Council (LGA) · Area profile
Cowra
2,809 km²
A far older population than the national average defines Cowra, where the typical resident is 47. It is a predominantly Australian-born community with a strong First Nations presence, as 8.8% of residents identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The area is marked by a modest pace of life, with low typical incomes and a high proportion of homeowners. This creates a stable but aging rural character, with many residents living in large, detached houses.
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The community is notably older than the state average, with 26.6% of people aged 65 and over. It also has a much higher proportion of First Nations people than most areas, reaching 8.8%.
The area is far less diverse than the rest of Australia, with only 7.1% of people born overseas. Most residents claim Australian (42.8%) or English (41.8%) ancestry.
English is the primary tongue for 88.3% of the population. Very few people use another language at home (3.8%), which is far below the national figure.
While the number of people with no religion has risen 16 points since 2011, at 27.1% this remains far below the national average.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 33.4% of residents completing Year 12 and 10.6% holding a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are well below the national figure, with a typical household earning $1,112 a week. Only 9% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, far below the state average of 25.2%.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.1% of people living with a long-term health condition and 8% needing help with daily activities.
Volunteering is more common than in the rest of the state at 18%, and there is a slightly higher rate of people providing unpaid care.
The First Nations community is relatively large and young, with a typical age of 22, though unemployment is higher than the national average at 15%.
A high number of people live alone (32.3%) or in one-parent families (17.1%), both of which are well above the state averages.
Housing is dominated by separate houses (92.1%), and a high 43.8% of homes are owned outright. Typical weekly rents are far below the national figure at $230.
The area is very car-dependent, with 66% of people driving to work and almost no one (0.2%) using public transport for their commute.
The population is relatively stable, as fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to the rest of the country.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing is a major employer for 16.3% of the workforce, though the overall percentage of adults working or looking for work is much lower than most areas.
The area ranks low for overall advantage compared to other regions, and population growth has been slightly negative since 2021.
Cowra is wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 735mm, while minimum temperatures are typically lower than in the rest of New South Wales.
Rates of burglary and property damage are much higher than in most areas, though the overall crime rate has fallen slightly over the last five years.
The town is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average and only 24.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries.