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 Feb 2026, Coniston's population is estimated at around 2,406, reflecting an increase of 139 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a growth rate of 6.1%, with a resident population estimate of 2,322 based on AreaSearch's analysis of ABS ERP data from Jun 2024 and validation of new addresses. The suburb's population density is 2,269 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Coniston's growth since the Census exceeded that of the Rest of NSW at 5.9%, marking it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 85.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, the suburb is forecasted to experience significant population growth, expanding by 798 persons to 2041 and recording a gain of 29.7% in total over the 17 years.

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 shows Coniston averaged approximately 7 new dwelling approvals annually over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 37 homes. As of FY26, 1 approval has been recorded. Over these 5 years, an average of 0.7 new residents arrived per new home constructed. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more housing options and facilitating population growth.

The average value of new properties under construction is $536,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY26, $1.9 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's residential nature. Building activity shows 12.0% detached houses and 88.0% attached dwellings, favouring higher-density living which creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift is notable compared to the current housing composition of 51.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles.

Coniston has a population density of around 293 people per dwelling approval, characteristic of a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Coniston is projected to add 714 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially 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, Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), Wollongong Hospital ED Short Stay Units, Kenny Street Mixed-Use Tower 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 essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 8.1% as of December 2025, showing relative stability compared to the previous year's data aggregated by AreaSearch. As of that date, 1,241 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 4.1% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Coniston was 66.6%, exceeding Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census responses, 30.3% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Finance & insurance had a particularly high employment share, at 2.1 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence with 0.3% employment compared to 5.3% regionally.

The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.7, indicating local employment opportunities above the norm. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 0.3%, while labour force increased by 0.4%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Regional NSW saw a 1.2% decrease in employment, a 0.8% contraction in labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Coniston's employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolations of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

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

Coniston's median income among taxpayers was $44,272 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $60,504 during the same period. These figures were lower than Regional NSW's median and average incomes of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. By September 2025, estimated median and average incomes in Coniston would be approximately $48,194 and $65,865 based on an 8.86% growth since financial year 2023. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Coniston ranked modestly between the 36th and 37th percentiles. Income analysis revealed that 31.8% of Coniston's population, equating to 765 individuals, fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, closely mirroring the metropolitan region where 29.9% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Coniston, with only 83.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 37th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

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

Coniston's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 50.8% houses and 49.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Regional NSW's composition of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Coniston was at 31.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.6% and rented ones at 42.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,820, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Coniston was recorded at $350, compared to Regional NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Coniston's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 constitute 62.6% of all households, broken down into 25.1% couples with children, 25.1% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for 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 educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 27.3%, exceeding 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 also prominent, with 34.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (23.3%) being the most common.

Educational participation is high at 31.2%, including 9.1% in tertiary education, 8.9% in primary education, and 5.9% pursuing 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 individual routes, facilitating a total of 2,186 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents located an average of 154 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 88%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, 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. Service frequency averages 312 trips per day across all routes, 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 substantial across both younger and older age groups. Mental health issues affect 10.0% of residents, while arthritis impacts 8.8%. Approximately 51% (~1,224 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. Notably, 64.7% of Coniston residents report having no medical ailments, slightly higher than the 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Coniston has 19.2% (461 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Senior health outcomes present some challenges but align broadly with national rankings.

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 cultural diversity surpassed most local markets, with 31.9% born overseas and 33.0% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity dominated Coniston's religion at 55.2%. Islam was overrepresented at 4.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.8%.

Ancestry-wise, English (20.8%) and Australian (20.2%) were lower than regional averages of 30.5% and 30.0% respectively. 'Other' ancestry was higher at 10.7%, against a regional average of 4.8%. Notably, Macedonian (9.2%), Serbian (3.4%), and Croatian (1.9%) ethnicities were overrepresented in Coniston compared to Regional NSW's 0.4%, 0.2%, and 0.3% respectively.

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

Coniston's median age is 38, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 but matches the national norm also at 38. The 25-34 age group has a strong representation in Coniston at 19.6%, compared to Regional NSW's figure. However, the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent in Coniston at 8.9%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is notably higher than the national average of 14.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of the population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 15.8% to 19.6%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.6% to 10.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Coniston's age profile will significantly change. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 49%, adding 231 people and reaching a total of 703 from the current figure of 471. Meanwhile, the 75-84 group is expected to grow more modestly at 8%, with an increase of just 12 residents.