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 May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Nowra Hill is around 2,133 people. This figure reflects a decrease of 8 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a total population of 2,141. The current resident population estimate of 2,127 is based on AreaSearch's analysis of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 62 persons per square kilometer. Interstate migration contributed approximately 36.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with other factors such as overseas migration and natural growth also being positive influences.

AreaSearch's projections for Nowra Hill are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 using a 2022 base year for covered SA2 areas, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year for uncovered areas. These projections forecast significant population growth in the top quartile of locations outside capital cities, with Nowra Hill expected to expand by 880 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 41.0% over the 16-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 experiences very limited development activity with an average of less than one approval per year over five years. These low levels reflect the rural nature of the area where development is typically driven by specific local housing needs rather than broad market demand. Given the small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Nowra Hill has much lower development activity compared to the Rest of NSW. Its development pattern is also well below national averages.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified ten projects that may impact the area. Notable ones include 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 likely to be relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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

Nowra Hill has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 1.7% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.5% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. There were 742 residents employed by December 2025, with an unemployment rate of 2.2%, which is below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Nowra Hill was significantly lower at 38.5% compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses indicated that only 10.0% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents were public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. Notably, public administration & safety had an employment concentration of 4.2 times the regional average, while health care & social assistance had a limited presence with 9.3% employment compared to the regional average of 16.9%.

As at the Census, there were 2.4 workers for every resident in Nowra Hill, indicating that it functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 0.5% while labour force increased by 1.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.8 percentage points in Nowra Hill. In contrast, Regional NSW saw a decrease in employment by 1.2%, a contraction of labour force by 0.8%, and an increase in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project that national employment will 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 is $74,084. Nationally, the median income is lower at $59,761, with an average of $72,032. In Regional NSW, the median income is $52,390 and the average is $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Nowra Hill would be approximately $66,362 (median) and $81,729 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Nowra Hill cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprises 35.9% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 765 residents falling into this category. This aligns with metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 29.9%. After housing costs, 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

Nowra Hill's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 99.2% houses and 0.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Nowra Hill stood at 45.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 46.4% and rented ones at 8.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, surpassing Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure in Nowra Hill was recorded at $285, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Nowra Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 the remaining 17.3%, with lone person households at 15.3% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Regional 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 the NSW average of 32.2%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 56.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas comprise 12.3% and certificates make up 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 transport in Nowra Hill shows that there are 33 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 19 individual routes providing service to the area. Collectively, these routes offer 171 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Nowra Hill is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 330 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward for work or other purposes. The dominant mode of transportation remains the car, used by 85% of residents.

Walking and cycling are also options, used by 10% and 3% of residents respectively. Vehicle ownership in Nowra Hill averages at 2.4 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 10.0% of residents work from home, which may be reflective of COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages at approximately 24 trips per day, equating to around 5 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 of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population, around 1,198 people, compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues impacting 9.5% of residents and arthritis affecting 8.6%. A total of 68.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 9.8% of residents aged 65 and over, around 209 people, which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional 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, as per the census data from 5 August 2016, had a cultural diversity index below average. The population composition was: citizens 58.5%, born in Australia 87.3%, and spoke English only at home 95.7%. Christianity dominated Nowra Hill's religious landscape with 56.6% of the population, slightly higher than Regional NSW's 55.9%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian was the top group at 33.8%, followed by English at 29.5% and Irish at 8.0%. Some ethnic groups showed notable variations: Hungarian at 0.4% (regional average 0.2%), New Zealand at 0.9% (regional average 0.4%), and Maltese at 0.7% (regional average 0.4%).

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

The median age in Nowra Hill is 36 years, which is significantly below Regional NSW's average of 43 and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group comprises 20.7% of the population in Nowra Hill, compared to Regional NSW, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 6.3%, which is less prevalent than in Regional NSW and the national figure of 14.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 25-34 age group has grown from 19.0% to 20.7%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 16.8% to 18.5%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has declined from 7.5% to 6.3%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Nowra Hill, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 51%, reaching 667 people from a current total of 441.