Suburb report · NSW 2541
Nowra
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
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Population
10,330
Nowra suburb profile
Who lives in Nowra
At 126km from central Sydney, Nowra runs as its own regional market. With 10,330 residents, Nowra is in the largest fifth of New South Wales suburbs, well above the 4,135 of the median suburb. Among the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, it ranks 60 by population. Nowra has a median age of 40, near the state's median suburb at 40. Against the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, it is older than 287 and younger than 428. That is 6.3 years older than the average of 33.7 across the other 4 suburbs of the Nowra statistical area.
Income and home ownership
Median household income is $59,100 a year, lower than 93% of New South Wales suburbs. That is 38.4% below the average of $95,879 across the other 4 suburbs of the Nowra statistical area. On household income it ranks 680 of 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD. At 47.8% renting, Nowra has a higher rental share than 87% of New South Wales suburbs, against 73.1% ownership in the median suburb. 719 of the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD have a higher ownership share. Across the other 4 suburbs of the Nowra statistical area the ownership share is 68.4%, 16.2 points higher than in Nowra.
Household mix
The 2021 Census counted 3,843 occupied private dwellings in Nowra, one of the larger housing stocks in New South Wales. Families with children are the largest household type at 36.9%, ahead of couples without children at 23.8% and people living alone at 35.5%. Among New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 245 of 761 have a smaller share of families with children than Nowra. Few New South Wales suburbs have more people living alone: 35.5% of households, ahead of 89% of the state. At 23.8%, couples without children are less common here than in 71% of New South Wales suburbs. Families with children are 36.9% of households in Nowra and 49.9% across the rest of the Nowra statistical area.
Housing supply
Approvals have fallen sharply: 77 new dwellings were approved across the Nowra statistical area in the year to June 2025, against its 2020 to 2024 average of 161 a year. Supply figures here are for the Nowra statistical area, home to 23,716 residents in 2025, which takes in Nowra and neighbouring suburbs. At 3.2 per 1,000 residents of that area, the pipeline sits mid-range for New South Wales, above 54% of areas. Between 2020 and 2025 the area's approvals peaked at 224 in 2021 and bottomed at 62 in 2024.
Population trend
The population of the Nowra statistical area grew 6.5% from 2020 to 2025, faster than most of New South Wales, against 5.9% for New South Wales as a whole. Over those 5 years a typical New South Wales statistical area added 2.5%, putting this area 4 points ahead. It ranks at the 77th percentile of New South Wales statistical areas for population growth over the period. Year by year, the change ran from 0.2% in 2025 to 2.6% in 2021.
Against its neighbours
Of the suburbs profiled in the region listed below, Horsley differs most on the share of people living alone: 13% there against 35.5% in Nowra. Dapto is the closest match on the median age, at 39 against 40. At 38km, Albion Park counts 17,105 residents against 10,330 in Nowra.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
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Reading this report
Every figure in the Nowra data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Nowra statistical area, whose boundary differs from Nowra's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
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This report is market intelligence prepared by Chase Wealth Australia for general information only. Figures are statistical estimates for the suburb, not valuations of any individual property, and do not constitute financial or credit advice. Consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before acting. Demographic figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021 (licensed CC BY 4.0) where available.