Wellington (NSW)

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the population of Wellington NSW is estimated at around 4,336 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 240 people (5.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,096 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,283 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 2 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 272 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Wellington's growth rate of 5.9% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA4 region (3.2%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 43.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections 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. Anticipating future population dynamics, the suburb is expected to grow by 285 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 5.3% in total over the 17-year period.

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 seen minimal construction activity with 2 new dwellings approved annually on average over the period from 2016 to 2020. This low level of development is typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It should be noted that the small sample size can significantly influence annual growth and relativity statistics.

Wellington has shown less construction activity compared to Rest of NSW, with its activity levels also below national patterns. Recent developments have been exclusively standalone homes, targeting family homes suitable for those seeking a rural lifestyle and space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 2842 people in the area, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Wellington is projected to add 232 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Wellington has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely impacting the region: Wellington Battery Energy Storage System, Orana Battery Energy Storage System, Wellington Roads To Home Project at Nanima Village, and Wellington North Solar Farm. Details on these key initiatives are provided below.

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 labour market performance in Wellington lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Wellington has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well represented, and the unemployment rate is 5.5%. As of December 2025, 1,515 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 3.9% higher than Regional NSW's rate.

Workforce participation is lower at 47.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. According to Census data, only 6.8% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and construction. Public administration & safety has particularly high levels of employment, at 1.6 times the regional average.

Manufacturing employs just 2.4% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.8%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, Wellington's labour force decreased by 5.5% and employment declined by 4.1%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 1.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional NSW where employment contracted by 1.2%, the labour force fell by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that national employment is projected to expand by 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 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, the suburb of Wellington had a median income among taxpayers of $39,786 with the average level standing at $45,311. This is below the national average and compares to levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year ended June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $43,311 (median) and $49,326 (average). Census data for 2021 shows household, family and personal incomes in Wellington all fall between the 2nd and 7th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, the $400 - 799 bracket dominates with 31.1% of residents (1,348 people), contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 29.9%. The concentration of 40.9% in sub-$800 weekly brackets highlights economic challenges facing a significant portion of the community. After housing costs, 85.4% of income remains, though this ranks at only the 4th percentile nationally.

Wellington is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Wellington's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.8% houses and 11.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wellington was at 36.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.2% and rented ones at 38.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $936, below 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 lower than 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 lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 60.0% of all households, including 16.4% couples with children, 23.7% couples without children, and 18.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.0%, with lone person households at 36.5% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Wellington faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 12.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificates (31.8%). Educational participation is high at 32.8%, comprising primary education (14.3%), secondary education (8.5%), and tertiary education (2.2%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.3% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wellington has 83 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 22 routes, providing a total of 532 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent access to these stops, with an average distance of 164 meters to the nearest one. Most commuting in this primarily residential area is outward-bound. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 89%, while walking accounts for 7%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.0, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 6.8% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 76 trips per day, resulting in approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.

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 evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 45% of Wellington's total population (around 1,948 people), compared to Regional NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.6% and 10.3% of residents respectively. Conversely, 57.3% of Wellington residents claim to have no medical ailments, compared to Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age adults in the area face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Wellington has 22.0% of its population aged 65 and over (953 people), lower than Regional NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings for the overall population.

Wellington is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Wellington's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 82.1% of its population being citizens, 91.5% born in Australia, and 94.7% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Wellington is Christianity, accounting for 61.5% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Australian (28.4%), English (27.2%), and Australian Aboriginal (20.7%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 4.6%.

Notably, Spanish ethnicity is overrepresented in Wellington at 0.4% compared to 0.3% regionally, while French ethnicity is similarly represented at 0.4%, and Maltese ethnicity is slightly lower at 0.3% versus 0.4% regionally.

Wellington's median age exceeds the national pattern

Wellington's median age is 41 years, slightly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but higher than the national average of 38. The 25-34 age group comprises 13.1% of Wellington's population, higher than Regional NSW's figure. However, the 35-44 cohort makes up only 10.4%, lower than Regional NSW. Post-2021 Census data shows the 35 to 44 age group grew from 9.1% to 10.4%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort decreased from 13.7% to 12.5%. By 2041, Wellington's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 35 to 44 cohort is expected to grow by 15%, adding 69 residents to reach 520. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 cohorts.