Cootamundra

The area has a significant First Nations population, which rose to 7.5% in 2021. It is a notably older community, with 31% of residents aged 65 and over, far above the national figure of 17.2%.

Cootamundra is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 85.7% of people born here. Those born overseas make up just 6.9%, which is far below the national average of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for 91.2% of residents. Only 2.4% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.

About 63.4% of the community identifies as Christian. While those with no religion make up 27.7% of the population, this is far below the national figure of 38.9%.

Qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 10.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the state average at 34.8%.

Typical household incomes are among the lowest at this level, sitting at $1,054 per week. This is far below the New South Wales figure of $1,829.

Health needs are high here, as 39.5% of people have a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure of 27.7%, and 8.9% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is very common at 20.7%, which is well above the national average of 14.1%. Unpaid care is also more frequent than usual, with 14.4% of people providing this support.

First Nations residents face significant challenges, with a typical personal income of $479, which is well below the national figure of $540. Year 12 completion for this group is also very low at 23.1%.

Homes tend to be smaller, with 2.2 people per household. A high number of people live alone—32.4%—which is well above the national figure of 25.6%.

Housing is mostly detached homes, making up 92.3% of dwellings. Stability is high, with 48.1% of homes owned outright, far above the state average of 31.5%.

Most people rely on cars, as 66.3% drive to work. Public transport use is very low, with only 0.9% commuting this way, and many residents face a long walk to the nearest stop.

The population is relatively stable, as only 32.3% of people moved in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas rose to 12.9% since 2011.

Only 46.7% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure of 61.1%. Health care, agriculture, and retail are the most common industries.

The town faces considerable disadvantage, scoring 2 out of 10 for overall advantage. Population growth since 2021 has been very slow at 0.5%.

Cootamundra is cooler than the state average, with a typical minimum temperature of 7.3 degrees. It receives 743mm of annual rainfall, well above the New South Wales figure.

The area is somewhat walkable, though only 50.6% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries. This is far below the state average of 67.7%.