North Nowra, NSW: suburb profile

The population of North Nowra NSW is 5,856 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in North Nowra is $696 per week ($36,192 per year). Median rent in North Nowra is $380 per week ($1,647 per month). North Nowra has a median age of 39 years, older than the national median of 38. North Nowra has a population density of 572 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in North Nowra is England. The most common religion is No religion (43.5% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Gujarati. The median monthly mortgage repayment in North Nowra is $1,719.

There were 73 recorded offences in North Nowra in 2025-26, a rate of 12 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (21 offences).

Population
5,856
Census 2021
Median income
$696/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$380/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
39years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

North Nowra vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in North Nowra is $696 a week, 9% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,390th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $380 a week, $5 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 26.9% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 39, 4 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureNorth NowraTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$696/wk$765/wk −9%$766/wk
Household income$1,411/wk$1,704/wk −17%$1,637/wk
Rent$380/wk$385/wk −1%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,719/mo$1,965/mo −13%$1,733/mo
Median age3943 −4 yrs42
Rent share of household income26.9%22.6% +4.3 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in North Nowra, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

North Nowra Population

5,856 residents at the 2021 Census.

North Nowra Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$696/wk
$36,192 per year
Ranked 5,566 of 14,663
Median Rent
$380/wk
$1,647 per month
Ranked 2,445 of 14,663
Median Age
39years
1 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,719/mo
Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

North Nowra Rent Prices & Affordability

27% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,411/wk
Median rent $380/wk
Rent to income 26.9%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in North Nowra against your income

About $6,114 a month
Median rent $380/wk
Left after rent $1,031/wk
Rent share 26.9%

North Nowra Schools

5
schools nearby
3
government
935
avg ICSEA score
1,326
total students
St Michael's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 537 students
994
ICSEA
Illaroo Road Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 451 students
992
ICSEA
Shoalhaven River College Independent
Secondary · 9-12 · 48 students
931
ICSEA
North Nowra Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 223 students
908
ICSEA
Havenlee School Government
Combined · U · 67 students
849
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near North Nowra, with a map

North Nowra Map

North Nowra, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in North Nowra

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.6% (2,840) Female 51.4% (3,009)

Population Density

572
people per km²
5,856 people · 10.2 km²

Households

2.4
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,731
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
4.7%
New Zealand
1.4%
India
1.0%
Philippines
0.8%
Germany
0.5%
China
0.4%
Scotland
0.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Gujarati
0.6%
Mandarin
0.4%
Arabic
0.4%
Urdu
0.3%
Persian (excluding Dari)
0.3%
Tagalog
0.3%
Spanish
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
43.3%
Australian
42.1%
Irish
11.2%
Scottish
9.1%
Australian Aboriginal
7.1%
German
4.2%
Italian
1.9%
Dutch
1.5%
Chinese
1.2%
Filipino
1.1%
Indian
1.1%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
43.5%
Catholic
16.9%
Anglican
16.5%
Not stated
6.5%
Christian (other)
3.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.3%
Uniting Church
2.3%
Baptist
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

7.5%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
44.3% 2,076
Separated
3.4% 158
Divorced
11.6% 541
Widowed
6.2% 291
Never married
34.5% 1,616

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
39.7%
Couple: no children
28.9%
Couple: no children under 15
13.9%
One parent: children under 15
10.2%
One parent: no children under 15
7.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
26.7%
2 persons
35.5%
3 persons
15.1%
4 persons
14.9%
5 persons
5.5%
6+ persons
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in North Nowra

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,228 occupied private dwellings in North Nowra at the 2021 Census, 28.3% were rented, 37.4% owned outright and 32.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.6% 14 dwellings
Owned outright
37.4% 833 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
32.9% 732 dwellings
Rented
28.3% 631 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.9% 20 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
91.8%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
7.6%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.0%
2 bedrooms
10.3%
3 bedrooms
49.0%
4 bedrooms
33.3%
5 bedrooms
5.3%
6+ bedrooms
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.7%
$300-$449/mo
2.4%
$450-$599/mo
1.1%
$600-$799/mo
3.2%
$800-$999/mo
5.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
19.1%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
21.5%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
28.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
9.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
4.5%
1 vehicle
36.1%
2 vehicles
41.2%
3 vehicles
12.1%
4+ vehicles
6.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in North Nowra

Employment

Employed full-time
32.9% 1,405 people
Employed part-time
23.0% 981 people
Unemployed
2.2% 95 people
Not in labour force
42.0% 1,793 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
26.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
18.3%
Community & Personal Service
16.9%
Managers
11.4%
Clerical & Administrative
10.6%
Labourers
8.0%
Sales Workers
5.1%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.5%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$150-$299/wk
1.2%
$300-$399/wk
2.2%
$400-$499/wk
7.1%
$500-$649/wk
5.5%
$650-$799/wk
8.5%
$800-$999/wk
8.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.4%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
8.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.2%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.3%
$4,000+/wk
5.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.9%
$1-$149/wk
5.0%
$150-$299/wk
7.0%
$300-$399/wk
5.5%
$400-$499/wk
5.0%
$500-$649/wk
4.5%
$650-$799/wk
10.9%
$800-$999/wk
11.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.1%
$3,500+/wk
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
76.1%
Did not go to work
13.7%
Car (passenger)
5.3%
Walked only
2.0%
Bicycle
0.8%
Truck
0.7%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.7%
Other
0.6%
Bus
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
50.2%
Year 10 or equivalent
34.2%
Year 9 or equivalent
8.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.5%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
44.5%
Bachelor Degree
21.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.6%
Postgraduate Degree
6.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.6%
Certificate I/II
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
18.3%
Engineering
18.2%
Society & Culture
16.6%
Health
13.2%
Education
9.6%
Architecture & Building
7.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.6%
Creative Arts
3.3%
Agriculture & Environment
2.6%
Information Technology
2.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
36.7%
Secondary: Government
20.2%
Vocational Education
13.5%
Pre-school
12.9%
Secondary: Catholic
5.5%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.0%
Primary: Catholic
3.8%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
86.2%
Has need for assistance
8.7%
Need for assistance not stated
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
722
Arthritis
246
Asthma
223
Heart disease
184
Diabetes
169
Lung condition
155
Cancer
103
Kidney disease
98
Stroke
80
Dementia
31

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.9% 615
Did not provide
86.1% 3,817

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
16.0% 711
Not a volunteer
84.0% 3,730

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
1.8% 80
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 11
Previously served
5.5% 245
Never served
92.5% 4,130

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
27.0%
1 child
11.8%
2 children
30.6%
3 children
20.2%
4 children
7.8%
5+ children
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
40
1951: 1960
74
1961: 1970
132
1971: 1980
102
1981: 1990
87
1991: 2000
75
2001: 2010
133
2011: 2015
93
2016
16
2017
15
2018
24
2019
35
2020
14
2021
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

14.0%
moved in the last year
41.3%
moved in the last 5 years
3.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
57.2%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
4,727
Moved from NSW
412
Moved: same area (SA2)
253
Moved from VIC
27
Moved from overseas
19
Moved from QLD
17
Moved from ACT
8
Moved from WA
5
Moved from NT
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
18.1%
5: 14 hours
29.3%
15: 29 hours
14.3%
30+ hours
9.9%
Did not do domestic work
28.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
81.6%
Step family: no other children
11.1%
Blended family: no other children
5.4%
Other couple: children only
1.1%
Intact family: other children present
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

North Nowra Crime Statistics

73 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
21
Sexual Offences
12
Other Against Person
11
Property Damage
10
Assault
9
Other Against Property
9
Weapons
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near North Nowra

The closest suburb to North Nowra is West Nowra, 3.1 km away.

West Nowra
3.1 km away · income $750/wk · rent $350/wk
Bomaderry
3.4 km away · income $612/wk · rent $310/wk
Cambewarra Village
3.8 km away · income $847/wk · rent $498/wk
Nowra
4.4 km away · income $554/wk · rent $300/wk
South Nowra
6.4 km away · income $830/wk · rent $398/wk
Nowra Hill
8.3 km away · income $838/wk · rent $285/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About North Nowra

What is the population of North Nowra NSW?

The population of North Nowra NSW is 5,856 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 572 people per km². North Nowra is ranked #1,340 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in North Nowra?

The median personal income in North Nowra NSW is $696 per week, or $36,192 per year. The median household income is $1,411 per week. Family income is $1,731 per week. North Nowra is ranked #5,566 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in North Nowra?

Median rent in North Nowra NSW is $380 per week ($1,647 per month). Rent represents 26.9% of household income, which is considered moderate. North Nowra ranks #2,445 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in North Nowra?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in North Nowra NSW is $1,719. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in North Nowra?

The median age in North Nowra NSW is 39 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is North Nowra a good suburb to live in?

North Nowra is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 5,856. The median income is $696/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (26.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13010. All dollar figures in AUD.