South Nowra

South Nowra lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of South Nowra is estimated at around 3,710. This reflects an increase of 545 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,165. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of resident population at 3,594 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and additional 445 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 430 persons per square kilometer. South Nowra's growth rate of 17.2% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region's growth rate of 4.8%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 36.0% of overall population gains, although all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch projections for South Nowra are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period 2026 to 2041, with the suburb expected to expand by 1,627 persons, reflecting a gain of 33.4% in total population over the 15 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within South Nowra when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, South Nowra averaged approximately 47 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 237 homes. As of FY-26, 12 approvals have been recorded. On average, between FY-21 and FY-25, each new home resulted in about 1.1 new residents per year, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. The average construction value for new properties was $374,000.

This financial year has seen $23.1 million in commercial approvals, reflecting steady investment activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, South Nowra exhibits 115.0% more building activity per person, offering buyers ample choice, although recent development activity has moderated. This high level suggests strong developer confidence in the location. New development comprises 60.0% standalone homes and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, with a growing mix providing options across different price points. This shift from the area's existing housing (89.0% houses) indicates decreasing developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles requiring diverse, affordable housing options. With around 103 people per dwelling approval, South Nowra exhibits growth area characteristics.

Future projections estimate South Nowra adding approximately 1,238 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

South Nowra has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 13 projects likely affecting the region. Key projects include Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment, South Nowra Surcharge Main Upgrade, Evergreen Rise Estate, and Worrigee Road Subdivision. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis places South Nowra well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

South Nowra has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.7% over the past year (AreaSearch data). As of September 2025, 1,560 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.0% below Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation is lower at 59.3%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 8.8% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. South Nowra has a particular specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 2.2 times the regional level, but agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 1.1% versus the regional average of 5.3%.

The ratio of 0.8 workers per resident indicates above-normal local employment opportunities (Census data). Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.7%, labour force by 3.3%, resulting in a 0.6 percentage point rise in unemployment. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.5%, labour force decline by 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to South Nowra's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years (simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes).

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, South Nowra had a median income among taxpayers of $59,579 and an average income of $73,377. This is higher than the national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively for Rest of NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $64,858 (median) and $79,878 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in South Nowra cluster around the 53rd percentile nationally. Distribution data shows that 39.6% of the population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to regional levels where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in South Nowra, with only 81.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 49th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

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

South Nowra's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.3% houses and 10.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Nowra was at 23.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.6% and rented ones at 35.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in South Nowra was $398, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, South Nowra's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

South Nowra has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 76.0% of all households, including 36.7% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.0%, with lone person households at 20.8% and group households making up 3.0%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in South Nowra aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 17.5%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 43.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (32.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 33.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.1% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 49 active public transport stops in South Nowra, all being bus stops. These are served by 39 unique routes, offering a total of 494 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average located 171 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 97%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 70 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 10 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in South Nowra is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

South Nowra faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence data. A variety of health conditions affect both younger and older age groups.

The area has a high rate of private health cover at approximately 56% (2,074 people), compared to the Rest of NSW's 51.9%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, impacting 10.1% and 8.9% of residents respectively. However, 65.9% of residents report having no medical ailments, slightly higher than the Rest of NSW's 63.3%. The working-age population experiences notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. South Nowra has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 12.3% (456 people), compared to the Rest of NSW's 23.4%. While health outcomes among seniors are generally in line with national rankings, some challenges exist.

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

South Nowra, as per the findings, displayed below-average cultural diversity. Its population composition was predominantly Australian citizens, with 88.0% of residents falling into this category. Birthplace-wise, 83.3% were born in Australia.

English was the primary language spoken at home by 88.0%. Christianity emerged as the dominant religion in South Nowra, accounting for 49.5% of its population. However, Hinduism showed significant overrepresentation, comprising 3.9% compared to the regional average of 0.8%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were Australian (31.9%), English (28.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.0%). Notably, Maltese (0.7%) was overrepresented compared to the regional figure of 0.4%, as were Hungarian (0.3% vs 0.2%) and Indian (3.3% vs 0.6%) groups.

South Nowra's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

The median age in South Nowra is 32 years, which is notably lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 and also substantially under the Australian median of 38. Relative to Rest of NSW, South Nowra has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (18.2%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (7.4%). Between the 2021 Census and the current time, the population aged 35 to 44 has grown from 15.1% to 16.8%, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 16.6% to 18.2%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 10.0% to 8.8%. By the year 2041, South Nowra is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the leading demographic shift being an increase of 42% (282 people) in the 25 to 34 group, reaching a total of 958 from 675.