Nowra

Nowra lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Nowra's population is around 24,437 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,853 people (8.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 22,584 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 23,650 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 693 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 240 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Nowra's 8.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (4.8%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 36.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including overseas migration and natural growth, were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Regarding demographic trends, exceptional growth, placing in the top 10 percent of Australia's regional areas, is predicted over the period, with the area expected to increase by 10,884 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 41.3% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Nowra among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Nowra has recorded around 130 residential properties granted approval annually, with 653 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 30 so far in FY-26. With an average of 2.9 people moving to the area per new home constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), suggesting solid demand that supports property values, new homes are being built at an average construction cost of $224,000—under regional levels—indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. Additionally, $65.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, suggesting robust local business investment.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Nowra has 16.0% less new development (per person) while it places among the 49th percentile of areas assessed nationally, meaning somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established dwellings. Recent construction comprises 62.0% detached dwellings and 38.0% attached dwellings, showing an expanding range of medium-density options creating a mix of opportunities across price brackets, from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. This marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns (currently 86.0% houses), suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The location has approximately 330 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth.

Future projections show Nowra adding 10,097 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 21 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment, Nowra East Public School Upgrade, Evergreen Rise Estate, and a new primary school and public preschool in Worrigee, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

The labour market performance in Nowra lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Nowra has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 5.6%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 9,646 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.7% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation lags significantly (53.7% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a low 8.1% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. The area shows particularly strong specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 1.9 times the regional level. On the other hand, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.2% of Nowra's workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. The ratio of 0.8 workers for each resident, as at the Census, indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw the labour force increase by 2.6% combined with employment decreasing by 0.1%, resulting in the unemployment rate rising by 2.5 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Nowra. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Nowra's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Nowra SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $50,085 with the average level standing at $59,951. This is below the national average and compares to levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $54,523 (median) and $65,263 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Nowra all fall between the 20th and 20th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows 30.2% of the population (7,379 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring regional levels where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 17th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure within Nowra, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 86.3% houses and 13.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Nowra lagged that of Regional NSW, at 30.0%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (30.1%) or rented (39.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was in line with the Regional NSW average at $1,733, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $330, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Nowra's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Nowra has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 68.3% of all households, comprising 26.5% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 15.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.7%, with lone person households at 28.3% and group households comprising 3.5% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (15.5%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 10.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 44.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (34.0%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 33.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.3% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 332 active transport stops operating within Nowra, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 64 individual routes, collectively providing 1,536 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 146 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. A relatively low 8.1% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 219 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 4 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health performance in Nowra is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Critical health challenges are evident across Nowra, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions have marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 49% of the total population (~11,949 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW, while the national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 11.8% and 10.1% of residents, respectively, while 60.2% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 16.7% of residents aged 65 and over (4,090 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Nowra was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 84.5% of its population being citizens, 86.6% born in Australia, and 92.3% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Nowra is Christianity, which makes up 50.9% of the people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Other, which comprises 0.9% of the population, compared to 0.8% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Nowra are Australian, comprising 31.8% of the population, English, comprising 29.3% of the population, and Australian Aboriginal, comprising 7.7% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Maltese is notably overrepresented at 0.6% of Nowra (vs 0.4% regionally), Lebanese at 0.2% (vs 0.2%) and Filipino at 0.9% (vs 0.6%).

Nowra's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The 36-year median age in Nowra is significantly below Regional NSW's average of 43 and similarly lower than Australia's 38 years. The 25 - 34 age group shows strong representation at 16.6% compared to Regional NSW, whereas the 65 - 74 cohort is less prevalent at 8.6%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 14.8% to 16.6% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 12.1% to 13.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.4% to 10.3% and the 65 to 74 group dropped from 9.6% to 8.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Nowra. Leading the demographic shift, the 25 to 34 group will grow by 51% (2,058 people), reaching 6,113 from 4,054.