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Cooma vs Merrigum

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 7.6 km apart · Cooma profile · Merrigum profile

Cooma Merrigum

Merrigum and Cooma (Vic.) are neighbouring rural areas with very different profiles. Merrigum is more populated and somewhat walkable, with 68.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. It has a much older population, with 22.5% of people aged 65 and over, compared to just 10.6% in Cooma (Vic.). In contrast, Cooma (Vic.) is more car-dependent and has a higher share of wealthy households, with 19.4% earning $3,000 or more a week, compared to 7.6% in Merrigum. Cooma (Vic.) also has much higher home ownership, with 74.2% of homes owned outright.

Both areas share a similar commute time to the city, though the gap in their overall walkability is stark. While Merrigum has several amenity types and public transport stops, Cooma (Vic.) has none. This contrast is mirrored in the workforce, where the share of adults working or looking for work is far higher in Cooma (Vic.) at 65.4% than the 53.7% in Merrigum. This wider gap in employment and income persists alongside a notably different age profile for First Nations residents, who are far older in Merrigum.

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Where they differ most

Population: 585 larger in Merrigum Owned outright: 32.6 pts higher in Cooma Needs assistance: 8.2 pts higher in Merrigum Unemployment: 6.7 pts higher in Merrigum Limited English: 1.3 pts higher in Merrigum

Demographics & Identity

Population in Coomain Merrigum +585 larger in Merrigum gap steady
94 40th pct 679 69th pct
Median age in Coomain Merrigum +1 yrs older in Merrigum gap widening
46 yrs 54th pct 47 yrs 57th pct
First Nations in Coomain Merrigum +4.2 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
7.4% 83rd pct 3.2% 62nd pct
Aged 65+ in Coomain Merrigum +11.9 pts higher in Merrigum gap widening
10.6% 18th pct 22.5% 66th pct
Under 15 in Coomain Merrigum +5.0 pts higher in Cooma gap steady
19.1% 64th pct 14.1% 31st pct
De facto in Coomain Merrigum +5.1 pts higher in Merrigum gap widening
11.3% 42nd pct 16.4% 77th pct

Age structure

39.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +6.1 pts 33.3%
10.6% Seniors (65+) +11.9 pts ▸ 22.5%
22.3% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.7 pts 20.6%
19.1% Children (0–14) ◂ +5.0 pts 14.1%
12.8% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.3 pts 10.5%

Marital status

56.8% Married ◂ +14.4 pts 42.3%
27.2% Never married +8.3 pts ▸ 35.5%
9.9% Divorced +1.0 pts ▸ 10.8%
6.2% Separated +0.2 pts ▸ 6.4%
4.9% Widowed ◂ +0.6 pts 4.3%

Age & sex structure

Cooma Merrigum

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Coomain Merrigum +5.5 pts higher in Merrigum gap widening
7.4% 31st pct 13.0% 57th pct

Country of birth

89.4% Australia ◂ +11.2 pts 78.2%
0.0% England +1.9 pts ▸ 1.9%
0.0% Philippines +1.8 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.0% India +1.0 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.0% New Zealand +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.0% Nepal +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.0% Italy +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.0% China even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%
0.0% South Africa even 0.0%

Ancestry

47.9% Australian ◂ +10.6 pts 37.3%
45.7% English ◂ +9.1 pts 36.7%
5.3% Scottish +6.0 pts ▸ 11.3%
10.6% Irish ◂ +0.8 pts 9.9%
5.3% Italian +2.5 pts ▸ 7.8%
3.2% German ◂ +1.6 pts 1.6%
0.0% Dutch +2.2 pts ▸ 2.2%
0.0% Filipino +1.8 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.0% Chinese +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Indian +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

Language

Other language in Coomain Merrigum +7.5 pts higher in Merrigum gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 7.5% 72nd pct
Limited English in Coomain Merrigum +1.3 pts higher in Merrigum gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 1.3% 79th pct

Language used at home

91.5% English only ◂ +7.8 pts 83.7%
0.0% Punjabi +1.3 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.0% Italian +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.0% Arabic +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Tagalog +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.0% Mandarin even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%
0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Hindi even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Coomain Merrigum +4.9 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
45.7% 67th pct 40.8% 51st pct

Religious affiliation

45.7% Christianity ◂ +1.4 pts 44.3%
45.7% No religion ◂ +4.9 pts 40.8%
9.6% Not stated +1.2 pts ▸ 10.8%
4.3% Islam ◂ +2.6 pts 1.6%
0.0% Buddhism +1.6 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.0% Other religions +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.0% Hinduism +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Coomain Merrigum +2.8 pts higher in Cooma gap narrowing
36.1% 26th pct 33.3% 19th pct
Bachelor+ in Coomain Merrigum +3.5 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
9.9% 29th pct 6.4% 16th pct
Schools/1k kids in Coomain Merrigum
— 10.42 75th pct
Schools ≤3 km in Coomain Merrigum +2 more in Merrigum
0 0th pct 2 62nd pct
Avg size in Coomain Merrigum
— 25 7th pct
ICSEA in Coomain Merrigum
— 905 13th pct

Highest year of school

36.1% Year 12 ◂ +2.8 pts 33.3%
29.2% Year 10 ◂ +8.7 pts 20.5%
23.6% Year 11 ◂ +6.7 pts 16.9%
13.9% Year 9 or below +2.0 pts ▸ 15.9%

Highest qualification level

32.7% Certificate III / IV +1.9 pts ▸ 34.5%
18.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.6 pts 16.8%
10.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +2.5 pts 7.7%
6.1% Certificate I / II even 6.1%
6.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +3.9 pts 2.3%
0.0% Postgraduate degree +1.9 pts ▸ 1.9%

Field of qualification

18.4% Education ◂ +13.2 pts 5.2%
18.4% Management & commerce ◂ +10.3 pts 8.1%
14.3% Engineering & related +3.5 pts ▸ 17.7%
10.2% Society & culture +6.2 pts ▸ 16.5%
8.2% Architecture & building ◂ +4.0 pts 4.2%
8.2% Health ◂ +0.7 pts 7.4%
0.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +6.1 pts ▸ 6.1%
0.0% Agriculture & environment +3.5 pts ▸ 3.5%
0.0% Natural & physical sciences +1.3 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.0% Information technology +1.3 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.0% Creative arts +1.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

Income

Personal income in Coomain Merrigum +$121 higher in Cooma gap widening
$678 37th pct $557 19th pct
Household income in Coomain Merrigum +$345 higher in Cooma gap widening
$1,375 38th pct $1,030 15th pct
Family income in Coomain Merrigum +$136 higher in Cooma gap steady
$1,542 29th pct $1,406 21st pct
High earners in Coomain Merrigum +4.5 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
7.4% 46th pct 2.9% 23rd pct
High-income homes in Coomain Merrigum +11.7 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
19.4% 60th pct 7.6% 23rd pct

Household income distribution

48.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +15.6 pts 32.8%
22.6% $1,500–$2,999 +3.8 pts ▸ 26.3%
0.0% Under $650 +22.9 pts ▸ 22.9%
19.4% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +13.2 pts 6.1%
0.0% $4,000 or more +1.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

Personal income distribution

45.7% Under $650 +4.8 pts ▸ 50.4%
43.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +15.3 pts 27.9%
7.4% $1,500–$2,999 +3.3 pts ▸ 10.7%
0.0% $3,000 or more even 0.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Coomain Merrigum +7.0 pts higher in Merrigum
31.9% 65th pct 38.9% 88th pct
Mental health in Coomain Merrigum +9.4 pts higher in Merrigum
4.3% 22nd pct 13.7% 89th pct
Needs assistance in Coomain Merrigum +8.2 pts higher in Merrigum gap widening
0.0% 0th pct 8.2% 83rd pct

Long-term health conditions reported

17.0% Other condition ◂ +9.4 pts 7.7%
4.3% Mental health +9.4 pts ▸ 13.7%
12.8% Asthma +0.6 pts ▸ 13.4%
9.6% Arthritis +2.8 pts ▸ 12.4%
0.0% Diabetes +6.5 pts ▸ 6.5%
0.0% Heart disease +5.9 pts ▸ 5.9%
0.0% Cancer +3.7 pts ▸ 3.7%
0.0% Lung condition +2.9 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.0% Stroke +1.2 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.0% Dementia +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.0% None ◂ +18.0 pts 49.0%
26.6% One condition ◂ +0.4 pts 26.2%
4.3% Two conditions +2.4 pts ▸ 6.6%
0.0% Three or more +6.3 pts ▸ 6.3%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Coomain Merrigum +4.2 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
18.5% 52nd pct 14.3% 31st pct
Unpaid carers in Coomain Merrigum +3.0 pts higher in Merrigum gap narrowing
12.3% 45th pct 15.3% 75th pct
Unpaid child care in Coomain Merrigum +4.1 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
25.9% 53rd pct 21.9% 33rd pct
Defence service in Coomain Merrigum +3.3 pts higher in Merrigum
0.0% 0th pct 3.3% 60th pct
Housework 15h+ in Coomain Merrigum +9.1 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
33.3% 87th pct 24.3% 51st pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Coomain Merrigum +15 larger in Merrigum
7 54th pct 22 70th pct
Median age in Coomain Merrigum +34 yrs older in Merrigum
8 yrs 1st pct 42 yrs 80th pct
Median income in Coomain Merrigum +$317 higher in Merrigum
$75 0th pct $392 15th pct
Household income in Coomain Merrigum +$275 higher in Cooma
$1,125 23rd pct $850 13th pct
Indigenous language in Coomain Merrigum
— 0.0% 0th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Coomain Merrigum +0.5 larger in Cooma gap widening
2.8 76th pct 2.3 29th pct
One-parent in Coomain Merrigum +13.7 pts higher in Merrigum gap widening
3.6% 19th pct 17.3% 80th pct
Living alone in Coomain Merrigum +15.0 pts higher in Merrigum gap widening
12.9% 13th pct 27.9% 64th pct

Family composition

64.3% Couples with children ◂ +16.8 pts 47.5%
34.5% Couples without children +0.2 pts ▸ 34.8%
3.6% One-parent families +13.7 pts ▸ 17.3%
0.0% Other families even 0.0%

Household size

48.4% 2 people ◂ +8.7 pts 39.7%
29.0% 4 people ◂ +18.7 pts 10.3%
12.9% 1 person +15.0 pts ▸ 27.9%
0.0% 3 people +14.1 pts ▸ 14.1%
0.0% 5 people +3.8 pts ▸ 3.8%
0.0% 6 or more +1.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Coomain Merrigum +$70 higher in Cooma
$250 40th pct $180 20th pct
Mortgage in Coomain Merrigum +$390 higher in Cooma gap widening
$1,473 40th pct $1,083 18th pct
People / bedroom in Coomain Merrigum +0.10 higher in Cooma gap steady
0.90 86th pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Coomain Merrigum +9.8 pts higher in Merrigum gap widening
9.7% 26th pct 19.5% 58th pct
Owned outright in Coomain Merrigum +32.6 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
74.2% 100th pct 41.6% 51st pct
Separate houses in Coomain Merrigum +4.2 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
100.0% 100th pct 95.8% 48th pct
3+ bedrooms in Coomain Merrigum +18.9 pts higher in Cooma gap narrowing
96.8% 93rd pct 77.9% 45th pct

How homes are owned or rented

74.2% Owned outright ◂ +32.6 pts 41.6%
22.6% Owned with a mortgage +13.7 pts ▸ 36.3%
9.7% Rented +9.8 pts ▸ 19.5%
0.0% Not stated +3.1 pts ▸ 3.1%
0.0% Other tenure even 0.0%

Types of homes

100.0% Separate house ◂ +4.2 pts 95.8%
0.0% Other dwelling +5.0 pts ▸ 5.0%
0.0% Townhouse / semi-detached +1.1 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Flat or apartment even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

67.7% 3 bedrooms ◂ +11.6 pts 56.1%
29.0% 4 bedrooms ◂ +11.5 pts 17.6%
0.0% 2 bedrooms +11.1 pts ▸ 11.1%
0.0% 1 bedroom +6.1 pts ▸ 6.1%
0.0% 5 or more +4.2 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.0% Studio / none even 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

0.0% Under $200 +51.0 pts ▸ 51.0%
0.0% $200–$349 +33.3 pts ▸ 33.3%
0.0% $350–$549 even 0.0%
0.0% $550–$749 even 0.0%
0.0% $750 or more even 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

42.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +35.5 pts 7.4%
0.0% Under $1,000 +37.9 pts ▸ 37.9%
0.0% $1,000–$1,799 +33.7 pts ▸ 33.7%
0.0% $3,000 or more +3.2 pts ▸ 3.2%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Coomain Merrigum +3.5 pts higher in Merrigum gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 3.5% 65th pct
Work from home in Coomain Merrigum +1.2 pts higher in Cooma gap steady
15.7% 47th pct 14.5% 43rd pct
PT commute in Coomain Merrigum even gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
PT stops in Coomain Merrigum +3 more in Merrigum
0 0th pct 3 72nd pct
Stops/1k in Coomain Merrigum +4.42 more in Merrigum
0.00 0th pct 4.42 75th pct
Departures/1k in Coomain Merrigum +92.8 more in Merrigum
0.0 0th pct 92.8 68th pct
PT routes in Coomain Merrigum +3 more in Merrigum
0 0th pct 3 79th pct
Stop walk in Coomain Merrigum
— 8 43rd pct
Drive to city in Coomain Merrigum +2 longer in Merrigum
130 86th pct 132 86th pct

How people get to work

56.9% Car (driver) +9.3 pts ▸ 66.2%
15.7% Worked at home ◂ +1.2 pts 14.5%
0.0% Car (passenger) +5.5 pts ▸ 5.5%
0.0% Walked +1.0 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bus even 0.0%
0.0% Bicycle even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

51.6% 2 vehicles ◂ +10.5 pts 41.1%
16.1% 1 vehicle +13.7 pts ▸ 29.8%
19.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.9 pts 17.4%
9.7% 4 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 8.5%
0.0% No vehicle +3.5 pts ▸ 3.5%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Coomain Merrigum +7.9 pts higher in Merrigum gap widening
23.7% 25th pct 31.5% 52nd pct
Recent arrivals in Coomain Merrigum
— 20.5% 87th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Coomain Merrigum +6.7 pts higher in Merrigum gap widening
0.0% 0th pct 6.7% 82nd pct
Participation in Coomain Merrigum +11.7 pts higher in Cooma gap widening
65.4% 67th pct 53.7% 29th pct
Full-time in Coomain Merrigum +2.9 pts higher in Merrigum gap narrowing
58.8% 54th pct 61.7% 68th pct

Industries people work in

21.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +0.5 pts 21.0%
7.8% Health care & social assistance +5.6 pts ▸ 13.4%
9.8% Retail trade ◂ +3.9 pts 5.9%
7.8% Manufacturing +1.8 pts ▸ 9.7%
7.8% Construction ◂ +1.3 pts 6.6%
7.8% Education & training ◂ +2.7 pts 5.2%
0.0% Transport & warehousing +6.9 pts ▸ 6.9%
0.0% Other services +5.2 pts ▸ 5.2%
0.0% Public administration & safety +4.5 pts ▸ 4.5%
0.0% Accommodation & food +4.1 pts ▸ 4.1%
0.0% Wholesale trade +3.4 pts ▸ 3.4%
0.0% Administrative & support +2.4 pts ▸ 2.4%

Occupations people work in

23.5% Managers ◂ +3.2 pts 20.3%
13.7% Labourers +4.6 pts ▸ 18.3%
11.8% Technicians & trades +3.8 pts ▸ 15.5%
0.0% Machinery operators & drivers +10.7 pts ▸ 10.7%
7.8% Community & personal service +2.5 pts ▸ 10.3%
7.8% Clerical & administrative +1.1 pts ▸ 9.0%
5.9% Professionals +1.4 pts ▸ 7.2%
5.9% Sales workers ◂ +0.4 pts 5.5%

Walkability

Walk score in Coomain Merrigum +4.3 higher in Merrigum
0.0 0th pct 4.3 79th pct
Types ≤15 min in Coomain Merrigum +4.7 more in Merrigum
0.0 0th pct 4.7 81st pct
15-min city in Coomain Merrigum +67.8 pts higher in Merrigum
0.0% 0th pct 67.8% 84th pct
Walk to shops in Coomain Merrigum +68.3 pts higher in Merrigum
0.0% 0th pct 68.3% 84th pct
Walk to transit in Coomain Merrigum +63.9 pts higher in Merrigum
0.0% 0th pct 63.9% 77th pct
Walk to school in Coomain Merrigum +64.5 pts higher in Merrigum
0.0% 0th pct 64.5% 80th pct
Walk to a park in Coomain Merrigum +68.5 pts higher in Merrigum
0.0% 0th pct 68.5% 69th pct
Walk to health in Coomain Merrigum even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Amenities/1k in Coomain Merrigum +17.7 more in Merrigum
0.0 0th pct 17.7 59th pct
Intersections/km² in Coomain Merrigum +1 higher in Merrigum
1 44th pct 2 59th pct
Mean slope in Coomain Merrigum +1.0 pts higher in Cooma
3.1% 14th pct 2.2% 0th pct

Compare Cooma with nearby areas

Kyabram South Girgarre East Harston Merrigum Kyabram Stanhope Byrneside Girgarre

Compare Merrigum with nearby areas

Byrneside Lancaster Kyabram South Gillieston Cooma Kyabram Harston Tatura

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cooma vs Merrigum [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL20625/cooma/vs/SAL21665/merrigum