Urban Centre · Area profile
Goulburn
56 km²
A shrinking population defines Goulburn, which lost about 4,025 people between 2011 and 2021. This regional hub is now a bit older than the national average, with a notable 20.9% of residents aged 65 and over. While the population has decreased, the area has seen a rise in higher incomes and a growing number of people moving here from overseas. It remains a place of detached houses and a strong traditional Australian heritage.
Explore Goulburn by topic
The typical resident is 40 years old, which is a little older than the national figure. Around 20.9% of the community are seniors, a proportion well above the national average, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 5.4%.
The area is far less diverse than the rest of the state, with only 10.7% of people born overseas. Australian and English ancestries are the most common, each accounting for about 41% of the population.
English is the main language for 85.5% of the community. While the proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national figure, it has risen to 6.7% since 2011.
Christianity is the most common religion at 56.5%. Those reporting no religion make up 31.1% of the population, which is well below the national figure, though this group grew by 12 points since 2011.
More adults here hold a bachelor degree or higher (14.0%) compared to similar areas, though this is still far below the national average. Year 12 completion rose by 9.9 points since 2011 to reach 40.8%.
Typical weekly family income has risen by $832 since 2011 to $1,899. While these figures are higher than in similar areas, they remain a little below the national typicals.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 35.5% of residents. Mental health conditions are also more frequent, at 11.4% compared to the national 8.8%.
Volunteer rates have fallen by 5.5 points since 2011 to 12.8%, which is now much lower than in most similar areas. Unpaid care for children is around the middle for its level at 25.6%.
People living alone are very common here, making up 33.1% of households—well above the national average. One-parent families also make up 18.7% of the community, which is well above the state figure.
Detached houses are far more common here than in the rest of the state, making up 84.1% of homes. Renting is also more frequent than usual, with 34.0% of households renting at a typical weekly cost of $320.
Most people rely on cars, with 69.5% driving to work. Working from home is far less common here than nationally, with only 6.9% of the workforce doing so.
The area has seen a surge in recent overseas arrivals, which rose 8.6 points since 2011 to 16.8%. Overall, 39.8% of residents moved into Goulburn in the last five years.
Full-time employment is much higher than in most similar areas, at 61.5%. The local workforce is concentrated in health care and social assistance, as well as public administration and safety.
The area is considered somewhat walkable, though it is far below the state average for access to groceries and health services. Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park, but only 49.2% can walk to a grocery store.