Coonamble
At a median house price of $220,000, Coonamble sits well below the NSW state median, making it one of the more affordable towns in the central west. The suburb scores IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 2, placing it among the most disadvantaged communities nationally on both indexes. That context matters: household income sits at the 25.4th percentile, and 9.4% of residents need daily assistance. Yet the local labour market is shaped by steady public-sector anchors, with Education and Healthcare together accounting for over 42% of employment, providing income stability that underpins the rental market.
Population
2,666
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,206/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$220K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $220,000 is significantly lower than comparable regional NSW towns, and mortgage repayments average $883 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 92.4% of dwellings, giving buyers a predominantly freestanding housing stock with 44.9% of homes being three-bedroom and 30.8% having four or more bedrooms. The price trend moved from $240,000 in 2024 to $200,000 in 2025, a 16.7% fall, so buyers entering now should weigh affordability against this recent softening. Outright owners at 39.5% outnumber those with mortgages at 25.1%, indicating many long-term holders rather than active upgraders.
For Buyers
The median house price of $220,000 is significantly lower than comparable regional NSW towns, and mortgage repayments average $883 per month, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 92.4% of dwellings, giving buyers a predominantly freestanding housing stock with 44.9% of homes being three-bedroom and 30.8% having four or more bedrooms. The price trend moved from $240,000 in 2024 to $200,000 in 2025, a 16.7% fall, so buyers entering now should weigh affordability against this recent softening. Outright owners at 39.5% outnumber those with mortgages at 25.1%, indicating many long-term holders rather than active upgraders.
For Investors
The rental market shows 35.5% of households renting at $190 per week, which against a $220,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.5%. The vacancy rate of 18.0% is high compared to typical investment benchmarks, signalling excess supply rather than unmet demand. Development activity reached 18 applications in 12 months, a low volume. Net internal migration averages minus 24 per year, and the medium population forecast shows decline from around 3,968 in 2026 to 3,816 by 2031. Investors should weigh the yield against structural population headwinds.
Development Activity
Total DAs
125
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-47.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coonamble iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Brigid's Catholic Primary School Coonamble
K-6 · 191 students
Coonamble High School
7-12 · 161 students
Coonamble Public School
P-6 · 186 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure. The overseas-born share of 4.2% sits 17.4 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly locally-born community. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic, led by English (763 residents), Irish (194) and Scottish (176). University qualifications at 16.9% are 13.2 points below the national rate, consistent with the IEO decile 3 score. The volunteering rate of 18.5% is notable given the disadvantage profile. Christianity accounts for 1,711 residents, with Hinduism (17) and Buddhism (11) very small.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.4%
Houses
2.4%
Townhouse
4.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 92.4% of stock, apartments 4.7% and semi-detached 2.4%, giving buyers an almost entirely freestanding market. Three-bedroom homes are the modal type at 44.9%, with 30.8% having four or more bedrooms. Tenure splits to 39.5% owned outright, 25.1% mortgaged and 35.5% renting. The median house price fell 16.7% from $240,000 in 2024 to $200,000 in 2025. Mortgage-to-income at 16.9% is well below the national stress threshold of 30%, because the $220,000 median is affordable relative to even the 25.4th percentile household income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$883
Rent / wk
$190
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$641
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.0%
Unoccupied
206
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.8%
Couples, no children
1,760
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education is the largest employer at 22.1% of the workforce (107 workers), followed by Healthcare at 20.4% (99 workers) and Public Administration at 12.2% (59 workers). Agriculture employs 12.0% (58 workers), anchoring the economy to the surrounding farming region. The unemployment rate of 8.3% is elevated compared to the national rate, and the participation rate of 43.8% is low, with 804 residents not in the labour force. By occupation, Community/Personal (147), Managers (144) and Professionals (139) are the top three groups. The SEIFA IRSD decile 1 score signals deep structural disadvantage, while real income growth of 21.7% over the decade shows some improvement from a low base.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
1,723
Unemployed
84
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.2%
Part-time
25.5%
Participation
43.8%
Employed
835
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.9%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
4.2%
Dwellings
935
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high, with 84.4% of residents commuting by car, while 7.7% walk or cycle, a rate above average for a rural town. Public transport data is not available for this area. No schools are recorded in the suburb dataset. The IRSAD decile 2 score places Coonamble in the bottom 20% nationally for relative socio-economic advantage. The need-for-assistance rate of 9.4% (212 people) is high compared to national averages, reflecting the disadvantage profile. Rent-to-income at 15.8% and mortgage-to-income at 16.9% are both below stress thresholds, meaning existing residents are not overstretched on housing costs relative to their incomes.
Drive
84.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.73%/yr
(-30 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation declined 7.7% over the past decade, a faster rate of loss than most regional NSW towns, with an ongoing trend of minus 30 persons per year. The medium forecast projects continued decline from around 3,968 in 2026 to 3,816 by 2031. Internal migration runs at minus 24 net per year, partly offset by 8 overseas arrivals annually. The gentrification score of 10 places Coonamble well below the early-signs threshold. Rent grew 46.2% over the decade, substantially above inflation, while housing affordability stayed stable at around 28%, indicating renters absorbed that cost increase rather than it triggering inward migration.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+8
Net Internal / yr
-24
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Coonamble compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coonamble a good suburb to live in?
Coonamble offers very affordable housing, with a median price of $220,000 and mortgage repayments averaging $883 per month, well below stress thresholds. The town scores IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 2, placing it among the most disadvantaged areas nationally. Education and Healthcare employ over 42% of the workforce, providing stable public-sector jobs as the core of the local economy.
What is the median house price in Coonamble?
The median house price is $220,000, below most regional NSW towns. Prices fell from $240,000 in 2024 to $200,000 in 2025, a 16.7% drop. Weekly rent averages $190, implying a gross yield near 4.5% at the current median price. Monthly mortgage repayments average $883.
What schools are in Coonamble?
No schools are recorded inside the Coonamble suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb's university qualification rate is 16.9%, which is 13.2 points below the national average. Families typically rely on schools drawing from the broader Coonamble Shire catchment area.
Is Coonamble safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Coonamble in this dataset. The suburb scores IRSD decile 1 nationally, placing it among the most disadvantaged areas, which statistically correlates with higher crime rates in similar towns. The need-for-assistance rate of 9.4% (212 people) is above the national average.
Is Coonamble good for property investment?
The gross rental yield is near 4.5%, above average for regional NSW. However, the vacancy rate of 18.0% is high, indicating excess rental supply. Population is declining at minus 30 persons per year and the medium forecast shows continued decline to around 3,816 by 2031. The price fell 16.7% in the past year, which requires careful consideration for capital growth expectations.
How is Coonamble's population changing?
Population has fallen 7.7% over the past decade, with a current trend of minus 30 persons per year. The medium forecast projects around 3,816 residents by 2031, down from approximately 3,968 in 2026. Internal migration is negative at minus 24 net per year, partly offset by 8 overseas arrivals annually. The population of 2,666 in the suburb itself reflects this long-run decline.
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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