Urban Centre · Area profile
Cooma
18 km²
Full-time employment is much more common in Cooma than in most similar areas, with 61.4% of the workforce in full-time roles. The town has grown by 16% since 2011, becoming a more diverse hub as the number of people born overseas rose to 16.7%. It is a noticeably older community than the national average, with over a fifth of residents aged 65 or over. This mix of stable employment and an ageing population creates a community where many people own their homes outright.
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The typical resident is 43, making the area noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 22.9% of the population, which is well above the national average of 17.2%.
People born overseas now make up 16.7% of the community, a rise of 11 points since 2011. While this is much higher than similar areas, it remains far below the national figure of 27.7%.
The number of people using another language at home rose 7.6 points since 2011 to reach 9.3%. This is much higher than most similar areas, though still far below the national average of 22.3%.
A little below the national figure, 37.1% of residents report having no religion. This represents a significant shift for the town, as the figure rose 26 points since 2011.
Educational attainment has risen, with the proportion of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher climbing 9.8 points since 2011 to reach 17.1%.
Typical weekly personal income is $767, which is about the same as the national figure of $805. The proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 12 points since 2011 to reach 14.9%.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than nationally, with 34.1% of people affected. Mental health conditions are also more frequent, at 11.3% compared to the national figure of 8.8%.
Volunteering is more common here than in the rest of the state, with 17.1% of people volunteering. This is a decline from 2011, when the figure was 24.5%.
Living arrangements are quite distinct, as 35.2% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure of 25.6%. One-parent families are also more common than in most similar areas, at 17.0%.
Detached houses are very common, making up 87.9% of all homes. While 37.5% of homes are owned outright, the proportion of renters rose 5.9 points since 2011 to reach 30.1%.
The town is heavily reliant on cars, with 63% of people driving to work. Only 0.5% of the workforce commutes using public transport, which is a little below the national figure of 3.1%.
The area has seen significant movement, with 36.8% of residents arriving in the last five years. This is consistent with a rise in recent overseas arrivals, which reached 19.8% in 2021.
The unemployment rate is low at 3.9%, which is a little below the national figure of 5.1%. Retail trade is the largest employer, accounting for 13.2% of jobs.
Most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport, but only 52% are within a 15-minute walk of groceries. The overall walkability score is 5.6, which is a little below the state average of 6.2.