Moving to Nowra NSW 2541
What the official numbers say about living in Nowra — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $300 a week, against a median household income of $1,037 a week.
About 51% of homes are owner-occupied and 47% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Nowra grew 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (9,257 → 9,956 people).
Around 61% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, India, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Nepali, Thai, Tagalog.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Nowra scores below the national average (decile 1 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (84% of workers), while 9% work from home.
Nearest train station: Bomaderry, 3.2 km north.
Nearest airport: HMAS Albatross, 8.7 km south-west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 126 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 15 schools · 6 cafes & restaurants · 5 supermarkets · 20 parks — see them all on the Nowra profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Nowra East Public School 250 m · Nowra Public School (Primary Site) 550 m · Nowra Public School (Infants Site) 800 m · Nowra High School 1.3 km · St Michael's 1.3 km · St John the Evangelist High School 1.5 km · Shoalhaven High School 1.7 km · Nowra Christian School 2.6 km
Groceries: Woolworths 800 m · Coles 1000 m · Aldi 1 km · Nowra Farmer Market 1.1 km · Foodworks 2.8 km
Parks and reserves: Marriott Park 350 m · Stimson Park 500 m · Davis Park 750 m · Arunta Close Reserve 800 m · Margaret Kerwick Park 800 m · Salisbury Reserve 850 m · Parramatta Park 1 km · Rauch Park 1.1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Nowra, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian Magpie · Magpie-lark · Laughing Kookaburra · Australian Raven · Yellow-faced Honeyeater.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Nowra, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nowra here | 9,956 | — | 1/10 | 13% |
| West Nowra | 1,504 | — | 2/10 | 45% |
| South Nowra | 3,165 | — | 5/10 | 36% |
| Worrigee | 5,384 | — | 3/10 | 42% |
| North Nowra | 5,856 | — | 4/10 | 49% |
| Bomaderry | 6,738 | — | 2/10 | 21% |
| Greenwell Point | 1,245 | — | 2/10 | 12% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Shoalhaven — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Gilmore — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2541 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Nowra profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $300 a week, and about 47% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 9,257 people to 9,956. It sits about 126 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Bomaderry station is roughly 3.2 km away. Local government is Shoalhaven council, and the federal seat is Gilmore.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Nowra vs South Nowra · Nowra vs North Nowra.
Nearby guides: West Nowra · South Nowra · Worrigee · North Nowra · Bomaderry · Greenwell Point.
Keep an eye on Nowra
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