Bowenfels, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Bowenfels NSW is 2,049 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Bowenfels is $497 per week ($25,844 per year). Median rent in Bowenfels is $185 per week ($802 per month). Bowenfels has a median age of 41 years, older than the national median of 38. Bowenfels has a population density of 94 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Bowenfels is England. The most common religion is No religion (32.7% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Arabic. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bowenfels is $1,560.

There were 93 recorded offences in Bowenfels in 2025-26, a rate of 45 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (22 offences).

Population
2,049
Census 2021
Median income
$497/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$185/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
41years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Bowenfels vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Bowenfels is $497 a week, 35% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 2,027th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $185 a week, $200 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 20.2% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 41, 2 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBowenfelsTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$497/wk$765/wk −35%$766/wk
Household income$917/wk$1,704/wk −46%$1,637/wk
Rent$185/wk$385/wk −52%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,560/mo$1,965/mo −21%$1,733/mo
Median age4143 −2 yrs42
Rent share of household income20.2%22.6% −2.4 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Bowenfels, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Bowenfels Population

2,049 residents at the 2021 Census.

Bowenfels Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$497/wk
$25,844 per year
Ranked 8,202 of 14,663
Median Rent
$185/wk
$802 per month
Ranked 7,826 of 14,663
Median Age
41years
3 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,560/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Bowenfels Rent Prices & Affordability

20% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $917/wk
Median rent $185/wk
Rent to income 20.2%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Bowenfels against your income

About $3,974 a month
Median rent $185/wk
Left after rent $732/wk
Rent share 20.2%

Bowenfels Schools

1
schools nearby
0
government
980
avg ICSEA score
230
total students
La Salle Academy Lithgow Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 230 students
980
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Bowenfels, with a map

Bowenfels Map

Bowenfels, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

People in Bowenfels

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.7% (1,019) Female 50.3% (1,031)

Population Density

94
people per km²
2,049 people · 21.8 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,338
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
1.8%
New Zealand
0.8%
Philippines
0.7%
India
0.5%
China
0.4%
Italy
0.4%
Germany
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Arabic
0.6%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.6%
Italian
0.5%
Punjabi
0.4%
Filipino
0.3%
Spanish
0.3%
Cantonese
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
41.3%
English
37.3%
Irish
10.0%
Scottish
9.8%
Australian Aboriginal
9.2%
German
2.4%
Italian
1.0%
Filipino
0.8%
Lebanese
0.7%
Chinese
0.6%
Indian
0.6%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
32.7%
Catholic
21.6%
Anglican
16.1%
Not stated
13.6%
Uniting Church
4.0%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.7%
Brethren
1.8%
Christian (other)
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

11.4%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
35.0% 567
Separated
4.7% 76
Divorced
11.5% 186
Widowed
8.1% 132
Never married
40.8% 661

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
33.8%
Couple: no children
22.9%
One parent: children under 15
21.0%
Couple: no children under 15
12.9%
One parent: no children under 15
9.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
35.9%
2 persons
30.4%
3 persons
11.9%
4 persons
13.0%
5 persons
6.0%
6+ persons
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Bowenfels

Housing Tenure

Of the 755 occupied private dwellings in Bowenfels at the 2021 Census, 45.3% were rented, 28.5% owned outright and 23.3% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.5% 4 dwellings
Owned outright
28.5% 215 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
23.3% 176 dwellings
Rented
45.3% 342 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.6% 20 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
92.6%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
5.3%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
5.9%
2 bedrooms
15.1%
3 bedrooms
50.8%
4 bedrooms
24.7%
5 bedrooms
2.1%
6+ bedrooms
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
7.3%
$450-$599/mo
2.6%
$600-$799/mo
6.0%
$800-$999/mo
6.6%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
19.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
20.5%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
21.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
11.3%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
16.5%
1 vehicle
40.0%
2 vehicles
29.9%
3 vehicles
9.0%
4+ vehicles
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Bowenfels

Employment

Employed full-time
23.0% 318 people
Employed part-time
14.6% 202 people
Unemployed
5.3% 73 people
Not in labour force
57.1% 789 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
19.6%
Professionals
16.8%
Community & Personal Service
14.6%
Managers
13.4%
Clerical & Administrative
12.8%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
10.0%
Labourers
8.4%
Sales Workers
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.9%
$1-$149/wk
2.0%
$150-$299/wk
3.8%
$300-$399/wk
6.1%
$400-$499/wk
12.9%
$500-$649/wk
6.3%
$650-$799/wk
11.3%
$800-$999/wk
8.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.8%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
7.7%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.5%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.9%
$4,000+/wk
6.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.3%
$1-$149/wk
4.8%
$150-$299/wk
10.1%
$300-$399/wk
9.8%
$400-$499/wk
8.5%
$500-$649/wk
4.4%
$650-$799/wk
11.0%
$800-$999/wk
9.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.8%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
5.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.7%
$3,500+/wk
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
71.7%
Did not go to work
17.3%
Car (passenger)
7.4%
Train
1.3%
Walked only
1.3%
Other
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
40.7%
Year 12 or equivalent
33.4%
Year 9 or equivalent
16.0%
Year 11 or equivalent
9.9%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
57.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.0%
Bachelor Degree
15.0%
Certificate I/II
4.8%
Postgraduate Degree
2.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
26.6%
Management & Commerce
20.6%
Society & Culture
14.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
10.0%
Health
9.6%
Architecture & Building
7.0%
Education
6.3%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.7%
Information Technology
1.7%
Creative Arts
1.3%
Agriculture & Environment
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
30.8%
Secondary: Government
25.9%
Vocational Education
13.6%
Pre-school
9.5%
Primary: Catholic
9.0%
Secondary: Catholic
7.1%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.5%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
75.6%
Has need for assistance
12.4%
Need for assistance not stated
12.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
260
Arthritis
98
Asthma
93
Diabetes
68
Heart disease
59
Lung condition
53
Stroke
36
Cancer
30
Dementia
19
Kidney disease
19

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
12.0% 171
Did not provide
88.0% 1,257

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
11.0% 158
Not a volunteer
89.0% 1,272

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
2.6% 37
Never served
97.4% 1,406

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
25.4%
1 child
11.1%
2 children
30.1%
3 children
19.5%
4 children
9.2%
5+ children
4.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
7
1951: 1960
18
1961: 1970
27
1971: 1980
29
1981: 1990
13
1991: 2000
26
2001: 2010
26
2011: 2015
14
2016
5
2017
5
2018
6
2019
5

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

11.0%
moved in the last year
35.2%
moved in the last 5 years
10.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
40.4%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,551
Moved: same area (SA2)
99
Moved from NSW
84
Moved from QLD
4
Moved from SA
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
15.1%
5: 14 hours
22.5%
15: 29 hours
11.9%
30+ hours
11.0%
Did not do domestic work
39.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
86.4%
Step family: no other children
5.2%
Blended family: no other children
5.2%
Other couple: children only
3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Bowenfels Crime Statistics

93 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
22
Other Against Person
19
Theft
19
Assault
11
Property Damage
10
Drug Offences
7
Sexual Offences
3
Weapons
2

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Bowenfels

The closest suburb to Bowenfels is South Bowenfels, 4.3 km away.

South Bowenfels
4.3 km away · income $727/wk · rent $370/wk
Lithgow
4.4 km away · income $602/wk · rent $280/wk
Hartley (NSW)
7.3 km away · income $751/wk · rent $283/wk
Wallerawang
8.5 km away · income $666/wk · rent $275/wk
Portland (NSW)
18.5 km away · income $576/wk · rent $250/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Bowenfels

What is the population of Bowenfels NSW?

The population of Bowenfels NSW is 2,049 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 94 people per km². Bowenfels is ranked #2,989 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Bowenfels?

The median personal income in Bowenfels NSW is $497 per week, or $25,844 per year. The median household income is $917 per week. Family income is $1,338 per week. Bowenfels is ranked #8,202 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Bowenfels?

Median rent in Bowenfels NSW is $185 per week ($802 per month). Rent represents 20.2% of household income, which is considered affordable. Bowenfels ranks #7,826 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Bowenfels?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bowenfels NSW is $1,560. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Bowenfels?

The median age in Bowenfels NSW is 41 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Bowenfels a good suburb to live in?

Bowenfels is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 2,049. The median income is $497/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (20.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10527. All dollar figures in AUD.