Nowra vs South Nowra

South Nowra is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 40 in Nowra. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Nowra, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In South Nowra, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in South Nowra: a median of $850,000, against $680,000 in Nowra, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Nowra tends to suit renters, people living alone, and older residents, while South Nowra suits families with children and couples.

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 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (13 vs 7)
  • But South Nowra is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 46%)

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

First-home buyers

Nowra

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($393,000 vs $718,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($680,000 vs $850,000)
  • But South Nowra leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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 36%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $398/wk)
  • But South Nowra leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 29%)

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

Commuting to the city

Nowra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 52/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (162.2 km vs 165.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Nowra

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 52/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 14%)

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

Investors

South Nowra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (64.2% vs 8.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Nowra and South 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.

Nowra South 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.

Nowra South Nowra
Walkability 90 / 52
Nowra — Walkability: 90/100 South Nowra — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 3 / 12
Nowra — Safety: 3/100 South Nowra — Safety: 12/100
Low fire risk 72 / 31
Nowra — Low fire risk: 72/100 South Nowra — Low fire risk: 31/100

Demographics

Nowra has more residents (9,956 vs 3,165); South Nowra has higher household incomes ($93,028 vs $53,924).

Nowra South Nowra
Population 9,956
+68% vs other
 3,165
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.3% +64.2%
Median age 40 33
Median household income $53,924/yr $93,028/yr
+73% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $398/wk
+33% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nowra South Nowra
0-4 6.3% / 8.4%
Nowra — 0-4: 6.3% South Nowra — 0-4: 8.4%
5-14 12.1% / 16.0%
Nowra — 5-14: 12.1% South Nowra — 5-14: 16.0%
15-19 5.8% / 5.5%
Nowra — 15-19: 5.8% South Nowra — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 5.7% / 6.1%
Nowra — 20-24: 5.7% South Nowra — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 13.6% / 16.7%
Nowra — 25-34: 13.6% South Nowra — 25-34: 16.7%
35-44 10.4% / 15.2%
Nowra — 35-44: 10.4% South Nowra — 35-44: 15.2%
45-54 11.1% / 10.0%
Nowra — 45-54: 11.1% South Nowra — 45-54: 10.0%
55-64 11.9% / 8.2%
Nowra — 55-64: 11.9% South Nowra — 55-64: 8.2%
65-74 10.9% / 8.4%
Nowra — 65-74: 10.9% South Nowra — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 7.7% / 3.9%
Nowra — 75-84: 7.7% South Nowra — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 4.5% / 1.7%
Nowra — 85+: 4.5% South Nowra — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Nowra 24.5% couple families
Nowra — Couple Families: 24.5% Nowra — Lone Person: 46.3% Nowra — One Parent Families: 21.8% Nowra — Group Household: 5.1% Nowra — Other Families: 2.3%
South Nowra 49.7% couple families
South Nowra — Couple Families: 49.7% South Nowra — Lone Person: 27.6% South Nowra — One Parent Families: 17.9% South Nowra — Group Household: 4.0% South Nowra — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Nowra 47.8% renting
Nowra — Owned Outright: 29.5% Nowra — Mortgage: 22.8% Nowra — Renting: 47.8%
South Nowra 35.7% renting
South Nowra — Owned Outright: 23.0% South Nowra — Mortgage: 41.2% South Nowra — Renting: 35.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Nowra South Nowra
Certificate III & IV 16.1% / 18.7%
Nowra — Certificate III & IV: 16.1% South Nowra — Certificate III & IV: 18.7%
Bachelor Degree 6.2% / 8.0%
Nowra — Bachelor Degree: 6.2% South Nowra — Bachelor Degree: 8.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 7.1%
Nowra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% South Nowra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.9% / 2.4%
Nowra — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9% South Nowra — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.0%
Nowra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% South Nowra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

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.

Nowra South Nowra
England 3.2% / 3.1%
Nowra — England: 3.2% South Nowra — England: 3.1%
India 1.3% / 4.4%
Nowra — India: 1.3% South Nowra — India: 4.4%
Philippines 0.9% / 1.3%
Nowra — Philippines: 0.9% South Nowra — Philippines: 1.3%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.0%
Nowra — New Zealand: 0.9% South Nowra — New Zealand: 1.0%
Nepal 0.5% / 0.7%
Nowra — Nepal: 0.5% South Nowra — Nepal: 0.7%
China 0.7% / 0.3%
Nowra — China: 0.7% South Nowra — China: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nowra 81.2% houses
Nowra — Houses: 81.2% Nowra — Townhouses: 13.6% Nowra — Flats / Apartments: 5.2%
South Nowra 88.6% houses
South Nowra — Houses: 88.6% South Nowra — Townhouses: 9.7% South Nowra — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Nowra South Nowra
Median house price $680,000 $850,000
Median unit price $393,000 $718,000
Median land price $482,500 $470,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 164 sales
 38 days
from 46 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.

Nowra South Nowra
2 bed $522K / $480K
Nowra — 2 bed: $522K (24 sales) South Nowra — 2 bed: $480K (10 sales)

24 vs 10 sales

3 bed $660K / $630K
Nowra — 3 bed: $660K (140 sales) South Nowra — 3 bed: $630K (29 sales)

140 vs 29 sales

4 bed $760K / $915K
Nowra — 4 bed: $760K (75 sales) South Nowra — 4 bed: $915K (61 sales)

75 vs 61 sales

5 bed $900K / $928K
Nowra — 5 bed: $900K (9 sales) South Nowra — 5 bed: $928K (9 sales)

9 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

South Nowra has more industrially zoned land (42% vs 0%); South Nowra has more land zoned for conservation (19% vs 4%).

Nowra South Nowra
Residential 52% 20%
Industrial 0% 42%
Parks and recreation 22% 15%
Environmental 4% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 4%
Rural and farming 6% 1%
Commercial 4% 0%
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

Nowra South 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.

Nowra South Nowra
Houses 4.0%
$565/wk on $732K
 3.6%
$605/wk on $880K
Units 4.2%
$385/wk on $472K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Nowra South Nowra
House price Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
Income Higher than 14% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Schools Higher than 3% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 45% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 33% of NSW —

Liveability

Nowra is more walkable (90 vs 52).

Nowra South Nowra
Grade D
same for both
Score 27/100 30/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

South Nowra carries more bushfire risk (69 vs 28).

Nowra South Nowra
Bushfire Low
28/100
 Moderate
69/100
Crime High
97/100
 High
88/100
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 10
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Nowra South Nowra
Inside the suburb 7 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 4 0

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

Schools in South Nowra

  • Nowra Christian School Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Nowra South Nowra
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 2
Parks & reserves 16 2
Childcare 13 7
GPs 11 0
Pharmacies 6 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 11 0
Fuel stations 5
same for both
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

South Nowra sits further from the CBD (165.5 km vs 162.2 km).

Nowra South Nowra
Walkability score 90/100 52/100
Distance to Sydney 162.2 km 165.5 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 133 min 136 min
Public transport score 75/100
Bus
 60/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 83.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 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.

Nowra South Nowra
Car (driver) 75.7% / 83.8%
Nowra — Car (driver): 75.7% South Nowra — Car (driver): 83.8%
Worked from Home 8.9% / 8.9%
Nowra — Worked from Home: 8.9% South Nowra — Worked from Home: 8.9%
Car (passenger) 8.4% / 5.3%
Nowra — Car (passenger): 8.4% South Nowra — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Walked Only 5.6% / 1.3%
Nowra — Walked Only: 5.6% South Nowra — Walked Only: 1.3%
Bicycle 1.1% / 0.2%
Nowra — Bicycle: 1.1% South Nowra — Bicycle: 0.2%
Train — / 0.2%
Nowra — Train: not among its largest South Nowra — Train: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.8%).

Setting

Nowra South Nowra
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.7 km 12.0 km

NBN connectivity

Nowra South Nowra
Connectivity score 96/100 95/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 90%
6,369 premises
 89%
2,255 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Nowra

Affordable Parks Regional Centre

South Nowra

Acreage Family Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Nowra

Nowra vs Bomaderry Nowra vs North Nowra Nowra vs Worrigee Nowra vs West Nowra Nowra vs Terara

Other comparisons with South Nowra

South Nowra vs Worrigee South Nowra vs Nowra Hill South Nowra vs West Nowra South Nowra vs Mundamia
Full data on Nowra Full data on South 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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or