NSW · Cowra Council
Cowra, 2794
Current weather
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69% humidity · 17.3 km/h wind · 16.1° / 9.4° today · 4.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Schools hub
- Top transport
- Parks
- Affordable
- Rural
Suburb profile
Cowra is a quieter established suburb in Cowra, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar regional towns, even with growth momentum and parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 10,145
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $1,107
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 444 of 4,533
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,235
- Employment rate
- 49.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 317 / 265 / 90
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $270
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $415
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $400
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 76
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 1,105
- Against the person
- 279
- Against property
- 445
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 108.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 36 residents
- State safety percentile
- 76.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +3.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order97
- Breach Bail Conditions99
- Domestic Violence Related Assault84
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment108
- Malicious Damage To Property118
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 7
- Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
- 896
- Cowra High SchoolSecondary
- Cowra Public SchoolPrimary
- Holman Place SchoolSpecial
- Holmwood Public SchoolPrimary
- Mulyan Public SchoolPrimary
- OneSchool Global NSW - Cowra Primary
- St Raphael's Catholic School CowraCombined
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
753 public transport stops in this suburb
- College Dr At Liverpool St
- Hartley St At Boundary Rd
- Macquarie St After Kendal St
- Vaux St At Lachlan St
- Young Rd At Boundary Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
572 planning-related records
2026· 40 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation65 NOONBINNA ROAD COWRA 2794Pending Lodgement
- Subdivision74 DARLING STREET COWRA 2794Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Fences13 HARVEST CIRCUIT COWRA 2794Determined
May 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Seniors housing; Erection of a new structureSAKURA AVENUE COWRA 2794Additional Information Requested
- Medical centre; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia100 DARLING STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home75 MILITARY PARADE COWRA 2794Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Service station2 LACHLAN STREET COWRA 2794Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure107 FITZROY STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development7191 LACHLAN VALLEY WAY COWRA 2794Determined
- Subdivision74 HARTLEY STREET COWRA 2794Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 PARIS PLACE COWRA 2794Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation123 DONCASTER DRIVE COWRA 2794Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Manufactured home10 PRIDHAM STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses7 DOWELL STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Storage premises6 RICHARDS DRIVE COWRA 2794Determined
- Subdivision1415 DARBYS FALLS ROAD COWRA 2794Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport5 LOWAN PLACE COWRA 2794Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 AMIE STREET COWRA 2794Determined
March 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Temporary building, structure or use23 BRISBANE AVENUE COWRA 2794Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool51 JERULA LANE COWRA 2794Determined
- Business premises; Commercial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia8 58 KENDAL STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure20 GRENFELL ROAD COWRA 2794Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure30 LACHLAN STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space71 BROUGHAM STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space34 FITZROY AVENUE COWRA 2794Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space174 WILLOWVALE ROAD COWRA 2794Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling25 LEE STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport46 LONDON DRIVE COWRA 2794Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Vehicle Sales or Hire PremisesYOUNG ROAD COWRA 2794Determined
- Industrial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure46 WILLIAM STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Subdivision132 MORONGLA ROAD COWRA 2794Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space23 KITE STREET COWRA 2794Open
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Manufactured home10 PRIDHAM STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Commercial development; Office Premise; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Specialised Retail Premises75 REDFERN STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Subdivision77 PRIDHAM STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club27 VAUX STREET COWRA 2794Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Fences82 CALARE STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Agricultural produce industry125 NORTH LOGAN ROAD COWRA 2794Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Shop2A SHELLEY STREET COWRA 2794Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure7 VINEYARD DRIVE COWRA 2794Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Cowra Rd at Killara RdBus stop
- Parking
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
18 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Apex ParkPark
- Brougham ParkPark
- Bryant ParkPark
- Col Stinson ParkPark
- Edgell ParkPark
- Europa ParkPark
- Fred Arnold ParkPark
- Garrison GatesPark
- Harry Chapman ParkPark
- Lions ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 10
- Emergency department
- On site
- Amcalpharmacy
- Cowra Chiropractic Health and Wellness Servicesalternative
- Cowra Dental Practicedentist
- Cowra Health ServiceLiverpool Streethospital
- Cowra Hospitalhospital
- Cowra Medical Associatesdoctor
- Cowra Physiotherapy and Health Suppliesphysiotherapist
- Guardianpharmacy
- Medispring Family Medical Centredoctor
- Optometristoptometrist
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
3 state heritage places
- Cowra Prisoner of War Camp SiteEvans Street, CowraSHR
- Cowra Railway Station and yard groupBlayney-Harden railway, CowraSHR
- Cowra rail bridge over Lachlan RiverBlayney-Harden railway, CowraSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- North Cowra Childrens Centrekindergarten
- Yalbillinga Boori Day Care Centrekindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 22
- Parks (OSM)
- 22
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 47.6/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 31% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2067th in Australia
- State rank
- 655th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #53 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #145 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime97
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime99
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime84
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime108
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime118
- College Dr At Liverpool Sttransport
- Hartley St At Boundary Rdtransport
- Macquarie St After Kendal Sttransport
- Vaux St At Lachlan Sttransport
- Young Rd At Boundary Rdtransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Cowra Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.