Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Cowra
885 km²
A significant First Nations population of 9.7% helps define Cowra as a distinct community in New South Wales. The town has a notably older feel, with a typical resident aged 46 and over a quarter of the population aged 65 or more. This older demographic is reflected in the high need for health support and a higher number of people living alone. It is a predominantly Australian-born community with a strong connection to the land and a high proportion of detached housing.
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Cowra is far older than the national figure, with 26.1% of residents aged 65 and over. This is well above the 17.2% seen across Australia. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is also much higher than most areas at 9.7%.
The community is mostly Australian-born, with 85.7% born here. Only 6.9% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for 88.8% of residents. Those using another language at home make up 4.1%, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Christianity is the most common affiliation at 63.4%. Those reporting no religion make up 26.7%, which is far below the Australian figure of 38.9%.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 10.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 33.7%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,107, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, a far lower share than the rest of the country.
Health needs are high here, with 35.5% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure of 27.7%, and 8.4% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteerism is strong, with 17.5% of people volunteering, well above the national figure of 14.1%. More people also provide unpaid care here compared to most areas.
There are 981 First Nations people in Cowra, and they are generally younger than the state average with a typical age of 22. Unemployment for this group is 15.5%, which is well above the national figure of 12.3%.
Living arrangements are distinct, with 33.5% of people living alone, which is well above the national figure of 25.6%. One-parent families are also much more common here than in most areas.
The town is dominated by separate houses, making up 90.4% of homes. Many of these are owned outright at 41.6%, far above the national figure of 31.0%, and typical weekly rents are far lower than the national average at $230.
Most people rely on cars, with 68.3% driving to work. Very few people use public transport for commuting (0.2%), and only 7.9% work from home, which is far below the national figure of 21.0%.
A higher share of residents have moved in the last five years compared to most areas. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 16% of the population, which is a little above the national figure.
Working or looking for work is less common here than in other areas, at 52.1%. The unemployment rate of 5.6% is about the same as the national figure, and many people work in health care, agriculture, or retail.
Cowra is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.0. Residents are far less likely to live within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services compared to the New South Wales average.