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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Canowindra is $455k, with units at $789k. House values have moved 7.6% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Canowindra has an estimated 2,524 residents, up from 2,437 at the 2021 Census — a change of 87 people, or 3.6%. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Drawing on ABS demographic updates across the wider territory alongside post-Census address validations by AreaSearch, the suburb of Canowindra reaches an estimated resident count of around 2,524 as of Aug 2026. This equates to an expansion of 87 people (3.6%) from the 2,437 people documented in the 2021 Census. Such growth is determined from AreaSearch's population estimate of 2,503 following the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 34 validated new addresses established post-Census. Consequently, the suburb of Canowindra exhibits a population density of 2.8 persons per square kilometer, ensuring spacious living conditions.
Outpacing the broader SA4 region (2.3%), the suburb of Canowindra's 3.6% increase positions it as a local growth standout, with net interstate moves delivering approximately 62.0% of these inbound population additions over recent timeframes. Projections generated by the ABS/Geoscience Australia (issued in 2024 with a 2022 baseline) are applied across SA2 territories by AreaSearch, supplemented where necessary by NSW State Government SA2 forecasts (released in 2022 using 2021 base numbers). Age cohort growth rates derived from these datasets are modeled forward across all zones from 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, the suburb of Canowindra is projected to track marginally beneath the nationwide regional median, adding an estimated 244 persons through to 2041 based on consolidated SA2 figures, representing an overall expansion of 8.8% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
27 new dwellings have been approved in Canowindra over the past five years, an average of 5 a year. That is 2.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 1, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Statistical evaluations of ABS residential approvals by AreaSearch indicate that Canowindra maintains an average annual volume of approximately 5 new dwellings, accumulating to an estimated 27 homes across the previous 5 financial years. Within FY-25 to date, 1 approvals have been logged. The ratio of 1.8 new residents per completed residence over the 5 financial years span from FY-21 to FY-25 suggests balanced conditions between underlying demand and available additions, though a recent shift to 5 people per dwelling over the last 2 financial years points toward rising local interest and tighter construction supply.
Average building costs for newly approved houses stand at $374,000, aligning with regional standards. Meanwhile, commercial planning activity remains subdued, recording $1.6 million in commercial approvals during the current financial year. Recent residential building activity comprises 80.0% detached dwellings alongside 20.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving a low-density suburban landscape oriented toward detached builds sought by lifestyle purchasers. Compared with the existing residential base where separate houses account for 95.0%, this pattern indicates reduced availability of greenfield parcels while meeting demand for diverse, economical housing choices. Furthermore, a high proportion of 2506 people in the area per dwelling approval highlights a restrained, low-scale development environment. According to the latest quarterly forecasts from AreaSearch, Canowindra is set to welcome an additional 223 residents through to 2041. If residential construction volumes remain at present rates, housing stock additions could fall behind local demographic expansion, potentially intensifying purchaser demand and supporting upward value trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Canowindra
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 66 current infrastructure and development projects close to Canowindra, worth an estimated $14.2 billion. 19 are already under construction and 20 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
The evolution of an area is substantially steered by regional planning programs, major works, and infrastructure upgrades. No major projects have been recorded by AreaSearch as having a direct impact on the locality. Key initiatives in the surrounding district encompass Corridor Preservation For East Coast High Speed Rail, Paling Yards Wind Farm, Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, and Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Transmission Project, with primary projects detailed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Cowra High School Adjacent Residential Subdivision
A 110-allotment residential subdivision adjoining Chardonnay Hills Estate and adjacent to Cowra High School, approved for construction.
Chardonnay Hills Estate
Chardonnay Hills Estate is a residential subdivision located on the northwest side of Cowra Township in New South Wales, offering 66 approved allotments with elevated views over the Lachlan Valley. The lots range in size from 467m2 to 1,056m2 and are fully serviced with underground electricity, town water, sewerage, natural gas, telephone, NBN, and sealed roads.
Olympic Highway Safety Improvements
A rolling program of safety upgrades along the Olympic Highway corridor. Key active segments include a $5 million upgrade 13km north of Young involving road widening, drainage replacement, and safety barriers, and a $26 million package for overtaking lanes and shoulder sealing near Cowra. The program aims to reduce run-off-road crashes and improve regional freight efficiency between the Hume Highway and Cowra.
Yarrabilly Estate
A residential development featuring a community title seniors independent living project with 100 detached two-bedroom residences, a community building, and associated infrastructure, with potential for future stages as per the master plan.
Cowra Drought Security Project
The Cowra Drought Security Project has completed a 26-kilometre pipeline from the Billimari bore fields to the Lachlan River Pump Station, providing bore water access during droughts. The project includes two 60-metre-deep bores, a pump station, and a 200 KL storage reservoir.
Cowra Hospital Redevelopment
A $110.2 million redevelopment of Cowra Hospital featuring new emergency department, inpatient wards, maternity unit, palliative care facilities, and the hospital's first CT scanner. The project includes a modern two-level facility with enhanced views and improved access.
74 Kendal Street Commercial Redevelopment
Proposed redevelopment of commercial property to create modern office and retail spaces. The project will provide contemporary commercial facilities to support local business growth and attract new enterprises to the Cowra central business district.
Cowra Drought Resilience Plan
Comprehensive drought resilience planning initiative developed with the Future Drought Fund in partnership with Orange, Blayney, Cabonne, and Weddin councils. The program helps local businesses prepare for dry times by offering training, support, and advice on risk management, while improving awareness of mental health services and promoting tourism.
1,228 residents of Canowindra are employed, from a labour force of 1,283. Unemployment sits at 4.3%, with participation at 61.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,144, about 85% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Canowindra features a skilled, multi-industry workforce with a recorded unemployment rate of 4.3%, based on statistical area aggregations by AreaSearch. As of March 2026, 1,228 residents are employed, while local unemployment sits 0.2% higher than the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, and overall labor participation tracks closely with the regional figure of 60.6%. Census findings show that 17.7% of working residents operated from home, though historical pandemic lockdown measures should be kept in mind. Local employment is primarily concentrated within agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training.
The agricultural, forestry, and fishing domain represents a distinct local specialisation, sustaining a workforce share 5.0 times the wider regional baseline. In contrast, construction remains underrepresented, engaging just 5.7% of Canowindra's workers against 9.7% in Regional NSW. A comparison between the resident labor base and the Census-recorded local workforce points to constrained local employment capacity. Over the twelve months ending March 2026, data from AreaSearch combining SALM and ABS figures indicate that the labour force shrank by 1.7 percent while employment dropped by 2.8 percent, leading to an increase in unemployment of 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a smaller decline in employment of 0.9 percent, a modest contraction in the labour force of 0.4 percent, and a rise in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. The national employment outlook published by Jobs and Skills Australia for Mar-26 provides guidance on expected future demand in the Canowindra area. These forecasts span five and ten year horizons and have been aligned with Canowindra's current employment structure to project growth trends. Nationally, employment is expected to grow by 6.6 percent over five years and by 13.7 percent over ten years, though sectoral growth varies considerably. When these industry-level expectations are applied to Canowindra's occupational composition, local employment is projected to rise by 5.4 percent over five years and by 11.9 percent over ten years. This estimate relies on a basic weighting method for demonstration only and excludes localized population changes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Canowindra is $1,099 a week (about $57,000 a year), with median personal income at $609 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $43,799 a year against an average of $54,529. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place taxpayer earnings in the suburb of Canowindra below national averages. Taxpayers in the suburb of Canowindra record a median income of $43,799 and an average income of $54,529, compared to benchmarks of $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach approximately $48,319 (median) and $60,156 (average) as of March 2026. Across household, family, and individual brackets, Census 2021 results place local earnings within the 7th to 13th percentiles nationwide.
The largest local earning bracket comprises 27.7% of locals (699 people) taking home $400 - 799, contrasting with the wider area where the $1,500 - 2,999 cohort forms the primary segment at 29.9%. Even with modest housing costs leaving 88.8% of income retained, total disposable funds place the area at the 12th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Canowindra had 930 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 95% detached houses and 1% apartments. 28% are owned with a mortgage, 23% rented and 49% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $220 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,100 a month. Rent absorbs 20.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census assessments establish that Canowindra's housing landscape is dominated by 95.3% houses and 4.6% other dwellings (incorporating semi-detached units, apartments, and miscellaneous categories), contrasting with Regional NSW's breakdown of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Outright property ownership in Canowindra stands at 48.5%, substantially higher than regional norms, while 28.4% of homes carry a mortgage and 23.1% are rented. Median monthly home loan repayments were registered at $1,100 compared to $1,733 regionally, alongside a median weekly rent of $220 against $330 in Regional NSW. Compared with national averages, Canowindra sits far below the Australian median mortgage repayment of $1,863 and the national median weekly rental cost of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Canowindra counted 930 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 23% are couples with children, fewer than in 77% of areas nationally, against 31% couples without children. 31% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 65.7% of all residences, split between couples without children at 31.1%, couples with children at 23.1%, and single parent families at 11.0%. Non-family arrangements account for the remaining 34.3%, consisting of 30.6% lone person households and 3.1% group residences. The recorded median household size of 2.3 people sits just under the Regional NSW standard of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.0% of adults in Canowindra hold a university qualification, including 13.6% with a bachelor degree and 2.1% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 30.5% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 515 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 977 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary qualification levels present an educational hurdle for the locality, with university completion rates standing at 17.0% against the NSW benchmark of 32.2%, highlighting key areas for educational development. Within higher education credentials, bachelor degrees represent 13.6%, followed by postgraduate awards (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Conversely, technical and vocational training shows robust local representation, with 41.0% of individuals aged 15+ possessing vocational qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (30.5%). A significant 28.4% of the population participates in active education. Broken down by level, 11.2% attend primary schooling, 9.2% are engaged in secondary studies, and 2.0% are enrolled in higher education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Canowindra reaches 147 stops on 19 routes, timetabled for about 190 services a week. The typical home sits about 210 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit infrastructure in Canowindra includes 147 operational stops consisting of bus options. Across these facilities, 19 distinct routes deliver 192 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit is favorable, with residents generally situated 212 meters from their closest transport stop. Commuting patterns reflect an outward flow from this residential base, with private vehicles accounting for 90% of travel and 8% commuting on foot. Households maintain an average of 1.6 vehicles per dwelling. Meanwhile, 17.7% of workers worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may incorporate pandemic-related conditions. Transit services maintain an average frequency of 27 trips per day across the network, translating to approximately 1 weekly trips per individual stop.
The accompanying mapping illustrates the 100 nearest stops to the central coordinate.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
60.4% of residents in Canowindra report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 82% of areas nationally. 7.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health and mortality indicators reviewed by AreaSearch highlight meaningful healthcare considerations for Canowindra, with common ailments evident across both younger and senior cohorts. Furthermore, private healthcare coverage remains low, held by roughly 49% of the total population (~1,225 people), compared to 51.9% throughout Regional NSW and 55.7% across Australia. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent ailments in the community, affecting 12.2 and 9.1% of residents respectively, whereas 60.4% reported no medical conditions, slightly below the 63.3% rate in Regional NSW. Chronic conditions are elevated among the working-age demographic.
Residents aged 65 and over comprise 28.7% of the locality (724 people), exceeding the 23.3% share in Regional NSW, with senior health indicators broadly tracking national health standings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Canowindra is largely Australian-born, at 92.8% of residents, with 3.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (33.5%) and English (32.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Canowindra demonstrates modest cultural diversity relative to broader averages, with Australian citizens making up 86.9% of the community, 92.8% born within Australia, and 96.7% speaking solely English in the home. Christianity forms the dominant religious affiliation, representing 70.2% of people in Canowindra, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Looking at parental country of birth, the primary ancestry groups in Canowindra consist of Australian at 33.5%, English at 32.0%, and Irish at 10.8%. Distinct differences appear among smaller ancestral backgrounds, including Maltese at 0.7% of Canowindra (compared to 0.4% regionally), French at 0.5% (against 0.4%), and Scottish at 8.1% (versus 8.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Canowindra is 48, older than 88% of areas nationally. 19.4% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Canowindra maintains a distinctly older demographic structure than Regional NSW overall. As of August 2026, seniors and retirees aged 65+ comprise 28.7% of the community compared to 23.3% regionally, while young to middle-aged adults aged 25 - 44 represent only 17.8% versus 23.5% in the broader region. The median age remains steady at an estimated 48, matching the 2021 Census outcome, which sits 5 years higher than Regional NSW's 43 and above the national median of 38. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 65+ rose from 27.0% to an estimated 28.7%.
Specifically, the 65 to 74 group contracted from 14.7% to an estimated 12.6%, whereas the 75 to 84 bracket increased from 9.3% to 11.5% without a balancing influx of younger age brackets. Heading toward 2041, the largest numerical gain is anticipated among the 65+ cohort, expanding by 157 residents (22%) to 881, whereas younger adult and child demographics are forecast to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Canowindra
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 34 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,437 at the 2021 Census → 2,524 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL10795). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.