Cowra
Statistical Area - sa2

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 since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 9,273. The decrease was inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,141 in June 2024 and an additional 59 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 38 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Cowra has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of -0.1%, outperforming the SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during this period.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Cowra is expected to grow by approximately 856 persons to 2041, with an increase of around 8.6% in total 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 has averaged approximately 27 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 135 homes. As of FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded. This average supply appears to have kept pace with demand in Cowra, which has experienced population decline, offering buyers good choice while maintaining an average expected construction cost value of $421,000 per dwelling, slightly above the regional average. In terms of commercial development, $18.4 million in approvals have been registered during this financial year, indicating steady investment activity.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Cowra has similar development levels per capita, supporting market stability aligned with regional patterns. However, these levels are lower than national averages, suggesting market maturity and potential development constraints. Recent construction comprises 83.0% detached dwellings and 17.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Cowra is 408 people, reflecting its quiet and low activity development environment.

Looking ahead, Cowra is projected to grow by 787 residents by 2041. Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Cowra has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Cowra Drought Security Project, Yarrabilly Estate, Chardonnay Hills Estate, and Cowra Drought Resilience Plan. The following list details those most likely to be 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 has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, notable in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.4% as of June 2025.

There were 4,248 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% higher than Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation lagged at 51.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Agriculture, forestry & fishing shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

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. In a 12-month period ending June 2025, labour force decreased by 2.4%, employment by 3.9%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 1.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.1%, labour force grew by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest Cowra's local growth could increase by approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Cowra's employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Cowra has an income below the national average. The median assessed income is $45,135 and the average income stands at $52,909. In comparison, Rest of NSW has a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Cowra would be approximately $50,827 (median) and $59,581 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Cowra all fall between the 6th and 13th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that the predominant cohort spans 28.6% of locals (2,633 people) with incomes in the $400 - $799 category, 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 only the 10th 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, 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 stood at 42.8%, similar to Non-Metro NSW, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.4% and rented ones at 30.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,213, exceeding the Non-Metro NSW average of $1,200. Median weekly rent in Cowra was $230, higher than Non-Metro NSW's $220. Nationally, Cowra's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,213 compared to Australia's $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $230 against the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 63.1% of all households, including 21.4% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for 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 aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

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

Cowra has lower university qualification rates at 13.1%, significantly below NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common among qualifications, at 9.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications and graduate diplomas, both at 1.8%. Vocational credentials are held by 39.7% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 8.9% and certificates at 30.8%. Educational participation is high, with 27.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.5% in primary, 8.3% in secondary, and 1.6% in tertiary education. Cowra has a network of 6 schools educating approximately 1,655 students, comprising 3 primary, 1 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools.

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 residents to the nearest transport stop is 179 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

On average, there are 62 trips per day across all routes, resulting in 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, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47%, covering about 4299 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.1%) and mental health issues (9.8%). Around 60.3% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW figure at 62.4%. Cowra has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 25.4% or approximately 2342 people, compared to 23.8% in Rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are generally 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 predominant religion in Cowra is Christianity, which accounts for 69.1% of the population, compared to 70.4% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups in Cowra are Australian (32.9%), English (31.3%), and Irish (9.0%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups have different representations: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 7.4% in Cowra compared to the regional average of 7.9%, Maltese at 0.4% versus 0.3%, and Scottish at 7.3% compared to 7.2%.

Cowra hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Cowra's median age is 45 years, which is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's median age of 43 years, and 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 year-old age group is under-represented (10.1%). Between 2021 and present, the percentage of the population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 10.6% to 11.7%. Conversely, the percentage of the population aged 65 to 74 has declined from 13.8% to 13.1%. Demographic modeling suggests that Cowra's age profile will significantly change by 2041. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to increase notably, with an expansion of 207 people (19%), from 1,074 to 1,282. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 cohorts.