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 approximately 16,648 as of February 2026. This represents an increase of 550 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 16,098. The growth from June 2024's estimated resident population of 16,406 and validated new addresses accounts for this change. The population density is around 166 persons per square kilometer. North Nowra - Bomaderry's 3.4% growth since the census is close to the SA4 region's 4.8%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 64.5% of recent population gains.

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 from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by approximately 1,884 persons based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of around 9.9% over the 17-year period.

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

North Nowra - Bomaderry has averaged approximately 119 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 595 homes were approved, with an additional 184 approved so far in FY-26. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these five financial years was 0.4.

This suggests that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more buyer choices and supporting potential population growth above projections. The average value of new dwellings developed is $408,000, which is moderately higher than regional levels, indicating an emphasis on quality construction. In FY-26, there have been $50.6 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to the rest of NSW, North Nowra - Bomaderry has similar development levels per person, maintaining 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 that appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

This is a significant change from the current housing mix of 86.0% houses, likely due to reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. North Nowra - Bomaderry has an average of around 80 people per approval, indicating a low-density area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, North Nowra - Bomaderry is projected to add 1,642 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand readily, 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 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 19 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives 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 assessment positions North Nowra - Bomaderry ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

North Nowra - Bomaderry has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.0% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.6%. As of September 2025, 7,308 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.8% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation lags at 56.1%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 12.0% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and public administration & safety, with a strong specialization in the latter at 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 1.7%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6% while unemployment rose by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a contraction in employment by 0.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that North Nowra - Bomaderry's employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that North Nowra - Bomaderry SA2 has incomes below the national average. The median income is $50,405 and the average income is $59,976. In comparison, Rest of NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $54,871 (median) and $65,290 (average). Census 2021 income data indicates that North Nowra - Bomaderry's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 24th and 25th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 30.0% of the population (4,994 individuals) have incomes within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 25th percentile. 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

In North Nowra - Bomaderry, as per the latest Census evaluation, 86.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 13.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Nowra - Bomaderry stood at 40.2%, similar to Non-Metro NSW, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.7% and rented ones at 28.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with the Non-Metro NSW average. The median weekly rent was $346, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, North Nowra - Bomaderry's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 account for 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, which aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

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 is 20.3%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 30.6%. Educational participation is 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. These are served by 55 routes, offering 3,517 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 144 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward using cars, which remain the dominant mode at 94%. There is an average of 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 12% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 502 trips daily across all routes, equating to about 12 weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this analysis, showing 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 substantial health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 49% of the total population (~8,140 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis (11.0%) and mental health issues (10.1%). Conversely, 60.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. As of 2021, the area has 22.9% of residents aged 65 and over (3,814 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, aligning broadly with national rankings for the general population.

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 in 2016, had low cultural diversity with 85.4% born in Australia, 90.4% citizens, and 94.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion at 52.1%, compared to 55.9% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.1%), Australian (30.4%), and Irish (8.2%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal were overrepresented at 4.7% versus 4.6% regionally, Welsh at 0.6% versus 0.5%, and Hungarian at 0.3% versus 0.2%.

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

North Nowra - Bomaderry has a median age of 43, which is equal to Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and higher than Australia's national average of 38. The area's age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are particularly prominent at 12.7%, while the 55-64 group is comparatively smaller at 11.6% compared to Rest of NSW. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 25-34 age group has increased from 11.5% to 12.7% of the population, while the 15-24 cohort grew from 10.5% to 11.5%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 13.4% to 11.6%, and the 65-74 group decreased from 13.3% to 12.0%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in North Nowra - Bomaderry's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 group is projected to grow by 25%, reaching 2,646 people from its current figure of 2,109. Conversely, population declines are forecast for both the 55-64 and 15-24 cohorts.