Bomaderry vs Nowra

Nowra is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 45 in Bomaderry. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are people living alone. In Bomaderry, most households own their home. In Nowra, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Bomaderry: a median of $752,000, against $680,000 in Nowra. On these figures, Nowra tends to suit renters.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Nowra

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (13 vs 7)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 4)
  • But Bomaderry has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Nowra

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($482,500 vs $720,000)
  • has cheaper units ($393,000 vs $490,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($680,000 vs $752,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nowra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 35%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Bomaderry

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (128 min vs 133 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (158.6 km vs 162.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Bomaderry carries lower crime risk (86/100 vs 97/100)
  • Nowra has more GPs (11 vs 3)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Nowra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.3% vs 1.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Bomaderry and Nowra drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bomaderry Nowra
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bomaderry Nowra
Walkability 90 / 90
Bomaderry — Walkability: 90/100 Nowra — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 14 / 3
Bomaderry — Safety: 14/100 Nowra — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 59 / 72
Bomaderry — Low fire risk: 59/100 Nowra — Low fire risk: 72/100

Demographics

Nowra has more residents (9,956 vs 6,738); Bomaderry skews older (45 vs 40).

Bomaderry Nowra
Population 6,738 9,956
+48% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.2% +8.3%
Median age 45 40
Median household income $58,188/yr
+7% vs other
 $53,924/yr
Median weekly rent $310/wk
+3% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bomaderry Nowra
0-4 5.1% / 6.3%
Bomaderry — 0-4: 5.1% Nowra — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 11.5% / 12.1%
Bomaderry — 5-14: 11.5% Nowra — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 5.4% / 5.8%
Bomaderry — 15-19: 5.4% Nowra — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 5.1% / 5.7%
Bomaderry — 20-24: 5.1% Nowra — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 11.8% / 13.6%
Bomaderry — 25-34: 11.8% Nowra — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 10.4% / 10.4%
Bomaderry — 35-44: 10.4% Nowra — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 11.2% / 11.1%
Bomaderry — 45-54: 11.2% Nowra — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 12.7% / 11.9%
Bomaderry — 55-64: 12.7% Nowra — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 14.4% / 10.9%
Bomaderry — 65-74: 14.4% Nowra — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 9.1% / 7.7%
Bomaderry — 75-84: 9.1% Nowra — 75-84: 7.7%
85+ 3.3% / 4.5%
Bomaderry — 85+: 3.3% Nowra — 85+: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bomaderry 47.0% lone person
Bomaderry — Lone Person: 47.0% Bomaderry — Couple Families: 26.2% Bomaderry — One Parent Families: 19.8% Bomaderry — Group Household: 5.3% Bomaderry — Other Families: 1.7%
Nowra 46.3% lone person
Nowra — Lone Person: 46.3% Nowra — Couple Families: 24.5% Nowra — One Parent Families: 21.8% Nowra — Group Household: 5.1% Nowra — Other Families: 2.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bomaderry 35.4% renting
Bomaderry — Owned Outright: 38.2% Bomaderry — Mortgage: 26.4% Bomaderry — Renting: 35.4%
Nowra 47.8% renting
Nowra — Owned Outright: 29.5% Nowra — Mortgage: 22.8% Nowra — Renting: 47.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bomaderry Nowra
Certificate III & IV 18.3% / 16.1%
Bomaderry — Certificate III & IV: 18.3% Nowra — Certificate III & IV: 16.1%
Bachelor Degree 7.7% / 6.2%
Bomaderry — Bachelor Degree: 7.7% Nowra — Bachelor Degree: 6.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 5.4%
Bomaderry — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Nowra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 1.9%
Bomaderry — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Nowra — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.2%
Bomaderry — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Nowra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bomaderry Nowra
England 3.9% / 3.2%
Bomaderry — England: 3.9% Nowra — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.9%
Bomaderry — New Zealand: 1.1% Nowra — New Zealand: 0.9%
Philippines 1.1% / 0.9%
Bomaderry — Philippines: 1.1% Nowra — Philippines: 0.9%
India 0.7% / 1.3%
Bomaderry — India: 0.7% Nowra — India: 1.3%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.4%
Bomaderry — Scotland: 0.4% Nowra — Scotland: 0.4%
China — / 0.7%
Bomaderry — China: not among its largest Nowra — China: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bomaderry 78.3% houses
Bomaderry — Houses: 78.3% Bomaderry — Townhouses: 17.2% Bomaderry — Flats / Apartments: 4.4%
Nowra 81.2% houses
Nowra — Houses: 81.2% Nowra — Townhouses: 13.6% Nowra — Flats / Apartments: 5.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bomaderry Nowra
Median house price $752,500 $680,000
Median unit price $490,000 $393,000
Median land price $720,000 $482,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 70 sales
 30 days
from 164 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bomaderry Nowra
2 bed $605K / $522K
Bomaderry — 2 bed: $605K (8 sales) Nowra — 2 bed: $522K (24 sales)

8 vs 24 sales

3 bed $690K / $660K
Bomaderry — 3 bed: $690K (60 sales) Nowra — 3 bed: $660K (140 sales)

60 vs 140 sales

4 bed $838K / $760K
Bomaderry — 4 bed: $838K (33 sales) Nowra — 4 bed: $760K (75 sales)

33 vs 75 sales

5 bed $915K / $900K
Bomaderry — 5 bed: $915K (10 sales) Nowra — 5 bed: $900K (9 sales)

10 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Bomaderry Nowra
Residential 49% 52%
Parks and recreation 8% 22%
Environmental 14% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 12%
same for both
Industrial 10% 0%
Rural and farming 7% 6%
Commercial 0% 4%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bomaderry Nowra
New dwellings approved 854
across Shoalhaven
same for both
Approvals change year on year -10%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bomaderry Nowra
Houses 3.9%
$600/wk on $795K
 4.0%
$565/wk on $732K
Units 4.6%
$460/wk on $522K
 4.2%
$385/wk on $472K

Ranking within NSW

Bomaderry Nowra
House price Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Income Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Schools Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 47% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 45% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW

Liveability

Bomaderry scores higher overall (47 vs 27).

Bomaderry Nowra
Grade C D
Score 47/100 27/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Bomaderry carries more bushfire risk (41 vs 28); Nowra carries more crime risk (97 vs 86).

Bomaderry Nowra
Bushfire Moderate
41/100
 Low
28/100
Crime High
86/100
 High
97/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Bomaderry Nowra
Inside the suburb 4 7
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 0 4

Schools in Bomaderry

  • Bomaderry High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Shoalhaven River College Independent · Secondary · Special school above peers
  • Bomaderry Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Nowra Anglican College Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Nowra

  • St John the Evangelist Catholic High School Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Michael's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Nowra East Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Nowra High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Nowra Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Shoalhaven High School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bomaderry Nowra
Supermarkets 3 5
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 6 16
Childcare 7 13
GPs 3 11
Pharmacies 2 6
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 11
Fuel stations 7 5
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 15 0

Mobility

Nowra sits further from the CBD (162.2 km vs 158.6 km).

Bomaderry Nowra
Walkability score 90/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 158.6 km 162.2 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 128 min 133 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 75/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 50.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 83.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2541
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2541
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bomaderry Nowra
Car (driver) 78.4% / 75.7%
Bomaderry — Car (driver): 78.4% Nowra — Car (driver): 75.7%
Worked from Home 10.2% / 8.9%
Bomaderry — Worked from Home: 10.2% Nowra — Worked from Home: 8.9%
Car (passenger) 6.6% / 8.4%
Bomaderry — Car (passenger): 6.6% Nowra — Car (passenger): 8.4%
Walked Only 3.6% / 5.6%
Bomaderry — Walked Only: 3.6% Nowra — Walked Only: 5.6%
Bicycle 0.5% / 1.1%
Bomaderry — Bicycle: 0.5% Nowra — Bicycle: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.4%).

Setting

Bomaderry Nowra
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.6 km 11.7 km

NBN connectivity

Bomaderry Nowra
Connectivity score 100/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
3,650 premises
 90%
6,369 premises

Council rates

Bomaderry Nowra
Average residential rate $1,501/yr
same for both
Council Shoalhaven
same for both

Federal electorate

Bomaderry Nowra
Division Gilmore
same for both
Member Fiona Phillips
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bomaderry Nowra
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bomaderry

Parks Retirees River

Nowra

Affordable Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bomaderry

Bomaderry vs North Nowra Bomaderry vs Meroo Meadow Bomaderry vs Terara Bomaderry vs Bolong

Other comparisons with Nowra

Nowra vs North Nowra Nowra vs Worrigee Nowra vs South Nowra Nowra vs West Nowra Nowra vs Terara
Full data on Bomaderry Full data on Nowra
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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