands at 27 persons per square kilometer, ensuring considerable personal space.
Furthermore, the 1.1% post-census population increase in the suburb of Colo Vale tracks closely within 1.5 percentage points of the broader SA3 benchmark (2.6%), highlighting resilient local expansion. Inward demographic momentum has been generated largely by natural increase, accounting for roughly 81.0% of all recent population additions. Projections for the area incorporate ABS/Geoscience Australia models published in 2024 (anchored to a 2022 baseline), supplemented where necessary by NSW State Government SA2 forecasts from 2022 (using 2021 as a base year). The resulting age-cohort growth trajectories have likewise been projected across all geographies for 2032 to 2041. Over the coming years, the suburb of Colo Vale is slated for robust long-term expansion ranking within the upper quartile of regional markets across Australia, with aggregated SA2 modeling forecasting a gain of 488 persons through to 2041, translating to an overall growth rate of 27.1% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
46 new dwellings have been approved in Colo Vale over the past five years, an average of 9 a year. That is 4.5 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 1, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
ABS building approval statistics analyzed by AreaSearch indicate an annual average of around 9 residential approvals in Colo Vale, totaling approximately 46 homes across the prior 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) alongside 1 approval recorded to date in FY-25. Because an average of only 0.7 people moved into the locality annually for each residential unit constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), building activity is tracking level with or ahead of demographic demand, expanding buyer choice and accommodating potential upside in resident numbers. Newly approved residential dwellings carry an average construction value of $556,000, marginally exceeding the broader regional benchmark to reflect high-standard residential stock.
Non-residential building activity remains subdued, with commercial approvals totaling $17,000 during the current financial year. Per capita residential construction in Colo Vale trails the Rest of NSW benchmark at approximately 75%, placing it in the 10th percentile among nationally monitored locations; such constrained additions limit buyer selection while bolstering demand for established housing. Furthermore, all recent building permits have focused exclusively on detached houses, maintaining the neighborhood's low-density profile and appealing to purchasers seeking expansive single-family homes. A quiet, restrained development climate is underscored by an estimated ratio of 1791 people per dwelling approval. Demographic projections indicate Colo Vale is on track to add 487 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent quarterly calculation from AreaSearch. Should building activity fail to accelerate from current levels, local housing delivery could fall short of incoming demographic growth, which may intensify purchaser competition and underpin elevated capital appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Colo Vale
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 45 current infrastructure and development projects close to Colo Vale, worth an estimated $18.2 billion. 16 are already under construction and 9 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, communities, precincts & urban renewal and residential development. 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
Infrastructure investments, planning initiatives, and major capital works exert a profound influence on an area's trajectory. Currently, no major public or private initiatives have been catalogued by AreaSearch as having a direct localized influence on the district. Broader regional developments of interest include the Tahmoor South Coal Project, South Pacific Offshore Wind Project, Sydney-Canberra Rail Connectivity And Capacity, and the Paling Yards Wind Farm.
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
Mittagong Playhouse Restoration
Federal government funded restoration of historic Mittagong Playhouse integrating with School of Arts and Old Administration Building to create world-class cultural facility. Addresses structural integrity, accessibility, fire safety, and asbestos removal.
Waterbrook Bowral Retirement Resort
Collection of 135 residences on 17 hectare site developed by City Developments Limited (CDL Australia). Luxury retirement lifestyle resort on former Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart School site with resort-style facilities and services.
Retford Farm Stormwater Detention Basin
Construction of an earthen embankment dam wall to form a stormwater detention basin across Mittagong Creek, designed to mitigate local flooding issues in Bowral by storing approximately 320 million litres of stormwater during high rainfall events.
Waterbrook Bowral Lifestyle Resort
A luxury retirement living community on a 17ha historic site, featuring 135 independent living units, refurbished heritage buildings, and extensive resort-style amenities including a restaurant, cafe, lounge bar, pool, gym, cinema, wellness centres, and more.
Bowral High School HPGE Upgrade
NSW Government $50 million investment in High Potential and Gifted Education Partner School program. Significant upgrade to Bowral High School facilities and infrastructure.
Bowral and District Hospital Redevelopment - Stage 2
Stage 2 of the Bowral and District Hospital redevelopment involves the transformation of the former Milton Park building into a modern General Services Building and the delivery of a new Outpatient Centre. As of early 2026, key milestones include the opening of the Outpatient Centre and the operational status of the new mortuary and loading dock. Final works include the refurbishment of the General Services Building and the demolition of aging campus structures to enhance clinical capacity and support services.
Bowral to Moss Vale 700mm Water Main Duplication
Wingecarribee Shire Council is progressing the detailed design of a duplicate trunk water main between the Wingecarribee Water Treatment Plant at Bowral and the Hill Road Reservoir at Moss Vale. The project will improve water supply security, network resilience and capacity for future population growth. Council's current capital works program targets completion of the detailed design before construction funding and delivery stages.
35-37 Station Street Mixed-Use Development
DA-approved mixed-use project in Bowral town centre comprising 10 residential apartments, two commercial spaces suitable for wedding/reception use, and boutique tourist accommodation (~12-15 rooms) with cafe and basement parking. Site area approx. 1,411 sqm across Lots 33 and 34 with ~49.7 m frontage. Close to Bowral Station and Bong Bong Street retail.
909 residents of Colo Vale are employed, from a labour force of 924. Unemployment sits at 1.6%, with participation at 63.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,463, about 82% 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
Colo Vale maintains a diverse occupational profile encompassing both professional and manual vocations, highlighted by a prominent building sector presence and a low unemployment rate of 1.6% based on aggregated statistical district data from AreaSearch. As of March 2026909 residents are employed, with local joblessness sitting 2.5% below the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, while overall labor force participation remains steady at 63.3% versus 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census figures indicate that a moderate 18.0% of local workers operated from home, though this metric incorporates pandemic lockdown conditions. The primary industries employing local residents comprise construction, health care & social assistance, alongside retail trade.
Building and trade sectors demonstrate an especially prominent concentration, employing residents at 1.8 times the regional baseline rate. In contrast, health care & social assistance exhibits lower representation, capturing only 11.9% of Colo Vale's working populace compared with 16.9% across Regional NSW. A comparison between Census resident workers and local job counts indicates that local employment opportunities within the immediate area remain limited. Synthesized SALM and ABS statistical data over the trailing 12-month period show the local workforce growing by 0.1% alongside a 0.7% contraction in total employment, which together lifted the jobless rate by 0.9 percentage points. Across Regional NSW over the same timeframe, overall employment retreated by 0.9% and the labor force decreased by 0.4%, resulting in a 0.5 percentage point increase in joblessness. National medium-term outlooks released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future workforce requirements for Colo Vale. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied across the local industry profile to outline future trajectory scenarios. Across Australia as a whole, employment is anticipated to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, although expansion varies considerably by industry. Weighting these sectoral expectations against Colo Vale's specific employment distribution projects local job numbers to rise by 6.0% over five years and 12.6% over ten years (representing an illustrative sectoral weighting model that excludes localized population adjustments).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Colo Vale is $1,875 a week (about $98,000 a year), with median personal income at $796 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $50,430 a year against an average of $109,072. The average runs 116% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. 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
ATO taxation statistics for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch show taxpayers in the suburb of Colo Vale recorded a median income of $50,430 and an average income of $109,072. These earnings rank within the top percentile across Australia, comparing to median and average benchmarks of $52,390 and $65,215 throughout Regional NSW. Incorporating Wage Price Index gains of 10.32% since financial year 2023 lifts estimated income levels to roughly $55,634 (median) and $120,328 (average) as of March 2026. Across household, family, and individual brackets in the 2021 Census, local earnings align around the 52nd percentile nationally.
The most common weekly earning band is $1,500 - 2,999, which encompasses 37.5% of residents (672 people) and parallels the regional share of 29.9%. While housing obligations absorb 16.3% of income, strong aggregate compensation maintains net disposable income at the 58th percentile, placing the district in the 5th decile of the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Colo Vale had 603 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 1% apartments. 47% are owned with a mortgage, 18% rented and 35% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $430 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,100 a month. Rent absorbs 22.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing landscape in Colo Vale is composed of 98.5% houses and 1.5% other dwellings (including semi-detached units, apartments, and alternative structures), whereas Regional NSW registers 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Outright property ownership stands lower than the wider regional rate at 34.9%, with remaining residences being serviced by a mortgage (46.9%) or occupied by tenants (18.2%). Typical financing costs are substantially higher than regional norms, with median monthly mortgage payments reaching $2,100 compared to $1,733 in Regional NSW, while median weekly rent is $430 against $330 regionally.
On a national level, mortgage commitments in Colo Vale substantially outpace the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents comfortably exceed the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Colo Vale counted 603 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.8 people each. 39% are couples with children, more than in 78% of areas nationally, against 28% couples without children. 19% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local households at 79.6%, broken down into couples with children at 39.3%, childless couples at 28.0%, and single parent households at 11.6%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 20.4%, made up of single-person households at 18.7% and group living situations at 2.0%. The typical household size stands at 2.8 people, exceeding the Regional NSW baseline of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
15.8% of adults in Colo Vale hold a university qualification, including 11.2% with a bachelor degree and 2.7% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 35.7% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 160 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 956 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 is comparatively subdued, with university degree holders accounting for 15.8% of the populace against the broader NSW standard of 32.2%, highlighting scope for future educational enhancement. Bachelor degrees represent the largest higher education category at 11.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.7% and graduate diplomas at 1.9%. Vocational and technical qualifications are widely held, with 47.1% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificate courses (35.7%). A significant proportion of the community is actively engaged in study, with 28.2% of residents enrolled in an educational institution.
This cohort comprises 9.8% attending primary school, 7.8% in high school, and 2.5% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Colo Vale reaches 48 stops on 17 routes, timetabled for about 190 services a week. The typical home sits about 130 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 2.0 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Transport network assessments record 48 functional transit stops across Colo Vale, incorporating both bus and rail connections. Across these facilities, 17 separate transit routes provide an aggregate of 192 weekly services. Transit proximity is rated as excellent, with typical residences situated 131 meters from the closest stop. Given its residential orientation, most commuting occurs outbound, with private vehicles serving as the primary mode of travel at 97%. Vehicle ownership averages 2.0 per dwelling, outstripping the regional norm. In addition, 18.0% of workers operated from home at the 2021 Census, reflecting conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transit route timetables provide an average of 27 services daily across the entire network, representing roughly 4 weekly trips for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.2% of residents in Colo Vale report no long-term health condition. 5.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 69.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Public health metrics reviewed by AreaSearch reveal below-average wellness outcomes for Colo Vale based on chronic illness and mortality records, with widespread health complaints showing elevated rates across both younger and older cohorts; conversely, private health insurance uptake is exceptionally prominent, covering approximately 70% of residents (1,253 people). This exceeds the Regional NSW rate of 51.9% and the nationwide average of 55.7%. The primary long-term conditions reported by the population are arthritis (9.2%) and asthma (8.4%), whereas 68.2% of residents reported having no long-term health issues whatsoever, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW.
Working-age cohorts exhibit higher than typical rates of chronic ailments. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 18.1% of the community (324 people), below the Regional NSW proportion of 23.3%. Health ratings among older residents track above average, achieving higher relative standings nationally than the community as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Colo Vale is largely Australian-born, at 88.0% of residents, with 4.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.5%) and Australian (28.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Colo Vale demonstrates lower than average cultural diversity metrics, with 88.0% of the community born in Australia, 92.7% holding citizenship, and 95.5% using solely English at home. Christianity represents the predominant religious affiliation, accounting for 56.4% of residents, which is in line with the Regional NSW figure of 55.9%. Looking at ancestral heritage based on parental birthplace, the primary backgrounds reported in Colo Vale are English (31.5%), Australian (28.8%), and Scottish (8.9%). Other specific cultural backgrounds present at higher rates than regional averages include French heritage at 0.9% (compared to 0.4% across the region), Hungarian ancestry at 0.4% (versus 0.2%), and Russian lineage at 0.5% (against 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Colo Vale is 38. 25.3% 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 age distribution across the suburb of Colo Vale closely mirrors Regional NSW, with the largest variance between the four broad age groups measuring just 5.2 percentage points. The median age is estimated at 38 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census level and sitting 5 years younger than the Regional NSW Census median of 43. Within specific cohorts, adults aged 25 - 44 expanded their share from 23.8% at the Census to an estimated 26.4% of the population. This 25 - 44 age bracket is projected to lead demographic growth through to 2041, increasing by 184 persons (39%) to reach a total of 658.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Colo Vale
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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 this month 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 this month 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 this month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 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 May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 14 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,775 at the 2021 Census → 1,794 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 (SAL10985). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.