Urban Area · Area profile
Bowral - Mittagong
422 km²
A far older population than most of the country marks Bowral - Mittagong, where the typical resident is 47. This region is a prosperous community that has grown by 19% since 2011, adding over 6,700 people. It is defined by a high proportion of seniors and a strong preference for large, detached family homes. With a well-qualified workforce and typical incomes that sit comfortably around the national figure, it serves as a stable and affluent residential hub in New South Wales.
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The area is significantly older than the state and national average, with 27.6% of residents aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 6.1 points since 2011. Children under 15 make up 17.1% of the population, which is slightly lower than the national figure.
English ancestry is most common at 44.4%, followed by Australian at 37.4%. While 18.4% of people were born overseas—which is higher than in most similar areas—this is still well below the national average of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for 87.5% of residents. Those using another language at home rose to 7.7% by 2021, though this remains far below the New South Wales figure of 26.6%.
More than half of the population identifies as Christian, while 36.5% report no religion. This last group has seen a significant increase, rising 18 points since 2011.
The community is well-qualified, with 25% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 54.4% having completed Year 12. Both figures are much higher than in most similar areas.
Incomes are high here, with a typical family earning $2,106 a week. This is about the same as the national figure, and the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 15 points since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in the rest of the state, affecting 32.7% of people. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 12.5%.
Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 17.1% of people pitching in. This is well above the New South Wales figure of 13.0%.
Most homes are occupied by couples, with 53.3% having children and 33.2% without. People living alone make up 26.8% of the community.
Housing is dominated by large separate houses, which make up 88.4% of all dwellings. This helps explain why 83.7% of homes have three or more bedrooms, far above the state average.
Cars are essential here, as only 3.8% of homes have no motor vehicle. Working from home is very common at 22.1%, a significant increase from 2011.
The area has seen a fair amount of movement, with 42.1% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 9% of the population.
The unemployment rate is very low at 3.1%, which is below both the state and national figures. Many residents work in health care, construction, and education.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.4. This is well below the state average, as only 40.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.