Coonamble

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of the suburb of Coonamble was around 2,767 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 101 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,666. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 2,763, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 1.8 persons per square kilometer. Coonamble's growth rate of 3.8% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (1.3%) and the SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 78.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the suburb of Coonamble's population is expected to decline by 359 persons by 2041. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, with the 85 and over age group projected to expand by 18 people.

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

Coonamble had minimal residential development activity with 2 dwelling approvals annually from 2016 to 2020, totalling 12 dwellings over the five-year period. This low level of development is characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It is important to note that due to the small number of approvals, individual development projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics in Coonamble.

Compared to Rest of NSW, Coonamble shows significantly less construction activity. Development levels are also under national averages. New building activity from 2016 to 2020 showed 67.0% standalone homes and 33.0% attached dwellings, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments providing options across different price points. This marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns in Coonamble, which were currently at 92.0% houses as of 2020. The estimated count of 787 people per dwelling approval reflects the quiet, low activity development environment in Coonamble.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, there should be reduced pressure on housing in Coonamble, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

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

No factors impact an area's performance more than local infrastructure changes, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 0 such projects that could affect this region. Key projects are Inland Rail from Narromine to Narrabri, Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium Water Resource Plan, Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan, and Newell Highway Upgrade. 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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Employment drivers in Coonamble are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Coonamble's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 5.5% in aggregated statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,023 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was lower at 51.4%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses showed that only 6.1% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment were health care & social assistance, education & training, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had a particularly high share of employment at 2.8 times the regional level, while manufacturing was lower at 0.9% compared to the regional average of 5.8%.

The area appeared to have limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between December 2024 and November 2025, labour force decreased by 5.3%, employment declined by 5.2%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Regional NSW saw an employment decline of 1.2% and labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coonamble's industry mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this was a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes without considering localized population projections.

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 Coonamble's median income among taxpayers is $41,749. The average income in the suburb is $59,182. This is lower than the national average. Regional NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. By March 2026, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest Coonamble's median income will be approximately $46,057 and the average will be around $65,290. Census data indicates incomes in Coonamble fall between the 13th and 17th percentiles nationally for household, family, and personal incomes. The distribution shows that 28.6% of residents (791 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually. This is similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% fall within this income bracket. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 90.2% income retention, Coonamble's total disposable income ranks at the 20th percentile nationally.

Coonamble is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Coonamble, as per the latest Census, 92.4% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 7.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coonamble stood at 39.5%, similar to Regional NSW's figure. Mortgaged dwellings made up 25.3%, while rented ones accounted for 35.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $883, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Coonamble was recorded at $190, compared to Regional NSW's $330 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Coonamble's median monthly mortgage repayment figure is significantly below Australia's average of $1,863.

Coonamble features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 63.8% of all households, including 19.0% couples with children, 23.4% couples without children, and 19.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 36.2%, with lone person households at 32.3% and group households making up 3.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the Regional NSW average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.3%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 35.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.1%) and certificates (28.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 32.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.3% in primary education, 9.9% in secondary education, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Coonamble has 77 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 12 routes, providing a total of 115 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 169 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, primarily using cars (92%), while 8% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 6.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 16 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

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

Coonamble faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~1,393 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are asthma (11.4%) and arthritis (9.2%). 60.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population health is notably challenging due to high chronic condition rates. The area has 19.1% of residents aged 65 and over (528 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Senior health outcomes align with national rankings, mirroring general population trends.

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

Coonamble's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 83.6% of its population being citizens and 95.8% born in Australia. English was spoken exclusively at home by 96.9%. The predominant religion was Christianity, accounting for 75.8%, compared to the Regional NSW average of 55.9%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian was the most represented group at 32.2%, followed by Australian Aboriginal at 26.3% (substantially higher than the regional average of 4.6%), and English at 22.7% (notably lower than the regional average of 30.5%). Notably, Lebanese ancestry was overrepresented in Coonamble at 0.1%, compared to the regional average of 0.2%.

Coonamble's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Coonamble is 37 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and very close to Australia's national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 0-4 years make up a prominent 9.7%, while the 65-74 age group comprises 10.1%. Since 2021, the population of those aged 15-24 has grown from 11.3% to 13.1%, and the 0-4 cohort has increased from 8.3% to 9.7%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 13.0% to 11.2%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 10.9% to 9.3%. Looking ahead to the year 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Coonamble's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to increase solidly by 20 people (31%), expanding from 66 to 87. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 86% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 25-34 and 35-44 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.