Council (LGA) · Area profile
Cobar
45,575 km²
A significantly higher proportion of people in Cobar are employed full-time than in most similar areas, reflecting a community tied to heavy industry. It is a relatively young place with a strong First Nations presence, though the total population has shrunk by 14% since 2011. The area is defined by a mix of high-earning workers and a large number of people living alone in spacious, detached homes.
Household incomes here are high, yet Cobar's schools draw a notably less advantaged community.
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Cobar is a young community where the typical resident is 37, and 20.5% of the population are children. First Nations people make up 14.3% of the residents, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%.
The area is overwhelmingly Australian or British in heritage, with 76.7% born in Australia. Only 7.4% of people were born overseas, a figure far below the New South Wales average of 29.3%.
English is the main language for 80.8% of residents. Only 4.5% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national figures.
While 53.9% of the community identify as Christian, those with no religion now make up 28.0% of the population. This is a significant increase from 2011, when the figure was 13.8%.
Many residents have practical qualifications, with 37.7% holding a Certificate III or IV. However, only 32.2% completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical incomes are higher than in most similar areas, with a typical family earning $2,260 a week. This is consistent with the 14.1% of people who earn $2,000 or more weekly.
Residents are slightly less likely to need help with daily activities than most areas, at 4.4%. Long-term health conditions affect 26.6% of the population, which is about the same as the state average.
Volunteer rates have fallen to 14.1% since 2011. Unpaid care for children is provided by 23.8% of the community, slightly below the national figure.
First Nations residents in Cobar are doing better financially than those in most similar areas, with a typical personal income of $719. The unemployment rate for this group is also much lower than most areas at 7.4%.
Living arrangements are varied, as 33.5% of people live alone—well above the national average. One-parent families make up 15.3% of households, which is higher than most areas.
Homes here are typically large, with 81.3% having three or more bedrooms. Weekly rent is far below the state average at just $200, and most people live in separate houses.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.8% of people use public transport to get to work. This is reflected in the fact that 36.4% of homes have two vehicles.
The area has seen a decline in movement, with fewer people moving in the last five years compared to 2011. Recent overseas arrivals make up 21.2% of the population, which is well above the national average.
Mining is the dominant industry, employing 30.8% of the workforce. Full-time employment is very high at 68.6%, far above the national figure of 58.9%.
The population has shrunk by 1.9% since 2021, one of the lowest growth rates for its level. Overall advantage is lower than about 60% of similar areas.
The climate is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 26.2°C. Annual rainfall is 422mm, which is lower than the New South Wales average.
The area experiences much higher rates of crime than most similar areas, particularly regarding assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. Recorded offences per 100,000 people are far above the norm.
Cobar is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.5. Only 35.1% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, far below the state average of 67.7%.