South Bowenfels, NSW: suburb profile

The population of South Bowenfels NSW is 1,326 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in South Bowenfels is $727 per week ($37,804 per year). Median rent in South Bowenfels is $370 per week ($1,603 per month). South Bowenfels has a median age of 48 years, older than the national median of 38. South Bowenfels has a population density of 43 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in South Bowenfels is England. The most common religion is No religion (28.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in South Bowenfels is $2,167.

There were 9 recorded offences in South Bowenfels in 2025-26, a rate of 7 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (3 offences).

Population
1,326
Census 2021
Median income
$727/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$370/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
48years
Census 2021

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

South Bowenfels vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in South Bowenfels is $727 a week, 5% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,264th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $370 a week, $15 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 23.0% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 48, 5 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.
MeasureSouth BowenfelsTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$727/wk$765/wk −5%$766/wk
Household income$1,608/wk$1,704/wk −6%$1,637/wk
Rent$370/wk$385/wk −4%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,167/mo$1,965/mo +10%$1,733/mo
Median age4843 +5 yrs42
Rent share of household income23.0%22.6% +0.4 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 South Bowenfels, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

South Bowenfels Population

1,326 residents at the 2021 Census.

South Bowenfels Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$727/wk
$37,804 per year
Ranked 4,972 of 14,663
Median Rent
$370/wk
$1,603 per month
Ranked 2,711 of 14,663
Median Age
48years
10 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$2,167/mo
Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

South Bowenfels Rent Prices & Affordability

23% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,608/wk
Median rent $370/wk
Rent to income 23.0%

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

Median rent in South Bowenfels against your income

About $6,968 a month
Median rent $370/wk
Left after rent $1,238/wk
Rent share 23.0%

South 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 South Bowenfels, with a map

South Bowenfels Map

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

People in South Bowenfels

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.1% (637) Female 51.9% (686)

Population Density

43
people per km²
1,326 people · 30.7 km²

Households

2.4
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$2,187
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
3.3%
New Zealand
1.2%
Scotland
1.0%
Philippines
0.6%
Thailand
0.5%
Germany
0.4%
Netherlands
0.4%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

German
0.8%
Nepali
0.5%
Urdu
0.4%
Italian
0.4%
Filipino
0.4%
Tagalog
0.4%
Thai
0.3%

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

Ancestry

Australian
44.3%
English
43.6%
Scottish
13.2%
Irish
11.5%
Australian Aboriginal
4.8%
German
2.9%
Italian
2.4%
Chinese
0.8%
Dutch
0.7%
Filipino
0.6%
New Zealander
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
28.1%
Catholic
22.5%
Anglican
18.2%
Brethren
8.0%
Uniting Church
7.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
4.1%
Not stated
4.1%
Christian (other)
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
58.4% 627
Separated
2.5% 27
Divorced
8.3% 89
Widowed
8.0% 86
Never married
22.8% 245

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
44.0%
Couple: no children
34.7%
Couple: no children under 15
14.7%
One parent: no children under 15
3.6%
One parent: children under 15
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
26.3%
2 persons
40.3%
3 persons
11.0%
4 persons
11.4%
5 persons
7.9%
6+ persons
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in South Bowenfels

Housing Tenure

Of the 515 occupied private dwellings in South Bowenfels at the 2021 Census, 6.0% were rented, 42.5% owned outright and 33.0% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
16.7% 86 dwellings
Owned outright
42.5% 219 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
33.0% 170 dwellings
Rented
6.0% 31 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.1% 11 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
70.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
29.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.6%
2 bedrooms
21.0%
3 bedrooms
20.4%
4 bedrooms
43.8%
5 bedrooms
9.1%
6+ bedrooms
4.1%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
2.1%
$300-$449/mo
2.1%
$450-$599/mo
2.7%
$600-$799/mo
2.1%
$800-$999/mo
4.1%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
10.3%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
13.0%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
31.5%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
22.6%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
9.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
5.8%
1 vehicle
32.0%
2 vehicles
34.6%
3 vehicles
17.4%
4+ vehicles
10.2%

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

Work, income and education in South Bowenfels

Employment

Employed full-time
33.5% 330 people
Employed part-time
18.6% 183 people
Unemployed
0.7% 7 people
Not in labour force
47.2% 464 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
23.1%
Technicians & Trade Workers
18.5%
Clerical & Administrative
12.6%
Community & Personal Service
12.6%
Managers
11.6%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
10.5%
Labourers
6.4%
Sales Workers
4.6%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.0%
$1-$149/wk
1.0%
$150-$299/wk
2.3%
$300-$399/wk
1.0%
$400-$499/wk
10.2%
$500-$649/wk
4.1%
$650-$799/wk
7.8%
$800-$999/wk
7.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
4.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.7%
$4,000+/wk
11.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.0%
$1-$149/wk
3.9%
$150-$299/wk
7.6%
$300-$399/wk
3.7%
$400-$499/wk
5.7%
$500-$649/wk
3.6%
$650-$799/wk
8.6%
$800-$999/wk
8.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.9%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.0%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
10.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.6%
$3,500+/wk
4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
80.6%
Did not go to work
14.0%
Car (passenger)
3.4%
Truck
1.0%
Walked only
1.0%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
48.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
38.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
7.8%
Year 11 or equivalent
5.6%

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
45.5%
Bachelor Degree
21.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.0%
Postgraduate Degree
6.0%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.7%
Certificate I/II
2.3%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
29.8%
Management & Commerce
16.4%
Health
13.8%
Society & Culture
11.2%
Education
9.7%
Architecture & Building
9.4%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
4.2%
Information Technology
1.8%
Agriculture & Environment
1.6%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.3%
Creative Arts
0.8%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
32.5%
Secondary: Government
14.1%
Primary: Catholic
13.2%
Vocational Education
10.7%
Pre-school
9.4%
Secondary: Catholic
9.0%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
7.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.8%

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
89.7%
Has need for assistance
6.4%
Need for assistance not stated
3.6%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
91
Arthritis
69
Heart disease
54
Asthma
52
Diabetes
38
Cancer
31
Lung condition
25
Stroke
22
Kidney disease
9
Dementia
5

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
17.7% 185
Did not provide
82.3% 859

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
22.6% 236
Not a volunteer
77.4% 808

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
3.6% 38
Never served
96.4% 1,014

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
23.6%
1 child
6.7%
2 children
38.1%
3 children
21.9%
4 children
8.4%
5+ children
1.3%

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

When Migrants Arrived

1951: 1960
25
1961: 1970
32
1971: 1980
33
1981: 1990
12
1991: 2000
12
2001: 2010
17
2011: 2015
5
2016
10
2017
3
2019
4

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

Population Mobility

11.3%
moved in the last year
36.9%
moved in the last 5 years
2.3%
unemployment rate (Census)
52.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,112
Moved from NSW
74
Moved: same area (SA2)
71

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
19.2%
5: 14 hours
27.4%
15: 29 hours
16.8%
30+ hours
12.2%
Did not do domestic work
24.3%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
87.2%
Step family: no other children
7.4%
Blended family: no other children
5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

South Bowenfels Crime Statistics

9 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
3
Theft
2
Drug Offences
2
Sexual Offences
1
Property Damage
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near South Bowenfels

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

Bowenfels
4.3 km away · income $497/wk · rent $185/wk
Hartley (NSW)
4.7 km away · income $751/wk · rent $283/wk
Lithgow
6.3 km away · income $602/wk · rent $280/wk
Wallerawang
12.0 km away · income $666/wk · rent $275/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About South Bowenfels

What is the population of South Bowenfels NSW?

The population of South Bowenfels NSW is 1,326 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 43 people per km². South Bowenfels is ranked #3,566 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in South Bowenfels?

The median personal income in South Bowenfels NSW is $727 per week, or $37,804 per year. The median household income is $1,608 per week. Family income is $2,187 per week. South Bowenfels is ranked #4,972 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in South Bowenfels?

Median rent in South Bowenfels NSW is $370 per week ($1,603 per month). Rent represents 23.0% of household income, which is considered affordable. South Bowenfels ranks #2,711 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in South Bowenfels?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in South Bowenfels NSW is $2,167. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in South Bowenfels?

The median age in South Bowenfels NSW is 48 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is South Bowenfels a good suburb to live in?

South Bowenfels is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,326. The median income is $727/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (23.0% 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: 13594. All dollar figures in AUD.