Coonabarabran

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

Coonabarabran's population, as of November 2025, is estimated at around 3,494 people. This figure reflects an increase of 17 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,477. AreaSearch validated this estimate following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and additional seven new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 3.7 persons per square kilometer. Coonabarabran's 0.5% growth since census places it within 2.5 percentage points of its SA4 region, which had a growth rate of 3.0%. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains in recent periods for the Coonabarabran statistical area (Lv2).

AreaSearch projections indicate a decline in overall population by 309 persons by 2041, with the 85 and over age group expected to expand by 49 people.

The level of residential development activity in Coonabarabran is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Coonabarabran had minimal construction activity with two new dwellings approved annually on average between 2016 and 2020, totaling twelve dwellings over the five-year period. This low development level reflects its rural nature where housing needs are typically specific to local demands rather than broader market forces. Due to such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures can fluctuate significantly based on individual projects.

Coonabarabran's development levels were substantially lower compared to Rest of NSW and below national averages during this period. All recent developments consisted of detached houses, aligning with rural living preferences for space and privacy. The estimated population per dwelling approval was 1161 people in the area. With stable or declining population projections, Coonabarabran is expected to have reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

With population projections showing stability or decline, Coonabarabran should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

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

No factors impact an area's performance more than changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects likely to affect this area. Key projects are Inland Rail - Narromine to Narrabri, Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan, Tallawang Solar Farm and Battery, and Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Transmission Project. 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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The labour market performance in Coonabarabran lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Coonabarabran has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, notably in essential services. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 5.2%.

This is 1.4% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%, and workforce participation stands at 45.3%, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. Coonabarabran has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 2.2 times the regional level. However, construction is under-represented, with only 5.2% of Coonabarabran's workforce compared to 9.7% in Rest of NSW.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 4.5%, while employment declined by 5.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5%, labour force contract by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Statewide, NSW experienced a 0.03% contraction in employment between November 2024 and November 2025, losing 2,260 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3% during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coonabarabran's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Coonabarabran's median income is $43,176 and average income is $53,066. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $47,001 (median) and $57,768 (average). Census 2021 income data shows Coonabarabran's household, family, and personal incomes all fall between the 10th and 10th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 28.2% of locals (985 people) earn between $800 - 1,499, unlike regional trends where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Housing costs are modest with 90.3% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 17th percentile nationally.

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

Coonabarabran's dwellings were 94.4% houses and 5.6% other types at the latest Census. Non-Metro NSW had 88.0% houses and 12.1% others. Home ownership in Coonabarabran was 49.4%, with mortgages at 25.6% and rentals at 25.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,000, lower than Non-Metro NSW's $1,450 average. Median weekly rent in Coonabarabran was $210, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $280. Nationally, Coonabarabran's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,000 versus Australia's $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 65.7% of all households, including 19.5% that are couples with children, 31.2% that are couples without children, and 13.6% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.3%, with lone person households at 32.5% and group households comprising 2.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 16.3%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 10.1% and certificates for 31.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary education, 11.3% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis shows 161 operational stops in Coonabarabran, offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 22 routes, collectively enabling 169 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 213 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency stands at 24 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly one weekly trip per individual stop.

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

Coonabarabran faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. The rate of private health cover is low at approximately 48%, covering around 1,676 people, compared to 50.1% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.3%) and asthma (8.4%).

A total of 58.8% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the 64.1% in Rest of NSW. Coonabarabran has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 30.6%, with around 1,069 people, compared to 19.5% in Rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are generally positive, performing well against overall population metrics.

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

Coonabarabran had low cultural diversity, with 83.4% citizens, 92.3% born in Australia, and 96.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, at 63.8%, compared to 65.6% regionally. Top ancestry groups were Australian (32.4%), English (31.6%), and Australian Aboriginal (9.8%).

Serbian (0.2%) was overrepresented versus regional average of 0%. Lebanese (0.2%) also had higher representation than the regional average of 0.1%. Irish ancestry was slightly lower at 7.7% compared to the regional 8.2%.

Coonabarabran ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Coonabarabran has a median age of 50, which is higher than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and the national average of 38. The 65-74 age group makes up 15.2% of Coonabarabran's population, compared to 9.4% nationally and a lower percentage in the Rest of NSW. The 25-34 age group is less prevalent at 8.6%. According to the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has grown from 9.0% to 9.8%, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 11.6% to 10.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Coonabarabran's age profile. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 57 people (30%), from 188 to 246. All population growth will come from the combined 65+ age groups, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 35-44 and 0-4 age cohorts.