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 Nov 2025, South Nowra's population is estimated at around 3,753. This reflects an increase of 588 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,165. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,631 following examination of the latest ERP data release by ABS (June 2024), and an additional 312 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 435 persons per square kilometer. South Nowra's growth of 18.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (3.7%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 36.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period, placing South Nowra in the top 10 percent of national non-metropolitan areas. The area is expected to grow by 1,620 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 31.7% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for South Nowra shows approximately 47 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 236 homes from FY-18 to FY-22. As of FY-26, 10 approvals have been recorded. The average new resident per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 is 1.1, suggesting balanced supply and demand, stable market dynamics, and accessible housing choices with an average construction value of $374,000.

Commercial development approvals in FY-26 totalled $20.0 million, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, South Nowra has 114.0% higher new home approvals per person. This should provide ample housing choices for buyers, although construction activity has recently eased. The area's new development consists of 60.0% detached houses and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the existing 89.0% houses and reflecting decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles. South Nowra reflects a developing area with around 106 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 1,191 residents by 2041, suggesting that current development rates should comfortably meet demand and provide good conditions for buyers while potentially supporting growth beyond current projections.

Population forecasts indicate South Nowra will gain 1,191 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 13 such projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable among these are Shoalhaven Hospital Redevelopment, South Nowra Surcharge Main Upgrade, Evergreen Rise Estate, and New Primary School and Public Preschool in Worrigee. The following list details those considered most relevant.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in South Nowra places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

South Nowra has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.4% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.5% over the past year.

This is based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In comparison to Rest of NSW, South Nowra had a lower unemployment rate of 2.3%, and workforce participation was higher at 65.0%. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. Notably, the area showed strong specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 2.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employed only 1.1% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. The ratio of 0.8 workers per resident, as at the Census, indicated a high level of local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.5%, while labour force grew by 2.6% in South Nowra, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.1% during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 provide insights into potential future demand within South Nowra. These projections suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to South Nowra's employment mix suggests that local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. It is important to note that 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

South Nowra had a median income among taxpayers of $59,579 during financial year 2022. The average income stood at $73,377. This was above the national average and compared to levels of $49,459 in Rest of NSW. By September 2025, estimates suggest median income would be approximately $67,092 and average income around $82,630, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in South Nowra clustered around the 53rd percentile nationally. The majority of residents, 39.6% or 1,486 people, fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket. This pattern was also seen in the broader area where 29.9% occupied this range. Housing affordability pressures were severe with only 81.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 49th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th 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 dwelling structure in its latest Census evaluation showed 89.3% houses and 10.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro NSW had 87.8% houses and 12.2% other dwellings. South Nowra's home ownership rate was 23.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.6% and rented ones at 35.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $398, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $350. 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 comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.3.

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 the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common (12.2%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 43.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (32.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 33.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (13.1%), secondary education (8.0%), and tertiary education (3.6%). Nowra Christian School serves South Nowra, enrolling 525 students as of a certain date. The area offers typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1031), with balanced educational opportunities. All schools offer integrated K-12 education for academic continuity.

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

Transport analysis indicates 43 active public transport stops in South Nowra, offering a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 39 individual routes, collectively facilitating 499 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically situated 171 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 71 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 11 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in South Nowra is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

South Nowra faces significant health challenges with a higher prevalence of common conditions compared to the average. Mental health issues affect 10.1% and asthma impacts 8.9% of residents.

Approximately 56% (~2,098 people) have private health cover, compared to 49.3% across Rest of NSW. However, 65.9% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 59.4% in Rest of NSW. The area has 12.3% (461 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the 27.8% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.0% of its population being Australian citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 49.5% of South Nowra's population. Hinduism showed significant overrepresentation, making up 3.9% compared to the region's 0.5%.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (31.9%), English (28.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.0%). Notably, Maltese (0.7%) Hungarian (0.3%), and Indian (3.3%) ethnicities had higher representation in South Nowra compared to the regional averages of 0.6%, 0.2%, and 0.4% respectively.

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 55-64 (7.7%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 increased from 16.6% to 18.2%, while those aged 35 to 44 increased from 15.1% to 16.4%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 declined from 10.0% to 9.0%. By 2041, South Nowra is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25 to 34 age group projected to grow by 40%, reaching 955 residents from 683.