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 is 9,185 as of May 2026. This shows an increase of 416 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,769. The change is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 9,159 in June 2025 and an additional 59 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2.5 persons per square kilometer. Wellington's growth rate of 4.7% since the 2021 census exceeds both the SA4 region (2.8%) and SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 47.1% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including overseas 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 are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Wellington is expected to grow by just below the median rate of Australia's non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, its population is projected to increase by 605 persons, reflecting a total increase of 6.3% over the 16 years, based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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 has averaged approximately 18 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 92 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 22 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 1.1 people moved to the area for each 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.

In FY-26, $5.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Wellington's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Wellington records significantly lower building activity, 63.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction consists of 83.0% detached dwellings and 17.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional 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 579 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Wellington has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 35 projects likely impacting the area. Key initiatives 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 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.

The employment landscape in Wellington presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.6%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Wellington has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 3.6%. As of December 2025, 3,359 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Wellington stands at 46.6%, significantly lower than Regional NSW's 60.5%.

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 has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 2.9 times the regional level. Conversely, manufacturing employs just 2.7% of local workers, lower than Regional NSW's 5.8%.

The area may have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the working population compared to the resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, Wellington's labour force decreased by 5.3%, and employment fell by 4.2%, leading to a drop in unemployment rate of 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 1.2% contraction in employment, a 0.8% fall in labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wellington's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though these are illustrative extrapolations and do not account for local population changes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Wellington SA2 has an income below the national average. The median income is $45,471 and the average income stands at $50,941. This contrasts with Regional NSW's figures of a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $50,164 (median) and $56,198 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Wellington fall between the 10th and 13th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 27.3% of locals (2,507 people) earn between $800 and $1,499, differing from metropolitan regions where the predominant category is $1,500 to $2,999 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

Wellington's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.5% houses and 6.5% other dwellings. In Regional NSW, this was 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wellington stood at 42.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.1% and rented ones at 27.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,100, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Wellington was $230, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Wellington's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,100 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were 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 comprise the remaining 34.8%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households making up 3.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional 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 disparity 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 that facilitate 1,038 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have excellent access to transport, with an average distance of 177 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, primarily using cars (90%), while 7% walk. 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.

The service frequency averages 148 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 3 weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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 affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46% of Wellington's total population (~4,234 people), compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 10.9% of residents) and mental health issues (9.2%). However, 61.3% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Wellington has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (21.0%, or 1,931 people) than Regional NSW (23.4%). While senior health outcomes align with national rankings, they present some challenges.

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 Australian citizens, 91.6% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion in Wellington is Christianity, comprising 65.6% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (31.3%), English (28.6%), and Australian Aboriginal (15.2%), which is significantly 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 remains similar at 0.4%.

Wellington's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Wellington's median age is 41 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but higher than the national average of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 13.5% of Wellington's population, compared to Regional NSW's figure. The 75-84 cohort constitutes 6.8%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35-44 age group grew from 11.6% to 12.8%, while the 55-64 cohort decreased from 13.6% to 12.5%. Demographic modeling indicates significant changes in Wellington's age profile by 2041. The 35-44 cohort is projected to grow by 16%, adding 185 residents to reach 1,363. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 55-64 cohorts.