South Nowra vs West Nowra

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In South Nowra, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in South Nowra: a median of $850,000, against $740,000 in West Nowra, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, South Nowra tends to suit 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • South Nowra has more childcare (7 vs 3)
  • West Nowra carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 88/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • South Nowra has cheaper land ($470,000 vs $600,000)
  • West Nowra has cheaper houses ($740,000 vs $850,000)

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

Renters

West Nowra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $398/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

South Nowra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 23/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (136 min vs 142 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • South Nowra is more walkable (52/100 vs 23/100)
  • West Nowra carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 88/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • South Nowra is growing faster (64.2% vs 7.0%)
  • West Nowra returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.7% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

South Nowra and West 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.

South Nowra West 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.

South Nowra West Nowra
Walkability 52 / 23
South Nowra — Walkability: 52/100 West Nowra — Walkability: 23/100
Safety 12 / 45
South Nowra — Safety: 12/100 West Nowra — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 31 / 53
South Nowra — Low fire risk: 31/100 West Nowra — Low fire risk: 53/100

Demographics

South Nowra has more residents (3,165 vs 1,504); South Nowra has higher household incomes ($93,028 vs $77,636).

South Nowra West Nowra
Population 3,165
+52% vs other
 1,504
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +64.2% +7.0%
Median age 33
same for both
Median household income $93,028/yr
+17% vs other
 $77,636/yr
Median weekly rent $398/wk
+12% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Nowra West Nowra
0-4 8.4% / 7.8%
South Nowra — 0-4: 8.4% West Nowra — 0-4: 7.8%
5-14 16.0% / 13.8%
South Nowra — 5-14: 16.0% West Nowra — 5-14: 13.8%
15-19 5.5% / 6.1%
South Nowra — 15-19: 5.5% West Nowra — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 6.1% / 7.6%
South Nowra — 20-24: 6.1% West Nowra — 20-24: 7.6%
25-34 16.7% / 16.8%
South Nowra — 25-34: 16.7% West Nowra — 25-34: 16.8%
35-44 15.2% / 11.4%
South Nowra — 35-44: 15.2% West Nowra — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 10.0% / 10.0%
South Nowra — 45-54: 10.0% West Nowra — 45-54: 10.0%
55-64 8.2% / 13.4%
South Nowra — 55-64: 8.2% West Nowra — 55-64: 13.4%
65-74 8.4% / 8.1%
South Nowra — 65-74: 8.4% West Nowra — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 3.9% / 4.1%
South Nowra — 75-84: 3.9% West Nowra — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.7% / 1.0%
South Nowra — 85+: 1.7% West Nowra — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
West Nowra 37.6% couple families
West Nowra — Couple Families: 37.6% West Nowra — Lone Person: 30.4% West Nowra — One Parent Families: 25.6% West Nowra — Group Household: 4.4% West Nowra — Other Families: 2.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Nowra 35.7% renting
South Nowra — Owned Outright: 23.0% South Nowra — Mortgage: 41.2% South Nowra — Renting: 35.7%
West Nowra 38.3% renting
West Nowra — Owned Outright: 26.4% West Nowra — Mortgage: 35.3% West Nowra — Renting: 38.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

South Nowra West Nowra
Certificate III & IV 18.7% / 19.5%
South Nowra — Certificate III & IV: 18.7% West Nowra — Certificate III & IV: 19.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 8.0%
South Nowra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% West Nowra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 4.9%
South Nowra — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% West Nowra — Bachelor Degree: 4.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 1.4%
South Nowra — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% West Nowra — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.0%
South Nowra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% West Nowra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

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.

South Nowra West Nowra
England 3.1% / 2.7%
South Nowra — England: 3.1% West Nowra — England: 2.7%
India 4.4% / 0.5%
South Nowra — India: 4.4% West Nowra — India: 0.5%
Philippines 1.3% / 0.8%
South Nowra — Philippines: 1.3% West Nowra — Philippines: 0.8%
New Zealand 1.0% / 0.9%
South Nowra — New Zealand: 1.0% West Nowra — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.3%
South Nowra — Scotland: 0.5% West Nowra — Scotland: 0.3%
Nepal 0.7% / —
South Nowra — Nepal: 0.7% West Nowra — Nepal: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Nowra 88.6% houses
South Nowra — Houses: 88.6% South Nowra — Townhouses: 9.7% South Nowra — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
West Nowra 88.2% houses
West Nowra — Houses: 88.2% West Nowra — Townhouses: 10.4% West Nowra — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

South Nowra West Nowra
Median house price $850,000 $740,000
Median unit price $718,000 $665,000
Median land price $470,000 $600,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 38 days
from 46 sales
 56 days
from 12 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.

South Nowra West Nowra
2 bed $480K / $912K
South Nowra — 2 bed: $480K (10 sales) West Nowra — 2 bed: $912K (5 sales)

10 vs 5 sales

3 bed $630K / $680K
South Nowra — 3 bed: $630K (29 sales) West Nowra — 3 bed: $680K (26 sales)

29 vs 26 sales

4 bed $915K / $796K
South Nowra — 4 bed: $915K (61 sales) West Nowra — 4 bed: $796K (10 sales)

61 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

West Nowra has more land zoned for conservation (64% vs 19%); South Nowra has more industrially zoned land (42% vs 1%).

South Nowra West Nowra
Environmental 19% 64%
Industrial 42% 1%
Residential 20% 21%
Parks and recreation 15% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 4%
same for both
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

South Nowra West 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.

South Nowra West Nowra
Houses 3.6%
$605/wk on $880K
 4.7%
$600/wk on $665K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

South Nowra West Nowra
House price Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Income Higher than 60% of NSW —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 71% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 45% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW

Liveability

South Nowra is more walkable (52 vs 23).

South Nowra West Nowra
Grade D
same for both
Score 30/100 28/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

South Nowra carries more crime risk (88 vs 55); South Nowra carries more bushfire risk (69 vs 47).

South Nowra West Nowra
Bushfire Moderate
69/100
 Moderate
47/100
Crime High
88/100
 Moderate
55/100
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 5
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

South Nowra West Nowra
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in South Nowra

  • Nowra Christian School Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in West Nowra

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

South Nowra West Nowra
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 7 3
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 5 0
Waterways 4 1

Mobility

South Nowra West Nowra
Walkability score 52/100 23/100
Distance to Sydney 165.5 km 166.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 136 min 142 min
Public transport score 60/100
Bus
 24/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 21.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 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.

South Nowra West Nowra
Car (driver) 83.8% / 85.5%
South Nowra — Car (driver): 83.8% West Nowra — Car (driver): 85.5%
Worked from Home 8.9% / 5.2%
South Nowra — Worked from Home: 8.9% West Nowra — Worked from Home: 5.2%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 7.0%
South Nowra — Car (passenger): 5.3% West Nowra — Car (passenger): 7.0%
Walked Only 1.3% / 1.0%
South Nowra — Walked Only: 1.3% West Nowra — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bicycle 0.2% / 0.8%
South Nowra — Bicycle: 0.2% West Nowra — Bicycle: 0.8%
Train 0.2% / —
South Nowra — Train: 0.2% West Nowra — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.5%).

Setting

South Nowra West Nowra
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.0 km 13.7 km

NBN connectivity

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

South Nowra

Acreage Family Quiet

West Nowra

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Nowra

South Nowra vs Nowra South Nowra vs Worrigee South Nowra vs Nowra Hill South Nowra vs Mundamia

Other comparisons with West Nowra

West Nowra vs Nowra West Nowra vs North Nowra West Nowra vs Mundamia
Full data on South Nowra Full data on West 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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