Coniston

An assessment of population growth drivers in Coniston reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Coniston is around 2,298. This figure represents an increase of 31 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,267. The latest estimate by AreaSearch, based on examination of the ERP data release from June 2025 and additional validated new addresses, is 2,294 residents. This results in a density ratio of 2,167 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 85% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2-level projections from 2022 using a base year of 2021 are utilized. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, the suburb of Coniston is forecasted to experience significant population growth in the top quartile of regional areas nationally. By 2041, the area is expected to expand by 764 persons, reflecting a gain of 33.1% over the 16-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates Coniston averaged around 7 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 37 homes. As of FY26, 1 approval has been recorded. During this period, population fell but housing supply remained adequate relative to demand, maintaining a balanced market with good buyer choice. New properties are constructed at an average value of $536,000, targeting the premium segment.

In FY26, $1.9 million in commercial development approvals were recorded, reflecting the area's residential nature. Building activity shows 12.0% detached houses and 88.0% attached dwellings, favouring higher-density living for affordability and suitability to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift diverges from Coniston's existing housing composition of 51.0% houses, suggesting decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles seeking diverse, affordable options. With approximately 289 people per dwelling approval, Coniston exhibits low-density characteristics.

AreaSearch projects Coniston to add 760 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Coniston has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting the region: Wollongong to Coniston Rail Infrastructure Upgrade, Wollongong Private Hospital Expansion, Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone, and Avani Wollongong Hotel and Aspen Mixed-Use Development are key projects, with the following list detailing 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.

Employment drivers in Coniston are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Coniston has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 8.2%, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation as of December 2025. There are 1,160 residents employed, with an unemployment rate 4.2% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation stands at 63.1%, slightly above Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census data shows that 30.3% of residents work from home, possibly influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area has a notable specialization in finance & insurance, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.7, indicating above-average local employment opportunities. Over the year ending December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.0% and employment fell by 1.1%, keeping unemployment relatively stable. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 1.2%, labour force contract by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that while overall employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth patterns vary significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Coniston's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Coniston suburb's income level is lower than average nationally, per latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Coniston's median taxpayer income is $44,272, with an average of $60,504. Regional NSW figures are $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By March 2026, estimated incomes are approximately $48,841 (median) and $66,748 (average), considering a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census 2021 income data places Coniston's household, family, and personal incomes modestly between the 36th and 37th percentiles. Income analysis shows 31.8% of residents (730 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to metropolitan regions at 29.9%. Housing affordability is severe with only 83.2% income remaining, ranking at the 37th percentile. Coniston's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Coniston, as per the latest Census, consisted of 50.8% houses and 49.2% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coniston stood at 31.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.6% and rented ones at 42.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, exceeding Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Coniston was recorded at $350, slightly higher than Regional NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Coniston's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Coniston features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 62.6% of all households, including 25.1% couples with children, 25.1% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.4%, with lone person households at 31.7% and group households comprising 5.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional NSW average.

Coniston shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 27.3%, surpassing the Rest of NSW average of 21.3%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 18.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are held by 34.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 23.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.2% currently enrolled in formal education: 9.1% in tertiary, 8.9% in primary, and 5.9% in secondary education.

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

Coniston has 24 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 32 routes, accommodating 2,186 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents located an average of 154 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 88%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.1, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 30.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 312 trips per day, equating to approximately 91 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Coniston is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Coniston faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 51% (~1,169 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (10.0%) and arthritis (8.8%). About 64.7% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 19.5% of residents aged 65 and over (448 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

Coniston 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

Coniston's population showed higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 31.9% born overseas and 33.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Coniston, accounting for 55.2%. Islam's representation stood out at 4.2%, significantly higher than Regional NSW's 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (20.8%), Australian (20.2%), and Other (10.7%). Notably, Macedonian ancestry was overrepresented at 9.2% compared to the regional average of 0.4%. Serbian ancestry also stood out at 3.4%, higher than Regional NSW's 0.2%. Croatian ancestry was present at 1.9%, slightly higher than the regional average of 0.3%.

Coniston's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Coniston has a median age of 38, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 but matches the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 19.0% of Coniston's population, higher than Regional NSW's figure. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort comprises 8.7%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 15.8% to 19.0%, while the 45-54 group has decreased from 12.6% to 10.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Coniston's age profile, with the 25-34 group leading this shift by growing by 52% (227 people), reaching 664 from 436.