Median house price
$790k
+17% change
NSW · Shoalhaven Council
North Nowra, 2541
Est. population · Jun 2025
6,089
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.5%
Median age
39
Median income
$1,411/wk
Employment rate
55.1%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$790,000
Languages at home
6.8%non-English
Most common: Persian, Gujarati, Korean
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Away from the major hubs, North Nowra is a mid-sized suburb in Shoalhaven Council with its own quieter rhythm. Neighbouring centres cover more of the weekly rhythm than the distant capital does. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible.
Housing sits above the suburban middle: not the top of the market, but clearly pricier than average. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
Desirability rates good overall, led by growth momentum, while schools and education, plus safety land closer to the middle of the pack for similar regional towns.
At a glance
North Nowra snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$530/wk
Houses $550 · Units $401
Population (ERP)
6,089
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.1%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#15
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
93rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
58th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
13th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 55.3/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 21% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1516th in Australia
- State rank
- 443rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #15 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #69 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $401
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $550
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $530
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 296
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $790,000
- Median price change
- +16.5%
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 and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
6,089(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +2.5% over 5 years · 58th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +2.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +45
- Change in 5 years
- +146
- Growth rank in NSW
- 58th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~6,200), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 5,856
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,411
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 120 of 2,347
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,719
- Employment rate
- 55.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,994 / 182 / 56
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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 961
- Against the person
- 264
- Against property
- 353
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 157.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 93.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.1%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions633
- Domestic Violence Related Assault305
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment444
- Malicious Damage To Property449
- Steal From Retail Store420
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 · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 908
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 13th
School list
- Havenlee SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 849 · 5th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 67 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- North Nowra Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 908 · 13th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 223 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Illaroo Road Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 992 · 43th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 451 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
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 · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
143 public transport stops in this suburb
- Chittick Av Opp Soper Dr
- Harrison St At Lucas St
- Lucas St Opp Hoskin St
- McMahons Rd Opp Hansons Rd
- Yurunga Dr Opp Jarman St
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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
58 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 pubs · 1 pharmacies · 5 playgrounds · 1 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 12 parks mapped in suburb, 5 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 143 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 49/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.34
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.05
Food & drink(2)
- North Nowra TavernPub
82 Page Avenue, North Nowra
- South Yeast Brewing CompanyPub
Unit 6 11 Geary Place
Shopping(1)
No named venues listed.
Community(3)
- Havenlee SchoolSchool
75 Judith Drive, North Nowra
- Illaroo Road Public SchoolSchool
103 Illaroo Road, North Nowra
- North Nowra Public SchoolSchool
75 Judith Drive, North Nowra
Health & services(3)
- North Nowra DentalDentist
9 McMahons Road
- North Nowra Medical CentreMedical clinic
23 McMahons Road
- AmcalPharmacy
10 McMahons Road
Sport & outdoors(17)
- Clarke ReservePark
- Crest ParkPark
- Gordon Cook Apex ParkPark
- Joe Hyam ReservePark
- Lee ParkPark
- Park (2)
- Peak Avenue ReservePark
- Peak Green ReservePark
- Philip Drive ReservePark
- Sharpe ReservePark
- Playground (5)
- Sports field
Entertainment(1)
- Rock Hill LookoutViewpoint
Transport(25)
25 bus stops
Other(7)
- North Nowra Shopping CentreMall
McMahons Road
- Kvanstrom ReserveNature Reserve
- Mahogany Creek ReserveNature Reserve
- McMahons Road ReserveNature Reserve
- MobilPetrol station
Illaroo Road, North Nowra
- North Nowra Post OfficePost office
- 2STStudio
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
13 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Clarke ReservePark
- Crest ParkPark
- Gordon Cook Apex ParkPark
- Joe Hyam ReservePark
- Kvanstrom ReserveNature reserve
- Lee ParkPark
- Mahogany Creek ReserveNature reserve
- McMahons Road ReserveNature reserve
- North Nowra Rotary ParkPark
- Peak Avenue ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 21
- Parks (OSM)
- 12
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 3
- Nearest hospital
- Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital (2.3 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- AmcalMcMahons RoadPharmacy
- North Nowra DentalMcMahons RoadDentist
- North Nowra Medical CentreMcMahons RoadDoctor
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 232
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 38.1
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 210 mm · ~26 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 222 mm · ~28 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 13° / 2°
- Rainfall
- 181 mm · ~23 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 205 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 13 proposals
August 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure34 COCONUT DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
July 2026
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)1 BOORAGAL PLACE NORTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)22A Walsh Cres North Nowra NSW 2541Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation14 CAROOLA PARADE NORTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Co-living; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation155 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation22 SUTHERLAND DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)210 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)22 WALSH CRESCENT NORTH NOWRA 2541Operational consent issued
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport7 CRAWFORD DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)2 ASQUITH CLOSE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)3 PAGE AVENUE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 HARRISON STREET NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport12 MAYBERN CLOSE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
2025· 15 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)6 MORSCHEL AVENUE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space4 MORSCHEL AVENUE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure76 PITT STREET NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)108 PITT STREET NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 COREEN CLOSE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Subdivision132 MCMAHONS ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Rejected
May 2025
- Home business; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 NARRIEN PLACE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Business identification sign2 HALCOT AVENUE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport17 KAREELA CRESCENT NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
April 2025
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Business identification sign201 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation140 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation208 YURUNGA DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure61 CRAMS ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation226 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport8 SPOTTED QUOLL CLOSE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
2024· 16 proposals
December 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Medical centre; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia1 HANSONS ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 COCONUT DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Signage; Advertising and signage103 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support22 WALSH CRESCENT NORTH NOWRA 2541Deferred Commencement
October 2024
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure16 HANSONS ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 HARRISON STREET NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure132 MCMAHONS ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Withdrawn
September 2024
- Demolition149 ILLAROO ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Additional Information Requested
- Residential care facility; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 JUDITH DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation24 SUTHERLAND DRIVE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
August 2024
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)2 ASQUITH CLOSE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
July 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Shipping containers1 WEST CAMBEWARRA ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Demolition; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Centre-based child care; Hours of operation and trading12 CASTLE GLEN NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
June 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool23 JAMIESON ROAD NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dual occupancy; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)75 THE ESPLANADE CRONULLA 2230Determined
May 2024
- Pub; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure82 PAGE AVENUE NORTH NOWRA 2541Determined
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 · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
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 · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Gilmore
- Member of Parliament
- Fiona PHILLIPS (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 128,995
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 44.9%Labor 55.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 5.4 km away).
Coalition 44.8%Labor 55.2%
0.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Nowra NorthLabor 55.1% · Coalition 44.9% TPP (2025)0.2 km away
- Nowra BomaderryLabor 56.2% · Coalition 43.8% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Nowra CentreLabor 59.9% · Coalition 40.1% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
- BomaderryLabor 58.4% · Coalition 41.6% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
- NowraLabor 57.7% · Coalition 42.3% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Shoalhaven Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.