Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Cowra
242 km²
Typical household incomes in Cowra are among the lowest in the region, falling far below the national figure. This is an older community where over a quarter of residents are seniors, and many people live alone in detached houses. While it faces challenges with lower education levels and higher unemployment, there is a strong presence of First Nations people and a high rate of local volunteering. The town is mostly composed of separate houses and is characterized by a slower pace of movement and lower living costs.
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Cowra has a noticeably older population, with a typical age of 45 and 26.4% of residents aged 65 or over. The First Nations community is a significant part of the area, making up 10.3% of the population, which is well above the national figure.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 7.0% of people born overseas—far below the state and national averages. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.
English is the primary language for the vast majority of residents, with only 4.3% using another language at home. This is much lower than the national figure, and very few people speak little or no English.
Christianity remains the most common faith at 63.3%. While the proportion of people with no religion has risen by 16 points since 2011, it still sits far below the national average.
Education levels are among the lowest in the region, with only 33.4% of residents completing Year 12. Only 10.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure.
Incomes are significantly lower than the national average, with the typical household earning $1,078 a week. Only 8.0% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, a figure far below the state average.
The area has a higher need for health support, as 35.9% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and 8.8% of residents need help with daily activities.
Local participation is strong, with 17.4% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. There is also a higher rate of people providing unpaid care compared to most areas.
First Nations people make up a large part of the community, though they face significant hurdles with an unemployment rate of 15.9% and a typical personal income that is well below the national figure.
Living arrangements are distinct here, as 34.6% of people live alone and 19.3% of families are one-parent households, both of which are well above the state average.
Housing is mostly detached, with 89.9% of homes being separate houses. Many residents own their homes outright (41.0%), and typical weekly rents of $230 are far below the national average.
Most people rely on cars for work, as only 0.1% of the population commutes by public transport. Very few people work from home compared to the state average.
The population is relatively stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years than in most areas. However, recent arrivals from overseas have risen to 17.6%.
About 51.2% of adults are working or looking for work, which is much lower than the national figure. The local economy relies heavily on health care, social assistance, and retail trade.
Cowra ranks among the most disadvantaged areas in the state, with a very low score for overall advantage and access to resources.
The area is wetter than the state average, with 735mm of annual rainfall, though it experiences lower minimum temperatures than most other regions.
The town is only somewhat walkable, as many homes are far from groceries and health services. Only 45% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed, which is far below the state average.