Urban Area · Area profile
Nowra - Bomaderry
201 km²
A significantly higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Nowra - Bomaderry than in other similar areas. This community has grown rapidly, adding about 27,737 people since 2011. It is a place where family life is prominent, though households typically earn well below the national figure. The area is largely defined by spacious detached housing and a strong connection to the Defence Force.
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About 9.6% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the national figure of 3.2% and has risen since 2011. The typical resident is 39, and 20.6% of the population are seniors aged 65 and over.
The area is predominantly Australian or English in ancestry, with only 13.0% of people born overseas. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%, though the number of overseas-born residents has risen since 2011.
English is the primary language for 85.2% of the community, and only 6.1% use another language at home. This is far below the national average of 22.3%.
No religion is reported by 40.7% of residents, which is a little above the national figure of 38.9%. This has seen a sharp increase of 31 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 14.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The number of people who completed Year 12 has risen 11 points since 2011 to reach 40.1%.
Weekly family incomes are well below the national figure, with a typical family earning $1,645. Only 6.3% of people earn $2,000 or more per week, which is much lower than in most other areas.
Health challenges are more common here, as 35.1% of people have a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are among the highest at this level, affecting 12.9% of the population.
A high number of residents have served in the Defence Force, at 7.9%, which is well above the national figure. However, the proportion of volunteers has fallen since 2011 to 13.2%.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 18.9% of households. About 28.0% of people live alone.
Most homes are separate houses, and 80.4% have three or more bedrooms, which is far above the state average. Renting is common, with 33.8% of households renting at a typical weekly cost of $332.
The area relies heavily on cars, with 66.9% of people driving to work and only 0.3% using public transport. Working from home is far less common here than across Australia.
About 38.7% of residents moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 11.3% of the population, a figure that has fallen since 2011.
Working or looking for work is much less common here than in most areas, at 52.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%, which is about the same as the national figure.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.6. While most homes are near public transport, far fewer people can walk to groceries or health services compared to the state average.