# Lithgow vs Nowra - Bomaderry — 2021 Census comparison

Urban Area comparison · about 161 km apart

Nowra - Bomaderry and Lithgow are two New South Wales areas with very different profiles. Lithgow is much older, with a typical resident aged 46 compared to 39 in Nowra - Bomaderry, and it has a far higher share of people living alone (38.1% versus 28.0%). Lithgow is also much more walkable, with 71.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries, compared to just 35.6% in Nowra - Bomaderry. In contrast, Nowra - Bomaderry has a higher proportion of residents who have completed Year 12 (40.1% versus 34.0%) and a much stronger connection to the Defence Force, where 7.9% of people have served.

Daily life in both places shares several common traits, such as similar rates of full-time employment and a high number of detached houses. Both areas also have similar shares of people volunteering and providing unpaid care. However, some gaps have grown since 2011, such as the difference in typical age and the share of homes owned outright, which is now well higher in Lithgow. Meanwhile, the gap in recent overseas arrivals has narrowed, though Nowra - Bomaderry remains well higher at 11.3%.

## Where they differ most

- Population: 26,293 larger in Nowra - Bomaderry
- 3+ bedrooms: 9.6 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry
- De facto: 2.7 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry
- Living alone: 10.2 pts higher in Lithgow
- Under 15: 2.9 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry

## Demographics & Identity

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Population | 12,385 | 38,678 | 26,293 larger in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap widening |
| Median age | 46 yrs | 39 yrs | 7 yrs older in Lithgow | gap widening |
| First Nations | 8.3% | 9.6% | 1.3 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap narrowing |
| Aged 65+ | 25.5% | 20.6% | 4.9 pts higher in Lithgow | gap widening |
| Under 15 | 16.0% | 19.0% | 2.9 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap narrowing |
| De facto | 10.2% | 13.0% | 2.7 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap widening |

### Age structure

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Older adults (45–64) | 26.0% | 23.6% | +2.5 |
| Seniors (65+) | 25.5% | 20.6% | +4.9 |
| Young adults (25–44) | 22.1% | 25.1% | -3.0 |
| Children (0–14) | 16.0% | 19.0% | -2.9 |
| Youth (15–24) | 10.2% | 11.8% | -1.5 |

### Marital status

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Married | 40.0% | 42.1% | -2.1 |
| Never married | 35.8% | 37.3% | -1.4 |
| Divorced | 12.0% | 10.8% | +1.2 |
| Widowed | 8.1% | 6.1% | +2.0 |
| Separated | 4.1% | 3.8% | +0.4 |

### Age profile

Share of each region's population by age band and sex.

| Age band | Lithgow male | Lithgow female | Nowra - Bomaderry male | Nowra - Bomaderry female |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 0–4 | 2.4% | 2.3% | 3.2% | 3.0% |
| 5–9 | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 3.2% |
| 10–14 | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 3.2% |
| 15–19 | 2.8% | 2.4% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| 20–24 | 2.9% | 2.2% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| 25–29 | 3.4% | 2.6% | 3.6% | 3.2% |
| 30–34 | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
| 35–39 | 2.9% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| 40–44 | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 2.7% |
| 45–49 | 2.9% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| 50–54 | 3.0% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.0% |
| 55–59 | 3.2% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| 60–64 | 3.7% | 3.7% | 2.9% | 3.2% |
| 65–69 | 3.2% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 3.0% |
| 70–74 | 3.4% | 3.4% | 2.6% | 2.8% |
| 75–79 | 2.4% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 2.1% |
| 80–84 | 1.6% | 2.0% | 1.3% | 1.4% |
| 85+ | 1.1% | 2.0% | 1.1% | 1.6% |

## Ancestry & Birthplace

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Born overseas | 10.5% | 13.0% | 2.4 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap narrowing |

### Country of birth

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Australia | 82.2% | 80.2% | +2.0 |
| England | 2.2% | 3.6% | -1.4 |
| New Zealand | 1.1% | 1.0% | +0.1 |
| India | 0.6% | 1.1% | -0.5 |
| Philippines | 0.7% | 0.8% | -0.1 |
| China | 0.4% | 0.4% | +0.0 |
| Nepal | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1 |
| Italy | 0.3% | 0.2% | +0.1 |
| South Africa | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1 |
| Vietnam | 0.2% | 0.1% | +0.1 |

### Ancestry

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Australian | 41.9% | 41.3% | +0.6 |
| English | 40.4% | 40.4% | 0.0 |
| Irish | 11.5% | 10.2% | +1.3 |
| Scottish | 11.3% | 9.2% | +2.1 |
| German | 3.1% | 3.6% | -0.5 |
| Italian | 1.7% | 2.1% | -0.4 |
| Dutch | 0.9% | 1.3% | -0.4 |
| Filipino | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.0 |
| Indian | 0.6% | 1.1% | -0.5 |
| Chinese | 1.0% | 0.9% | +0.1 |
| Greek | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1 |
| Vietnamese | 0.2% | 0.2% | +0.1 |

## Language

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other language | 4.9% | 6.1% | 1.2 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap steady |
| Limited English | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.1 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap steady |

### Language used at home

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English only | 86.5% | 85.2% | +1.3 |
| Tagalog | 0.2% | 0.4% | -0.2 |
| Italian | 0.3% | 0.2% | +0.1 |
| Mandarin | 0.3% | 0.3% | +0.0 |
| Punjabi | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1 |
| Cantonese | 0.2% | 0.2% | +0.0 |
| Hindi | 0.1% | 0.2% | -0.1 |
| Arabic | 0.2% | 0.2% | +0.0 |
| Vietnamese | 0.2% | 0.1% | +0.1 |
| Greek | 0.2% | 0.2% | +0.0 |

## Religion

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No religion | 34.9% | 40.7% | 5.9 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap steady |

### Religious affiliation

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Christianity | 52.6% | 46.1% | +6.5 |
| No religion | 34.9% | 40.7% | -5.9 |
| Not stated | 10.0% | 10.0% | 0.0 |
| Hinduism | 0.6% | 1.0% | -0.4 |
| Buddhism | 0.8% | 0.9% | -0.1 |
| Other religions | 0.6% | 0.7% | -0.1 |
| Islam | 0.4% | 0.4% | -0.1 |
| Judaism | 0.1% | 0.1% | +0.0 |

## Education & Qualifications

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 12 | 34.0% | 40.1% | 6.2 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap widening |
| Bachelor+ | 10.8% | 14.1% | 3.3 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap widening |

### Highest year of school

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 12 | 34.0% | 40.1% | -6.2 |
| Year 10 | 33.0% | 29.5% | +3.5 |
| Year 9 or below | 14.9% | 13.6% | +1.4 |
| Year 11 | 6.9% | 6.6% | +0.3 |

### Highest qualification level

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Certificate III / IV | 37.9% | 36.1% | +1.7 |
| Bachelor degree | 13.3% | 15.6% | -2.2 |
| Advanced diploma / diploma | 12.8% | 14.4% | -1.7 |
| Postgraduate degree | 3.2% | 4.5% | -1.3 |
| Certificate I / II | 3.0% | 2.7% | +0.3 |
| Graduate diploma / certificate | 2.7% | 3.0% | -0.3 |

### Field of qualification

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Engineering & related | 19.3% | 15.4% | +3.9 |
| Management & commerce | 13.0% | 15.0% | -2.0 |
| Society & culture | 9.6% | 11.7% | -2.1 |
| Health | 9.7% | 10.7% | -0.9 |
| Education | 7.3% | 7.2% | +0.2 |
| Food, hospitality & personal services | 6.1% | 6.1% | +0.0 |
| Architecture & building | 4.2% | 5.7% | -1.5 |
| Creative arts | 2.5% | 2.4% | +0.1 |
| Agriculture & environment | 1.8% | 2.0% | -0.2 |
| Natural & physical sciences | 1.3% | 1.8% | -0.5 |
| Information technology | 1.5% | 1.7% | -0.2 |

## Income

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Personal income | $610 | $665 | $55 higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap steady |
| Household income | $1,088 | $1,330 | $242 higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap widening |
| Family income | $1,510 | $1,645 | $135 higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap widening |
| High earners | 7.5% | 6.3% | 1.3 pts higher in Lithgow | gap steady |
| High-income homes | 11.7% | 12.5% | 0.8 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap steady |

### Household income distribution

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $650–$1,499 | 31.7% | 32.9% | -1.2 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 22.5% | 28.1% | -5.6 |
| Under $650 | 27.1% | 19.7% | +7.4 |
| $3,000–$3,999 | 5.7% | 7.1% | -1.4 |
| $4,000 or more | 6.0% | 5.4% | +0.6 |

### Personal income distribution

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $650 | 46.8% | 44.0% | +2.8 |
| $650–$1,499 | 27.4% | 31.2% | -3.8 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 12.1% | 12.7% | -0.6 |
| $3,000 or more | 2.7% | 1.8% | +0.9 |

## Health & Disability

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Health condition | 37.0% | 35.1% | 2.0 pts higher in Lithgow |  |
| Mental health | 11.8% | 12.9% | 1.1 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry |  |
| Needs assistance | 8.5% | 8.7% | 0.2 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap steady |

### Long-term health conditions reported

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Arthritis | 14.7% | 12.2% | +2.5 |
| Mental health | 11.8% | 12.9% | -1.1 |
| Asthma | 10.3% | 9.9% | +0.4 |
| Other condition | 8.7% | 9.6% | -0.9 |
| Diabetes | 7.2% | 6.2% | +1.0 |
| Heart disease | 6.0% | 5.1% | +0.9 |
| Cancer | 3.5% | 3.7% | -0.2 |
| Lung condition | 3.1% | 3.1% | +0.0 |
| Stroke | 1.4% | 1.4% | +0.0 |
| Dementia | 1.3% | 1.2% | +0.2 |

### Number of long-term health conditions

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| None | 51.3% | 53.6% | -2.3 |
| One condition | 22.4% | 21.2% | +1.2 |
| Two conditions | 9.0% | 8.4% | +0.6 |
| Three or more | 5.7% | 5.4% | +0.3 |

## Community Participation

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteering | 13.5% | 13.2% | 0.3 pts higher in Lithgow | gap narrowing |
| Unpaid carers | 12.9% | 13.0% | 0.1 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap narrowing |
| Unpaid child care | 22.0% | 25.6% | 3.6 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap steady |
| Defence service | 2.9% | 7.9% | 5.0 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry |  |
| Housework 15h+ | 22.2% | 21.6% | 0.6 pts higher in Lithgow | gap steady |

## Family & Households

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Household size | 2.2 | 2.4 | 0.2 larger in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap steady |
| One-parent | 21.2% | 18.9% | 2.3 pts higher in Lithgow | gap steady |
| Living alone | 38.1% | 28.0% | 10.2 pts higher in Lithgow | gap widening |

### Family composition

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Couples with children | 46.5% | 51.1% | -4.7 |
| Couples without children | 30.9% | 28.6% | +2.3 |
| One-parent families | 21.2% | 18.9% | +2.3 |
| Other families | 1.3% | 1.2% | +0.1 |

### Household size

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 person | 38.1% | 28.0% | +10.2 |
| 2 people | 34.2% | 35.3% | -1.1 |
| 3 people | 11.1% | 14.7% | -3.6 |
| 4 people | 10.5% | 12.8% | -2.4 |
| 5 people | 4.1% | 5.9% | -1.8 |
| 6 or more | 2.2% | 3.3% | -1.1 |

## Housing & Dwellings

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rent | $270 | $332 | $62 higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap narrowing |
| Mortgage | $1,462 | $1,733 | $271 higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap widening |
| People / bedroom | 0.70 | 0.70 |  | gap steady |
| Renting | 29.8% | 33.8% | 4.0 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap widening |
| Owned outright | 39.0% | 33.5% | 5.5 pts higher in Lithgow | gap widening |
| Separate houses | 85.4% | 86.1% | 0.6 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap narrowing |
| 3+ bedrooms | 70.8% | 80.4% | 9.6 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap widening |

### How homes are owned or rented

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Owned outright | 39.0% | 33.5% | +5.5 |
| Rented | 29.8% | 33.8% | -4.0 |
| Owned with a mortgage | 26.0% | 29.9% | -3.9 |
| Other tenure | 2.6% | 1.1% | +1.5 |
| Not stated | 2.6% | 1.7% | +0.9 |

### Types of homes

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Separate house | 85.4% | 86.1% | -0.6 |
| Townhouse / semi-detached | 11.6% | 10.2% | +1.3 |
| Flat or apartment | 2.3% | 2.7% | -0.4 |
| Other dwelling | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2 |

### Bedrooms per home

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 bedrooms | 45.4% | 39.0% | +6.4 |
| 4 bedrooms | 20.7% | 33.7% | -13.0 |
| 2 bedrooms | 22.8% | 14.1% | +8.7 |
| 5 or more | 4.6% | 7.7% | -3.1 |
| 1 bedroom | 3.5% | 3.7% | -0.2 |
| Studio / none | 0.4% | 0.2% | +0.3 |

### Weekly rent distribution

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $200–$349 | 55.9% | 38.3% | +17.7 |
| $350–$549 | 16.2% | 41.9% | -25.8 |
| Under $200 | 23.3% | 12.8% | +10.5 |
| $550–$749 | 0.7% | 2.9% | -2.3 |
| $750 or more | 0.0% | 0.6% | -0.6 |

### Monthly mortgage distribution

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $1,000–$1,799 | 42.3% | 33.3% | +9.1 |
| $1,800–$2,999 | 24.0% | 32.8% | -8.8 |
| Under $1,000 | 21.9% | 18.6% | +3.4 |
| $3,000 or more | 6.3% | 10.0% | -3.8 |

## Transport & Vehicles

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No car | 11.6% | 6.4% | 5.2 pts higher in Lithgow | gap steady |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 8.6% | 1.1 pts higher in Lithgow | gap steady |
| PT commute | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.2 pts higher in Lithgow | gap steady |

### How people get to work

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Car (driver) | 63.9% | 66.9% | -2.9 |
| Worked at home | 9.7% | 8.6% | +1.1 |
| Car (passenger) | 4.6% | 5.5% | -0.9 |
| Walked | 4.5% | 2.6% | +1.9 |
| Bicycle | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.4 |
| Train | 0.2% | 0.1% | +0.2 |
| Bus | 0.2% | 0.2% | +0.0 |

### Motor vehicles per home

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 vehicle | 41.6% | 37.4% | +4.3 |
| 2 vehicles | 30.2% | 36.9% | -6.8 |
| 3 vehicles | 10.3% | 12.1% | -1.7 |
| No vehicle | 11.6% | 6.4% | +5.2 |
| 4 or more | 6.3% | 7.3% | -1.0 |

## Migration & Movement

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Recent movers | 31.9% | 38.7% | 6.8 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap widening |
| Recent arrivals | 6.4% | 11.3% | 4.9 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap narrowing |

## Jobs & Industry

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment | 6.5% | 5.3% | 1.2 pts higher in Lithgow | gap narrowing |
| Participation | 47.8% | 52.6% | 4.9 pts higher in Nowra - Bomaderry | gap narrowing |
| Full-time | 56.6% | 56.1% | 0.5 pts higher in Lithgow | gap narrowing |

### Industries people work in

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Health care & social assistance | 13.6% | 18.5% | -4.8 |
| Public administration & safety | 10.7% | 12.0% | -1.3 |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | 11.5% | -1.2 |
| Accommodation & food | 9.3% | 9.0% | +0.3 |
| Construction | 6.2% | 9.2% | -2.9 |
| Mining | 8.3% | 0.5% | +7.8 |
| Education & training | 7.1% | 7.2% | -0.1 |
| Manufacturing | 4.9% | 5.7% | -0.7 |
| Transport & warehousing | 4.5% | 3.5% | +1.0 |
| Other services | 4.0% | 4.1% | -0.1 |
| Professional & technical | 3.1% | 3.8% | -0.8 |
| Administrative & support | 3.4% | 3.5% | -0.1 |

### Occupations people work in

| Category | Lithgow % | Nowra - Bomaderry % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Community & personal service | 14.3% | 16.9% | -2.6 |
| Professionals | 13.7% | 16.6% | -2.9 |
| Technicians & trades | 15.9% | 16.0% | 0.0 |
| Clerical & administrative | 13.3% | 10.5% | +2.7 |
| Labourers | 11.5% | 11.4% | +0.1 |
| Machinery operators & drivers | 11.2% | 5.9% | +5.3 |
| Managers | 9.2% | 10.7% | -1.5 |
| Sales workers | 8.7% | 10.3% | -1.6 |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Lithgow | Nowra - Bomaderry | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 6.5 | 4.6 | 1.9 higher in Lithgow |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 6.1 | 4.5 | 1.6 more in Lithgow |  |
| 15-min city | 73.8% | 50.5% | 23.3 pts higher in Lithgow |  |
| Walk to shops | 71.5% | 35.6% | 35.9 pts higher in Lithgow |  |
| Walk to transit | 92.4% | 87.1% | 5.4 pts higher in Lithgow |  |
| Walk to school | 69.0% | 60.5% | 8.4 pts higher in Lithgow |  |
| Walk to a park | 97.5% | 87.5% | 10.0 pts higher in Lithgow |  |
| Walk to health | 52.3% | 40.8% | 11.4 pts higher in Lithgow |  |
| Amenities/1k | 37.3 | 12.3 | 25.0 more in Lithgow |  |
| Intersections/km² | 20 | 16 | 4 higher in Lithgow |  |
| Mean slope | 7.0% | 4.8% | 2.2 pts higher in Lithgow |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/1019/lithgow/vs/1026/nowra-bomaderry