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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 Coonabarabran is $355k. House values have moved 7.3% 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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Sales Detail
Coonabarabran has an estimated 3,480 residents. 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
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of regional ABS updates alongside 24 validated new addresses added following the Census, the population in the suburb of Coonabarabran stands at roughly 3,480 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 3 people (0.1%) relative to the 3,477 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. These figures align with an estimated resident count of 3,478 derived from the ABS ERP release in June 2025 together with post-Census address validations. The resulting population density is 3.6 persons per square kilometer, offering residents substantial living room. The suburb of Coonabarabran trailed the wider SA4 region (2.9%) by 2.8 percentage points in its 0.1% post-Census increase, demonstrating sound demographic momentum.
Incoming overseas migration served as the primary demographic catalyst, accounting for practically all recent population expansion. Projections utilize ABS and Geoscience Australia SA2 datasets released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, supplemented where necessary by 2022 NSW State Government SA2 modeling baseline year 2021. For the period spanning 2032 to 2041, cohort-specific growth rates from these summaries are incorporated across all locations. Under this framework, demographic shifts are expected to lead to an overall contraction of 296 persons in the suburb of Coonabarabran by 2041. In contrast, senior age brackets are slated to expand, headed by an increase of 67 people within the 85 and over demographic cohort.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Building activity in Coonabarabran remains minimal, with annual approvals averaging 1 per year, amounting to 6 approvals over five years. Such modest residential construction is typical of country localities with limited dwelling requirements and building paces constrained by local market demand alongside utility limits. Given the small baseline of approvals, annual percentages and comparisons are subject to significant fluctuation from single building ventures. Residential building output in Coonabarabran is substantially lower when contrasted with Rest of NSW, while also sitting considerably below nationwide benchmarks. With demographic projections remaining flat or declining, Coonabarabran could benefit from reduced residential demand pressures, presenting favorable opportunities for property purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Coonabarabran
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 60 current infrastructure and development projects close to Coonabarabran, worth an estimated $31.9 billion. 18 are already under construction and 25 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, residential development and transport & logistics. 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
Regional development and local capital works significantly shape an area's economic performance. AreaSearch has identified no major projects likely to impact the locality directly, though wider regional initiatives include the 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.
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
Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan
A community-led plan for the Castlereagh Country region (including Gilgandra and Warrumbungle Shires) to build resilience against drought and increased climate variability. It identifies actions to prepare for reduced growing season rainfall and increased frequency of drought events, informing future investments and securing funding for communities, agriculture, and businesses.
Aero Park Residential Estate
Aero Park Residential Estate is a council-led house and land subdivision on the north western fringe of Gilgandra. The approved estate comprises 57 residential lots, with stage 1 delivering 34 fully serviced lots and 5 earlier lots already developed along Farrar Street. Lots are generally between about 1,242 m2 and 1,897 m2, with services including water, sewer, NBN and underground power, new roads, footpaths and solar street lighting. Council has completed the stage 1 civil works and is now selling lots through local agents to increase housing supply and support growth linked to Inland Rail and regional renewable energy projects.
Gilgandra Solar Farm
Gilgandra Solar Farm is a 5 MW ground mounted solar farm with approximately 12,000 photovoltaic panels, associated inverter stations and a battery energy storage system on an approximately 11.3 hectare project area west of Gilgandra. The development was approved in 2022 and remains in construction, with a 2024 modification approved to refine the site layout and construction noise mitigation measures.
648 Wandobah Road Residential Development
122.63 hectares of rural land, known as 'Derriwee', sold in September 2024 for development. Currently zoned RU4 and subdividable into 11 lots, earmarked for rezoning to R5 large lot residential under Gunnedah Shire planning strategy, potentially allowing subdivision into 82 lots. Located 7 km from Gunnedah CBD with views, flood-free, and existing improvements like silos and dams.
671 Wandobah Road Large Lot Residential Development
Large lot residential subdivision creating 36 additional rural residential holdings with minimum 9,000 square metre lots south of Gunnedah. Development required rezoning from primary production to R5 Large Lot Residential to meet strong demand for acreage-style housing in the Gunnedah Shire, where available large lot land was noted as almost exhausted following sustained demand over the preceding five years.
Gunnedah Koala Sanctuary
The Gunnedah Koala Sanctuary is a 50-acre conservation, wildlife hospital and eco-tourism destination on the Oxley Highway at Gunnedah. The $22.7 million facility includes a koala rehabilitation hospital with treatment suites and ICU rooms, gift shop, cafe, learning auditorium, koala and wildlife enclosures, walking trails, glamping tents, caravan and RV sites, volunteer accommodation, and a caretaker residence. Stages one and two are complete; stage three construction began June 2025 targeting December 2025 completion, with a public opening anticipated in March-April 2026.The project expects to draw 90,000 visitors annually and create local jobs. A park operator is yet to be confirmed.
Gunnedah Regional Saleyards Redevelopment
Redevelopment of the regional saleyards including new multi-administration and buyers facility, new pens, improvements to internal roads, lighting, and site infrastructure. The holding pens, central draft area, and scales are now roofed, enhancing safety and improving animal welfare. Upgrades also include a truck-wash facility, new perimeter fencing, solar power installation, a water capture and reuse system, and improved dust suppression measures.
Sawmill Business Centre Stage 2
Second stage development of the Sawmill Business Centre providing additional commercial and light industrial facilities. Project includes new warehouse spaces, office buildings, and improved infrastructure to support local business growth.
1,389 residents of Coonabarabran are employed, from a labour force of 1,447. Unemployment sits at 4.1%, with participation at 49.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,934, about 84% 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 pool in Coonabarabran demonstrates an even distribution between professional and trades-based occupations, supported by strong representation across essential public sectors and an unemployment rate of 4.1%, according to aggregated district figures compiled by AreaSearch. In March 2026, employed locals numbered 1,389, matching the 4.1% joblessness benchmark of Regional NSW, though labor force involvement was markedly lower at 49.5% versus 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census records indicated that 11.1% of workers operated from home, a metric potentially shaped by pandemic-era movement restrictions. Key employment fields for area residents consist of health care & social assistance, education & training, along with agriculture, forestry & fishing.
The district displays an exceptional concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, exceeding the wider region's employment proportion by 2.2 times. Conversely, construction represents a smaller share locally at 5.2% compared to 9.7% regionally. Discrepancies between Census workplace counts and local resident counts point to a constrained internal job market. AreaSearch's evaluation of regional SALM and ABS datasets indicates that the workforce contracted by 2.4% over the 12-month period alongside a 0.9% reduction in employment, causing the jobless rate to decrease by 1.4 percentage points. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment drop of 0.9% and a workforce decline of 0.4%, yielding a 0.5 percentage point increase in joblessness. National employment outlooks from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future workforce requirements in Coonabarabran. These five-year and ten-year models, projected against local industry compositions, anticipate nationwide employment expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying across sectors. Applying these industry growth rates to the local occupational structure indicates prospective job gains of 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years in Coonabarabran, representing a baseline weighted projection that excludes local population shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Coonabarabran is $1,154 a week (about $60,000 a year), with median personal income at $594 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $43,176 a year against an average of $53,066. 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
Based on ATO records for financial year 2023 at the postcode level, earnings in the suburb of Coonabarabran track below nationwide figures, showing a median assessed income of $43,176 alongside an average of $53,066. These numbers sit below the Regional NSW median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Factoring in a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach roughly $47,632 (median) and $58,542 (average) by March 2026. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual earnings across Coonabarabran were situated between the 10th and 10th percentiles nationally.
Regarding income brackets, the largest group comprises 28.2% of residents (981 residents) earning $800 - 1,499 weekly, contrasting with regional urban zones where 29.9% earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 tier. Although manageable housing expenses leave residents with 90.3% of income retained, overall disposable earnings place at the 17th percentile across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Coonabarabran had 1,256 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 5% apartments. 26% are owned with a mortgage, 25% rented and 49% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $210 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,000 a month. Rent absorbs 18.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.0%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential housing in Coonabarabran at the time of the latest Census was composed of 94.4% houses and 5.6% other dwellings, including apartments and semi-detached properties, whereas Regional NSW recorded 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Outright property ownership reached 49.4%, notably surpassing the regional benchmark, while 25.6% of homes were mortgaged and 25.0% rented. Median monthly mortgage expenses were $1,000, and median weekly rental rates stood at $210, well under the respective Regional NSW figures of $1,733 and $330. Across Australia, mortgage outlays in Coonabarabran are considerably lower than the national median of $1,863, with rents similarly tracking well below the countrywide benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Coonabarabran counted 1,256 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 20% are couples with children, fewer than in 88% of areas nationally, against 31% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the majority of local living arrangements at 65.7%, which breaks down into 31.2% couples without children, 19.5% couples with children, and 13.6% single parent families. The remaining 34.3% consists of non-family households, including lone person households at 32.5% and group households at 2.0%. The typical household size sits at 2.3 people, compared to the Regional NSW benchmark of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
16.3% of adults in Coonabarabran hold a university qualification, including 11.3% with a bachelor degree and 3.1% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 77% of areas nationally. A further 31.5% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 655 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 906 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
Local educational attainment shows a lower proportion of university graduates at 16.3%, trailing the NSW rate of 32.2%. Among higher education qualifications, Bachelor degrees comprise 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.1% and graduate diplomas at 1.9%. Vocational and technical training is widely held, with 41.6% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (31.5%). Current study engagement is robust, with 32.6% of the population attending educational institutions. This comprises 11.8% enrolled in primary education, 11.3% attending secondary education, and 2.2% enrolled in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Coonabarabran reaches 179 stops on 22 routes, timetabled for about 160 services a week. The typical home sits about 190 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.4 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
Transit infrastructure in Coonabarabran includes 179 active transport stops covering train and bus services, which run across 22 individual routes providing 155 weekly passenger trips. Public transit access is convenient, with residents located an average of 186 meters from the nearest stop. Commuters mostly travel outside the area, with private vehicles accounting for 90% of travel and walking comprising 8%. Households maintain an average of 1.4 vehicles per dwelling, while 11.1% of residents worked from home at the time of the 2021 Census. Transit services run at an average rate of 22 trips per day across the collective network, resulting in virtually no weekly trips per individual stop.
The accompanying mapping illustrates the 100 nearest stops to the locality center.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
58.8% of residents in Coonabarabran report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 91% of areas nationally. 8.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch's analysis of mortality and ongoing illness metrics reveals notable health challenges in Coonabarabran, with chronic conditions affecting various age brackets and private health insurance adoption remaining low at roughly 48% of the population (~1,669 people). In comparison, private coverage reaches 51.9% throughout Regional NSW and 55.7% across Australia. Prevalent medical diagnoses within the community include arthritis, affecting 13.3% of residents, and asthma at 8.4%, while 58.8% reported no long-term medical ailments compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Elevated rates of chronic illness impact the working-age cohort, while residents aged 65 and over represent 31.6% of the population (1,099 people), exceeding the 23.3% share in Regional NSW.
Health measures among senior residents reflect broader community patterns relative to nationwide standings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Coonabarabran is largely Australian-born, at 92.3% of residents, with 3.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (32.4%) and English (31.6%). 9.8% 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 measures in Coonabarabran track below standard regional levels, with Australian citizens making up 83.4% of the population, Australian-born residents accounting for 92.3%, and 96.4% speaking solely English at home. Christianity represents the primary faith, accounting for 63.8% of residents in Coonabarabran, compared to 55.9% in Regional NSW. Looking at ancestral background, the most frequently reported ancestries in Coonabarabran are Australian at 32.4%, English at 31.6%, and Australian Aboriginal at 9.8%, which stands well above the regional figure of 4.6%. Other represented backgrounds include Irish at 7.7% (compared to 8.8% across the region), Serbian at 0.2% (matching 0.2% regionally), and Lebanese at 0.2% (matching 0.2% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Coonabarabran is 50, older than 91% of areas nationally. 18.1% 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 age distribution in Coonabarabran skews older than the broader region. As at August 2026, retiree and elderly cohorts (65+) constitute 31.6% of the population, compared to 23.3% in Regional NSW, while young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) account for 17.7% versus 23.5% regionally. The estimated median age is 50 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 7 years above the Regional NSW median of 43 at that Census, as well as exceeding the national median of 38 at that Census. Since the Census, the proportion of middle aged and young retiree cohorts (45 - 64) has moved from 26.2% to an estimated 24.4%.
Projections to 2041 indicate that retiree and elderly cohorts will see the highest growth, adding 6 residents (1%) to reach 1,106, while cohorts comprising children, young adults, and middle aged to young retirees are expected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Coonabarabran
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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 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 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 — 24 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,477 at the 2021 Census → 3,480 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 (SAL11043). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.