Cowra

Cowra is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Cowra's population is approximately 9,207 as of November 2025. This figure represents a decrease of 66 people from the 2021 Census population of 9,273, indicating a 0.7% decrease. The estimated resident population of Cowra was 9,141 in June 2024, with an additional 59 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this change. This results in a population density ratio of 38 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Cowra has shown resilience with a compound annual growth rate of -0.1%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from these aggregations for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Cowra is expected to experience population growth just below Australia's non-metropolitan median, increasing by approximately 856 persons to reach a total of 9,712 by 2041, reflecting an 8.6% increase over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Cowra, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Cowra averaged approximately 27 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 135 homes. As of FY-26, 7 approvals have been recorded. The area's population decline has likely been matched by new supply meeting demand, providing good choice for buyers. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $421,000, slightly above the regional average, suggesting a focus on quality developments.

In FY-26, $18.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Rest of NSW, Cowra has similar development levels per person, supporting market stability aligned with regional patterns. This is lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent construction comprises 83.0% detached dwellings and 17.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

The estimated count of 408 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Cowra is expected to grow by 787 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Present construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Cowra has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 12 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Yarrabilly Estate, Chardonnay Hills Estate, Bonsai Gardens Estate, and Cowra High School Adjacent Residential Subdivision. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Cowra faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Cowra's workforce comprises both white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.

As of September 2025, there are 4198 employed residents, an unemployment rate of 6.2% (1.2% above Rest of NSW's 3.8%), and workforce participation at 51.2%, lower than Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly strong, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical employs only 2.6% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.1%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Cowra's labour force decreased by 3.6%, employment by 4.9%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.5%, labour force fall by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4%. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2260 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts indicate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary between sectors. Applying these projections to Cowra's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Cowra SA2 had median income of $45,135 and average income of $52,909. This is below national averages of $57,080 (median) and $67,475 (average). Rest of NSW's figures were higher: median at $49,459 and average at $62,998. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $50,827 (median) and $59,581 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%. According to the 2021 Census, Cowra's household, family, and personal incomes rank between 6th and 12th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 28.6% of locals (2,633 people) earn $400 - $799, differing from metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 29.9%. After housing costs, 86.6% of income remains, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Cowra is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Cowra's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 90.0% houses and 10.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cowra was at 42.8%, aligning with Non-Metro NSW, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.4% and rented ones at 30.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,213, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,200. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $230, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $220. Nationally, Cowra's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Cowra features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 63.1% of all households, consisting of 21.4% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.9%, with lone person households at 34.6% and group households comprising 2.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which matches the average for the Rest of NSW.

Cowra faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (30.8%). Educational participation is high at 27.1%, with 10.5% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Cowra has 261 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 32 different routes that together offer 440 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest transport stop is 179 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility.

On average, there are 62 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Cowra is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Cowra faces significant health challenges, as indicated by its health data. Both younger and older age groups exhibit high prevalence rates for common health conditions.

Private health cover is low in Cowra, with approximately 47% of the total population (~4,299 people) having it, compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.1% and 9.8% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 60.3% of Cowra's population claims to be free from any medical ailments, slightly lower than the 62.4% figure for Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 25.4%, with 2,342 people falling into this category compared to the 23.8% in Rest of NSW. Despite these figures, health outcomes among Cowra's senior population are reported to be better than those of the general population.

Cowra is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Cowra's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 91.0% of its population being citizens, 92.4% born in Australia, and 95.4% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion in Cowra is Christianity, accounting for 69.1% of the population, compared to 70.4% across the Rest of NSW. Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (32.9%), English (31.3%), and Irish (9.0%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups have divergent representations: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 7.4%, Maltese at 0.4%, and Scottish at 7.3%.

Cowra hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Cowra's median age of 45 years is modestly higher than Rest of NSW's 43 years, which is considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Cowra has a notably over-represented cohort of 65-74 year-olds (13.1% locally), while the 35-44 age group is under-represented (10.1%). Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 10.6% to 11.7% of Cowra's population. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has decreased from 13.8% to 13.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Cowra's age profile. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to expand by 207 people (19%), growing from 1,074 to 1,282. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 cohorts.