Cooma

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 6,587 people were usually resident in Cooma: of these 49.8% were male and 50.2% were female. Of the total population 1.9% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 20.4% of people usually resident in Cooma were children aged 0-14 years, and 29.7% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 40 years.

In the 2006 Census, 87.8% of people usually resident in Cooma were Australian citizens, 14.0% were born overseas and 0.6% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 47.2% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Cooma were married, 13.1% were either separated or divorced, 8.6% were widowed and 31.1% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 79.6% of people usually resident in Cooma, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 3.0%, Germany 1.6%, New Zealand 1.4%, Italy 1.1% and Netherlands 0.7%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Cooma were Catholic 33.1%, Anglican 24.2%, No Religion 13.7%, Uniting Church 3.7% and Presbyterian and Reformed 2.7%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Cooma were Italian 1.2%, German 1.0%, Cantonese 0.5%, Dutch 0.4% and Greek 0.3%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 86.4%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 2,982 people aged 15 years and over in Cooma were in the labour force. Of these 57.7% worked full-time, 31.2% worked part-time, 3.5% were away from work, 1.7% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 5.8% were unemployed. 1,899 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Cooma were Technicians and Trades Workers 16.2%, Professionals 16.0%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 13.9%, Labourers 12.9%, Managers 11.8%, Sales Workers 11.7%, Community and Personal Service Workers 10.6% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 5.6%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Cooma, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 5.2%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 4.8%, Supermarket and Grocery Stores 4.5%, Electricity Generation 4.1% and Hospitals 3.0%.

In the 2006 Census in Cooma, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $421, the median family income was $1,062 and the median household income was $763.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 1,672 families in Cooma: of these 41.7% were couple families without children, 39.1% were couple families with children, 17.8% were one parent families and 1.4% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

In the 2006 Census 2,684 occupied private dwellings were counted in Cooma.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Cooma, 87.2% were separate houses, 3.2% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 7.3% were flats, units or apartments and 2.0% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Cooma, 37.3% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 28.5% were owned with a mortgage and 27.6% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Cooma, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 49.9% were rented from a real estate agent, 15.2% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 31.8% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Cooma, the median weekly rent was $140. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $953. The average people per household was 2.3 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Cooma, 61.7% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 31.2% were single (or lone) person households and 1.9% were group households.