Nowra NSW

Postcode 2541 · Shoalhaven LGA

Nowra is a mid-sized suburb in New South Wales within the Shoalhaven local government area (postcode 2541). With a population of 9,956, the suburb has an established demographic with a median age of 40. Households earn a median income of $54K per year, with an average household size of 2.2 people. The most common occupations are community & personal service, technicians & trades, labourers. The top ancestries reported are Australian, English, Aboriginal Australian.

The median house price in Nowra is $680,000, having declined 5.6% over the past year. Units have a median price of $358,000 (-18.6% YoY). The current median weekly rent is $540. This gives a gross rental yield of approximately 4.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,500.

Nowra is served by 7 schools, including 3 primary, 3 secondary, 1 combined. The average ICSEA score is 964, which is around the national average of 1,000. Public transport access includes 2 ferry wharfves, 111 bus stops. Healthcare facilities include 1 public and 1 private hospitals. The crime rate in the Shoalhaven LGA is below average at 3,609 incidents per 100,000 population.

From an investment perspective, Nowra offers a gross rental yield of 4.1%, rated as moderate yield. Property prices sit below the state median ($680K/$1.5M), suggesting a potential value opportunity. The price-to-income ratio of 12.6x is considered stretched. House prices have moved -5.6% year-on-year.

INVESTMENT SIGNALS
Rental Yield4.1% Moderate Yield
Price vs State$680K/$1.5M Below Median
Affordability12.6x Stretched
Price Momentum-5.6% Falling
INCOME (ATO 2022-23)
Median Income$52,132
Mean Income$59,038
Earners12,632
YoY Change+7.7%
SEIFA INDEX (ABS)
Advantage1/10
Education1/10
Economic1/10
Disadvantage1/10
MEDIAN HOUSE
$680K
-5.6% YoY
MEDIAN UNIT
$358K
-18.6% YoY
MEDIAN RENT /WK
$300
POPULATION
9,956
DEMOGRAPHICS
Median Age40
Household Size2.2
HH Income /wk$1,037
Personal Income /wk$554
Mortgage /mth$1,500
CRIME (Shoalhaven LGA)
Crime Rate (per 100k)3,609
Total Incidents3,999
TRANSPORT
Bus Stops111
Ferry Wharves2
Ferry Lane At Terara Rd
Ferry Lane Opp 15
SCHOOLS (7)
Avg ICSEA964
Total Students4,079
Catholic2
Government4
Independent1
St John the Evangelist Catholic High SchoolSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1028
Nowra High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 944
Shoalhaven High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 862
Nowra Christian SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1033
St Michael's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 994
HOSPITALS (2)
Nowra Private Hospitalprivate
Shoalhaven Hospitalpublic
Data: 2026