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 was around 9,204 as of Aug 2025. This showed a decrease of 69 people from the 2021 Census figure of 9,273, reflecting an estimated resident population of 9,140 in June 2024 and an additional 58 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 38 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Cowra had a compound annual growth rate of -0.1%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration primarily drove population growth in recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a 2022 base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a 2021 base year.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Cowra is expected to grow by 856 persons to 2041, an increase of 8.6% over the 17 years.

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 to date, there have been 3 approvals recorded. The area's population decline suggests that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good options for buyers, with new homes valued at an average of $525,000. This financial year has seen $18.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Cowra maintains similar construction rates per capita, sustaining market balance consistent with the broader area. Nationally, however, these rates are below average, possibly due to planning constraints or the area's maturity. Recent construction comprises 83% detached dwellings and 17% townhouses or apartments, preserving Cowra's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. With an estimated 408 people per dwelling approval, this reflects a quiet development environment.

Population forecasts project Cowra will gain 790 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 12 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Cowra Drought Security Project, Yarrabilly Estate, Chardonnay Hills Estate, and Cowra Drought Resilience Plan. 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 is balanced across white and blue collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate was 4.4%.

In this month, 4,248 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Cowra was 51.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Agriculture, forestry & fishing showed strong specialization with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services employed only 2.6% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.1%. Many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census data comparisons. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, Cowra's labour force decreased by 2.4%, and employment decreased by 3.9%, leading to a 1.5 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. This contrasted with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.1%, the labour force grew by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Cowra's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years.

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 ending June 2022 shows Cowra's median income was $45,135 and average income was $52,909. This is lower than Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. By September 2025, estimates suggest Cowra's median income will be approximately $50,827 and average income $59,581, based on a 12.61% Wage Price Index growth since June 2022. The 2021 Census reveals household incomes in Cowra fall between the 6th and 13th percentiles nationally. In Cowra, 28.6% of locals earn between $400 - $799 per week, compared to the metropolitan region's predominant earnings category of $1,500 - $2,999. After housing costs, 86.6% of income remains in Cowra, ranking at 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 was 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 in Cowra was $1,213, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,200. Median weekly rent in Cowra was recorded at $230, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $220. Nationally, Cowra's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly 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 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 comprise the remaining 36.9%, with lone person households at 34.6% and group households making up 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 faces educational challenges with university qualification rates at 13.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent 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 such qualifications - 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 education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education. Cowra operates a robust network of 6 schools educating approximately 1,655 students. The educational mix comprises 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

The analysis of Cowra's public transportation system shows that there are currently 261 active transport stops in operation. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 32 individual routes providing service to the area. Together, these routes facilitate 440 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 179 meters away from their nearest transport stop. 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, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% (about 4,298 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.1%) and mental health issues (9.8%), while 60.3% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Rest of NSW at 62.4%. Cowra has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 25.4% (2,341 people), compared to the Rest of NSW average of 23.8%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are challenging but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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 Australian citizens, 92.4% born in Australia, and 95.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Cowra, comprising 69.1% of the population, compared to 70.4% across the Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.9%), English (31.3%), and Irish (9.0%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups had different representations: Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 7.4%, Maltese at 0.4%, and Scottish at 7.3%.

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

Cowra's median age of 45 years is slightly higher than Rest of NSW's 43 years, which is also older than the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Cowra has a notably higher proportion of people aged 65-74 (13.1%) and a lower proportion of those aged 35-44 (10.1%). Between 2021 and now, the percentage of people aged 25 to 34 has increased from 10.6% to 11.7%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 65 to 74 has decreased from 13.8% to 13.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Cowra's age profile will significantly change. The number of people aged 25 to 34 is projected to increase by 207 (19%) from 1,074 to 1,282. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 15 to 24 and 65 to 74.