Kooringal (NSW)

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since Feb 2026, Kooringal's population is estimated at around 7348. This reflects a decrease of 56 people (0.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7404 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 7203, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 13 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1521 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 55% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Over this period, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with Kooringal's population expected to shrink by 443 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group, which is projected to increase by 200 people.

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

Kooringal has had minimal residential development activity, with an average of 3 dwelling approvals annually over the past five years, totalling 19. This low level reflects its rural nature, where development is typically driven by local housing needs rather than broader market demand. The small number of approvals means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Kooringal's development levels are substantially lower than those in Rest of NSW and below national averages. All new construction has been detached houses, reflecting the area's rural character where larger properties and space are preferred. This favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (81.0% at Census), indicating robust demand for family homes. With around 1838 people per dwelling approval, Kooringal reflects a highly mature market.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, Kooringal may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Kooringal has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics (RiFL) Hub, Bourkelands Neighbourhood Shopping Centre, Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct, and HumeLink 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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Employment drivers in Kooringal are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Kooringal has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.3% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.0% over the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of that date, 3,479 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.5% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was fairly standard at 64.3%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 7.2% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Notably, Kooringal has a high concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 1.9% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.0% and labour force increased by 4.7%, leading to an unemployment rise of 1.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.5%, labour force fall by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase in national employment over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kooringal's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Kooringal's median income among taxpayers is $49,456, with an average of $60,288. This is below the national average and compares to Rest of NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Kooringal would be approximately $53,838 (median) and $65,630 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Kooringal rank modestly, between the 29th and 44th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 32.4% of the community earns $1,500 - 2,999 (2,380 individuals), aligning with the regional trend where this cohort likewise represents 29.9%. After accounting for housing costs, 85.7% of income remains for other expenses.

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

Kooringal's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 81.1% houses and 18.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kooringal was at 30.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.7% and rented ones at 37.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,324, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Kooringal was $270, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Kooringal's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Kooringal features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 65.9 percent of all households, including 24.5 percent couples with children, 25.2 percent couples without children, and 14.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.1 percent, with lone person households at 30.3 percent and group households making up 3.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

Educational outcomes in Kooringal fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Kooringal Trail has educational qualifications that trail regional benchmarks. 22.4% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees, compared to NSW's 32.2%. This indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%).

Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.3%) and certificates (28.1%). Educational participation is high, with 31.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Kooringal has 36 active public transport stops, all providing bus services. These stops are served by 58 different routes, offering a total of 888 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is good, with residents typically located 233 meters from the nearest stop. Most Kooringal residents commute outward daily, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 95%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 7.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 126 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Kooringal is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Kooringal faces substantial health challenges, as per AreaSearch's assessment from data up to June 2021.

The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 51% (~3,732 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. Asthma and mental health issues are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.6 and 10.2% of residents respectively. Around 63.9% of Kooringal residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, slightly higher than the 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 18.8% (1,381 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Kooringal ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Kooringal's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.9% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (87.5%), and speaking English only at home (90.3%). Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 56.1% of Kooringal's population. The most notable overrepresentation was observed in the 'Other' category, which constituted 2.1% of Kooringal's population compared to 0.8% across the Rest of NSW.

Regarding ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three groups represented in Kooringal were English (29.1%), Australian (28.9%), and Irish (10.1%). Notably, certain ethnic groups showed significant differences in representation: Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 4.6%, German at 3.7% versus 3.1%, and Samoan at 0.1% each.

Kooringal's population is younger than the national pattern

Kooringal's median age is 35 years, which is significantly below the Rest of NSW average of 43 and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 cohort in Kooringal is notably over-represented at 16.8%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 9.0%. According to the Census conducted on August 10th, 2021, the percentage of Kooringal's population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 15.0% to 16.8%, while the percentages for those aged 5 to 14 and 45 to 54 have declined to 12.8% and 8.6%, respectively. Demographic modeling indicates that Kooringal's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the strongest projected growth in the 85+ cohort (91%), adding 179 residents to reach a total of 378. The population is expected to age further, with those aged 65 and older representing 97% of anticipated growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 65-74 and 0-4 age cohorts.