Urban Centre · Area profile
Coolah
3 km²
Low typical incomes and affordable housing mark the character of Coolah. It is a town where a high proportion of people own their homes outright and many are retirees. This is reflected in a population that is far older than the national average, with a significant increase in seniors since 2011. While the community has grown by 30% over the last decade, it remains a quiet regional centre with a strong Aboriginal presence and a very walkable layout.
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The typical resident is 53, which is far older than the national figure of 38. This aging trend is stark, with seniors making up 33.4% of the population and the number of children under 15 falling significantly since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia (81.0%), and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people compared to the rest of the state. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for almost everyone, with only 1.4% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
About 63.7% of the community identifies as Christian. Those with no religion make up 22.7% of the population, which is among the lowest figures for areas of this size.
Education levels are much lower than the state average, with only 27.1% of residents completing Year 12. A typical qualification is a Certificate III or IV.
Weekly household incomes are much lower than the national typical figure, with a typical family earning $1,244. Only 7.1% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than elsewhere, affecting 40.4% of people. Around 10.2% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the state average.
The area has a higher than average rate of unpaid carers and a strong history of service, with 4.8% of residents having served in the Defence Force.
A large number of people live alone (37.8%), which is far above the national figure. This contributes to smaller households, with a typical home holding 2.1 people.
Separate houses are the norm for 95.8% of homes, and nearly half (46.3%) are owned outright. Rents are much lower than the state average, typically costing $195 a week.
Cars are the primary way to get to work for 63.2% of residents. Public transport is not used for commuting, and about 6.1% of homes have no motor vehicle.
About 33.8% of the population moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 5.1% of the community, a figure that has risen slightly since 2011.
The number of adults working or looking for work is far below the national average at 40.9%. The unemployment rate is 7.4%, which is a little above the national figure.
The town is very walkable, with a high proportion of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services, groceries, and schools.