West Nowra, NSW: suburb profile

The population of West Nowra NSW is 1,504 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in West Nowra is $750 per week ($39,000 per year). Median rent in West Nowra is $350 per week ($1,517 per month). West Nowra has a median age of 33 years, younger than the national median of 38. West Nowra has a population density of 422 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in West Nowra is England. The most common religion is No religion (45.3% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Punjabi. The median monthly mortgage repayment in West Nowra is $1,707.

There were 12 recorded offences in West Nowra in 2025-26, a rate of 8 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against person (3 offences).

Population
1,504
Census 2021
Median income
$750/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$350/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.

West Nowra vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in West Nowra is $750 a week, 2% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,158th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $350 a week, $35 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 23.4% 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.
MeasureWest NowraTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$750/wk$765/wk −2%$766/wk
Household income$1,493/wk$1,704/wk −12%$1,637/wk
Rent$350/wk$385/wk −9%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,707/mo$1,965/mo −13%$1,733/mo
Median age3343 −10 yrs42
Rent share of household income23.4%22.6% +0.9 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 West Nowra, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

West Nowra Population

1,504 residents at the 2021 Census.

West Nowra Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$750/wk
$39,000 per year
Ranked 4,521 of 14,663
Median Rent
$350/wk
$1,517 per month
Ranked 3,104 of 14,663
Median Age
33years
5 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,707/mo
Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

West Nowra Rent Prices & Affordability

23% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,493/wk
Median rent $350/wk
Rent to income 23.4%

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

Median rent in West Nowra against your income

About $6,470 a month
Median rent $350/wk
Left after rent $1,143/wk
Rent share 23.4%

West Nowra Schools

12
schools nearby
7
government
935
avg ICSEA score
5,737
total students
Nowra Anglican College Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,152 students
1094
ICSEA
St John the Evangelist Catholic High School Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 935 students
1028
ICSEA
St Michael's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 537 students
994
ICSEA
Illaroo Road Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 451 students
992
ICSEA
Nowra High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 777 students
944
ICSEA
Shoalhaven River College Independent
Secondary · 9-12 · 48 students
931
ICSEA
North Nowra Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 223 students
908
ICSEA
Nowra Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 517 students
904
ICSEA
Shoalhaven High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 610 students
862
ICSEA
Havenlee School Government
Combined · U · 67 students
849
ICSEA
Nowra East Public School Government
Primary · P-6 · 420 students
784
ICSEA
Novo Education Space Shoalhaven Independent
Secondary

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

All schools near West Nowra, with a map

West Nowra Map

West Nowra, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

West Nowra, New South Wales: 34.8805°S, 150.5831°E

West Nowra Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (12)

People in West Nowra

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.1% (725) Female 51.9% (782)

Population Density

422
people per km²
1,504 people · 3.6 km²

Households

2.5
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,765
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
2.7%
New Zealand
0.9%
Philippines
0.8%
India
0.5%
Scotland
0.3%
Malaysia
0.3%
North Macedonia
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

Punjabi
0.7%
Tagalog
0.6%
French
0.3%
Macedonian
0.3%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.2%
Spanish
0.2%
Afrikaans
0.0%

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

Ancestry

Australian
46.4%
English
40.4%
Australian Aboriginal
14.0%
Scottish
8.8%
Irish
8.2%
German
2.4%
Italian
2.3%
Dutch
1.2%
Filipino
1.1%
Chinese
0.7%
Maltese
0.7%

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
45.3%
Anglican
17.0%
Catholic
16.0%
Not stated
8.4%
Christian (other)
3.0%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.5%
Uniting Church
1.7%
Baptist
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

14.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
35.6% 424
Separated
3.3% 39
Divorced
10.7% 128
Widowed
4.8% 57
Never married
45.6% 543

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
36.2%
Couple: no children
23.8%
One parent: children under 15
16.7%
Couple: no children under 15
15.4%
One parent: no children under 15
8.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
23.7%
2 persons
34.3%
3 persons
18.0%
4 persons
16.0%
5 persons
5.2%
6+ persons
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in West Nowra

Housing Tenure

Of the 560 occupied private dwellings in West Nowra at the 2021 Census, 37.5% were rented, 25.9% owned outright and 34.6% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.5% 3 dwellings
Owned outright
25.9% 145 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
34.6% 194 dwellings
Rented
37.5% 210 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.9% 5 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
89.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
10.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
3.4%
2 bedrooms
9.2%
3 bedrooms
46.5%
4 bedrooms
36.3%
5 bedrooms
4.5%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.2%
$300-$449/mo
4.1%
$600-$799/mo
4.1%
$800-$999/mo
5.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
19.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
20.2%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
26.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
8.8%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
2.9%
1 vehicle
36.9%
2 vehicles
40.6%
3 vehicles
14.3%
4+ vehicles
5.3%

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

Work, income and education in West Nowra

Employment

Employed full-time
39.4% 424 people
Employed part-time
23.0% 248 people
Unemployed
3.3% 35 people
Not in labour force
34.3% 369 people

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

Occupation

Community & Personal Service
28.5%
Technicians & Trade Workers
18.7%
Professionals
16.9%
Clerical & Administrative
10.1%
Managers
8.3%
Labourers
7.6%
Sales Workers
5.2%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.7%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.0%
$1-$149/wk
1.1%
$150-$299/wk
1.1%
$300-$399/wk
2.5%
$400-$499/wk
5.7%
$500-$649/wk
5.5%
$650-$799/wk
5.3%
$800-$999/wk
9.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
9.9%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.7%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
9.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.1%
$4,000+/wk
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.3%
$1-$149/wk
3.7%
$150-$299/wk
6.5%
$300-$399/wk
3.7%
$400-$499/wk
3.9%
$500-$649/wk
6.2%
$650-$799/wk
9.7%
$800-$999/wk
16.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
15.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.3%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.4%
$3,500+/wk
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
77.7%
Did not go to work
10.8%
Car (passenger)
6.4%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.3%
Truck
1.0%
Walked only
0.9%
Bicycle
0.7%
Other
0.7%
Bus
0.4%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
43.7%
Year 10 or equivalent
37.4%
Year 9 or equivalent
10.7%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.3%

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
53.0%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
21.5%
Bachelor Degree
13.4%
Certificate I/II
5.1%
Postgraduate Degree
3.5%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.5%

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

Field of Study

Society & Culture
21.2%
Engineering
18.7%
Management & Commerce
17.7%
Health
11.5%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
8.1%
Architecture & Building
7.6%
Education
6.9%
Agriculture & Environment
3.7%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.3%
Creative Arts
1.4%
Information Technology
0.9%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
32.5%
Secondary: Government
19.6%
Pre-school
17.4%
Vocational Education
14.2%
Primary: Catholic
6.9%
Secondary: Catholic
3.8%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.2%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.5%

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
86.4%
Has need for assistance
7.5%
Need for assistance not stated
6.2%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
186
Asthma
59
Arthritis
58
Diabetes
49
Lung condition
36
Kidney disease
21
Heart disease
19
Cancer
16
Stroke
16
Dementia
3

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.0% 165
Did not provide
85.0% 937

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
12.5% 139
Not a volunteer
87.5% 969

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
3.4% 38
Current ADF: Reserves
1.0% 11
Previously served
5.3% 59
Never served
90.4% 1,013

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
31.1%
1 child
11.9%
2 children
29.5%
3 children
15.2%
4 children
8.3%
5+ children
4.0%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
5
1951: 1960
6
1961: 1970
20
1971: 1980
18
1981: 1990
16
1991: 2000
10
2001: 2010
20
2011: 2015
9
2018
3
2020
5

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

Population Mobility

15.8%
moved in the last year
43.2%
moved in the last 5 years
3.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
62.4%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,170
Moved from NSW
106
Moved: same area (SA2)
84
Moved from QLD
9
Moved from overseas
9
Moved from ACT
3
Moved from WA
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
23.0%
5: 14 hours
27.5%
15: 29 hours
13.6%
30+ hours
9.6%
Did not do domestic work
26.3%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
79.1%
Step family: no other children
12.0%
Blended family: no other children
7.0%
Intact family: other children present
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

West Nowra Crime Statistics

12 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Person
3
Theft
3
Assault
2
Property Damage
2
Sexual Offences
1
Other Against Property
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Paxton
Income: $730/wk Rent: $345/wk $5/wk less rent
Bellbird
Income: $643/wk Rent: $323/wk $27/wk less rent
Walgett
Income: $823/wk Rent: $175/wk $175/wk less rent
Bourke
Income: $860/wk Rent: $180/wk $170/wk less rent
Hillston
Income: $852/wk Rent: $220/wk $130/wk less rent
Telarah
Income: $689/wk Rent: $300/wk $50/wk less rent
Aberdare
Income: $640/wk Rent: $303/wk $47/wk less rent
Springdale Heights
Income: $656/wk Rent: $253/wk $97/wk less rent

Suburbs near West Nowra

The closest suburb to West Nowra is Nowra, 2.1 km away.

Nowra
2.1 km away · income $554/wk · rent $300/wk
North Nowra
3.1 km away · income $696/wk · rent $380/wk
South Nowra
3.4 km away · income $830/wk · rent $398/wk
Bomaderry
4.2 km away · income $612/wk · rent $310/wk
Nowra Hill
5.8 km away · income $838/wk · rent $285/wk
Worrigee
6.2 km away · income $735/wk · rent $390/wk

Compare West Nowra

Frequently Asked Questions About West Nowra

What is the population of West Nowra NSW?

The population of West Nowra NSW is 1,504 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 422 people per km². West Nowra is ranked #3,395 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in West Nowra?

The median personal income in West Nowra NSW is $750 per week, or $39,000 per year. The median household income is $1,493 per week. Family income is $1,765 per week. West Nowra is ranked #4,521 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in West Nowra?

Median rent in West Nowra NSW is $350 per week ($1,517 per month). Rent represents 23.4% of household income, which is considered affordable. West Nowra ranks #3,104 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in West Nowra?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in West Nowra NSW is $1,707. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in West Nowra?

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

Is West Nowra a good suburb to live in?

West Nowra is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,504. The median income is $750/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (23.4% 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: 14265. All dollar figures in AUD.