Median house price
$755k
+9.4% change
NSW · Mid-Western Regional Council
Cooks Gap, 2850
Est. population · Jun 2025
428
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.9%
Median age
43
Median income
$1,637/wk
Employment rate
54.1%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$755,000
Languages at home
3%non-English
Most common: Afrikaans, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Mid-Western Regional Council, Cooks Gap keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Open space is thinner than in many regional towns, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because growth momentum trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Cooks Gap snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$620/wk
Houses $630 · Units $420
Population (ERP)
428
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
14.3%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#204
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
45th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
56th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 29.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5617th in Australia
- State rank
- 1815th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #204 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #806 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $420
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $630
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $620
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 210
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $755,000
- Median price change
- +9.4%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
428(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +4.9% over 5 years · 56th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +4.9%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +20
- Growth rank in NSW
- 56th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~450), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 549
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,637
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 32 of 224
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,700
- Employment rate
- 54.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 185 / 0 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 27
- Against the person
- 9
- Against property
- 9
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 63.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 61 residents
- State safety percentile
- 45.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order107
- Breach Bail Conditions86
- Domestic Violence Related Assault102
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment183
- Malicious Damage To Property142
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Public transport
43 public transport stops in this suburb
- Cooks Gap Rural Fire Brigade, Ulan Rd
- Ulan Rd At Winchester Cres
- Ulan Rd At Wyaldra Lane
- Ulan Rd Before Ridge Rd
- Ulan Rd Opp Wyaldra Lane
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Gulgong Multi-Purpose Service (17.8 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 10
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 23.4
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 30° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 150 mm · ~19 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 3°
- Rainfall
- 122 mm · ~15 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 168 mm · ~21 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
21 planning-related records
2025· 1 proposal
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1620 SPRING CREEK ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
2024· 4 proposals
October 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure97 WINCHESTER CRESCENT COOKS GAP 2850Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Manufactured home; Residential Accommodation845 RIDGE ROAD, COOKS GAP 2850Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Intensive plant agriculture; Horticulture2728 ULAN ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure36 WYALDRA PARK ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
2023· 8 proposals
October 2023
- Farm building36 WYALDRA PARK ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1620 SPRING CREEK ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling321 RIDGE ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
July 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing267 RIDGE ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
April 2023
- Dwelling171 RIDGE ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Withdrawn
February 2023
- Shed1620 SPRING CREEK ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
January 2023
- Dwelling845 RIDGE ROAD, COOKS GAP 2850Determined
- Shed499 RIDGE ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
2022· 3 proposals
November 2022
- Other842 RIDGE ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
October 2022
- Dwelling2505 ULAN ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
June 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces59 WYALDRA LANE COOKS GAP 2850Determined
2021· 5 proposals
November 2021
- Other842 RIDGE ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
July 2021
- Dwelling510 RIDGE ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
- Dwelling3477 ULAN ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
- Shed16 JINDALEE ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
June 2021
- Dwelling787 RIDGE ROAD COOKS GAP 2850Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2020–2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Calare
- Member of Parliament
- Andrew GEE (Independent)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 124,664
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +3.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 62.3%Labor 37.7%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 68.5 km away).
Coalition 61.7%Labor 38.3%
0.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- GulgongLabor 37.2% · Coalition 62.8% TPP (2025)16.6 km away
- MudgeeLabor 39.1% · Coalition 60.9% TPP (2025)28.3 km away
- Mudgee CentralLabor 41.1% · Coalition 58.9% TPP (2025)29.2 km away
- Mudgee SouthLabor 37.6% · Coalition 62.4% TPP (2025)30.1 km away
- HargravesLabor 37.2% · Coalition 62.8% TPP (2025)52.8 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Mid-Western Regional Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.