Nowra crime rate and Crime Score · New South Wales
NSW Police (figures published by BOCSAR) recorded 3,260 offences in Nowra in 2025-26, including 553 violent offences and 132 break-ins. That is about 32,744 per 100,000 of its 9,956 residents (2021 Census). The rates and Crime Score below are for the whole Shoalhaven council area.
Nowra is a suburb in the Shoalhaven council area of New South Wales (about 111,755 residents in the council). The council has a Crime Score 47 out of 100 (moderate), 202nd of 362 councils nationally.
The score blends national percentile ranks for each published offence category with fixed severity weights; here it is driven most by assault (54th percentile), sexual offences (70th percentile), homicide (43rd percentile). Five years earlier the same basis gave 52.
In 2025-26: violent 1,456 per 100,000 (+24% vs five years earlier); property 3,013 per 100,000 (+6% vs five years earlier); break-ins 381 per 100,000 (+10% vs five years earlier); theft 1,213 per 100,000 (+9% vs five years earlier). For violent crime that is 52nd of 129 New South Wales councils with data, highest first.
Unemployment in the Shoalhaven council area is 4.9% (New South Wales 4.9%), Census, 10 August 2021. Social housing makes up 3.7% of occupied homes (791 public and 772 community-housing dwellings at the 2021 Census; New South Wales 4.2%). An estimated 441 people were homeless on Census night 2021, 40.2 per 10,000 residents (New South Wales 43.4), apportioned from ABS Statistical Area Level 2 counts. 14.4% of residents were born overseas (New South Wales 31%), most often in England, New Zealand, Philippines. Modelled estimates for 2026-27, not measurements: unemployment about 4.9% (confidence 84 of 100); social housing about 3.3% of homes; about 39.5 homeless people per 10,000 residents; about 14.7% born overseas. Confidence falls with distance from the last published figure, and the map's Estimates toggle shows every year back to 1994-95.
New South Wales publishes suburb-level counts: 3,260 offences were recorded in Nowra in 2025-26. The rates and Crime Score above are for the whole Shoalhaven council area.
| Offences | Per 100,000 | Count | 5-yr change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent | 1,456 | 1,627 | +24% |
| Property | 3,013 | 3,367 | +6% |
| Break-ins | 381 | 426 | +10% |
| Theft | 1,213 | 1,356 | +9% |
Of 250 regional NSW suburbs and towns with at least 2,000 residents, Nowra has the 7th highest recorded crime rate: about 31,300 offences a year per 100,000 residents (2023-24 to 2025-26 average), against a median of 7,320. Regional New South Wales rankings.
Shoalhaven council area: full statistics · Interactive map of every council.
Crime in postcode 2541: every suburb and council it covers.
Questions
Is Nowra safe?
Nowra recorded about 31,300 offences a year per 100,000 residents over 2023-24 to 2025-26, 4.3 times the median of 7,320 for regional NSW suburbs and towns: the 7th highest rate of 250. In 2025-26 police recorded 553 violent offences (5,550 per 100,000 residents) and 132 break-ins there. These are offences recorded by police per resident: they describe the area as a whole, not the risk on any particular street, and places with a busy centre record more because offences are counted where they happen.
What is the crime rate in Nowra?
In 2025-26 police recorded 3,260 offences in Nowra, about 32,700 per 100,000 of its 9,956 residents (2021 Census), including 553 violent offences and 132 break-ins.
Police news near Nowra
- Fatal two-vehicle crash - Bomaderry · Bomaderry, 24 Oct 2026 · 4 km away
Nearby suburbs
Back Forest · Bamarang · Bangalee · Beaumont · Bolong · Bomaderry · Brundee · Cambewarra · Cambewarra Village · Comberton · Coolangatta · Falls Creek · Far Meadow · Jaspers Brush · Longreach · Meroo Meadow · Mundamia · North Nowra · Nowra DC · Nowra East · Nowra Hill · Numbaa · Parma · Pyree · South Nowra · Tapitallee · Terara · Watersleigh · West Nowra · Worrigee
australiancrimerate.com.au/suburb/nsw/nowra/ · Australian Crime Map