Nowra Hill

Population growth drivers in Nowra Hill are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Nowra Hill is around 2,151 people. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 2,141 people, marking a growth of 10 individuals (0.5%). The current resident population estimate of 2,133 by AreaSearch, based on latest ERP data release by ABS (June 2024) and address validation since the Census date, indicates a density ratio of 63 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Nowra Hill has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%, outperforming its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 36.0% to 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 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 years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is forecasted to experience significant population growth, expanding by 1,012 persons, reflecting a gain of 52.2% in total over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Nowra Hill is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Nowra Hill has seen very limited development activity, averaging less than one approval per year over the past five years. This minimal development reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs drive development rather than broad market demand. It's important to note that with such a small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Compared to Rest of NSW and national averages, Nowra Hill has much lower development activity.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified ten projects expected to influence the region. Notable projects are South Nowra Surcharge Main Upgrade, Cabbage Tree Lane Urban Release Area, Evergreen Rise Estate, and South Nowra Retail Precinct. The following list details 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Nowra Hill significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Nowra Hill has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 1.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.0%. As of September 2025789 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.5% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation lags significantly at 41.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Census responses show that only 10.0% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries among residents are public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. The area has a notable concentration in public administration & safety, with employment levels at 4.2 times the regional average.

Health care & social assistance has limited presence with 9.3% employment compared to the regional average of 16.9%. There are 2.4 workers for every resident, indicating that Nowra Hill functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 4.0% while labour force increased by 4.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. This compares to Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5%, labour force contracted by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Nowra Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 11.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Nowra Hill's median income among taxpayers is $60,154. The average income in the suburb was $74,084 during this period. Nationally, the median income was lower at $52,390 with an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimates suggest the median income in Nowra Hill would be approximately $65,484 and the average around $80,648 by September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Nowra Hill cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprises 35.9% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, aligning with metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 29.9%. After housing expenses, 86.5% of income remains for other expenses.

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

In Nowra Hill, as per the latest Census evaluation, 99.2% of dwellings were houses while 0.8% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW where 82.6% of dwellings are houses and 17.4% are other types. Home ownership in Nowra Hill was recorded at 45.0%, with mortgaged properties at 46.4% and rented ones at 8.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure for Nowra Hill was $285, lower than Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Nowra Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower at $285 versus the national figure of $375.

Nowra Hill features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 82.7% of all households, including 40.7% couples with children, 31.0% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for 17.3%, with lone person households at 15.3% and group households making up 2.1%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Nowra Hill shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 17.5%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 56.5% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.3% and certificates at 44.2%. Educational participation is high, with 52.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 20.4% in secondary education, 15.5% in primary education, and 6.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transportation in Nowra Hill indicates that there are currently 33 operational transport stops serving a variety of bus routes. These stops are spread across 19 different routes, collectively facilitating 171 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these stops is considered good, with residents typically residing approximately 330 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. The dominant mode of transport remains cars at 85%, followed by walking at 10% and cycling at 3%. On average, there are 2.4 vehicles per dwelling, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census data, only 10% of residents work from home, a figure that may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages around 24 trips per day, translating to approximately five weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Nowra Hill is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Nowra Hill faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~1,208 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues (9.5%) and arthritis (8.6%), while 68.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 9.8% of residents aged 65 and over (210 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Nowra Hill is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Nowra Hill had a cultural diversity below average, with 58.5% of its population being citizens, 87.3% born in Australia, and 95.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Nowra Hill, comprising 56.6%, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.8%), English (29.5%), and Irish (8.0%).

Notably, Hungarian, New Zealand, and Maltese ethnicities had higher representations in Nowra Hill than regionally, at 0.4%, 0.9%, and 0.7% respectively.

Nowra Hill's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Nowra Hill is 36 years, significantly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 and somewhat younger than Australia's average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group has a strong representation at 20.3%, compared to Rest of NSW's figure, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 5.9%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 16.8% to 18.3%, and the 25 to 34 cohort has increased from 19.0% to 20.3%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 7.5% to 6.4%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Nowra Hill, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 64%, reaching 714 people from its current figure of 436.