Wollongong - West

Wollongong - West has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Wollongong - West's population is approximately 17,937 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,386 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 16,551. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,352 in June 2024 and an additional 157 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,169 persons per square kilometer, placing Wollongong - West in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 8.4% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA3 area (4.4%) and the Rest of NSW, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 84.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, Wollongong - West is forecasted to increase its population by 6,000 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 30.2% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Wollongong - West recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Wollongong - West has seen approximately 81 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 408 homes were approved, with another 7 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 0.2 people moved into the area each year for every dwelling built during these years.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new properties is $370,000. In FY26, commercial development approvals totaled $28.3 million, showing moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Wollongong - West has seen 17.0% less new development per person. Nationally, it ranks in the 49th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings.

The current building activity shows a skew towards compact living, with 20.0% detached houses and 80.0% medium to high-density housing. This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 48.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for more diverse, affordable housing options. Wollongong - West has around 336 people per dwelling approval, indicating a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain approximately 5,415 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep up with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Wollongong - West has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 28 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Wollongong Hospital Redevelopment - Planning and Equipment Upgrades, Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy, Kenny Street Mixed-Use Tower, and Wollongong Hospital ED Short Stay Units. 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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Wollongong - West faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Wollongong-West has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. As of September 2025, its unemployment rate is 7.9%. Over the past year, it has maintained relative employment stability.

There are 9,291 residents employed, with an unemployment rate that exceeds Rest of NSW's by 4.1 percentage points. Workforce participation in Wollongong-West stands at 67.3%, higher than Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 32.6% of residents work from home.

Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.3% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 0.4%, labour force by 0.2%, resulting in a slight decrease in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5% and an increase in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wollongong-West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The latest AreaSearch postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Wollongong - West SA2 has median income of $48,797 and average income of $63,234. This is lower than Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated median income as of September 2025 would be approximately $53,120 and average income $68,837. According to the 2021 Census, Wollongong - West's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 39th and 41st percentiles. The largest income bracket comprises 31.0% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly (5,560 residents), similar to the surrounding region at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 81.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 39th percentile. Wollongong - West's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Wollongong - West displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Wollongong - West, as per the latest Census evaluation, 47.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 52.2% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This is in contrast to Non-Metro NSW's dwelling structure, which was 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wollongong - West stood at 26.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.6% and rented ones at 47.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure for Wollongong - West was recorded at $380, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Wollongong - West's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Wollongong - West features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 59.6% of all households, including 24.4% couples with children, 23.9% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.4%, with lone person households at 29.8% and group households comprising 10.6%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

The educational profile of Wollongong - West exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Wollongong - West shows a significant advantage with 36.9% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications compared to the broader benchmarks of 21.3% in Rest of NSW and 25.2% in SA4 region. This area's educational advantage is reflected in its high proportion of residents with bachelor degrees (23.4%), postgraduate qualifications (10.8%), and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.8% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (20.1%). Educational participation is notably high in Wollongong - West, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 13.0% in tertiary education, 7.4% in primary education, and 6.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Wollongong - West has 138 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 61 individual routes, collectively providing 5,520 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 139 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 81%, while 8% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 32.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 788 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 40 weekly trips per stop. The map provided shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Wollongong - West's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

AreaSearch's analysis shows Wollongong - West residents have mortality rates and health conditions similar to national benchmarks. Common health conditions are less prevalent among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts compared to national averages.

Approximately 50% of residents (~9,058 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.2 and 7.2% respectively. About 69.5% of residents report no medical ailments, higher than Rest of NSW's 63.3%. Health outcomes among working-age residents are typical. Wollongong - West has 13.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,439 people), lower than Rest of NSW's 23.0%, but still ranks below the national average for this age group.

Wollongong - West was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Wollongong-West, as per the Australian Census 2016 data, shows a higher level of cultural diversity compared to most local markets. The overseas-born population constitutes 32.4%, with 30.2% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Wollongong-West, making up 49.2%.

However, Islam's representation is significantly higher at 4.6%, compared to the Rest of NSW average of 0.8%. Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (22.0%), Australian (21.0%), and Other (12.3%). Notably, these percentages are lower than regional averages except for the 'Other' category. Specific ethnic groups like Macedonian (4.2% vs regional 0.4%), Serbian (2.2% vs regional 0.2%), and Croatian (1.0% vs regional 0.3%) show significant overrepresentation in Wollongong-West.

Wollongong - West hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

The median age in Wollongong-West is 33 years, which is lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 and the national average of 38. The 25-34 cohort makes up 22.3% of Wollongong-West's population, compared to 17.6% in Rest of NSW and 14.5% nationally. Conversely, those aged 65-74 constitute only 7.0% of Wollongong-West's population, lower than the national average of 18.2%. According to Census data from 2021, the proportion of people aged 25-34 has increased from 19.0% to 22.3%, while those aged 45-54 have decreased from 11.7% to 10.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate that Wollongong-West's 25-34 age group will grow by 55%, reaching 6,184 people from the current figure of 4,001.