Bombala, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Bombala NSW is 1,372 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Bombala is $725 per week ($37,700 per year). Median rent in Bombala is $215 per week ($932 per month). Bombala has a median age of 47 years, older than the national median of 38. Bombala has a population density of 11 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Bombala is England. The most common religion is No religion (28.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bombala is $1,083.

There were 10 recorded offences in Bombala in 2025-26, a rate of 7 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (3 offences).

Population
1,372
Census 2021
Median income
$725/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$215/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
47years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Bombala vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Bombala is $725 a week, 5% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,273rd of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $215 a week, $170 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 16.8% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 47, 4 years older than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBombalaTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$725/wk$765/wk −5%$766/wk
Household income$1,277/wk$1,704/wk −25%$1,637/wk
Rent$215/wk$385/wk −44%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,083/mo$1,965/mo −45%$1,733/mo
Median age4743 +4 yrs42
Rent share of household income16.8%22.6% −5.8 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Bombala, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Bombala Population

1,372 residents at the 2021 Census.

Bombala Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$725/wk
$37,700 per year
Ranked 5,003 of 14,663
Median Rent
$215/wk
$932 per month
Ranked 7,179 of 14,663
Median Age
47years
9 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,083/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Bombala Rent Prices & Affordability

17% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,277/wk
Median rent $215/wk
Rent to income 16.8%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Bombala against your income

About $5,534 a month
Median rent $215/wk
Left after rent $1,062/wk
Rent share 16.8%

Bombala Schools

3
schools nearby
2
government
945
avg ICSEA score
323
total students
St Joseph's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 71 students
991
ICSEA
Bombala High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 148 students
946
ICSEA
Bombala Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 104 students
899
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Bombala, with a map

Bombala Map

Bombala, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Bombala, New South Wales: 36.8899°S, 149.2477°E

Bombala Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (3)

People in Bombala

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.4% (691) Female 49.6% (680)

Population Density

11
people per km²
1,372 people · 119.7 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,712
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
1.9%
Germany
0.7%
New Zealand
0.7%
Ireland
0.7%
South Korea
0.6%
Nepal
0.4%
Thailand
0.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

German
0.7%
Korean
0.4%
Nepali
0.4%
Russian
0.2%
Afrikaans
0.0%
Arabic
0.0%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
45.1%
English
40.3%
Irish
11.1%
Scottish
10.5%
German
4.8%
Australian Aboriginal
2.1%
Dutch
0.9%
Italian
0.7%
Welsh
0.7%
Greek
0.6%
Korean
0.6%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
28.1%
Anglican
27.3%
Catholic
22.3%
Not stated
10.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
5.6%
Uniting Church
1.3%
Buddhism
0.8%
Othr Protestnt
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

2.6%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
43.5% 493
Separated
3.9% 44
Divorced
11.4% 129
Widowed
8.0% 91
Never married
33.2% 377

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
37.8%
Couple: no children
36.9%
Couple: no children under 15
10.6%
One parent: children under 15
9.7%
One parent: no children under 15
4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
35.6%
2 persons
38.4%
3 persons
10.7%
4 persons
9.3%
5 persons
4.2%
6+ persons
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Bombala

Housing Tenure

Of the 555 occupied private dwellings in Bombala at the 2021 Census, 20.9% were rented, 45.0% owned outright and 29.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.6% 9 dwellings
Owned outright
45.0% 250 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
29.9% 166 dwellings
Rented
20.9% 116 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.4% 8 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
96.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.6%
2 bedrooms
20.5%
3 bedrooms
51.2%
4 bedrooms
21.9%
5 bedrooms
3.1%
6+ bedrooms
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
3.3%
$300-$449/mo
2.6%
$450-$599/mo
5.3%
$600-$799/mo
11.2%
$800-$999/mo
15.1%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
36.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
11.8%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
7.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
2.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
6.1%
1 vehicle
35.4%
2 vehicles
34.9%
3 vehicles
16.6%
4+ vehicles
6.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Bombala

Employment

Employed full-time
38.4% 381 people
Employed part-time
18.8% 186 people
Unemployed
2.2% 22 people
Not in labour force
40.6% 402 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Managers
17.5%
Professionals
16.3%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
14.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
13.8%
Community & Personal Service
13.8%
Clerical & Administrative
10.9%
Labourers
8.9%
Sales Workers
4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.0%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$150-$299/wk
1.9%
$300-$399/wk
4.4%
$400-$499/wk
9.2%
$500-$649/wk
5.4%
$650-$799/wk
7.3%
$800-$999/wk
7.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.6%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.3%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.1%
$4,000+/wk
5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
6.9%
$1-$149/wk
4.0%
$150-$299/wk
5.4%
$300-$399/wk
6.0%
$400-$499/wk
4.9%
$500-$649/wk
5.3%
$650-$799/wk
13.6%
$800-$999/wk
11.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
5.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.2%
$3,500+/wk
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
78.9%
Did not go to work
8.8%
Walked only
6.5%
Car (passenger)
3.0%
Truck
1.4%
Other
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
40.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
37.4%
Year 9 or equivalent
12.3%
Year 11 or equivalent
9.7%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
54.1%
Bachelor Degree
18.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
16.7%
Postgraduate Degree
3.9%
Certificate I/II
3.9%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
22.9%
Management & Commerce
14.0%
Education
12.5%
Society & Culture
12.2%
Agriculture & Environment
11.6%
Health
10.1%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
8.6%
Architecture & Building
6.8%
Creative Arts
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
34.8%
Secondary: Government
27.9%
Primary: Catholic
15.9%
Vocational Education
11.2%
Pre-school
10.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
84.8%
Has need for assistance
6.9%
Need for assistance not stated
8.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
99
Arthritis
74
Lung condition
50
Heart disease
42
Diabetes
37
Asthma
28
Cancer
26
Kidney disease
23
Stroke
23
Dementia
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
12.1% 125
Did not provide
87.9% 905

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
22.4% 231
Not a volunteer
77.6% 802

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
3.9% 41
Never served
96.1% 998

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
23.7%
1 child
10.1%
2 children
34.2%
3 children
21.4%
4 children
9.9%
5+ children
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
7
1951: 1960
11
1961: 1970
14
1971: 1980
19
1981: 1990
10
1991: 2000
7
2001: 2010
8
2011: 2015
10
2016
8
2018
3
2019
10

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

14.3%
moved in the last year
37.1%
moved in the last 5 years
3.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
56.6%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,069
Moved: same area (SA2)
78
Moved from NSW
67
Moved from VIC
19
Moved from ACT
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.6%
5: 14 hours
27.6%
15: 29 hours
13.6%
30+ hours
11.4%
Did not do domestic work
26.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
75.9%
Step family: no other children
9.8%
Blended family: no other children
8.9%
Other couple: children only
5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Bombala Crime Statistics

10 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
3
Assault
2
Sexual Offences
2
Theft
2
Property Damage
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Coolah
Income: $595/wk Rent: $170/wk $45/wk less rent
Hay (NSW)
Income: $669/wk Rent: $175/wk $40/wk less rent
Balranald
Income: $687/wk Rent: $200/wk $15/wk less rent
Trangie
Income: $711/wk Rent: $180/wk $35/wk less rent
Batlow
Income: $602/wk Rent: $180/wk $35/wk less rent
Walcha
Income: $701/wk Rent: $203/wk $12/wk less rent
Darlington Point
Income: $736/wk Rent: $200/wk $15/wk less rent
Finley
Income: $636/wk Rent: $175/wk $40/wk less rent

Compare Bombala

Frequently Asked Questions About Bombala

What is the population of Bombala NSW?

The population of Bombala NSW is 1,372 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 11 people per km². Bombala is ranked #3,519 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Bombala?

The median personal income in Bombala NSW is $725 per week, or $37,700 per year. The median household income is $1,277 per week. Family income is $1,712 per week. Bombala is ranked #5,003 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Bombala?

Median rent in Bombala NSW is $215 per week ($932 per month). Rent represents 16.8% of household income, which is considered affordable. Bombala ranks #7,179 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Bombala?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bombala NSW is $1,083. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Bombala?

The median age in Bombala NSW is 47 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Bombala a good suburb to live in?

Bombala is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,372. The median income is $725/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (16.8% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10454. All dollar figures in AUD.