North Nowra
Detached houses make up 89.3% of all dwellings here, one of the most house-dominant profiles in the Shoalhaven, and that single number explains much of the suburb. With apartments at just 2.5%, buyers are almost always purchasing a family home, which is why 3-bedroom (49.0%) and 4-plus-bedroom (39.7%) stock dominates. The population of 5,856 grew 24.7% over the past decade, well above the pace of most established NSW suburbs, yet incomes stay modest with a household figure in the 40.9th percentile nationally. The median house price is $720,000, and at a median age of 39, one year below the national figure, this reads as a family-oriented, owner-heavy market rather than an investor or rental play.
Population
5,856
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,411/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
34
Median House
$720K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At a $720,000 median, North Nowra sits well below Sydney and even regional coastal benchmarks, and prices rose a modest 3.6% from $700,000 in 2024 to $725,250 in 2025, so the market is rising steadily rather than spiking. Stock heavily favours families: 89.3% are separate houses, 49.0% have three bedrooms and 39.7% have four or more, while two-bedroom dwellings are only 10.3%. Owner-occupiers make up the majority, with 37.9% owning outright and 33.3% carrying a mortgage. Affordability is the draw, because the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1% sits below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes in only the 40.9th percentile, meaning average local earners can still service a typical loan here, which is increasingly rare near the coast.
For Buyers
At a $720,000 median, North Nowra sits well below Sydney and even regional coastal benchmarks, and prices rose a modest 3.6% from $700,000 in 2024 to $725,250 in 2025, so the market is rising steadily rather than spiking. Stock heavily favours families: 89.3% are separate houses, 49.0% have three bedrooms and 39.7% have four or more, while two-bedroom dwellings are only 10.3%. Owner-occupiers make up the majority, with 37.9% owning outright and 33.3% carrying a mortgage. Affordability is the draw, because the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1% sits below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes in only the 40.9th percentile, meaning average local earners can still service a typical loan here, which is increasingly rare near the coast.
For Investors
Renters are a minority at 28.7%, so the tenant pool is shallower than in unit-heavy suburbs, and weekly rent of $380 against the $720,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.7%, low but typical for a detached-house regional market. The 5.1% vacancy rate is moderate and points to steady but not tight demand. The growth story is the stronger argument: the population expanded 24.7% over the decade and is forecast to keep rising about 1.66% a year, roughly 393 people, supported by balanced migration of 96 net internal and 78 net overseas arrivals annually. Development is measured at 32 applications in 12 months, mostly single dwellings and alterations rather than new estates, so the investment case rests on capital growth and population momentum more than rental yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
210
Last 12 Months
34
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-15.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Nowra iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Illaroo Road Public School
K-6 · 451 students
North Nowra Public School
K-6 · 223 students
Demographics
The median age of 39 runs 1.0 year below the national figure, and the area skews family-oriented, with couples with children outnumbering couples without (1,799 versus 1,309, or 28.6%). Cultural diversity is limited: 15.6% of residents were born overseas, which is 6.0 points below national, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,533), Irish (656) and Scottish (532). University qualifications reach 23.8%, sitting 6.3 points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce weighted toward services and trades rather than professional knowledge sectors. Average household size is 2.4, just 0.1 below national, and Christianity dominates the religious profile at 2,713 residents, far ahead of Hinduism (72) and Islam (46).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.3%
Houses
8.2%
Townhouse
2.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts firmly toward ownership: 37.9% own outright and 33.3% hold a mortgage, leaving renters at 28.7%, a higher owner share than most metropolitan suburbs. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 89.3%, with apartments at just 2.5% and semi-detached at 8.2%, and bedroom counts confirm the family skew, with 49.0% three-bedroom and 39.7% four-plus-bedroom homes. The median house price climbed from $700,000 in 2024 to $725,250 in 2025, a 3.6% one-year gain. Both stress measures stay manageable, with mortgage-to-income at 28.1% and rent-to-income at 26.9%, each below the 30% threshold, because prices remain modest relative to incomes even though those incomes sit only in the 40.9th percentile nationally. Affordability has worsened over time, from 45.2% in 2011 to 50.5% in 2021.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,719
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$696
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.1%
Unoccupied
120
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.6%
Couples, no children
4,577
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare anchors the local economy at 23.4% of workers (421 people), reflecting Nowra's role as the Shoalhaven's regional service centre, followed by Public Administration and Education tied at 12.1% each (217 workers apiece) and Construction at 10.4%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 496, with Community and Personal Service workers close behind at 416 and Labourers at 295, a mix heavier on services and trades than on management. Unemployment is low at 3.8% and the full-time employment rate is 59.0%, though participation reads just 52.9% because 1,797 residents are not in the labour force, partly an aging and family-care effect. The SEIFA profile is consistently mid-range, scoring decile 4 on IRSAD, IRSD and IEO, with the economic resources index a touch higher at decile 5, placing the suburb close to the national midpoint rather than at either extreme.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
7,563
Unemployed
252
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
37.2%
Participation
52.9%
Employed
2,382
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.8%
Postgraduate
5.6%
Born Overseas
15.6%
Dwellings
2,232
Transport to Work
This is a car-dependent suburb, with 90.2% of commuters driving and only 0.2% using public transport, far below the levels seen in metro areas, while 3.3% walk or cycle, reflecting the low density of 572.2 residents per km2 across 10.23 km2. Community ties are moderate, with a volunteering rate of 16.0% and a residential turnover of 20.2%, meaning roughly four in five residents stayed put, a sign of stability. On disadvantage, the suburb scores decile 4 on the IRSD index, near the national midpoint, and 9.2% of residents (510 people) report needing daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Nowra institutions, a common trade-off for a detached, low-density setting.
Drive
90.2%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.66%/yr
(+393 people/yr)
EstablishedNorth Nowra is one of the faster-growing established suburbs in the region, with population up 24.7% over the decade and a forecast annual growth rate of 1.66%, adding about 393 residents a year toward a medium projection of 26,466 across its SA2 by 2031. Growth is balanced rather than reliant on one source, drawing 96 net internal migrants and 78 net overseas migrants annually. The gentrification score of 36 signals early-stage change, flagged by population up 26% since 2011 and an accelerating renter share moving from 10% to 15%. Affordability worsened from 45.2% in 2011 to 50.5% in 2021 while real incomes grew 20.3% and rents climbed 65.0%, a combination that explains why the area is shifting upmarket but has not yet fully gentrified.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+78
Net Internal / yr
+96
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +26% since 2011, Net internal migration +96/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 15%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Nowra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Nowra a good suburb to live in?
North Nowra suits families seeking space and affordability, with 89.3% detached houses and a $720,000 median that sits well below coastal Sydney prices. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 28.1%, below the 30% stress line. SEIFA scores are mid-range at decile 4 on IRSAD, near the national midpoint.
What is the median house price in North Nowra?
The median house price is $720,000, having risen 3.6% from $700,000 in 2024 to $725,250 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $380 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,719, keeping the mortgage-to-income ratio at a manageable 28.1%.
What schools are in North Nowra?
No schools are recorded inside the North Nowra boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Nowra. The suburb has a family-heavy profile, with 1,799 couples-with-children households and 39.7% of homes having four or more bedrooms.
Is North Nowra safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for North Nowra in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 4 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, near the national midpoint, and 9.2% of its 5,856 residents report needing daily assistance.
Is North Nowra good for property investment?
Rent of $380 a week against a $720,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.7%, low but typical for detached regional stock, with a 5.1% vacancy rate. The stronger case is growth: population rose 24.7% over the decade and is forecast to climb about 1.66% a year.
How is North Nowra's population changing?
The population of 5,856 grew 24.7% over the past decade, well above most established suburbs, and is forecast to rise about 1.66% annually, adding roughly 393 residents a year. Growth is balanced, with 96 net internal and 78 net overseas migrants arriving each year.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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