Moving to West Nowra NSW 2541
What the official numbers say about living in West Nowra — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $350 a week, against a median household income of $1,493 a week.
About 61% of homes are owner-occupied and 38% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
West Nowra grew 36% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,107 → 1,504 people).
Around 73% of households are families, averaging 2.5 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Punjabi, Tagalog, French.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), West Nowra scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (93% of workers), while 5% work from home.
Nearest train station: Bomaderry, 4.7 km north-east.
Nearest airport: HMAS Albatross, 6.9 km south-west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 127 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 13 schools · 7 cafes & restaurants · 4 supermarkets · 14 parks — see them all on the West Nowra profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Nowra Public School (Infants Site) 1.8 km · St John the Evangelist High School 1.8 km · Nowra Public School (Primary Site) 1.9 km · Nowra East Public School 2.2 km · St Michael's 2.3 km · Shoalhaven High School 2.3 km · Nowra High School 3.1 km · Nowra Christian School 3.1 km
Groceries: Coles 2.5 km · Aldi 2.6 km · Woolworths 2.6 km · Nowra Farmer Market 2.8 km
Parks and reserves: Margaret Kerwick Park 1.2 km · Zig Zag Public Reserve 1.3 km · Stimson Park 1.6 km · Davis Park 1.6 km · Marriott Park 2 km · Rauch Park 2.3 km · Arunta Close Reserve 2.4 km · Parramatta Park 2.4 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around West 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 West Nowra, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Nowra here | 1,504 | — | 2/10 | 45% |
| Nowra | 9,956 | — | 1/10 | 13% |
| South Nowra | 3,165 | — | 5/10 | 36% |
| North Nowra | 5,856 | — | 4/10 | 49% |
| Worrigee | 5,384 | — | 3/10 | 42% |
| 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 West Nowra profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $350 a week, and about 38% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 36% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,107 people to 1,504. It sits about 127 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Bomaderry station is roughly 4.7 km away. Local government is Shoalhaven council, and the federal seat is Gilmore.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: West Nowra vs Worrigee.
Nearby guides: Nowra · South Nowra · North Nowra · Worrigee · Bomaderry · Greenwell Point.
Keep an eye on West Nowra
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