North Nowra - Bomaderry

An assessment of population growth drivers in North Nowra - Bomaderry reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

North Nowra - Bomaderry's population is 16,557 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 16,098 people. The change was inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 16,548 in June 2025 and an additional 706 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 166 persons per square kilometer. North Nowra - Bomaderry's growth rate of 2.9% since the census is close to that of its SA4 region, which grew by 3.1%. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 81.5% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all migration drivers being positive factors.

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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on latest annual ERP population numbers, North Nowra - Bomaderry is expected to grow by 1,775 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 10.7% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees North Nowra - Bomaderry among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

North Nowra - Bomaderry averaged approximately 119 new dwelling approvals annually. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 595 homes were approved, with an additional 242 approved so far in FY-26. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these five years was 0.4.

This indicates that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth. The average value of new dwellings developed was $408,000, which is moderately above regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. In FY-26, there have been $50.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of NSW, North Nowra - Bomaderry has similar development levels per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. Recent construction comprises 47.0% detached houses and 53.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend towards denser development to provide accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

This represents a significant change from the current housing mix of 86.0% houses. North Nowra - Bomaderry has an average of around 80 people per approval, indicating a low density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, North Nowra - Bomaderry is projected to add 1,766 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

North Nowra - Bomaderry has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

AreaSearch has identified 19 infrastructure projects that could impact the area's performance. Notable ones include The Yards, Bomaderry High School Upgrade, Landcom Bomaderry Build-to-Rent Apartments, and SCaRP - Bomaderry Sporting Complex Redevelopment.

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 analysis indicates North Nowra - Bomaderry maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

North Nowra - Bomaderry has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.3% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1% over the past year. There were 7,311 residents in work by December 2025, with an unemployment rate of 0.6% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was at 55.4%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. According to Census responses, only 12.0% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and public administration & safety. The area shows strong specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 1.7% versus the regional average of 5.3%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population count. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.1%, and labour force increased by 2.6%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 1.5 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2%, labour force fall by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within North Nowra - Bomaderry. These projections suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to North Nowra - Bomaderry's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in North Nowra - Bomaderry SA2 is below the national average. The median income is $50,405 and the average income stands at $59,976. In comparison, Regional NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates for North Nowra - Bomaderry would be approximately $55,607 (median) and $66,166 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data indicates that household, family and personal incomes in North Nowra - Bomaderry fall between the 24th and 25th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 30.0% of the population (4,967 individuals) have incomes within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, which is similar to the pattern seen in the region where 29.9% occupy this income range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 25th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

North Nowra - Bomaderry is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

North Nowra-Bomaderry dwellings were 86.4% houses and 13.6% other types in the latest Census, compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% others. Home ownership was 40.2%, with mortgages at 31.7% and rentals at 28.2%. Median monthly mortgage repayments were $1,733, matching the Regional NSW average, while median weekly rents were $346 compared to regional averages of $1,733 and $330 respectively. Nationally, North Nowra-Bomaderry's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 versus Australia's $1,863, and rents were less at $346 compared to the national figure of $375.

North Nowra - Bomaderry has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 69.4% of all households, including 25.6% couples with children, 30.2% couples without children, and 12.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.6%, with lone person households at 27.7% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.4 people, aligning with the Regional NSW average.

Educational outcomes in North Nowra - Bomaderry fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate was 20.3%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees were the most prevalent at 13.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials were common, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (30.6%). Educational participation was high at 27.1%, comprising primary education (10.0%), secondary education (7.5%), and tertiary education (2.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

North Nowra - Bomaderry has 279 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 55 individual routes, facilitating 3,517 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 144 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature, with car being the dominant mode at 94%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 12.0% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 502 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 12 weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

North Nowra - Bomaderry faces significant health challenges, as per AreaSearch's assessment on June 12, 2022. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 49% of the total population (~8,096 people), compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.0%) and mental health issues (10.1%). Conversely, 60.8% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age population health is notably challenging due to high chronic condition rates. The area has 23.7% residents aged 65 and over (3,919 people), with senior health outcomes largely in line with national rankings.

North Nowra - Bomaderry ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

North Nowra-Bomaderry, surveyed between June 2016 and June 2021, had a low cultural diversity with 85.4% born in Australia, 90.4% as citizens, and 94.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity dominated at 52.1%, slightly below Regional NSW's 55.9%. Top ancestral groups were English (32.1%), Australian (30.4%), and Irish (8.2%).

Notable differences included higher Australian Aboriginal representation (4.7% vs regional 4.6%), Welsh (0.6% vs 0.5%), and Hungarian (0.3% vs 0.2%) in North Nowra-Bomaderry.

North Nowra - Bomaderry hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

North Nowra - Bomaderry has a median age of 43, matching Regional NSW's figure and exceeding the national average of 38. Notably, individuals aged 25-34 make up 12.1% of the population, while those aged 55-64 constitute 11.9%, both figures differing from Regional NSW's averages. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 10.5% to 11.6%, whereas the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 13.4% to 11.9%. Similarly, the 65 to 74 group has dropped from 13.3% to 12.2%. By 2041, projections indicate significant shifts in North Nowra - Bomaderry's age structure. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 27%, reaching 2,530 from its current total of 1,998. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 65-74 cohorts.