Terara vs Bomaderry

Bomaderry is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 against 59 in Terara. In both, most households own their home. In Terara, most homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In Bomaderry, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Terara: a median of $1.69 million, against $752,000 in Bomaderry, though rent is higher in Bomaderry. On these figures, Terara tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Bomaderry suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Bomaderry

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Bomaderry

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($752,500 vs $1,690,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (33% vs 45%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Terara has cheaper rent ($210/wk vs $310/wk)
  • Bomaderry has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 16%)

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

Commuting to the city

Bomaderry

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 28/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (128 min vs 134 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (158.6 km vs 163.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Terara has more units and townhouses to downsize into (55% vs 22%)
  • Bomaderry has more GPs (3 vs 0)

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

Investors

Terara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (30.3% vs 1.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Terara Bomaderry
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.

Terara Bomaderry
Walkability 28 / 90
Terara — Walkability: 28/100 Bomaderry — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 22 / 14
Terara — Safety: 22/100 Bomaderry — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 72 / 59
Terara — Low fire risk: 72/100 Bomaderry — Low fire risk: 59/100

Demographics

Bomaderry has more residents (6,738 vs 305); Bomaderry rents higher ($310/wk vs $210/wk).

Terara Bomaderry
Population 305 6,738
+2109% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +30.3% +1.2%
Median age 59 45
Median household income $42,900/yr $58,188/yr
+36% vs other
Median weekly rent $210/wk $310/wk
+48% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Terara Bomaderry
0-4 3.3% / 5.1%
Terara — 0-4: 3.3% Bomaderry — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 9.2% / 11.5%
Terara — 5-14: 9.2% Bomaderry — 5-14: 11.5%
15-19 2.0% / 5.4%
Terara — 15-19: 2.0% Bomaderry — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 2.0% / 5.1%
Terara — 20-24: 2.0% Bomaderry — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 9.5% / 11.8%
Terara — 25-34: 9.5% Bomaderry — 25-34: 11.8%
35-44 6.2% / 10.4%
Terara — 35-44: 6.2% Bomaderry — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 11.5% / 11.2%
Terara — 45-54: 11.5% Bomaderry — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 20.3% / 12.7%
Terara — 55-64: 20.3% Bomaderry — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 23.6% / 14.4%
Terara — 65-74: 23.6% Bomaderry — 65-74: 14.4%
75-84 12.8% / 9.1%
Terara — 75-84: 12.8% Bomaderry — 75-84: 9.1%
85+ 3.3% / 3.3%
Terara — 85+: 3.3% Bomaderry — 85+: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Terara 67.3% lone person
Terara — Lone Person: 67.3% Terara — Couple Families: 14.2% Terara — One Parent Families: 15.0% Terara — Group Household: 3.5% Terara — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Terara 15.7% renting
Terara — Owned Outright: 74.0% Terara — Mortgage: 10.2% Terara — Renting: 15.7%
Bomaderry 35.4% renting
Bomaderry — Owned Outright: 38.2% Bomaderry — Mortgage: 26.4% Bomaderry — Renting: 35.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Terara Bomaderry
Certificate III & IV 16.1% / 18.3%
Terara — Certificate III & IV: 16.1% Bomaderry — Certificate III & IV: 18.3%
Bachelor Degree 6.9% / 7.7%
Terara — Bachelor Degree: 6.9% Bomaderry — Bachelor Degree: 7.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 7.4%
Terara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Bomaderry — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.6%
Terara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Bomaderry — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 1.8%
Terara — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Bomaderry — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%

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.

Terara Bomaderry
England 5.9% / 3.9%
Terara — England: 5.9% Bomaderry — England: 3.9%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.1%
Terara — New Zealand: 1.6% Bomaderry — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines — / 1.1%
Terara — Philippines: not among its largest Bomaderry — Philippines: 1.1%
Thailand 1.0% / —
Terara — Thailand: 1.0% Bomaderry — Thailand: not among its largest
India — / 0.7%
Terara — India: not among its largest Bomaderry — India: 0.7%
Scotland — / 0.4%
Terara — Scotland: not among its largest Bomaderry — Scotland: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Terara 44.6% houses
Terara — Houses: 44.6% Terara — Flats / Apartments: 55.4% Terara — Townhouses: 0.0%
Bomaderry 78.3% houses
Bomaderry — Houses: 78.3% Bomaderry — Flats / Apartments: 4.4% Bomaderry — Townhouses: 17.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Terara Bomaderry
Median house price $1,690,000 $752,500
Median unit price — $490,000
Median land price — $720,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 30 days
from 70 sales

Zoning mix

Terara has more rural and farming land (77% vs 7%).

Terara Bomaderry
Rural and farming 77% 7%
Residential 0% 49%
Environmental 16% 14%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 12%
Industrial 0% 10%
Parks and recreation 3% 8%
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

Terara Bomaderry
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.

Terara Bomaderry
Houses — 3.9%
$600/wk on $795K
Units — 4.6%
$460/wk on $522K

Ranking within NSW

Terara Bomaderry
House price Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Income — Higher than 18% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 85% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability — Higher than 47% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 69% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 49% of NSW

Liveability

Bomaderry is more walkable (90 vs 28).

Terara Bomaderry
Grade — C
Score — 47/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Bomaderry carries more bushfire risk (41 vs 28).

Terara Bomaderry
Bushfire Low
28/100
 Moderate
41/100
Crime High
78/100
 High
86/100
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 4
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Terara Bomaderry
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Terara

  • Terara Public School Government · Primary at peers

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

Amenities in the suburb

Terara Bomaderry
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 0 6
Childcare 0 7
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 7
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 3 15

Mobility

Terara sits further from the CBD (163.9 km vs 158.6 km).

Terara Bomaderry
Walkability score 28/100 90/100
Distance to Sydney 163.9 km
+3% vs other
 158.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 134 min 128 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2540
 0.4%
postcode 2541
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2540
 44
postcode 2541

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.

Terara Bomaderry
Car (driver) 65.5% / 78.4%
Terara — Car (driver): 65.5% Bomaderry — Car (driver): 78.4%
Worked from Home 21.8% / 10.2%
Terara — Worked from Home: 21.8% Bomaderry — Worked from Home: 10.2%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 6.6%
Terara — Car (passenger): 5.7% Bomaderry — Car (passenger): 6.6%
Walked Only 6.9% / 3.6%
Terara — Walked Only: 6.9% Bomaderry — Walked Only: 3.6%
Bicycle — / 0.5%
Terara — Bicycle: not among its largest Bomaderry — Bicycle: 0.5%

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

Setting

Terara Bomaderry
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.8 km 12.6 km

NBN connectivity

Terara Bomaderry
Connectivity score 88/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 82%
157 premises
 100%
3,650 premises

Climate

Terara Bomaderry
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Terara

Retirees River Rural

Bomaderry

Parks Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Terara

Terara vs Nowra Terara vs Worrigee Terara vs Numbaa Terara vs Bolong

Other comparisons with Bomaderry

Bomaderry vs Nowra Bomaderry vs North Nowra Bomaderry vs Meroo Meadow Bomaderry vs Bolong
Full data on Terara Full data on Bomaderry
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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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