Coolamon
At 297 square kilometres and just 2,275 residents, Coolamon covers more ground than many regional centres but houses fewer people than a typical city precinct. The median house price of $455,000 sits well below the NSW state median, making entry affordable in a market where 40.8% of households own their home outright. Healthcare and education together employ over a third of the local workforce, giving this Riverina town an economic base that depends more on public-sector services than agriculture or construction. Household income at the 42.2nd national percentile places Coolamon below average nationally, yet housing costs consume a modest 24.3% of income for mortgage holders, lower than stress thresholds seen in most capital city suburbs.
Population
2,275
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,427/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
49
Median House
$455K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $455,000 compares favourably against NSW state averages concentrated in Sydney, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Price history shows movement from $447,750 in 2024 to $470,000 in 2025, a 5% rise in one year. The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.4%, with apartments at just 1.1%, so buyers face little competition from unit-style alternatives. Large dwellings dominate, with 46.9% of homes having four or more bedrooms and 39.6% having three bedrooms, better suited to families than couples or singles. The 41.3% of households carrying a mortgage indicates active buying activity rather than a purely settled, debt-free ownership base.
For Buyers
The median house price of $455,000 compares favourably against NSW state averages concentrated in Sydney, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Price history shows movement from $447,750 in 2024 to $470,000 in 2025, a 5% rise in one year. The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.4%, with apartments at just 1.1%, so buyers face little competition from unit-style alternatives. Large dwellings dominate, with 46.9% of homes having four or more bedrooms and 39.6% having three bedrooms, better suited to families than couples or singles. The 41.3% of households carrying a mortgage indicates active buying activity rather than a purely settled, debt-free ownership base.
For Investors
A rental pool of 18% of households at $270 per week implies a gross yield near 3.1% against the $455,000 median, below the returns some regional markets offer but above inner-city apartment benchmarks. The vacancy rate of 8.2% is elevated compared to the national average, signalling softer rental demand relative to supply and a risk of extended vacancy between tenants. Development activity records 48 applications in the past 12 months, moderate for a suburb of 2,275 residents, with recent lodgements including subdivision and new dwelling applications. Rent-to-income at 18.9% keeps existing tenants comfortable, reducing churn risk. The 5% price rise year-on-year from 2024 to 2025 suggests some capital growth momentum, though one-year data is insufficient to confirm a durable trend.
Development Activity
Total DAs
276
Last 12 Months
49
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-10.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coolamon iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Michael's Primary School
K-6 · 76 students
Coolamon Central School
K-12 · 383 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 sits 2 years above the national median, pointing toward an older resident profile than the typical Australian suburb. Overseas-born residents make up just 4.9% of the population, which is 16.7 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the Anglo-Celtic heritage that dominates local ancestry, led by English (975 residents), Irish (325) and Scottish (260). University qualifications reach 23.6%, which is 6.5 points below the national average, consistent with a workforce skewed toward practical and trade-based occupations alongside public-sector professionals. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. The volunteering rate of 21.7% is above typical urban levels, and 79.4% of residents lived at the same address five years earlier, indicating a settled, low-turnover community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.4%
Houses
2.2%
Townhouse
1.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Coolamon's housing market is almost exclusively separate houses at 96.4%, with semi-detached at 2.2% and apartments at 1.1%. This uniformity means buyers have limited product variation, and premium pricing for large lots reflects the suburban and rural character across 297 square kilometres. Tenure splits toward ownership, with 40.8% owning outright and 41.3% carrying a mortgage, while 18% rent. Prices rose 5% from $447,750 in 2024 to $470,000 in 2025, reaching a two-year peak. Large dwellings are common, with 46.9% of homes at four or more bedrooms, suggesting the stock is sized for families rather than singles or retirees downsizing. At a $455,000 median and $1,500 monthly mortgage repayment, housing affordability here remains significantly more accessible than in comparable NSW coastal or metropolitan markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wk
$270
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$746
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
75
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.9%
Couples, no children
1,813
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 18.1% (117 workers), followed by Education at 16.4% (106) and Public Administration at 13.9% (90). Together these three public-sector-oriented industries account for nearly half the local workforce, a pattern common in regional service towns where government-funded jobs provide employment stability. Construction contributes 9.9% (64 workers) and Agriculture 5.9% (38), lower than the agricultural landscape might suggest. By occupation, Professionals (167), Managers (158) and Community/Personal workers (158) are the top three groups, consistent with the healthcare and education employment base. The unemployment rate of 3.7% is low, and the full-time employment rate of 68.6% is healthy. Participation at 56.6% is below national averages, partly because 622 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the older age profile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.6%
Part-time
27.7%
Participation
56.6%
Employed
984
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.6%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
4.9%
Dwellings
831
Transport to Work
Car use dominates commuting at 87.8%, which is typical for a regional NSW town without meaningful public transport infrastructure. Walking and cycling account for 5.4% of trips, a modest but non-trivial share for a low-density, 297 square kilometre area. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in nearby centres. The need-for-assistance rate of 7.8% (170 residents) is moderate, partly reflecting the older age profile where 42 is 2 years above national median. Rent-to-income at 18.9% and mortgage-to-income at 24.3% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are proportionate for both renters and buyers relative to local incomes at the 42.2nd national income percentile. The volunteering rate of 21.7% points to a community with active civic participation above urban averages.
Drive
87.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Coolamon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coolamon a good suburb to live in?
Coolamon suits households seeking affordable regional living with stable employment anchored in healthcare and education. Household income sits at the 42.2nd national percentile, and housing costs are manageable with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The 79.4% residential stability rate suggests most residents choose to stay long-term.
What is the median house price in Coolamon?
The median house price is $455,000, with prices rising from $447,750 in 2024 to $470,000 in 2025, a 5% increase. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500 and weekly rent averages $270. These figures are significantly more affordable than the NSW state median concentrated in Sydney.
What schools are in Coolamon?
No schools are recorded inside the Coolamon suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby regional centres. Local university qualification rates sit at 23.6%, which is 6.5 points below the national average, reflecting the practical and service-sector workforce composition.
Is Coolamon safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Coolamon in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 3.7% unemployment and a 79.4% residential stability rate suggest a settled, low-transience community. The low overseas-born share of 4.9% and high volunteering rate of 21.7% are consistent with a cohesive local population.
Is Coolamon good for property investment?
At $270 weekly rent and a $455,000 median price, the estimated gross yield is approximately 3.1%. However, a vacancy rate of 8.2% is elevated above national averages, signalling softer demand relative to supply. The 5% price rise from 2024 to 2025 shows some capital growth, and 48 development applications in 12 months indicates ongoing activity.
How is Coolamon's population changing?
Detailed population growth forecasts are not available for Coolamon in this dataset. Residential stability is high at 79.4%, with only 20.6% turnover over five years. The median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure, and the overseas-born share of 4.9% is 16.7 points below national, suggesting limited migration-driven growth.
How much development is happening in Coolamon?
Coolamon recorded 48 development applications in the past 12 months, including subdivision, indoor recreation facility modifications and new dwelling house applications. This level of activity is moderate for a population of 2,275. The majority of the existing stock is separate houses at 96.4%, with limited apartment or semi-detached development.
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.
Explore Coolamon on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map