Median house price
$617k
+0.8% change
NSW · Snowy Monaro Regional Council
Cooma, 2630
Est. population · Jun 2025
6,572
Growth (1 yr)
-1.8%
Growth (5 yr)
-3.5%
Median age
44
Median income
$1,374/wk
Employment rate
53.8%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$617,000
Languages at home
9.8%non-English
Most common: Italian, German, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Away from the major hubs, Cooma is a mid-sized suburb in Snowy Monaro Regional Council with its own quieter rhythm. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town.
Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. The local market is more attainable than many surrounding suburbs.
Reported crime has been falling recently. Infill and new builds are slowly updating the area without overwhelming its existing character.
Against similar regional towns, schools and education, plus housing affordability stand out and the overall desirability rating is good, with community and employment, plus growth momentum less decisive. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Cooma snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$455/wk
Houses $525 · Units $360
Population (ERP)
6,572
-1.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.7%
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
#19
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
32nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
1st
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
49th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
- 57.3/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 18% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1305th in Australia
- State rank
- 382nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #19 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #61 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 100%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $360
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $525
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $455
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 70
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $617,000
- Median price change
- +0.8%
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
6,572(June 2025)
-1.8% annual · -3.5% over 5 years · 1th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -1.8%
- 5-year growth
- -3.5%
- Change in 1 year
- -118
- Change in 5 years
- -241
- Growth rank in NSW
- 1th 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 (~6,450), extrapolated at -0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 6,715
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,374
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 433 of 3,154
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 53.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 2,407 / 166 / 121 (+ 23 other)
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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 343
- Against the person
- 92
- Against property
- 129
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 52.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 73 residents
- State safety percentile
- 32.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -17.1%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order27
- Domestic Violence Related Assault26
- Fraud34
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment49
- Malicious Damage To Property43
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 1,004
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 49th
School list
- Cooma Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 971 · 34th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 238 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- St Patrick's Parish SchoolCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 1037 · 63th percentile · LBOTE 30% · 457 students · Top SEA quarter 18% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
3 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Cooma North Pre-Schoolkindergarten
- Lambie Street Preschoolkindergarten
- Monaro Early Intervention ServicesHill Streetkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
297 public transport stops in this suburb
- Centennial Park, Bombala St
- Cooma Coach Stop
- Lloyd Av Before Jeffrey Cl
- Vale St Before Egan St
- Wangie St Before Walgarra St
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
47 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 3 places of worship · 4 playgrounds · 1 sports centres · 1 swimming pools · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 17 parks mapped in suburb, 4 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 297 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.15
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.15
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.53
Food & drink(1)
- Cafe
Shopping(1)
- Nimmitabel ButcheryButcher
225B Sharp Street, Cooma
Community(1)
- St Patrick's Parish School Cooma - Secondary CampusSchool
Health & services(1)
- Cooma Hospital and Health ServiceHospital
2 Bent Street
Sport & outdoors(13)
- Bent Street ParkPark
- Chapman Street Community ParkPark
- Lions ParkPark
- Lloyd Avenue ParkPark
- Sellar Street ParkPark
- Southern Cloud ParkPark
- Playground (4)
- Cooma Bowling ClubSports centre
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Entertainment(1)
- Lambie Gorge OutlookViewpoint
Transport(11)
11 bus stops
Other(14)
- Cooma Snowy Mountains Tourist ParkCaravan Site
268 Sharp Street
- Cooma StihlGarden Machinery
- National Engineering Heritage SiteInformation
- High Country MotelMotel
- BirdsnestOutpost
- Parking (5)
- Petrol station
- Picnic Table
- Saint Andrew's Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
59 Soho Street, Cooma
- St Patrick's Parish CoomaPlace of worship
- St Pauls Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
136 Commissioner Street
- Post Box
- Sir William Hudson Memorial CentreSocial Facility
- Cooma Radio CentreStudio
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
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
Parks & reserves
17 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Apex ParkPark
- Baroona Avenue ParkPark
- Bent Street ParkPark
- Centenial ParkPark
- Chapman Street Community ParkPark
- Cooma North Shopping Centre ParkPark
- Kosciuszko ParkPark
- Lambie Bush ReserveNature reserve
- Lions ParkPark
- Lloyd Avenue ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 23
- Parks (OSM)
- 17
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
Places of worship
3 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Saint Andrew's Uniting Church
59 Soho Street, Cooma
- St Patrick's Parish Cooma
- St Pauls Anglican Church
136 Commissioner Street
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 8
- Nearest hospital
- Cooma Hospital and Health Service (1.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Capital PathologySample_Collection
- Cooma AudikaSharp StreetAudiologist
- Cooma Family DentalDentist
- Cooma Hospital and Health ServiceBent StreetHospital
- DentistDentist
- Grand Pacific HealthMassie StreetClinic
- Hooks PharmacySharp StreetPharmacy
- Ochre Medical CentreSharp StreetDoctor
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)
- 200
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.4
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
- 25° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 168 mm · ~21 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 5°
- Rainfall
- 142 mm · ~18 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 11° / -2°
- Rainfall
- 105 mm · ~13 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 4°
- Rainfall
- 161 mm · ~20 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.
2026· 33 proposals
August 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation5 BABIN PLACE COOMA 2630Under Assessment
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation274 SHARP STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation39 KIAH AVENUE COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 JOHN FRASER DRIVE COOMA 2630Determined
- Commercial development; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure188 SHARP STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space6 NORMAN DYKES AVENUE COOMA 2630Determined
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 ALLAMBI PLACE COOMA 2630Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure25 MYALLA ROAD COOMA 2630Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 CAMPSITE PLACE COOMA 2630Determined
- Demolition; Temporary building, structure or use; Temporary structure296 NUMERALLA ROAD COOMA 2630Determined
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Manufactured home; Residential Accommodation14 WALLA STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- SubdivisionMONARO AVENUE COOMA 2630Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise30-36 SHARP STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space2 NIMBY PLACE COOMA 2630Determined
- Subdivision138 YALLAKOOL ROAD COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure37 BENT STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Subdivision51 SNOWY CREEK AVENUE COOMA 2630Determined
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure4 JOHN FRASER DRIVE COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure49 HILL STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 VICTORIA STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Advertising and signage; Service station4 SHARP STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Residential Accommodation20 MULACH STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 JERRANG AVENUE COOMA 2630Determined
- Subdivision89 OLD DRY PLAINS ROAD COOMA 2630Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure26 YAMBA CRESCENT COOMA 2630Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Veterinary hospital; Residential Accommodation3 MASSIE STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure58 KIAH AVENUE COOMA 2630Determined
February 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool14 RYDAL ROAD COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 YAREEN ROAD COOMA 2630Determined
- SubdivisionMULACH STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Advertising and signage; Retail Premise77 SHARP STREET COOMA 2630Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 CHAPMAN STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Residential care facility; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure8 FACHIN AVENUE COOMA 2630Determined
2025· 13 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool14 RYDAL ROAD COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 WARM CORNER ROAD COOMA 2630Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)24 BENT STREET COOMA 2630Determined
November 2025
- Signage; Restaurant or cafe; Advertising and signage; Garbage bin storage enclosure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Light industry; Artisan food and drink industry; Hours of operation and trading26B BOMBALA STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Subdivision208 SHARP STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 VULCAN STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development1 MURRAY LANE COOMA 2630Deferred Commencement
October 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision1 BARRACK STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space7 BARRACK STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Subdivision296 MAFFRA ROAD COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure49 HILL STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 NAMALA STREET COOMA 2630Determined
- SubdivisionMULACH STREET COOMA 2630Determined
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 · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Roadworks & transport
3 active roadworks / incidents
- Exercise caution. Allow extra travel time. Reduce your speed. A Memorial Service will be held for Vietnam Veterans at the Centoaph on the Corner of Massie and Vale Streets. Access to surrounding roads will be maintained for the duration of the event. Motorists are advised to be aware of increased pedestrian movement in the area while the event is underway.Vale Street, Massie Street12 Aug 2026 – 18 Aug 2026
- Expect delays. Use an alternative route. Follow directions on site. Massie Street will be closed at North Street weekdays between 7am and 5:30pm, commencing on 3 August 2026. Lanes on North Street will be under temporary traffic lights. Access to residential properties will be maintained for the duration of works, subject to a short delay. Motorists are requested to allow additional travel time and follow on site directions.Massie Street, North Street29 Jul 2026 – 28 Aug 2026
- Use diversions.Thurrung St24 May 2026 – 31 May 2028
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Heritage
4 heritage places
- Cooma GaolCoomaSHR
- Cooma Railway Station and yard groupBradley Street, CoomaSHR
- Rock Bolt Development SiteSharp Street, CoomaSHR
- Royal Hotel & Outbuildings223 Sharp Street CoomaSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Eden-Monaro
- Member of Parliament
- Kristy McBAIN (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 121,376
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.1 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 42.8%Labor 57.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 48.4 km away).
Coalition 50.1%Labor 49.9%
7.3 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -3.6 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- CoomaLabor 49.3% · Coalition 50.7% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- Cooma NorthLabor 54.7% · Coalition 45.3% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
- BerridaleLabor 53.8% · Coalition 46.2% TPP (2025)29.7 km away
- NimmitabelLabor 41.9% · Coalition 58.1% TPP (2025)32.8 km away
- BredboLabor 54.0% · Coalition 46.0% TPP (2025)32.9 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)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Snowy Monaro 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.