Coonamble

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

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Coonamble is around 2,799, reflecting a growth of 133 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 5.0% rise from the previously reported figure of 2,666 people. The current resident population estimate of 2,763 is based on AreaSearch's validation of addresses following the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024. This results in a density ratio of 1.8 persons per square kilometer. Coonamble's growth since the 2021 Census exceeded that of its SA3 area (2.6%) and SA4 region, positioning it as a leader in regional population growth. Natural growth contributed approximately 78.0% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate a decline in overall population by 338 persons by 2041, but anticipate growth within specific age cohorts, notably the 85 and over age group which is projected to expand by 26 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 over the five-year period from 2016 to 2020. This resulted in a total of 12 dwellings approved during this time. Such low development levels are characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is naturally limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

It should be noted that the small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics on an individual project basis. Coonamble shows significantly less construction activity than Rest of NSW, with development levels also under national averages. New building activity from 2016 to 2020 showed 67.0% standalone homes and 33.0% attached dwellings, marking a significant departure from existing housing patterns which were currently at 92.0% houses. This shift suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The estimated population of Coonamble per dwelling approval was 786 people during this period, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment.

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

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

No factor impacts an area's performance more than local infrastructure changes. AreaSearch identified zero projects likely affecting this region. Notable initiatives are Inland Rail from Narromine to Narrabri, Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium Water Resource Plan, Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan, and Newell Highway Upgrade.

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 essential services well represented. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of an unspecified date from AreaSearch data aggregation. As of December 2025, 1,030 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 7.1%, which is 3.2 percentage points higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was lower at 51.7% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, only 6.1% of residents worked from home. The key industries of employment were health care & social assistance, education & training, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. Coonamble showed strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share of 2.8 times the regional level, while manufacturing had lower representation at 0.9% versus the regional average of 5.8%.

The area offered limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and November 2025, labour force decreased by 5.5%, while 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 2025 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Coonamble's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years.

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

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released in financial year 2023, the suburb of Coonamble had a median income among taxpayers of $41,749 and an average of $59,182. This is lower than national averages; Regional NSW had a median income of $52,390 and an average 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 $45,448 (median) and $64,426 (average). Census data reveals household, family, and personal incomes in Coonamble fall between the 13th and 17th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 28.6% of residents (800 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, similar to metropolitan regions at 29.9%. Housing costs are modest with 90.2% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 20th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Coonamble, as per the latest Census, comprised 92.4% houses and 7.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coonamble was 39.5%, similar to Regional NSW's figure. Mortgaged dwellings constituted 25.3% and rented ones were 35.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Coonamble was $883, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Coonamble was $190, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Coonamble's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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 make up the remaining 36.2%, with lone person households at 32.3% and group households comprising 3.6%. 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 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 10.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 35.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, 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 are served by 12 routes providing 115 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 169 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuters travel outward, primarily by car (92%), while 8% walk. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.3, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 6.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 16 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately one weekly trip per 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 (~1,409 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (11.4%) and arthritis (9.2%). 60.0% of residents report no medical ailments, lower than the Regional NSW average of 63.3%. Working-age population health is notably challenging due to high chronic condition rates. As of a specific date, 19.1% of residents are aged 65 and over (534 people), lower than the Regional NSW average of 23.4%. Senior health outcomes present challenges, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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. As of 2016 data, 83.6% of its population were Australian citizens, with 95.8% born in Australia and 96.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Coonamble, comprising 75.8% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were Australian (32.2%), Australian Aboriginal (26.3%), which was substantially higher than the regional average of 4.6%, and English (22.7%), notably lower than the regional average of 30.5%. Notably, Lebanese ethnicity 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 close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 0-4 years make up 9.2% of the population, while those aged 65-74 years comprise 10.1%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of the population aged 15-24 has increased from 11.3% to 13.2%, while the percentage of individuals aged 45-54 has decreased from 10.9% to 9.4%, and those aged 25-34 have dropped from 13.0% to 11.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the number of people aged 85+ will increase by 19 individuals (27%), from 69 to 89. The combined age groups of 65+ are expected to account for 91% of total population growth, reflecting Coonamble's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, projections suggest declines in the populations aged 75-84 and 35-44 years.