Urban Centre · Area profile
Cootamundra
9 km²
A far older population than the national average defines Cootamundra, where the typical resident is 52. This rural town has grown slightly to 5,732 people and is distinctive for its high proportion of seniors and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents. The community is largely Australian-born and English-speaking, with a strong leaning towards home ownership. It is a place where many residents live alone and a significant number of people now require daily assistance.
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Seniors make up 33.1% of the population, which is far above the national figure. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is also much larger than in most areas, rising to 8.7% since 2011.
The town is very traditional in its roots, with 85.9% born in Australia and far fewer overseas-born residents than the state average. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 91.6% of the community. The proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national figure, at just 2.8%.
Christianity remains the most common faith at 63.2%. While the number of people reporting no religion has risen to 28.1% since 2011, this is still well below the New South Wales average.
Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 9.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The most common highest qualification is a Certificate III or IV.
Incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly household earning $946. Only 8.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.
Health challenges are common here; 42.3% of people have a long-term health condition, far above the state average. This is reflected in the 10.3% of residents who need help with daily activities.
Cootamundra has a strong tradition of giving back, with 19.6% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. More people also provide unpaid care compared to most areas.
Living arrangements are unique, with 36.2% of people living alone—far above the state average. One-parent families are also more common here than in most other areas.
Housing is dominated by separate houses and high rates of ownership, with 47.6% of homes owned outright. Typical weekly rents are far below the national figure at $220.
Most people rely on cars, with 67.8% driving to work. About 10.4% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is higher than the national average.
About 34.4% of residents moved in the last five years, a figure that is well below the national average. Recent overseas arrivals make up 12.7% of the population.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 42.4%. The most common industries for those employed are health care and social assistance.
The town is very walkable for essential services, with 84.7% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services. However, very few homes are near public transport.