Coolah
Agriculture drives nearly a third of all local jobs in Coolah, a small NSW farming town of 1,262 people spread across 1,590 square kilometres, giving it a density of just 0.8 residents per square kilometre, far below any metropolitan benchmark. The median age of 47 sits 7 years above the national figure, and 81% of residents have stayed put for at least five years, pointing to a stable, owner-occupier community. Household income ranks in the 22.5th percentile nationally, below most regional centres, yet housing stress is low because the median house price of $350,000 is equally modest, keeping mortgage-to-income at 19.9% and rent-to-income at just 14.6%.
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
Median House
$350K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $350,000, the median house price sits far below the NSW state median, making Coolah one of the more accessible entry points for buyers priced out of larger markets. Prices rose from $335,000 in 2024 to $357,500 in 2025, a 6.7% annual gain. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.5%, with semi-detached dwellings making up the remaining 3.5% and no recorded apartments, so buyers get land and space as standard. Bedroom mix skews large: 36.4% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 42.3% have three, compared with national averages that lean toward smaller configurations. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,000, and mortgage-to-income sits at 19.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
For Buyers
At $350,000, the median house price sits far below the NSW state median, making Coolah one of the more accessible entry points for buyers priced out of larger markets. Prices rose from $335,000 in 2024 to $357,500 in 2025, a 6.7% annual gain. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.5%, with semi-detached dwellings making up the remaining 3.5% and no recorded apartments, so buyers get land and space as standard. Bedroom mix skews large: 36.4% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 42.3% have three, compared with national averages that lean toward smaller configurations. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,000, and mortgage-to-income sits at 19.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
For Investors
A 22.4% renter share supports consistent rental demand for a town of this size, and weekly rent of $170 reflects the affordable income base rather than weak demand. The vacancy rate of 17.9% is elevated compared with tighter regional markets and warrants attention before committing capital. Only 16 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, confirming that supply additions are minimal and unlikely to dilute the existing stock further. The town's employment base is anchored in agriculture at 30.2% of all jobs, meaning income flows are tied to commodity cycles. Price growth of 6.7% over the year from $335,000 to $357,500 shows the market is not static, though the small transaction volume makes that figure sensitive to individual sales.
Development Activity
Total DAs
59
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+112.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coolah iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Coolah
K-6 · 31 students
Coolah Central School
K-12 · 148 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national average, consistent with the aging-resident pattern common to rural inland NSW. Only 6.8% of residents were born overseas, which is 14.8 percentage points below the national figure, and English ancestry dominates at 536 residents, followed by Irish (118) and Scottish (115). University qualifications reach just 15.8% of residents, which is 14.3 points below the national rate, reflecting the occupational structure of farming and trade-heavy employment rather than professional services. Average household size is 2.4, marginally below the national 2.5. The volunteering rate of 23.4% is notably high for a community of this size, suggesting strong civic participation relative to the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.5%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is the dominant tenure: 51% of residents own their home outright, compared with a national outright-ownership rate well below that, and 26.6% carry a mortgage, while 22.4% rent. The outright-owner majority reflects the older median age of 47 and long residential tenure, with 81% of residents unchanged from five years prior. All but 3.5% of dwellings are separate houses, and the bedroom distribution tilts large, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 36.4% and three-bedroom homes at 42.3%. The median house price moved from $335,000 in 2024 to $357,500 in 2025, a 6.7% gain. Rent-to-income at 14.6% is low relative to most NSW markets, indicating housing costs take a smaller share of income than the national average.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,000
Rent / wk
$170
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
36.1%
Couples, no children
821
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture accounts for 30.2% of local employment at 81 workers, an unusually high concentration compared with most NSW towns where industry spread is broader. Education follows at 13.1% and Healthcare at 9.7%, together providing the public-sector anchor typical of inland service centres. Construction at 7.8% and Professional/Technical at 6.3% round out the top five industries. By occupation, Managers lead with 120 workers, ahead of Labourers (70), Professionals (62) and Machinery/Drivers (50). The unemployment rate is 4.8% on a participation rate of 46.6%, with 360 residents not in the labour force, partly because the older age profile moves more of the population past working age. Full-time employment among those working runs at 62.7%.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.7%
Part-time
32.5%
Participation
46.6%
Employed
461
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.8%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
6.8%
Dwellings
426
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 80.6% of residents driving to work, well above the national average, and public transport use at 1.8% reflects the absence of rail or bus services typical of rural areas at this scale. The 13.5% who walked or cycled is surprisingly high and likely reflects proximity of residences to the small town centre on foot. No schools are recorded in the data for Coolah, so families rely on schools in neighbouring localities. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb in the dataset. Housing stress is low by any measure: rent-to-income at 14.6% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9% are both below the national average, meaning residents retain more disposable income than counterparts in higher-cost regional centres.
Drive
80.6%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
13.5%
Work from Home
N/A
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 suits buyers and families who prioritise affordability and space over services and proximity. The median house price of $350,000 is well below the NSW state median, mortgage-to-income sits at a comfortable 19.9%, and 81% of residents stay put for five or more years. The trade-offs are limited transport links, 80.6% car dependence, and an income base in the 22.5th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Coolah?
The median house price is $350,000, based on 2024-2025 data. Prices rose 6.7% from $335,000 in 2024 to $357,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,000 and weekly rent averages $170, both well below NSW state-capital benchmarks.
What schools are in Coolah?
No schools are recorded inside the Coolah boundary in this dataset. Families in the area typically rely on schools in nearby towns across the Central Tablelands region. The local university qualification rate is 15.8%, which is 14.3 points below the national average, reflecting the trade and agriculture workforce rather than a lack of access for younger residents.
Is Coolah safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Coolah in this dataset. As indirect indicators, housing stress is low with rent-to-income at 14.6% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9%, both below national averages, and the community shows a high 23.4% volunteering rate, consistent with stable, low-stress social conditions.
Is Coolah good for property investment?
Coolah offers a low entry price of $350,000 and recorded 6.7% price growth from 2024 to 2025. However, the vacancy rate of 17.9% is elevated relative to tighter regional markets, weekly rent of $170 implies a gross yield near 2.5%, and the agricultural economy ties income flows to commodity cycles. Development supply is minimal at 16 applications in 12 months, so existing stock is unlikely to face new competition.
How is Coolah's population changing?
Coolah has a population of 1,262 with high residential stability: 81% of residents were in the same home five years prior, and the turnover rate is 19%. The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national average, suggesting natural population growth is modest. No forecast migration data is available in this dataset to project future change.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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