Cobram
A 48-year median age makes Cobram 8 years older than the national figure, shaping a slower-growth regional market of 6,148 residents across 81.2 square kilometres. Household income sits at the 13.8th percentile, while 91.2% of homes are separate houses and vacancy is 11.5%. Compared with nearby Yarrawonga, Cobram may appeal more to buyers seeking established, detached housing and local services than to those chasing a destination-style market. Its low density of 75.7 people per square kilometre supports a quieter setting, but the older population and high vacancy point to measured demand.
Population
6,148
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,026/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$481K
October to December 2025
A typical mortgage is listed at $1,235 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 27.8% of household income and no mortgage-stress flag. The housing stock is strongly detached, with 91.2% separate houses, while 3-bedroom homes represent 52.1% of dwellings. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, buyers here are more likely to find conventional family homes, and 43.9% of households already own outright.
For Buyers
A typical mortgage is listed at $1,235 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 27.8% of household income and no mortgage-stress flag. The housing stock is strongly detached, with 91.2% separate houses, while 3-bedroom homes represent 52.1% of dwellings. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, buyers here are more likely to find conventional family homes, and 43.9% of households already own outright.
For Investors
Cobram's rental profile combines a $250 weekly median rent with 29.1% of households renting and an 11.5% vacancy rate. Compared with a tightly supplied rental market, that vacancy level gives tenants more choice and may limit short-term rent pressure, even though rents have grown 42.9% across the longer trend. Migration is labelled Balanced, while 14 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Detached housing may suit family tenants, but the 91.2% separate-house share narrows the apartment-style investment pool.
Development Activity
Total DAs
34
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+75.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cobram
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Cobram Anglican Grammar School
Cobram Primary School
St Joseph's School
Cobram Secondary College
Cobram and District Specialist School
Demographics
Cobram has a median age of 48, which is 8 years above the national figure, and an average household size of 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national comparison. University attainment is 15.4%, or 14.7 percentage points below the national level, while 18.3% of residents were born overseas, 3.3 points below national. English, Italian, Irish and Scottish ancestry are prominent, with counts of 2,401, 702, 679 and 577 respectively. Italian is the most common listed non-English language at 100 speakers, followed by Mandarin at 86. With 80.2% staying at the same address, turnover is lower than a highly mobile market, reinforcing an older, settled population profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.2%
Houses
7.0%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between 43.9% owned outright, 25.3% with a mortgage and 29.1% rented. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 52.1% of stock and 4-bedroom-plus homes 25.8%, consistent with the 91.2% separate-house share. Compared with higher-density markets, Cobram provides more detached living, while rent-to-income at 24.4% and mortgage-to-income at 27.8% remain below stated stress thresholds.
Mortgage / mo
$1,235
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$598
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.5%
Unoccupied
327
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.3%
Couples with children
50.4%
Couples, no children
17.3%
Single parent
1,570
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Cobram's largest listed industry at 16.4%, followed by manufacturing at 13.3%, construction at 10.4%, education at 10.0% and agriculture at 9.7%. The occupational mix includes 548 labourers, 349 managers, 316 trades workers, 276 community and personal service workers and 234 clerical or administrative workers. Household income is $1,026 per week, at the 13.8th percentile and below the national position. Unemployment is 4.3%, while participation is 48.6%; 2,259 people are outside the labour force, consistent with the median age of 48. SEIFA results are low: IEO decile 1, IER decile 2, IRSD decile 2 and IRSAD decile 1. Compared with higher-income areas, this points to fewer economic buffers despite a broad local-service base.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
2,517
Unemployed
108
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.1%
Part-time
36.2%
Participation
48.6%
Employed
2,409
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.4%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
18.3%
Dwellings
2,513
Transport to Work
Cobram is practical for households with cars: 77.5% of commuters drive, compared with just 0.2% using public transport, while 6.7% walk or cycle and 6.7% work from home. Access to education covers 5 local schools across primary, secondary, specialist, Catholic, government and independent sectors. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because school boundaries can cross suburb lines. Crime warrants address-level due diligence, with 897 recorded offences and a rate of 145.9 per 1,000; the largest categories were property and deception at 401 and justice procedures at 278. Compared with public transport use, car dependence is much higher. SEIFA IRSAD and IEO results are both in decile 1, indicating fewer socioeconomic resources than higher-ranked areas.
Drive
77.5%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
6.7%
Work from Home
6.7%
Population Forecast
+0.42%/yr
(+28 people/yr)
EstablishedCobram's forecast trend is 0.42% annual growth, slower than the suburb's 4.3% long-run house-price CAGR, with migration classified as Balanced. The wider area records 3.6% population change over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 7.5 percentage points, the young share fell 3.7 points and the working-age share declined 2.0 points. The current gentrification result is score 0, labelled Not gentrifying, although a separate shift indicator records 24 and Early signs. Because demand is balanced rather than migration-led, growth is more likely to be gradual than rapid, with demographic aging influencing housing and service needs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+42
Net Internal / yr
+40
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
897
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
145.9
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cobram compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cobram a good suburb to live in?
Cobram suits buyers seeking detached housing, local services and a quieter regional setting. The median age is 48, 91.2% of homes are separate houses and 77.5% of commuters drive. Compared with larger or denser centres, public transport is limited at 0.2%, so access to a car is important.
What schools are in Cobram?
Cobram has 5 listed schools covering primary, secondary and specialist education. The sector mix includes government, Catholic and independent providers, with both primary-only and combined primary-secondary options. Families should compare each school's enrolment zone with the exact property address before purchasing.
Is Cobram safe?
Cobram recorded 897 offences at a rate of 145.9 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 401 incidents, justice procedures for 278 and crimes against the person for 137. Buyers and renters should compare recent incidents by street and inspect the immediate area before committing.
How is Cobram's population changing?
Cobram has an Aging population trajectory. The wider area recorded 3.6% population change over 10 years, while the senior share increased 7.5 percentage points and the young share decreased 3.7 points. Annual growth is forecast at 0.42%, with migration described as Balanced rather than driven by one major source.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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