Cowra, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Cowra NSW is 10,145 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Cowra is $617 per week ($32,084 per year). Median rent in Cowra is $230 per week ($997 per month). Cowra has a median age of 46 years, older than the national median of 38. Cowra has a population density of 11 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Cowra is England. The most common religion is No religion (26.4% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Australian Indigenous Languages. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cowra is $1,235.

There were 310 recorded offences in Cowra in 2025-26, a rate of 31 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (90 offences).

Population
10,145
Census 2021
Median income
$617/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$230/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
46years
Census 2021

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

Cowra vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Cowra is $617 a week, 19% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,682nd of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $230 a week, $155 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 20.8% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 46, 3 years older 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.
MeasureCowraTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$617/wk$765/wk −19%$766/wk
Household income$1,107/wk$1,704/wk −35%$1,637/wk
Rent$230/wk$385/wk −40%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,235/mo$1,965/mo −37%$1,733/mo
Median age4643 +3 yrs42
Rent share of household income20.8%22.6% −1.8 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 Cowra, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Cowra Population

10,145 residents at the 2021 Census.

Cowra Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$617/wk
$32,084 per year
Ranked 6,818 of 14,663
Median Rent
$230/wk
$997 per month
Ranked 6,811 of 14,663
Median Age
46years
8 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,235/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Cowra Rent Prices & Affordability

21% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,107/wk
Median rent $230/wk
Rent to income 20.8%

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

Median rent in Cowra against your income

About $4,797 a month
Median rent $230/wk
Left after rent $877/wk
Rent share 20.8%

Cowra Schools

1
schools nearby
0
government
963
avg ICSEA score
18
total students
OneSchool Global NSW - Cowra  Independent
Primary · 4-6 · 18 students
963
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 Cowra, with a map

Cowra Map

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

Cowra, New South Wales: 33.8503°S, 148.6351°E

Cowra Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (1)

People in Cowra

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.9% (4,965) Female 51.1% (5,179)

Population Density

11
people per km²
10,145 people · 885.4 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,449
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
1.3%
New Zealand
0.6%
India
0.4%
Philippines
0.4%
Germany
0.3%
South Africa
0.3%
Netherlands
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

Australian Indigenous Languages
0.3%
Greek
0.2%
Mandarin
0.2%
Malayalam
0.2%
Punjabi
0.2%
Filipino
0.2%
Hindi
0.1%

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

Ancestry

Australian
43.5%
English
41.6%
Irish
11.7%
Scottish
9.8%
Australian Aboriginal
9.2%
German
3.4%
Italian
1.1%
Dutch
1.0%
Maltese
0.7%
Greek
0.6%
Chinese
0.5%

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
26.4%
Catholic
26.4%
Anglican
21.6%
Not stated
8.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed
4.0%
Uniting Church
3.4%
Christian (other)
1.7%
Brethren
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

9.7%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
43.8% 3,656
Separated
3.8% 317
Divorced
10.2% 848
Widowed
8.5% 709
Never married
33.8% 2,821

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
34.6%
Couple: no children
33.7%
One parent: children under 15
13.1%
Couple: no children under 15
13.0%
One parent: no children under 15
5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
33.4%
2 persons
36.0%
3 persons
12.6%
4 persons
10.1%
5 persons
5.2%
6+ persons
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Cowra

Housing Tenure

Of the 4,087 occupied private dwellings in Cowra at the 2021 Census, 28.1% were rented, 41.6% owned outright and 26.3% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.7% 69 dwellings
Owned outright
41.6% 1,701 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
26.3% 1,073 dwellings
Rented
28.1% 1,149 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.3% 94 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
93.3%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
6.0%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.9%
2 bedrooms
17.2%
3 bedrooms
46.0%
4 bedrooms
27.4%
5 bedrooms
5.1%
6+ bedrooms
1.3%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.4%
$300-$449/mo
3.7%
$450-$599/mo
3.9%
$600-$799/mo
7.7%
$800-$999/mo
14.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
25.5%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
21.0%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
12.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
3.9%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
7.1%
1 vehicle
38.3%
2 vehicles
34.7%
3 vehicles
13.2%
4+ vehicles
6.7%

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

Work, income and education in Cowra

Employment

Employed full-time
32.2% 2,408 people
Employed part-time
19.2% 1,433 people
Unemployed
3.3% 247 people
Not in labour force
45.3% 3,388 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
20.3%
Managers
16.5%
Community & Personal Service
16.3%
Technicians & Trade Workers
16.2%
Clerical & Administrative
11.4%
Labourers
8.5%
Sales Workers
6.3%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.4%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.7%
$1-$149/wk
0.9%
$150-$299/wk
2.2%
$300-$399/wk
3.9%
$400-$499/wk
10.8%
$500-$649/wk
6.7%
$650-$799/wk
10.4%
$800-$999/wk
9.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.9%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
9.6%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.3%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.1%
$4,000+/wk
4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.5%
$1-$149/wk
4.5%
$150-$299/wk
7.8%
$300-$399/wk
7.7%
$400-$499/wk
6.3%
$500-$649/wk
5.0%
$650-$799/wk
11.5%
$800-$999/wk
12.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.6%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
5.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.8%
$3,500+/wk
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
75.2%
Did not go to work
10.2%
Car (passenger)
6.0%
Walked only
5.0%
Truck
1.7%
Other
0.8%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.5%
Bicycle
0.3%
Bus
0.2%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.1%
Ferry
0.1%

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

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
42.1%
Year 12 or equivalent
39.9%
Year 9 or equivalent
10.8%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.2%

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
51.1%
Bachelor Degree
19.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.1%
Certificate I/II
4.5%
Postgraduate Degree
3.7%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.5%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
19.9%
Engineering
17.5%
Education
12.6%
Society & Culture
11.9%
Health
11.6%
Architecture & Building
8.3%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.4%
Agriculture & Environment
7.0%
Creative Arts
1.5%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.3%
Information Technology
1.1%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
30.1%
Secondary: Government
22.6%
Vocational Education
13.0%
Pre-school
11.5%
Primary: Catholic
10.5%
Secondary: Catholic
8.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.4%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.2%

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
84.5%
Has need for assistance
8.4%
Need for assistance not stated
7.1%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
1,130
Arthritis
493
Asthma
424
Diabetes
353
Lung condition
325
Heart disease
320
Cancer
194
Kidney disease
126
Stroke
121
Dementia
51

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.9% 1,147
Did not provide
85.1% 6,529

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
19.1% 1,466
Not a volunteer
80.9% 6,224

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 5
Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 5
Previously served
3.4% 266
Never served
96.4% 7,492

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
25.6%
1 child
11.6%
2 children
27.7%
3 children
21.6%
4 children
10.1%
5+ children
3.5%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
29
1951: 1960
80
1961: 1970
107
1971: 1980
58
1981: 1990
70
1991: 2000
50
2001: 2010
90
2011: 2015
67
2016
18
2017
31
2018
30
2019
47
2020
4

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

Population Mobility

13.5%
moved in the last year
37.3%
moved in the last 5 years
5.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
52.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
7,964
Moved: same area (SA2)
570
Moved from NSW
538
Moved from QLD
51
Moved from VIC
29
Moved from ACT
20
Moved from overseas
16

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.1%
5: 14 hours
27.1%
15: 29 hours
13.6%
30+ hours
10.6%
Did not do domestic work
29.6%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
82.6%
Step family: no other children
9.5%
Blended family: no other children
5.7%
Intact family: other children present
1.2%
Step family: other children present
0.7%
Other couple: children only
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cowra Crime Statistics

310 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
90
Other Against Property
79
Property Damage
32
Assault
29
Other Against Person
28
Drug Offences
26
Weapons
14
Sexual Offences
11
Domestic Violence
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Coolah
Income: $595/wk Rent: $170/wk $60/wk less rent
Hay (NSW)
Income: $669/wk Rent: $175/wk $55/wk less rent
Trangie
Income: $711/wk Rent: $180/wk $50/wk less rent
Balranald
Income: $687/wk Rent: $200/wk $30/wk less rent
Gilgandra
Income: $606/wk Rent: $200/wk $30/wk less rent
Warren
Income: $740/wk Rent: $215/wk $15/wk less rent
Bombala
Income: $725/wk Rent: $215/wk $15/wk less rent
Tumbarumba
Income: $677/wk Rent: $220/wk $10/wk less rent

Compare Cowra

Frequently Asked Questions About Cowra

What is the population of Cowra NSW?

The population of Cowra NSW is 10,145 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 11 people per km². Cowra is ranked #629 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Cowra?

The median personal income in Cowra NSW is $617 per week, or $32,084 per year. The median household income is $1,107 per week. Family income is $1,449 per week. Cowra is ranked #6,818 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Cowra?

Median rent in Cowra NSW is $230 per week ($997 per month). Rent represents 20.8% of household income, which is considered affordable. Cowra ranks #6,811 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Cowra?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cowra NSW is $1,235. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Cowra?

The median age in Cowra NSW is 46 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Cowra a good suburb to live in?

Cowra is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 10,145. The median income is $617/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (20.8% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 11099. All dollar figures in AUD.