Cooma (NSW)

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Following an examination of ABS population updates for the wider region and new addresses validated by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Cooma (NSW) has an estimated population of approximately 6,541 as of May 2026. This represents a contraction of 174 residents (2.6%) from the 6,715 individuals documented in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is derived from the resident population of 6,541, calculated by Districts based on the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) and an additional 52 validated new addresses post-Census. With this population level, the density stands at 66 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and capacity for subsequent expansion. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth, accounting for approximately 97.0% of the overall population increases in recent times.

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Cooma benefits from a qualified labour force with substantial representation in essential services, alongside an unemployment rate of only 2.9%, according to Districts aggregations of statistical area data. Employed residents numbered 3,140 as of March 2026, with the unemployment rate tracking 1.2% lower than the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, while workforce participation closely aligns with the Regional NSW figure of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a modest 10.2% of the workforce worked from home, though this may reflect the influence of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

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Based on Districts aggregations of postcode ATO records for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the suburb of Cooma recorded a median income of $51,670 and an average income of $63,060. These figures are below national benchmarks and compare to $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) across Regional NSW. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 stand at roughly $57,002 for the median and $69,568 for the average. The 2021 Census placed personal income at the 43rd percentile ($771 weekly) and household income at the 26th percentile. Income distribution statistics show 29.8% of the population (1,949 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring the regional proportion of . Although housing expenses are modest with of income retained, overall disposable income sits at the th percentile nationally.

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At the time of the latest Census, the housing mix in Cooma was dominated by standalone houses at 88.6%, with other options (semi-detached, apartments, and alternative dwellings) representing 11.4%, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership levels matched the Regional NSW rate of 39.7%, while the remaining properties were split between mortgaged homes (29.8%) and rentals (30.5%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,300 was below the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $290, compared to the regional figure of $330. Nationally, Cooma's mortgage repayments are below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are lower than the national median of $375.

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Families make up 62.4% of households, consisting of couples with children (22.3%), couples without children (28.4%), and single parents (10.8%). Non-family households account for the remaining 37.6%, with sole person households representing 34.5% and group share houses making up 3.2%. The median household size of 2.2 individuals is slightly smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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Educational attainment in the area lags behind broader benchmarks, with the university qualification rate of 21.6% tracking below the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents a clear opportunity for targeted educational policies. Among university graduates, Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.5% and graduate diplomas at 2.6%. Vocational education is highly represented, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (30.0%).

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Public transport infrastructure includes 157 active transit stops in Cooma, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by 27 separate routes, providing 313 weekly passenger journeys. Transit accessibility is strong, with residents living an average of 157 meters from their closest stop. As a primary residential hub, many workers commute out of the area; private vehicles remain the primary transit mode at 88%, while 8% of residents walk to work. The average rate of vehicle ownership is 1.3 per household, which is below the regional average. A small proportion of 10.2% of residents worked from home, based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

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Health indicators point to notable challenges in Cooma, based on Districts' evaluation of mortality rates and chronic health conditions, which are prevalent among both younger and older cohorts, combined with a relatively low rate of private health insurance covering approximately 52% of the population (~3,394 individuals).

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Cultural diversity in Cooma is relatively low, with citizens making up 84.9% of the population, 82.5% of residents born in Australia, and 90.2% using only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 55.0% of the population, which is comparable to the 55.9% recorded across Regional NSW.

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Cooma's median age of 43 matches the Regional NSW median of 43 and sits above the national median of 38. The demographic profile features a prominent cohort of 35 - 44 year-olds (14.1%), while the 15 - 24 age bracket is relatively small (9.5%) compared to Regional NSW. Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age cohort grew from 12.1% to 14.1% of the population, and the 5 to 14 cohort rose from 10.6% to 11.8%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.3% to 10.7%. Looking toward 2041, age projections indicate significant transformations. The + cohort is projected to expand by ( people), rising from to . Crucially, the + age cohorts are expected to drive of total population growth, pointing to a rapidly aging profile. Conversely, the cohorts aged to and to are projected to experience population decreases.

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Cooma currently has an estimated 392 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 232 children aged 0-2 and 155 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 3% since the previous census. though population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 1% by 2041 (to approximately 387 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 610. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 11.6 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.