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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 Nowra Hill is $1.34m. House values have moved 3.0% 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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Nowra Hill has an estimated 2,133 residents. Density is about 63 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Based on evaluation of ABS demographic updates for the broader region alongside address registries validated by AreaSearch since the Census, the resident count for Nowra Hill is projected at approximately 2,133 as of May 2026. This represents a reduction of 8 individuals (0.4%) from the 2021 Census, which registered 2,141 residents. The adjustment is derived from the resident population of 2,127, estimated by AreaSearch analyzing the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) and subsequent address audits. The population level yields a density of 62 persons per square kilometer, indicating substantial space per individual.
Demographic expansion was mostly driven by arrivals from other states, which accounted for roughly 36.0% of all population increases recently, though all components including overseas migration and natural increase made positive contributions. AreaSearch implements ABS and Geoscience Australia demographic projections for each SA2 zone, published in 2024 with 2022 as the anchor year. For SA2 zones lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government are utilized, published in 2022 using 2021 as the baseline. Cohort-specific growth rates from these datasets are applied to all locations for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Future demographic shifts suggest a substantial increase in residents in top-tier regional locations, with this locality projected to grow by 880 individuals to 2041 under aggregated SA2 projections, representing a total rise of 41.0% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Nowra Hill experiences extremely scarce home building activity, recording fewer than one residential permit on average per year, representing a negligible cumulative count over the preceding five years. Minimal development figures like these are typical for rural areas where housing requirements remain limited and building projects are restricted by localized demand and infrastructure constraints. Because the volume of permits is so small, single development initiatives can heavily influence annual trend measurements. Nowra Hill displays a rate of new home construction that is substantially lower than Rest of NSW. The rate of building is also far below national figures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Nowra Hill
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Nowra Hill, worth an estimated $10 million. A further 41 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $5.57 billion. 11 are already under construction and 10 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, residential development and retail. 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
Local performance is heavily shaped by developments in regional infrastructure, major works, and planning updates. AreaSearch has tracked 10 projects that are expected to influence this locality. Primary works include South Nowra Surcharge Main Upgrade, Cabbage Tree Lane Urban Release Area, Evergreen Rise Estate, and South Nowra Retail Precinct, with relevant details provided in the listings 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
Cabbage Tree Lane Urban Release Area
The Cabbage Tree Lane Urban Release Area is zoned for large lot rural residential subdivision in West Nowra, as part of the Nowra-Bomaderry growth strategy. It is expected to support approximately 2,180 dwellings. In June 2024, $10.35 million in funding was allocated for water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades to enable development in this area and Mundamia, supporting up to 2,000 new homes.
Evergreen Rise Estate
A residential development offering house and land packages and vacant lots (501m2 - 1,475m2) in South Nowra. Stage 2 is currently selling, with an estimated land registration (titling) date of January 2026. The estate is a 63-lot residential subdivision combining rural and urban living. Located close to shops, schools, and sports grounds, the development is being marketed with lots available for building dream homes.
South Nowra Retail Precinct
A retail development featuring five retailers, along with bathrooms and a staff kitchen, aimed at enhancing local commercial offerings.
Mundamia Urban Release Area
The Mundamia Urban Release Area is a residential development providing up to 720 dwellings with a mix of housing types, community facilities, and open spaces. Recent updates include funding for water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades to support development and prepare for increased demand.
New Primary School and Preschool at Nowra
New primary school and public preschool for South Nowra/Worrigee area to meet growing demand from residential development. Part of $8.9 billion NSW education infrastructure program.
Flinders Industrial Estate Expansion (Stage 10 - Norfolk Avenue)
Expansion of the Flinders Industrial Estate at South Nowra, funded by a $3 million NSW Government grant, to subdivide six hectares of land on Norfolk Avenue into eight fully serviced industrial lots. The construction work was completed by local companies, and the lots have been sold to businesses, including manufacturing and construction companies, to stimulate job creation and economic growth in the Shoalhaven region.
Nowra Business Park
Nowra Business Park is a landmark industrial development consisting of 68 architecturally designed industrial units ranging from 180m2 to 2000m2, suitable for local tradies, eCommerce operators, or logistics providers. Features include high-clearance roller doors, mezzanines, durable concrete tilt-up construction, allocated parking, easy truck maneuverability, and energy-efficient design. It is located in South Nowra with direct access to the Princes Highway.
Nowra East Public School Upgrade
NSW Government upgrade of Nowra East Public School including 11 new permanent classrooms with 3 support classrooms, expansion of the preschool from 20 to 40 places, additional support teaching facilities, new playgrounds and sensory play areas, accessibility improvements, landscaping and air conditioning upgrades to existing buildings. Planning approval was granted in December 2025, Patterson Building Group was appointed as builder and construction commenced in early 2026.
727 residents of Nowra Hill are employed, from a labour force of 743. Unemployment sits at 2.2%, with participation at 37.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 4,357, about 2.0 times the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Nowra Hill possesses an educated workforce with solid representation in essential services, and an unemployment rate of only 2.2%, according to aggregated regional statistics from AreaSearch. In March 2026727 local citizens were employed, with the unemployment rate tracking 2.0% lower than the 4.1% recorded across Regional NSW, while the labor participation rate is considerably lower (37.9% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW). Census records indicate that a modest 10.0% of working residents performed their jobs from home, although the influence of pandemic restrictions should be taken into account. The primary employment sectors for local workers are public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance.
The community has an exceptionally strong concentration of workers in public administration & safety, with employment rates 4.2 times higher than the regional benchmark. Conversely, health care & social assistance is underrepresented, employing 9.3% of workers compared to 16.9% across the wider region. Registering 2.4 local jobs for every resident at the Census, the area acts as an employment hub, drawing in commuting workers from neighboring areas. Based on AreaSearch reviews of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from broader regions, the labor force shrank by 0.1% while overall employment fell by 1.2% over the 12-month period, resulting in a 1.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. Over the same timeframe, Regional NSW recorded a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% reduction in the workforce, and a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective employment needs in Nowra Hill. These five and ten-year forecasts have been combined with the local industry profile to estimate future trends. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary extensively by sector. Applying these industry projections to the local workforce structure indicates that employment in Nowra Hill is projected to expand by 5.5% over five years and 11.7% over ten years (note that this utilizes a simple weighted translation for comparison and excludes localized population models).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Nowra Hill is $1,902 a week (about $99,000 a year), with median personal income at $838 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $60,154 a year against an average of $74,084. 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
According to aggregated ATO tax records at the postcode level for financial year 2023, Nowra Hill taxpayers had a median income of $60,154 and an average income of $74,084. These figures exceed the national averages and compare to $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) across Regional NSW. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes stand at approximately $66,362 (median) and $81,729 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census places household, family, and individual incomes in Nowra Hill around the 58th percentile nationwide. The most common bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, containing 35.9% of residents (765 people), which aligns with the metropolitan rate of 29.9% in this tier.
Residents retain 86.5% of their income for non-housing costs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Nowra Hill had 376 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 1% apartments. 46% are owned with a mortgage, 9% rented and 45% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $285 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month. Rent absorbs 15.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The mix of housing in Nowra Hill at the time of the last Census consisted of 99.2% single-family houses and 0.8% alternative properties like semi-detached units, apartments, or other structures, whereas Regional NSW recorded 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative dwellings. Home ownership in Nowra Hill stood at 45.0%, which is considerably higher than Regional NSW, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (46.4%) or tenants paying rent (8.5%). The median monthly home loan payment was $2,167, well above the Regional NSW median of $1,733, while the median weekly rental cost was $285 compared to $330 in Regional NSW.
Nationally, mortgage costs in Nowra Hill are higher than the Australian median of $1,863, while rental costs are much lower than the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Nowra Hill counted 376 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.0 people each. 41% are couples with children, more than in 81% of areas nationally, against 31% couples without children. 15% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the vast majority of households at 82.7%, consisting of 40.7% couples with offspring, 31.0% couples without offspring, and 10.8% single parent households. Non-family households represent the remaining 17.3%, with single-person households at 15.3% and group housing making up 2.1%. The median household occupancy of 3.0 individuals exceeds the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.5% of adults in Nowra Hill hold a university qualification, including 11.6% with a bachelor degree and 3.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 44.2% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 149 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 932 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
The locality shows lower rates of higher education, with 17.5% of residents holding university degrees compared to the state benchmark of 32.2%. This difference highlights a clear target for local education strategies. Bachelor degrees are held by 11.6% of the population, followed by postgraduate degrees at 3.8% and graduate diplomas at 2.1%. Vocational qualifications are common, with 56.5% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 12.3% and certificates at 44.2%. Student numbers are high, with 52.8% of the population enrolled in an educational program. This is composed of 20.4% in high schools, 15.5% in primary schools, and 6.2% in higher education institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Nowra Hill reaches 33 stops on 19 routes, timetabled for about 170 services a week. The typical home sits about 330 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 2.4 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 transport tracking shows 33 operational transit stops in Nowra Hill, which are serviced by buses. These stops accommodate 19 separate routes that deliver a total of 171 weekly passenger journeys. Transit access is good, with homes situated an average of 330 meters from the nearest stop. The locality is mainly residential, and most workers travel outside the suburb, with cars remaining the principal mode of travel at 85%, followed by walking at 10% and cycling at 3%. Car ownership stands at 2.4 vehicles per household, which is higher than the regional average.
A relatively low 10.0% of workers perform their duties from home (2021 Census, which may show the impact of COVID-19 rules). Transit routes provide an average of 24 daily runs, which translates to approximately 5 weekly runs for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.6% of residents in Nowra Hill report no long-term health condition. 3.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.2% 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
The area experiences notable health concerns according to AreaSearch evaluations of mortality statistics and chronic disease rates, which are visible in both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is high at roughly 56% of the population (~1,198 people) compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW. The most frequent health issues reported by local residents are mental health conditions and arthritis, affecting 9.5 and 8.6% of the population, while 68.6% reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health statistics for working-age residents are typical.
Residents aged 65 and over constitute 9.8% of the population (209 people), which is lower than the Regional NSW share of 23.4%. Senior citizens display favorable health characteristics, with rankings that exceed national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Nowra Hill is largely Australian-born, at 87.3% of residents, with 4.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (33.8%) and English (29.5%). 4.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Nowra Hill exhibits lower cultural diversity metrics compared to average figures, with citizens making up 58.5% of the population, 87.3% born domestically, and 95.7% using only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, representing 56.6% of residents, which is close to the Regional NSW average of 55.9%. Based on parental origins, the primary ancestries in Nowra Hill are Australian at 33.8%, English at 29.5%, and Irish at 8.0%. Certain heritages show higher representation compared to regional averages, including Hungarian at 0.4% (compared to 0.2% regionally), New Zealand at 0.9% (compared to 0.4%), and Maltese at 0.7% (compared to 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Nowra Hill is 36. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 39.5% 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
The median age of 36 years in Nowra Hill is much lower than the Regional NSW median of 43 and slightly below the Australian average of 38 years. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 20.7% compared to Regional NSW, while the 65 - 74 bracket is smaller at 6.3%. The concentration of residents aged 25 - 34 is also above the national rate of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census updates show the 25 to 34 group has risen from 19.0% to 20.7% of the total, and the 35 to 44 cohort grew from 16.8% to 18.5%, while the 65 to 74 group decreased from 7.5% to 6.3%.
Projections for 2041 indicate significant age shifts, with the 25 to 34 group expected to increase by 51% (225 people), growing from 441 to 667.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Nowra Hill
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 1 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,141 at the 2021 Census → 2,133 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 May 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 (SAL13040). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.