North Nowra vs Nowra

In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In North Nowra, most households own their home. In Nowra, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in North Nowra: a median of $780,000, against $680,000 in Nowra, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Nowra tends to suit renters and people living alone.

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

North Nowra

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 97/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 46%)
  • But Nowra has more childcare (13 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Nowra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($393,000 vs $470,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($680,000 vs $780,000)
  • But North Nowra leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nowra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $380/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Nowra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 63/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Nowra

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 63/100)
  • But North Nowra carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 97/100)

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 1.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

North Nowra 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.

North Nowra 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.

North Nowra Nowra
Walkability 63 / 90
North Nowra — Walkability: 63/100 Nowra — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 43 / 3
North Nowra — Safety: 43/100 Nowra — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 61 / 72
North Nowra — Low fire risk: 61/100 Nowra — Low fire risk: 72/100

Demographics

Nowra has more residents (9,956 vs 5,856); North Nowra has higher household incomes ($73,372 vs $53,924).

North Nowra Nowra
Population 5,856 9,956
+70% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.1% +8.3%
Median age 39 40
Median household income $73,372/yr
+27% vs other
 $53,924/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+21% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Nowra Nowra
0-4 6.6% / 6.3%
North Nowra — 0-4: 6.6% Nowra — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 13.3% / 12.1%
North Nowra — 5-14: 13.3% Nowra — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 5.2% / 5.8%
North Nowra — 15-19: 5.2% Nowra — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 4.8% / 5.7%
North Nowra — 20-24: 4.8% Nowra — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 13.5% / 13.6%
North Nowra — 25-34: 13.5% Nowra — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 12.0% / 10.4%
North Nowra — 35-44: 12.0% Nowra — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 11.2% / 11.1%
North Nowra — 45-54: 11.2% Nowra — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 12.2% / 11.9%
North Nowra — 55-64: 12.2% Nowra — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 11.2% / 10.9%
North Nowra — 65-74: 11.2% Nowra — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 7.1% / 7.7%
North Nowra — 75-84: 7.1% Nowra — 75-84: 7.7%
85+ 3.1% / 4.5%
North Nowra — 85+: 3.1% Nowra — 85+: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Nowra 37.0% lone person
North Nowra — Lone Person: 37.0% North Nowra — Couple Families: 39.2% North Nowra — One Parent Families: 18.8% North Nowra — Group Household: 3.5% North Nowra — Other Families: 1.5%
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.

North Nowra 28.7% renting
North Nowra — Owned Outright: 37.9% North Nowra — Mortgage: 33.3% North Nowra — Renting: 28.7%
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.

North Nowra Nowra
Certificate III & IV 19.1% / 16.1%
North Nowra — Certificate III & IV: 19.1% Nowra — Certificate III & IV: 16.1%
Bachelor Degree 9.3% / 6.2%
North Nowra — Bachelor Degree: 9.3% Nowra — Bachelor Degree: 6.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 5.4%
North Nowra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Nowra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 1.9%
North Nowra — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Nowra — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.2%
North Nowra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Nowra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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.

North Nowra Nowra
England 4.7% / 3.2%
North Nowra — England: 4.7% Nowra — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.9%
North Nowra — New Zealand: 1.4% Nowra — New Zealand: 0.9%
India 1.0% / 1.3%
North Nowra — India: 1.0% Nowra — India: 1.3%
Philippines 0.8% / 0.9%
North Nowra — Philippines: 0.8% Nowra — Philippines: 0.9%
China 0.4% / 0.7%
North Nowra — China: 0.4% Nowra — China: 0.7%
Germany 0.5% / —
North Nowra — Germany: 0.5% Nowra — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Nowra 89.5% houses
North Nowra — Houses: 89.5% North Nowra — Townhouses: 8.2% North Nowra — Flats / Apartments: 2.3%
Nowra 81.2% houses
Nowra — Houses: 81.2% Nowra — Townhouses: 13.6% Nowra — Flats / Apartments: 5.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

North Nowra Nowra
Median house price $780,000 $680,000
Median unit price $470,000 $393,000
Median land price — $482,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 47 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.

North Nowra Nowra
3 bed $750K / $660K
North Nowra — 3 bed: $750K (58 sales) Nowra — 3 bed: $660K (140 sales)

58 vs 140 sales

4 bed $855K / $760K
North Nowra — 4 bed: $855K (43 sales) Nowra — 4 bed: $760K (75 sales)

43 vs 75 sales

5 bed $825K / $900K
North Nowra — 5 bed: $825K (7 sales) Nowra — 5 bed: $900K (9 sales)

7 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

North Nowra has more land zoned for conservation (44% vs 4%).

North Nowra Nowra
Residential 33% 52%
Environmental 44% 4%
Parks and recreation 14% 22%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 12%
Rural and farming 6%
same for both
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

North Nowra 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.

North Nowra Nowra
Houses 3.7%
$582/wk on $812K
 4.0%
$565/wk on $732K
Units — 4.2%
$385/wk on $472K

Ranking within NSW

North Nowra Nowra
House price Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Income Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Schools Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 45% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 33% of NSW

Liveability

North Nowra scores higher overall (48 vs 27); Nowra is more walkable (90 vs 63).

North Nowra Nowra
Grade C D
Score 48/100 27/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Nowra carries more crime risk (97 vs 57); North Nowra carries more bushfire risk (39 vs 28).

North Nowra Nowra
Bushfire Low
39/100
 Low
28/100
Crime Moderate
57/100
 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 8
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

North Nowra Nowra
Inside the suburb 3 7
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0 4

Schools in North Nowra

  • North Nowra Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Illaroo Road Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Havenlee School Government · Combined · Special school

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

North Nowra Nowra
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 17 16
Childcare 3 13
GPs 0 11
Pharmacies 2 6
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 11
Fuel stations 1 5

Mobility

North Nowra Nowra
Walkability score 63/100 90/100
Distance to Sydney 162.6 km 162.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 133 min
same for both
Public transport score 61/100
Bus
 75/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 24.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 83.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

North Nowra Nowra
Car (driver) 81.1% / 75.7%
North Nowra — Car (driver): 81.1% Nowra — Car (driver): 75.7%
Worked from Home 9.9% / 8.9%
North Nowra — Worked from Home: 9.9% Nowra — Worked from Home: 8.9%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 8.4%
North Nowra — Car (passenger): 5.7% Nowra — Car (passenger): 8.4%
Walked Only 2.2% / 5.6%
North Nowra — Walked Only: 2.2% Nowra — Walked Only: 5.6%
Bicycle 0.8% / 1.1%
North Nowra — Bicycle: 0.8% Nowra — Bicycle: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.1%).

Setting

North Nowra Nowra
Elevation 70 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.9 km 11.7 km

NBN connectivity

North Nowra Nowra
Connectivity score 82/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 65%
2,734 premises
 90%
6,369 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Nowra

Large Blocks Parks Quiet

Nowra

Affordable Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Nowra

North Nowra vs Bomaderry North Nowra vs West Nowra North Nowra vs Bangalee North Nowra vs Mundamia North Nowra vs Longreach

Other comparisons with Nowra

Nowra vs Bomaderry Nowra vs Worrigee Nowra vs South Nowra Nowra vs West Nowra Nowra vs Terara
Full data on North Nowra Full data on Nowra
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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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