Coombs

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Coombs' population is estimated at around 6,433 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,582 people (32.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,851 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,872, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 684 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,772 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Coombs' 32.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the state's (6.7%) and SA4 region's growth rates, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 56.99999999999999% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, with 2022 as a base, are adopted. Moving forward with demographic trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national areas is forecast, with the suburb expected to grow by 2,790 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 34.6% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Coombs had around 102 residential properties approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 512 homes. As of FY-26, 93 approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.1 people moved to the area per dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating high demand outpacing supply. Average construction cost for new homes was $197,000, below the regional average, suggesting affordable housing options.

This financial year saw $34,000 in commercial approvals, reflecting Coombs' residential nature. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, Coombs had 72.0% lower building activity per person as of FY-25. New construction primarily consisted of townhouses or apartments (93.0%), with standalone homes at 7.0%. This shift from the current housing mix (38.0% houses) is due to reduced development sites and changing lifestyle demands. Coombs has approximately 160 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. By 2041, AreaSearch projects Coombs will gain 2,229 residents. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

Population forecasts indicate Coombs will gain 2,229 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Coombs has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. Two projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact this region. Notable projects include Molonglo Group Centre to Town Centre Transition, Molonglo Town Centre, Molonglo River Bridge and John Gorton Drive Extension, Fetherston Weston. The following list details those most relevant:.

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

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AreaSearch analysis places Coombs well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Coombs has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.9% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.3%.

This rate is lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%, and workforce participation is higher at 85.6% compared to ACT's 72.5%. According to Census responses, 10.3% of residents worked from home in Coombs. Key industries of employment among residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Health care & social assistance has particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 5.2% compared to the regional average of 6.8%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.3%, and labour force increased by 2.2%, resulting in a decrease in unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, ACT recorded employment growth of 1.4% with unemployment falling by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coombs' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, assuming constant population growth for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Coombs suburb has an exceptionally high national income level based on latest ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among Coombs taxpayers was $76,864 with an average income of $91,441. This compares to ACT's figures of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Using Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $83,982 (median) and $99,908 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, Coombs ranks high nationally in household, family, and personal incomes, between the 93rd and 96th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 38.6% of residents (2,483 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to regional levels at 34.3%. Coombs exhibits significant affluence with 42.1% earning over $3,000 per week. High housing costs consume 16.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 92nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Coombs displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Coombs dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 37.5% houses and 62.5% other dwellings. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coombs was at 7.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 64.0% and rented ones at 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Coombs was $2,000, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Median weekly rent in Coombs was $480, compared to Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Coombs' mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $480 compared to the national figure of $375.

Coombs features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.0% of all households, including 39.2% couples with children, 22.9% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 26.0%, with lone person households at 20.4% and group households making up 5.5%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Coombs demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Coombs has a notable educational advantage with 57.7% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 33.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Vocational pathways account for 20.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 10.0%. Educational participation is high, with 35.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.7% in primary, 8.7% in tertiary, and 6.0% pursuing secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 35.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in primary education, 8.7% in tertiary education, and 6.0% pursuing secondary education.

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

Coombs has 13 active public transport stops serving buses. These stops are covered by 65 routes offering a total of 4,528 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is good with residents located an average of 231 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes in this residential area are outward-bound. Cars dominate at 88%, with bus use at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.3% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency is 646 trips daily across all routes, equating to about 348 weekly trips per stop.

Coombs's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Coombs' health outcomes show remarkable results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 63% of the total population (4,072 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in Coombs, affecting 7.4 and 6.1% of residents respectively. A total of 81.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 70.2%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 3.9% (250 people), compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 14.3%. Health outcomes among seniors in Coombs are particularly strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Coombs is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Coombs has a high level of cultural diversity, with 43.8% of its population born overseas and 48.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Coombs, comprising 33.7% of the population. Hinduism is significantly overrepresented in Coombs, making up 12.2% of the population compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Other at 23.5%, Australian at 16.9%, and English at 16.2%. These figures differ significantly from regional averages: Other is substantially higher (23.5% vs 12.2%), while Australian and English are notably lower (16.9% vs 23.0% and 16.2% vs 23.3%, respectively). There are also notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups, with Indian at 8.2% (vs regional average of 3.3%), Korean at 1.4% (vs 0.6%), and Welsh at 0.8% (vs 0.6%).

Coombs hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Coombs has a median age of 31, which is younger than the Australian Capital Territory's figure of 35 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Coombs has a higher concentration of residents aged 35-44 (22.2%), but fewer residents aged 65-74 (2.7%). This 35-44 concentration is well above the national figure of 14.3%. Between 2021 and present, the median age has increased by 1.3 years from 30 to 31, indicating an aging population. Key changes during this period include the growth of the 45 to 54 age group from 9.5% to 12.3%, and the increase of the 5 to 14 cohort from 15.0% to 16.3%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 25.9% to 20.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest significant demographic changes in Coombs, with the 45 to 54 cohort projected to grow by 70%, adding 555 residents to reach a total of 1,347.