South Nowra, NSW: suburb profile

The population of South Nowra NSW is 3,165 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in South Nowra is $830 per week ($43,160 per year). Median rent in South Nowra is $398 per week ($1,725 per month). South Nowra has a median age of 33 years, younger than the national median of 38. South Nowra has a population density of 367 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in South Nowra is India. The most common religion is No religion (40.4% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Malayalam. The median monthly mortgage repayment in South Nowra is $2,000.

There were 93 recorded offences in South Nowra in 2025-26, a rate of 29 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (53 offences).

Population
3,165
Census 2021
Median income
$830/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$398/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
33years
Census 2021

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

South Nowra vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in South Nowra is $830 a week, 8% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 830th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $398 a week, $13 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 22.2% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 33, 10 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.
MeasureSouth NowraTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$830/wk$765/wk +8%$766/wk
Household income$1,789/wk$1,704/wk +5%$1,637/wk
Rent$398/wk$385/wk +3%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,000/mo$1,965/mo +2%$1,733/mo
Median age3343 −10 yrs42
Rent share of household income22.2%22.6% −0.3 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 Nowra, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

South Nowra Population

3,165 residents at the 2021 Census.

South Nowra Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$830/wk
$43,160 per year
Ranked 3,098 of 14,663
Median Rent
$398/wk
$1,725 per month
Ranked 2,177 of 14,663
Median Age
33years
5 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$2,000/mo
Avg household size: 2.8 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

South Nowra Rent Prices & Affordability

22% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,789/wk
Median rent $398/wk
Rent to income 22.2%

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

Median rent in South Nowra against your income

About $7,752 a month
Median rent $398/wk
Left after rent $1,391/wk
Rent share 22.2%

South Nowra Schools

5
schools nearby
3
government
922
avg ICSEA score
3,054
total students
Nowra Christian School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 572 students
1033
ICSEA
St John the Evangelist Catholic High School Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 935 students
1028
ICSEA
Nowra Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 517 students
904
ICSEA
Shoalhaven High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 610 students
862
ICSEA
Nowra East Public School Government
Primary · P-6 · 420 students
784
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 Nowra, with a map

South Nowra Map

South Nowra, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in South Nowra

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.5% (1,535) Female 51.5% (1,633)

Population Density

367
people per km²
3,165 people · 8.6 km²

Households

2.8
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,029
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

India
4.4%
England
3.1%
Philippines
1.3%
New Zealand
1.0%
Nepal
0.7%
Sri Lanka
0.5%
Scotland
0.5%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Malayalam
2.0%
Punjabi
0.9%
Nepali
0.8%
Hindi
0.7%
Tagalog
0.6%
Gujarati
0.5%
Sinhalese
0.5%

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

Ancestry

Australian
43.1%
English
37.9%
Australian Aboriginal
9.5%
Irish
8.9%
Scottish
8.1%
Indian
4.5%
German
3.4%
Filipino
1.9%
Italian
1.8%
Dutch
1.6%
Maltese
0.9%

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
40.4%
Catholic
19.0%
Anglican
15.5%
Not stated
6.0%
Hinduism
3.7%
Christian (other)
3.3%
Uniting Church
1.7%
Baptist
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

9.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
47.4% 1,131
Separated
4.1% 98
Divorced
8.7% 207
Widowed
4.7% 112
Never married
35.2% 840

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
52.2%
Couple: no children
22.7%
One parent: children under 15
10.3%
Couple: no children under 15
9.3%
One parent: no children under 15
5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
20.9%
2 persons
31.0%
3 persons
18.4%
4 persons
17.2%
5 persons
7.9%
6+ persons
4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in South Nowra

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,066 occupied private dwellings in South Nowra at the 2021 Census, 34.8% were rented, 22.4% owned outright and 40.2% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.6% 17 dwellings
Owned outright
22.4% 239 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
40.2% 428 dwellings
Rented
34.8% 371 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.9% 20 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
89.8%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
7.4%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.8%
2 bedrooms
10.7%
3 bedrooms
28.7%
4 bedrooms
50.3%
5 bedrooms
7.7%
6+ bedrooms
0.9%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
2.1%
$300-$449/mo
0.8%
$600-$799/mo
3.8%
$800-$999/mo
4.4%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
11.8%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
14.6%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
37.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
16.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
8.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.1%
1 vehicle
32.6%
2 vehicles
44.7%
3 vehicles
14.0%
4+ vehicles
5.5%

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

Work, income and education in South Nowra

Employment

Employed full-time
41.8% 905 people
Employed part-time
22.6% 489 people
Unemployed
3.1% 68 people
Not in labour force
32.4% 702 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
23.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
20.7%
Community & Personal Service
17.7%
Managers
11.8%
Clerical & Administrative
11.5%
Sales Workers
6.2%
Labourers
4.9%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.4%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.3%
$1-$149/wk
0.5%
$150-$299/wk
1.5%
$300-$399/wk
1.7%
$400-$499/wk
3.9%
$500-$649/wk
4.4%
$650-$799/wk
5.9%
$800-$999/wk
7.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.8%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.8%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
10.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
6.5%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
5.3%
$4,000+/wk
7.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.0%
$1-$149/wk
4.1%
$150-$299/wk
4.4%
$300-$399/wk
3.7%
$400-$499/wk
3.8%
$500-$649/wk
4.2%
$650-$799/wk
10.5%
$800-$999/wk
12.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
10.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.8%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
8.5%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.0%
$3,500+/wk
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
79.1%
Did not go to work
13.0%
Car (passenger)
5.0%
Walked only
1.3%
Other
0.7%
Truck
0.6%
Bicycle
0.2%
Train
0.2%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
52.9%
Year 10 or equivalent
30.8%
Year 9 or equivalent
8.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.9%

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
48.4%
Bachelor Degree
20.9%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.1%
Postgraduate Degree
6.7%
Certificate I/II
3.3%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.5%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
21.4%
Engineering
21.2%
Health
16.2%
Society & Culture
13.1%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.6%
Architecture & Building
6.6%
Education
6.1%
Information Technology
2.9%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.9%
Agriculture & Environment
1.7%
Creative Arts
1.4%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
24.0%
Secondary: Government
16.1%
Pre-school
15.6%
Primary: Catholic
11.4%
Vocational Education
10.9%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
10.2%
Secondary: Catholic
6.7%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
5.0%

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
87.5%
Has need for assistance
7.0%
Need for assistance not stated
5.4%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
365
Asthma
128
Arthritis
123
Diabetes
93
Lung condition
74
Heart disease
69
Kidney disease
58
Stroke
46
Cancer
36
Dementia
13

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
12.7% 285
Did not provide
87.3% 1,958

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
11.9% 269
Not a volunteer
88.1% 1,983

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
6.2% 141
Current ADF: Reserves
0.7% 15
Previously served
4.5% 103
Never served
88.6% 2,006

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
31.3%
1 child
13.3%
2 children
28.5%
3 children
16.1%
4 children
7.9%
5+ children
2.8%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
4
1951: 1960
36
1961: 1970
48
1971: 1980
38
1981: 1990
23
1991: 2000
38
2001: 2010
103
2011: 2015
90
2016
25
2017
15
2018
17
2019
42
2020
10

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

Population Mobility

23.0%
moved in the last year
63.8%
moved in the last 5 years
4.1%
unemployment rate (Census)
64.9%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,274
Moved from NSW
351
Moved: same area (SA2)
260
Moved from VIC
15
Moved from WA
11
Moved from QLD
9
Moved from overseas
8
Moved from ACT
6

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.6%
5: 14 hours
27.4%
15: 29 hours
12.4%
30+ hours
9.3%
Did not do domestic work
30.3%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
76.8%
Step family: no other children
11.8%
Blended family: no other children
6.8%
Other couple: children only
2.5%
Intact family: other children present
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

South Nowra Crime Statistics

93 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
53
Other Against Person
15
Other Against Property
10
Assault
8
Property Damage
4
Sexual Offences
1
Drug Offences
1
Weapons
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 Nowra

The closest suburb to South Nowra is Nowra, 3.2 km away.

Nowra
3.2 km away · income $554/wk · rent $300/wk
West Nowra
3.4 km away · income $750/wk · rent $350/wk
Worrigee
3.8 km away · income $735/wk · rent $390/wk
Nowra Hill
3.9 km away · income $838/wk · rent $285/wk
North Nowra
6.4 km away · income $696/wk · rent $380/wk
Bomaderry
6.9 km away · income $612/wk · rent $310/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About South Nowra

What is the population of South Nowra NSW?

The population of South Nowra NSW is 3,165 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 367 people per km². South Nowra is ranked #2,315 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in South Nowra?

The median personal income in South Nowra NSW is $830 per week, or $43,160 per year. The median household income is $1,789 per week. Family income is $2,029 per week. South Nowra is ranked #3,098 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in South Nowra?

Median rent in South Nowra NSW is $398 per week ($1,725 per month). Rent represents 22.2% of household income, which is considered affordable. South Nowra ranks #2,177 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in South Nowra?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in South Nowra NSW is $2,000. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in South Nowra?

The median age in South Nowra NSW is 33 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is South Nowra a good suburb to live in?

South Nowra is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 3,165. The median income is $830/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.2% 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: 13610. All dollar figures in AUD.