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 17,611 as of May 2026. This represents an increase of 1,060 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 16,551. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,595 in June 2025 and an additional 194 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,111 persons per square kilometer, placing Wollongong - West in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessment. The area's growth rate of 6.4% since the 2021 census exceeds both the SA3 area (4.7%) and the Rest of NSW, indicating it is a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.7% 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. By 2041, Wollongong - West is forecasted to grow by 5,621 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 31.8% over the 16-year period.

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 an additional 11 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 0.2 people moved to the area for each 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 cost value of new properties was $370,000. In FY26, Wollongong - West has recorded approximately $28.3 million in commercial development approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Wollongong - West has 17.0% less new development per person and ranks among the 49th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings. Regarding housing types, around 20.0% were detached houses, while approximately 80.0% were medium to high-density housing.

This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This represents a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, currently at 48.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles. With around 336 people per dwelling approval, Wollongong - West shows a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain approximately 5,605 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Twenty-nine infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area's performance. Key projects include Wollongong Private Hospital Expansion, Avani Wollongong Hotel and Aspen Mixed-Use Development, 300 Crown, and Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy. 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 assessment indicates Wollongong - West faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Wollongong - West has an educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 8.1% as of December 2025. Employment grew by 0.5% over the past year.

There were 9,338 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 4.2%, higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was high at 67.0%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. A significant portion, 32.6%, of residents worked from home according to Census responses.

Key employment industries were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had lower representation at 0.3% versus the regional average of 5.3%. Employment increased by 0.5% while labour force grew by 0.6%, with unemployment remaining stable over the year to December 2025. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 1.2% and labour force decrease by 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wollongong - West's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is an illustrative extrapolation not accounting for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest 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 below national averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) for Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated median income as of March 2026 is approximately $53,833 and average income is $69,760. According to 2021 Census figures, Wollongong - West's incomes rank modestly between the 39th and 41st percentiles for households, families, and individuals. The largest income bracket comprises 31.0% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly (5,459 residents), similar to surrounding regions 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

The dwelling structure in Wollongong - West, as per the latest Census, consisted of 47.8% houses and 52.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wollongong - West was at 26.7%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (25.6%) or rented (47.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $380, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Wollongong - West's median monthly 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 Regional NSW average.

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

Educational attainment in Wollongong - West significantly surpasses broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 36.9% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in Rest of NSW and 25.2% in SA4 region. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 23.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 10.8% and graduate diplomas at 2.7%.

Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 29.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 9.7% and certificates at 20.1%. Educational participation is notably high, 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 are covered by 61 routes, serving 5,520 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 139 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of travel at 81%, while 8% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 32.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 788 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 40 weekly trips per stop. The provided map displays 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

Wollongong - West residents have shown relatively positive health outcomes according to AreaSearch's analysis. Mortality rates and health conditions are largely in line with national benchmarks, despite a higher prevalence of common health conditions among older, at-risk cohorts compared to the national average.

Approximately 50% (~8,893 people) of the population has private health cover, which is lower than the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (10.2%) and arthritis (7.2%). About 69.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are generally typical for the area. Wollongong - West has a lower proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 13.7% (2,409 people), compared to Regional NSW's 23.4%.

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 had a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 32.4% of its population born overseas and 30.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Wollongong-West, making up 49.2% of its population. However, Islam was significantly overrepresented, comprising 4.6%, compared to Regional NSW's average of 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (22.0%), Australian (21.0%), and Other (12.3%). Notably, Macedonian (4.2%), Serbian (2.2%), and Croatian (1.0%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to Regional NSW averages of 0.4%, 0.2%, and 0.3% respectively.

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

The median age in Wollongong - West is 33 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 and the national average of 38. The area has a notably higher proportion of individuals aged 25-34 (22.6%) compared to Regional NSW's average, while those aged 65-74 are under-represented at 6.9%. This concentration of young adults is well above the national average of 14.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, Wollongong - West has become younger, with its median age dropping from 34 to 33 years. The proportion of individuals aged 25-34 has increased from 19.0% to 22.6%, while the 45-54 age group has declined from 11.7% to 9.8%. By 2041, Wollongong - West is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 51%, reaching 5,998 individuals from the current 3,985.