Wellington

Wellington is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Wellington's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 9,222 people. This figure represents an increase of 453 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,769 people. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,122 in June 2024 and an additional 56 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2.6 persons per square kilometer. Wellington's population growth rate of 5.2% since the 2021 Census exceeded both the SA4 region (3.2%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader within its region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 43.1% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to grow by approximately 631 persons to reach 9,853 people by 2041, reflecting an increase of around 5.8% in total over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Wellington, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Wellington averaged approximately 18 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 92 homes. By June 2026, 14 approvals had been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 1.1 people moved to the area per dwelling built. However, this figure increased to 10.7 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, indicating growing popularity and potential supply constraints. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $329,000.

This financial year, $5.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Wellington's primarily residential nature. Compared to the rest of NSW, Wellington has significantly lower building activity, 64.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction comprises 83.0% detached dwellings and 17.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's low density character focused on family homes. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1074 people.

According to AreaSearch quarterly estimates, Wellington is projected to gain 531 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should meet demand comfortably, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current projections.

Wellington has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence a region's performance. AreaSearch has identified 34 projects potentially impacting this area. Notable ones include Wellington Roads To Home Project Nanima Village, Wellington Battery Energy Storage System, Orana Battery Energy Storage System, and Wellington North Solar Farm. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Wellington recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Wellington has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, notable in essential services. Its unemployment rate as of September 2025 is 4.4%. This is 0.6% higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Wellington lags behind at 46.8%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census data, only 13.1% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and public administration & safety. Wellington specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share of 2.9 times the regional level, while manufacturing employs just 2.7%, below Rest of NSW's 5.8%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and August 2025, Wellington's labour force decreased by 4.2% and employment by 4.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.5%, labour force fall by 0.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that over five years, Wellington's employment should increase by 5.9% and over ten years by 12.5%.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The latest postcode level ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 shows that Wellington SA2 had incomes below the national average. The median income was $45,471 and the average income was $50,941. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures where the median income was $52,390 and the average income was $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Wellington SA2 would be approximately $49,500 (median) and $55,454 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Wellington all fall between the 10th and 13th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile reveals that the predominant cohort spans 27.3% of locals (2,517 people) with income in the $800 - 1,499 category, differing from metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 29.9%. Housing costs are modest, with 87.9% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 14th percentile nationally.

Wellington is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Wellington, as recorded at the latest Census, consisted of 93.5% houses and 6.5% other dwellings such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro NSW's structure of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Wellington was higher than that in Non-Metro NSW, at 42.7%. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (30.1%) or rented (27.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,100, which is below the Non-Metro NSW average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Wellington was recorded at $230, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Wellington's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wellington features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 65.2% of all households, including 22.1% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 13.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.8%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

Wellington faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 15.4%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 44.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (34.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 37.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.1% in primary education, 10.8% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Wellington has 323 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are covered by 36 individual routes, offering 1,038 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have excellent access to transport, with an average distance of 177 meters to the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 90%, while walking accounts for 7%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 13.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 148 trips per day, resulting in approximately 3 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Wellington is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Wellington faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Several health conditions impact both younger and older age groups prominently. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of Wellington's total population (around 4,251 people), compared to 51.9% in the rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 10.9% and 9.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 61.3% of residents claim to have no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in the rest of NSW. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. Wellington has 20.8% of its residents aged 65 and over (1,917 people), lower than the 23.4% in the rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings for the overall population.

The latest Census data sees Wellington placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Wellington's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 78.6% of its population being citizens, 91.6% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Wellington, comprising 65.6% of people, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (31.3%), English (28.6%), and Australian Aboriginal (15.2%), which is substantially higher than the regional average of 4.6%.

Notably, Irish ethnicity is overrepresented in Wellington at 7.8%, compared to 8.8% regionally, while French ethnicity stands at 0.4%, matching the regional figure.

Wellington's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Wellington's median age is 41 years, which is lower than the Rest of NSW average of 43 but higher than the national average of 38. The 25-34 age group comprises 14.0% of Wellington's population, higher than the Rest of NSW figure, while the 75-84 cohort makes up 6.8%, lower than the Rest of NSW percentage. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 11.6% to 12.8% of Wellington's population, while the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 13.6% to 12.4%. Demographic modeling indicates that by 2041, Wellington's age profile will change significantly. The 35 to 44 cohort is projected to grow strongly at a rate of 15%, adding 176 residents to reach 1,353. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 cohorts.