Coolah
A 17.9% vacancy rate is the standout feature of Coolah, alongside a settled population of 1,262 and a median age of 47, which is 7 years above the national figure. Housing is overwhelmingly detached at 96.5%, while agriculture accounts for 30.2% of local industry employment. The 0.8 people-per-square-kilometre density and 81.0% same-address retention point to a spacious, established rural setting rather than a fast-turnover market. Compared with nearby Dunedoo and Binnaway, Coolah is best considered by buyers who value land, local services and lower-density living over metropolitan choice.
Local council: Warrumbungle
Population
1,262
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,162/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
For buyers comparing Coolah with nearby Dunedoo or Binnaway, the housing mix is a clear differentiator: 96.5% of dwellings are separate houses, including 42.3% with 3 bedrooms and 36.4% with 4 or more. Ownership is also more established than a typical renter-led market, with 48.7% owned outright and 25.4% under mortgage, while 21.3% are rented. The $1,000 monthly mortgage figure equates to 19.9% of household income, and rent is $170 per week or 14.6% of income. A current median sale price is not stated, so compare individual listings, land size and renovation needs rather than relying on a single suburb-wide figure.
For Buyers
For buyers comparing Coolah with nearby Dunedoo or Binnaway, the housing mix is a clear differentiator: 96.5% of dwellings are separate houses, including 42.3% with 3 bedrooms and 36.4% with 4 or more. Ownership is also more established than a typical renter-led market, with 48.7% owned outright and 25.4% under mortgage, while 21.3% are rented. The $1,000 monthly mortgage figure equates to 19.9% of household income, and rent is $170 per week or 14.6% of income. A current median sale price is not stated, so compare individual listings, land size and renovation needs rather than relying on a single suburb-wide figure.
For Investors
Coolah's investment case is shaped by low rents and a large amount of available stock, not by tight-market scarcity. Weekly rent is $170, the renter share is 21.3%, and vacancy is 17.9%, so rental growth may be more limited than in a lower-vacancy market and tenant demand should be tested carefully. Agriculture supplies 30.2% of local industry employment, with education at 13.1% and healthcare at 9.7%, giving the economy several service anchors but a strong rural exposure. Nineteen development matters were recorded over 12 months, including a dwelling, community facility signage and subdivision activity. Compared with a high-growth corridor, this is a modest pipeline.
Development Activity
Total DAs
63
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+41.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coolah
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Coolah has an older and more settled profile than Australia overall: the median age is 47, or 7 years above the national figure, and 81.0% of residents stayed at the same address while 19.0% moved. University attainment is 15.8%, 14.3 percentage points below the national comparison, while 6.8% were born overseas, 14.8 points below nationally. English ancestry is recorded for 536 people, followed by Irish at 118 and Scottish at 115. Christianity counts 786 residents versus 247 reporting no religion. The average household size is 2.4, slightly below the national comparison by 0.1, consistent with an older local base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.5%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Coolah's housing stock is more detached and spacious than an apartment-oriented market. Separate houses account for 96.5% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes make up 3.5%; 42.3% have 3 bedrooms and 36.4% have 4 or more. Tenure is weighted toward ownership, with 48.7% owned outright and 25.4% mortgaged, compared with 21.3% rented. The $170 weekly rent equals 14.6% of household income, and the $1,000 monthly mortgage equals 19.9%, with neither measure flagged as housing stress. A 17.9% vacancy rate gives renters more choice than a tightly supplied market, while the 1,590.92 square kilometre area and density of 0.8 reinforce the low-density pattern.
Mortgage / mo
$1,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$170
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$595
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.9%
Unoccupied
93
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.7%
Couples with children
50.7%
Couples, no children
10.3%
Single parent
300
Total families
Economy & Employment
Coolah's employment base is led by agriculture, which accounts for 30.2% and 81 workers, more than twice education at 13.1% and 35 workers. Healthcare contributes 9.7% and 26 workers, followed by construction at 7.8% and professional or technical work at 6.3%. The occupational mix supports that pattern: managers number 120, trades 70, labourers 70, professionals 62 and machinery or drivers 50. Unemployment is 4.5% among a labour-force participation rate of 49.3%, with 289 full-time and 172 part-time workers. Compared with larger urban economies, the rural concentration suggests local resilience but narrower career choice; volunteering at 23.4% adds community capacity.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
512
Unemployed
23
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.1%
Part-time
35.2%
Participation
49.3%
Employed
489
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.8%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
6.8%
Dwellings
426
Transport to Work
Livability in Coolah is built around low density, driving access and a small local education footprint. Car driving is used by 60.8% of residents, compared with 1.4% using public transport, while 10.2% walk or cycle and 24.6% work from home. Coolah Central School is the local government central or community school, so families should check enrolment zones and travel options against the exact address; school choice is narrower than in larger regional centres. Volunteering reaches 23.4%, which is above the 8.1% share needing assistance and helps explain local social capacity. No suburb crime rate is stated, so safety decisions should be checked against current local police information rather than inferred from housing or population figures.
Drive
60.8%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
10.2%
Work from Home
24.6%
Growth Outlook
Current change in Coolah looks gradual rather than driven by a large construction cycle. Nineteen development matters were recorded across 12 months, including a dwelling, community facility signage and a subdivision in the sampled activity. Residential stability is stronger than churn: 81.0% of residents stayed at the same address, compared with a 19.0% turnover rate. Population is 1,262 today, while the median age of 47 means future demand is likely to be shaped by ageing households as much as by new arrivals. Compared with faster-growing regional corridors, Coolah's visible pipeline is modest, so buyers should assess whether each project improves services, housing choice or employment rather than assuming broad-based expansion.
Population trend: Warrumbungle council area
Coolah sits in the Warrumbungle council area. These are the council area's residents, not Coolah's.
Residents 2025
9,246
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.3%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Coolah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coolah a good suburb to live in?
Coolah can suit households wanting detached housing, space and a settled rural setting. The median age is 47, 96.5% of homes are separate houses and 60.8% of commuters drive, so it suits residents comfortable with car-based access more than those seeking frequent public transport.
What is the median house price in Coolah?
A current median house price is not stated, so buyers should compare recent Coolah sales by lot size, bedroom count and condition. The housing mix is 96.5% separate houses, with 42.3% having 3 bedrooms and 36.4% having 4 or more.
What schools are in Coolah?
Coolah Central School is the local government Central/Community School and the principal local schooling option. Families should confirm current enrolment zones, transport and year-level availability. With 1.4% using public transport and 60.8% driving, school access is more car dependent than in urban areas.
Is Coolah safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so safety should be checked through current NSW Police information and local observations. Coolah has 1,262 residents and a 17.9% vacancy rate, but neither population size nor vacancy should be treated as a direct safety measure. Compare recent incident patterns with nearby towns before deciding.
Is Coolah good for property investment?
Coolah may suit a patient investor who understands rural demand, but the 17.9% vacancy rate signals more available stock than a tightly supplied market. Weekly rent is $170, renting is 21.3% and 19 development matters were recorded in 12 months. Agriculture supplies 30.2% of local industry employment, so tenant demand should be tested against local jobs.
How is Coolah's population changing?
Coolah has 1,262 residents and an older profile, with a median age of 47. Population change appears relatively settled locally: 81.0% stayed at the same address and 19.0% turned over. Compared with a fast-growth corridor, this points to gradual change shaped by ageing households, housing availability and local employment, rather than rapid churn.
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), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
Explore Coolah on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map