North Nowra

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

The estimated population of North Nowra as of February 2026 is around 6,003 people. This figure reflects an increase of 147 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,856 people in the suburb. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 5,915 residents following examination of ABS data released in June 2024 and validation of 28 new addresses since the census date. This results in a population density ratio of 586 persons per square kilometer. North Nowra's growth rate of 2.5% since the last census is within 2.3 percentage points of its SA4 region, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 64.0% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former data. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041. According to demographic trends, above median population growth is projected for Australia's non-metropolitan areas. The suburb of North Nowra is expected to grow by 777 persons to the year 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 11.5% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in North Nowra according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

North Nowra recorded approximately 15 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years ending FY26. This totals an estimated 76 homes. In FY26 so far, 23 approvals have been recorded. On average, one person moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions.

The average construction cost of new homes was $415,000, slightly above the regional average. North Nowra registered $5.4 million in commercial approvals this financial year, reflecting its primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of NSW, North Nowra has 63.0% lower building activity per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings, although development activity has increased recently. Nationally, North Nowra's development levels are also lower, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. New developments consist of 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% medium to high-density housing, marking a shift from the area's current 89.0% houses. This trend offers accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers.

North Nowra has a population density of around 209 people per approval, indicating a low-density area. By 2041, AreaSearch forecasts predict an increase of 689 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

North Nowra has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Landcom Bomaderry Build-to-Rent Apartments, The Yards at Bomaderry, the upgrade of Bomaderry High School, and SCaRP - Bomaderry Sporting Complex Redevelopment. Below is a list detailing 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.

The employment environment in North Nowra shows above-average strength when compared nationally

North Nowra has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.7% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.5%. As of December 2025, 2,718 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.2%, which is below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was 58.6%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, 9.6% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The primary industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade, while agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence at 0.8%, compared to the regional average of 5.3%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 1.5% while the labour force rose by 2.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. By comparison, Regional NSW saw employment decline of 1.2%, labour force decline of 0.8%, and an unemployment increase of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within North Nowra. These projections estimate 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 North Nowra's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for 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 financial year 2023, North Nowra had a median income among taxpayers of $48,349 and an average income of $59,212. These figures are lower than the national averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average), respectively. They also compare to regional NSW levels of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated median income for North Nowra as of September 2025 would be approximately $52,633, with the average being around $64,458. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in North Nowra rank modestly, between the 27th and 29th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income distribution data shows that 33.5% of locals (2,011 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in North Nowra, with only 82.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 28th percentile.

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

In North Nowra, as per the latest Census, 89.3% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 10.7% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Nowra was 38.0%, similar to Regional NSW, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.2% and rented ones at 28.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,719, lower than Regional NSW's $1,733. Median weekly rent in North Nowra was $380, higher than Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, North Nowra's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 70.9% of all households, including 28.1% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 26.7% and group households making up 2.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 20.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificates (31.7%). Educational participation is high at 28.2%, including primary education (10.7%), secondary education (7.3%), and tertiary education (2.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.7% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

North Nowra has 88 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by 16 different routes that together provide 215 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport options is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 157 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from North Nowra, with cars being the dominant mode of transport at 95%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling in the area. According to the 2021 Census, only 9.6% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 30 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately two weekly trips per individual stop.

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

North Nowra faces substantial health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 50% of the total population (~3,024 people) has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues impact 10.4% of residents, while arthritis affects 10.3%, with 61.7% declaring themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. There are 20.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,230 people), 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.

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

North Nowra showed lower cultural diversity, with 84.4% born in Australia, 90.0% being citizens, and 93.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion at 49.7%. Judaism's representation was slightly higher than regional NSW, at 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups were English (31.3%), Australian (30.5%), and Irish (8.1%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal (5.2%) and Hungarian (0.3%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 4.6% and 0.2%, respectively. Welsh representation was also higher at 0.6%.

North Nowra's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

North Nowra has a median age of 38, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 but matches the national norm of 38. The age group of 25-34 shows strong representation in North Nowra at 14.7%, compared to Regional NSW. However, the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent at 9.9%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 10.0% to 11.2% of North Nowra's population, while the 25 to 34 cohort has risen from 13.5% to 14.7%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 12.2% to 10.6%, and the 65 to 74 group has dropped from 11.1% to 9.9%. Demographic modeling indicates that North Nowra's age profile will significantly change by 2041. Leading this shift, the 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 24%, reaching 1,098 people from 882. Meanwhile, population declines are forecast for the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 cohorts.