Cobram
Statistical Area - sa2

Cobram has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Cobram's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 6,974 people. This figure represents an increase of 509 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,465. The growth was inferred from ABS estimates of 6,600 in June 2024 and validated new addresses totalling 195 since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 52 persons per square kilometer. Cobram's growth rate of 7.9% since the 2021 census exceeds both its SA4 region (2.6%) and SA3 area, positioning it as a growth leader. Interstate migration accounted for approximately 69.7% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to reach SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Cobram is expected to experience exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of national regional areas. By 2041, its population is projected to reach 9,800 people, reflecting a total increase of 35.2% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Cobram when compared nationally

Cobram has averaged approximately 25 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 129 dwellings approved between FY-20 and FY-25, and an additional 5 approved in FY-26 so far. Over the past five financial years (FY-20 to FY-25), there has been an average of 0.7 new residents arriving per new home. This indicates that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction value of new homes is $460,000. In FY-26, there have been $23.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Relative to the Rest of Vic., Cobram shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person and places among the 78th percentile of areas assessed nationally.

New building activity comprises 87.0% detached houses and 13.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 151 people per dwelling approval, Cobram shows characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts indicate that Cobram will gain 2,452 residents through to 2041. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Cobram has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects likely impacting this area. Key projects include Thompsons Beach and Kennedy Park Precinct Plan, NCN Health Cobram Urgent Care Centre Renovation, Cobram Village, and VICSES Cobram Unit. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The labour market in Cobram demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Cobram's workforce is balanced between white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.3%.

As of June 2025, 2,817 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% below the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Cobram is lower at 49.3%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include agriculture, forestry & fishing, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly specialized, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 11.3% versus the regional average of 16.8%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Cobram's labour force decreased by 14.3%, while employment declined by 14.9%, increasing the unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. Statewide in Vic., employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year to Sep-25, adding 39,880 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections for Cobram suggest local growth of approximately 5.0%% over five years and 11.4% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Cobram had a median taxpayer income of $44,672 and an average income of $53,357. Nationally, these figures are lower than the averages of $48,741 and $60,693 respectively for Rest of Vic. As of March 2025, estimated incomes based on Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $49,188 (median) and $58,751 (average). Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Cobram fall between the 5th and 13th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 30.4% of Cobram's community earns between $400 - 799, with only 2,120 individuals in this bracket. Conversely, the broader area has 30.3% earning between $1,500 - 2,999. After housing costs, 85.9% of income remains in Cobram, ranking at the 8th percentile nationally.

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

Cobram's dwelling structures, 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 Vic.'s 90.8% houses and 9.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cobram was at 45.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.3% and rented dwellings at 28.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,278, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,300. Median weekly rent in Cobram was $250, matching Non-Metro Vic.'s figure but significantly lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863.

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

Family households constitute 62.3% of all households, including 19.8% couples with children, 31.2% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 37.7%, with lone person households at 34.4% and group households making up 3.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic average of 2.3.

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

The area faces educational challenges with university qualification rates at 11.2%, significantly below Victoria's average of 33.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.2%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.6%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 36.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.1%) and certificates (27.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.9% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education. Cobram's five schools have a combined enrollment of 1,478 students, reflecting typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 965) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds residential needs (22.2 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 16.0), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Transport analysis shows 19 active transport stops operating within Cobram, consisting of a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 13 individual routes, collectively offering 146 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 299 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 20 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Cobram faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low at approximately 47%, covering around 3,277 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.7%) and mental health issues (9.3%). Approximately 60% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Rest of Vic's 60%. Cobram has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 28.7%, or around 2,004 people, compared to the state average of 27%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are generally good, performing better than the general population in most metrics.

In terms of cultural diversity, Cobram records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cobram's population in terms of cultural diversity was found to be roughly comparable to the wider region's average, with 83.9% being citizens, 82.2% born in Australia, and 86.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was identified as the main religion in Cobram, making up 57.4% of its population. However, there was a notable overrepresentation in the 'Other' category, which comprised 2.2% compared to the regional average of 0.7%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three represented groups were English at 30.8%, Australian at 26.3%, and Italian at 9.0%. The Australian figure was notably lower than the regional average of 32.1%, while the Italian figure was substantially higher than the regional average of 3.7%. There were also notable divergences in certain other ethnic groups, with Irish being overrepresented at 8.7% compared to the regional average of 9.9%, Chinese at 2.2% versus 0.9%, and Macedonian at 0.1%.

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

Cobram's median age of 48 years is notably higher than Rest of Vic.'s 43 and significantly exceeds the Australian median of 38. The age profile indicates that those aged 75-84 are particularly prevalent at 10.5%, while the 35-44 age group is comparatively smaller at 10.5% compared to Rest of Vic.. Post-Census data from 2021 shows that the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.2% to 10.4%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has decreased from 15.4% to 14.3%. By 2041, demographic modelling suggests significant changes in Cobram's age profile. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to expand considerably by 485 people, increasing from 792 to 1,278.