Nowra
NSW 2541 · Shoalhaven
9,956 (2021) → 10,330 est. (2025) · High Growth
Part of the Shoalhaven local government area (est. 111,712 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Nowra is a high growth suburb in Shoalhaven, NSW 2541, about 125km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $735K is more affordable than the NSW average. The suburb has 7 schools, a transport score of 35/100, and is about 13km inland. Nowra has an overall score of 50/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 5/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2541 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (3.17%), India (1.33%), Philippines (0.87%), New Zealand (0.86%), China (0.65%)
Top languages: Nepali (0.54%), Thai (0.46%), Tagalog (0.42%), Punjabi (0.38%), Mandarin (0.36%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Commercial & services hub. This suburb is a major employment and services centre, drawing a significant daily influx of workers and visitors from surrounding areas. Crime figures are recorded by incident location and include offences involving commuters and visitors, not just residents, so the per-resident crime rates below may overstate the risk for people who live here.
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
Totals include incidents involving commuters and visitors, not just residents.
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Limited school choices
Below average for school access — fewer schools nearby, and families may need to travel for preferred options.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 955 (below the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- St John the Evangelist Catholic High SchoolSecondary · CatholicICSEA 1028
- St Michael's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 994
- Nowra High SchoolSecondary · GovernmentICSEA 944
- Nowra Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 904
- Shoalhaven High SchoolSecondary · GovernmentICSEA 862
- Nowra East Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 784
- Novo Education Space ShoalhavenSecondary · Independent
Nearby (within 10km)
- Nowra Christian SchoolCombined · Independent · 2.7kmICSEA 1033
- Shoalhaven River CollegeSecondary · Independent · 2.7kmICSEA 931
- Terara Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.8kmICSEA 1009
- Nowra Anglican CollegeCombined · Independent · 2.8kmICSEA 1094
- Illaroo Road Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.9kmICSEA 992
- Bomaderry Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.9kmICSEA 908
- North Nowra Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.9kmICSEA 908
- Havenlee SchoolCombined · Government · 4kmICSEA 849
- Bomaderry High SchoolSecondary · Government · 4.2kmICSEA 955
- Nowra Hill Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 7kmICSEA 986
- William Campbell CollegeCombined · Independent · 7.3kmICSEA 881
- Cambewarra Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 8.1kmICSEA 1029
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Decent access
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of fitness facilities, with more variety a short drive away.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Mostly urban
Very little parkland or outdoor recreation in and around this suburb.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Limited cultural access
Below average — fewer cultural venues nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
A few good options
A handful of local venues to choose from — nothing epic, but you're not driving far either.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Outstanding childcare access
Top 20% nationally for childcare service density and quality — an excellent suburb for families with young children.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
High GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Shoalhaven
Compare Nowra with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Nowra
Is Nowra safe?
Nowra has a residential safety score of 5/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 23,062 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Nowra?
In Nowra, the median house price is $735K and the median unit price is $428K. Median weekly house rent is $550.
How far is Nowra from Sydney CBD?
Nowra is about 125.0 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in Nowra?
Nowra has 7 schools, with an average ICSEA of 919 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Nowra?
Nowra has a transport score of 35/100.