Tumbarumba

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

As of February 2026, Tumbarumba's estimated population is around 1,987, reflecting a growth of 72 people since the 2021 Census. This increase corresponds to a 3.8% rise from the previous figure of 1,915 residents. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 1,882 in June 2024, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 37 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 8.6 persons per square kilometer. Tumbarumba's growth exceeded that of its SA3 area (2.9%), indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed around 94% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. These projections indicate a decline in overall population by 2 persons by 2041, while specific age cohorts like the 75 to 84 group are expected to grow by approximately 47 people over this period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Tumbarumba, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Tumbarumba had 16 dwelling approvals over five years ending in December 2020. This averages out to three new dwellings approved annually, reflecting the modest housing needs typical of rural areas. The small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Tumbarumba's development activity is much lower compared to Rest of NSW and below national patterns. Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, aligning with rural living preferences for space and privacy. As of December 2020, the estimated population per dwelling approval in Tumbarumba was 773 people. Population projections indicate stability or decline, suggesting reduced housing demand pressures benefiting potential buyers.

With population projections showing stability or decline, Tumbarumba should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

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

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are expected to impact this area. Notable projects include Tumut River Works Program, HumeLink, Riverina Redevelopment Program, and Olympic Highway Safety Improvements, with the following list providing details on those most likely to be relevant.

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

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.

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

Tumbarumba's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 3.7% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.7%.

The unemployment rate in Tumbarumba is 0.1% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%, but workforce participation is lower at 56.6% compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 7.6% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in manufacturing, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and public administration & safety. Manufacturing employs 2.8 times more residents than the regional average, while health care & social assistance employs just 9.4%, below Rest of NSW's 16.9%.

Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 3.7% while labour force rose by 4.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.9 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.1%, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Tumbarumba's employment should increase by 4.8% over five years and 11.1% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

The suburb of Tumbarumba had a median income among taxpayers of $46,741 and an average income of $56,360 in the financial year 2023, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are lower than those for Rest of NSW, which were $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). By September 2025, estimates based on an 8.86% increase since financial year 2023 suggest median income will be approximately $50,882 and average income will be around $61,353. Census 2021 data shows that incomes in Tumbarumba fall between the 17th and 24th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket dominated Tumbarumba, with 29.8% of residents (592 people) falling into this range, similar to patterns seen in the region where 29.9% occupied this bracket. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.4% of income retention, total disposable income ranked at just the 23rd percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Tumbarumba, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.7% houses and 3.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tumbarumba stood at 46.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.2% and rented ones at 25.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,165, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Tumbarumba was $220, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Tumbarumba's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 68.5% of all households, including 20.6% couples with children, 35.0% couples without children, and 12.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.5%, with lone person households at 30.0% and group households making up 1.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.9%, 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, with 10.5% of residents holding one, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.8% and postgraduate qualifications at 1.6%. Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15+, with 38.5% having them, including advanced diplomas (8.1%) and certificates (30.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 10.5% in primary, 7.3% in secondary, and 2.0% in tertiary education.

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

Tumbarumba has 78 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 14 routes, providing a total of 1,243 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 209 meters to the nearest one. Most residents commute outward from Tumbarumba, primarily using cars (90%), while 8% walk. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 7.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 177 trips per day, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Tumbarumba faces substantial health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (~978 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (11.5%) and asthma (10.0%), while 59.0% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. Tumbarumba has 30.6% of residents aged 65 and over (608 people), higher than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Senior health outcomes present notable challenges, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

Tumbarumba is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Tumbarumba had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 90.2% of its population being Australian citizens, 90.6% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Tumbarumba, accounting for 63.8%, compared to 55.9% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.3%), English (30.1%), and Scottish (9.0%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 5.5% in Tumbarumba than the regional average of 4.6%. German ancestry also had a higher percentage in Tumbarumba at 4.9%, compared to 3.1% regionally. Maori ancestry showed a smaller but notable difference, with 0.6% in Tumbarumba versus 0.3% regionally.

Tumbarumba hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Tumbarumba's median age is 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 16.3% of the population, while the 25-34 age group is comparatively smaller at 8.3%. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between 2021 and now, the percentage of the population aged 65 to 74 has grown from 13.7% to 16.3%, while the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 9.1% to 10.6%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 14.4% to 11.8% and the 25 to 34 age group has dropped from 9.8% to 8.3%. By 2041, Tumbarumba is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 29%, reaching 110 people from the current figure of 85. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 74% of this growth, while population declines are projected for those aged 0-4 and 55-64 years old.