Median house price
$790k
+17% change
NSW · Shoalhaven Council
West Nowra, 2541
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,590
Growth (1 yr)
+0.2%
Growth (5 yr)
+6.4%
Median age
33
Median income
$1,493/wk
Employment rate
60%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$790,000
Languages at home
4.2%non-English
Most common: Punjabi, Tagalog, Macedonian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
West Nowra is a quieter smaller community in Shoalhaven Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. It sits well away from Sydney, trading metro convenience for space and a slower regional pace. Young professionals and new households shape much of the local mix, with family life visible on every street.
Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice. Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Desirability sits below average overall, with safety, plus parks and green space the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
West Nowra snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$530/wk
Houses $550 · Units $401
Population (ERP)
1,590
+0.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.7%
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
#190
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
93rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
41st
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
28th
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
- 31.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5333rd in Australia
- State rank
- 1723rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #190 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #731 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
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
1,590(June 2025)
+0.2% annual · +6.4% over 5 years · 41th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.2%
- 5-year growth
- +6.4%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- +96
- Growth rank in NSW
- 41th 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 (~1,750), extrapolated at +1.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,504
- Median age
- 33
- Median household income / week
- $1,493
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 40 of 599
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,707
- Employment rate
- 60%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 494 / 58 / 5
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 are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 251
- Against the person
- 69
- Against property
- 92
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 157.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 93.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 949
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 28th
School list
- Nowra Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 904 · 12th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 517 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- St Michael's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 994 · 44th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 537 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 1.6 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
23 public transport stops in this suburb
- Depot Rd After Maybush Way
- Filter Rd Before Bromley Cl
- Filter Rd Opp Cavanagh Lane
- Yalwal Rd After Rannoch Dr
- Yalwal Rd At Albatross 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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
11 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 2 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 23 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.33
Sport & outdoors(3)
- Park
- Zig Zag Public ReservePark
- Playground
Transport(4)
4 bus stops
Other(3)
- Bench
- Depot Farm ReserveNature Reserve
- Parking (2)
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Depot Farm ReserveNature reserve
- Zig Zag Public ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- Nearest hospital
- Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital (1.8 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
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)
- 79
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 49.7
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· 2 proposals
March 2026
- Subdivision60 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 RANNOCH DRIVE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
2025· 5 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; General industry20 DEPOT ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
- SubdivisionALBATROSS ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1 LIGHTWOOD DRIVE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
March 2025
- SubdivisionALBATROSS ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
February 2025
- Subdivision77 ALBATROSS ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
2024· 4 proposals
December 2024
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing20 CAVANAGH LANE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
November 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure8 FILTER ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space67 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
May 2024
- Subdivision86 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
2023· 9 proposals
November 2023
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structureRAINFORD ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Withdrawn
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure19 GLENAIR AVENUE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation50 FILTER ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structureDEPOT ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Withdrawn
September 2023
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing20 CAVANAGH LANE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision of land; Earthworks / change in levelsDEPOT ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Under Assessment
July 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces28 RANNOCH DRIVE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
February 2023
- Multi-dwelling housing83 ALBATROSS ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
January 2023
- Multi-dwelling housing77 ALBATROSS ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
2022· 7 proposals
November 2022
- Dwelling; Attached dwelling2 RACEMOSA AVENUE WEST NOWRA 2541Withdrawn
October 2022
- Shed25 RANNOCH DRIVE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
- Subdivision of landALBATROSS ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
May 2022
- Subdivision of land62 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
April 2022
- Dual occupancy; Demolition62 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
March 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces5 OLYMPIC DRIVE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
February 2022
- Dual occupancy74 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
2021· 13 proposals
November 2021
- Shed15 DEPOT ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
October 2021
- OtherLIGHTWOOD DRIVE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
September 2021
- Demolition; Subdivision of land9 DOBBIE CLOSE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
- Shed41 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Withdrawn
- Subdivision of land74 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Withdrawn
- Subdivision of land71 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
August 2021
- Dual occupancy74 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Deferred Commencement
June 2021
- Other30 CAVANAGH LANE WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
- Other1 DEPOT ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
March 2021
- Other71 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
- Dual occupancy45 YALWAL ROAD WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
February 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces44 LYDON CRESCENT WEST NOWRA 2541Determined
January 2021
- Shed72 RANNOCH DRIVE WEST 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
- Overlay applies
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 4.5 km away).
Coalition 41.2%Labor 58.8%
3.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- NowraLabor 57.7% · Coalition 42.3% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- Nowra CentreLabor 59.9% · Coalition 40.1% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Nowra EastLabor 63.8% · Coalition 36.2% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- Nowra BomaderryLabor 56.2% · Coalition 43.8% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
- Nowra NorthLabor 55.1% · Coalition 44.9% TPP (2025)2.9 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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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.