Cootamundra

Cootamundra is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The population of Cootamundra, as estimated by AreaSearch using ABS updates and validations, stands at approximately 6901 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 16 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6885. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 6883, based on ABS ERP data released in June 2024, and the addition of 12 new addresses validated post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 7.8 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods for Cootamundra.

AreaSearch employs 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 where ABS data is unavailable, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate an anticipated increase of 281 persons by 2041 for Cootamundra, reflecting a total growth rate of 3.8% over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Cootamundra shows an average of around 14 dwellings receiving development approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 71 homes. In FY-26 so far, three approvals have been recorded. The average number of people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these five years is 0.1 per year.

This indicates that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections. The average construction value of new homes is $423,000, aligning with broader regional development trends. Comparatively, Cootamundra shows substantially reduced construction activity relative to the Rest of NSW, at 59.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Additionally, this activity is lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and potential development constraints.

Recent construction in Cootamundra comprises 88.0% standalone homes and 12.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1059 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Cootamundra will gain 265 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Cootamundra has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified two projects likely to affect the region: The Wired Lab - The Church (Muttama Cultural Tourism Project) and Inland Rail - Illabo to Stockinbingal. Other notable initiatives include the Smart Water Meter Replacement Program and the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Single Local Environmental Plan Development, with the following projects being most relevant:.

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

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Cootamundra has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Cootamundra's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well-represented.

The unemployment rate was 3.8% in June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 8.3% over the past year. There were 2,687 residents employed as of June 2025, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation was lower at 45.9%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment sectors were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and agriculture, forestry & fishing.

The area had a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level. Conversely, accommodation & food services had limited presence at 5.2%, compared to the regional average of 7.8%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census data comparisons. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 8.3% while labour force rose by 9.1%, leading to a 0.7 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Cootamundra. National employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Cootamundra's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows Cootamundra had a median income among taxpayers of $46,248. The average income stood at $59,418. This is lower than the national average and compares to levels of $49,459 and $62,998 across Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $52,080 (median) and $66,911 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Cootamundra all fall between the 4th and 10th percentiles nationally. Income distribution reveals that 29.8% of the population (2,056 individuals) fall within the $400 - 799 income range, unlike trends in broader areas where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Housing costs are modest with 88.3% of income retained, however total disposable income ranks at just the 8th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Cootamundra, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.6% houses and 8.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 88.4% houses and 11.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cootamundra was at 50.0%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (25.6%) or rented (24.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,149, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,430. The median weekly rent figure was $220, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $280. Nationally, Cootamundra's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 64.8% of all households, including 20.0% couples with children, 34.1% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.2%, with lone person households making up 33.2% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

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

Cootamundra has university qualification rates at 13.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This discrepancy presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 9.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (30.6%).

Educational participation is high at 25.0%, comprising 9.8% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 1.5% pursuing tertiary education. The town's five schools have a combined enrollment of 905 students. The Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) for Cootamundra is 922. The educational mix includes two primary schools, one secondary school, and two K-12 schools.

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

Cootamundra has 213 active public transport stops. These are a mix of train and bus stations. They are serviced by 49 individual routes.

Together, these routes provide 917 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility. On average, they live 153 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 131 trips per day across all routes. This equates to approximately 4 weekly trips per stop.

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

Cootamundra faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents.

Approximately half (50%) of its total population (~3,482 people) has private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 12.8% and 9.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 56.2% of Cootamundra's residents report no medical ailments, compared to 64.5% in the rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion (32.9%) of residents aged 65 and over (2,270 people) than the rest of NSW (19.6%). Health outcomes among seniors are broadly similar to those of the general population.

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

Cootamundra's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 91.7% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (92.5%), speaking English only at home (97.3%). Christianity is the predominant religion in Cootamundra, comprising 69.5%, compared to 64.3% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are English (33.5%), Australian (32.9%), and Irish (10.6%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 5.1% in Cootamundra than the regional average of 4.5%, while Samoan remains at 0.1%. German ancestry is slightly lower at 3.2% compared to the regional figure of 3.9%.

Cootamundra ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Cootamundra's median age is 51 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and considerably older than the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Cootamundra has a notably over-represented 75-84 cohort at 12.3% locally, while the 35-44 year-olds are under-represented at 8.0%. This 75-84 concentration is well above the national average of 6.0%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 10.9% to 12.3%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.3% to 10.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.7% to 13.7%. By 2041, Cootamundra is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 85+ group growing by 59%, reaching 483 people from 303. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 57% of projected growth. Conversely, both the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.