Wollongbar

Wollongbar lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of May 2026, Wollongbar's population is estimated at around 3,323, reflecting an increase of 62 people since the 2021 Census. This increase corresponds to a 1.9% change from the previous population figure of 3,261. The latest resident population estimate by AreaSearch, following examination of ABS's June 2025 ERP data release and validation of new addresses, is 3,269. Wollongbar's population density stands at 188 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, ending in May 2026, Wollongbar has demonstrated a compound annual growth rate of 1.5%, outperforming its SA4 region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 48.0% to recent overall population gains, with other drivers such as overseas migration and natural growth also being positive factors.

AreaSearch's projections for Wollongbar are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former. Future population trends indicate an above median growth for regional areas nationally, with Wollongbar projected to grow by 737 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 20.6% over the 16-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Wollongbar when compared nationally

Wollongbar averaged approximately 22 new dwelling approvals annually between FY-21 and FY-25. This totals around 113 homes approved over the past five financial years, with an additional 12 approved in FY-26. Each newly constructed home attracted an average of 2 people moving to the area during this period.

The average construction cost value for new dwellings was approximately $561,000, indicating a focus on premium market segments. In FY-26, commercial approvals amounted to $2.2 million, reflecting Wollongbar's residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Wollongbar had 18.0% more development per person over the five-year period from FY-21 to FY-25. This maintained good buyer choice while supporting existing property values.

The new building activity showed a mix of housing types: 64.0% detached houses and 36.0% medium and high-density housing. This shift from the current housing mix (84.0% houses) reflects reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands. The population density in Wollongbar was approximately 159 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. Future projections estimate Wollongbar's population to increase by 683 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, although increasing competition among buyers may arise as the population expands.

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

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure. AreaSearch has identified three projects that are expected to influence this area. Notable projects include Wollongbar Public Preschool, Wollongbar Housing Project, Verandah Lifestyle Estate, and Woodburn-Casino Road Upgrade. The following list details those projects deemed most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market strength in Wollongbar positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Wollongbar has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 2.0%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,630 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.9% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation is 63.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. A moderate 16.6% of residents work from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area specializes in education & training, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while mining employs just 0.2% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 2.5%.

Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.4%, alongside a 1.5% employment decline, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 2.0%. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2%, labour force decline of 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points to 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wollongbar's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account 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 Wollongbar's median income among taxpayers was $48,162 and the average was $63,992. This is lower than national averages. Regional NSW had a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $53,132 (median) and $70,596 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, Wollongbar's household incomes ranked at the 44th percentile. Family incomes were at the 46th percentile, and personal incomes at the 47th percentile. The largest earnings segment in Wollongbar comprised 35.0% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,163 residents). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 44th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Wollongbar is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Wollongbar, as per the latest Census evaluation, 84.3% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 15.7% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wollongbar stood at 37.8%, similar to Regional NSW, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.3% and rented ones at 24.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,842, higher than the Regional NSW average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Wollongbar was $420, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Wollongbar's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $420 versus the national figure of $375.

Wollongbar has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 76.8% of all households, including 32.0% couples with children, 29.8% couples without children, and 14.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for 23.2%, comprising 20.2% lone person households and 2.9% group households. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Wollongbar performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Wollongong's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks, with 24.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 32.2% in NSW. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 39.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (28.9%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.9% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wollongong has 116 active public transport stops operating within Wollongbar. These are serviced by 24 individual bus routes, providing a total of 394 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 100 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 95%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 16.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 56 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 3 weekly trips per stop. The map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

The level of general health in Wollongbar is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Wollongbar shows above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both young and old age cohorts have low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is approximately 52% of the total population (~1,736 people), leading the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues impacting 9.5% of residents and asthma affecting 8.4%. A total of 67.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 20.7% of residents aged 65 and over (687 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings higher than the general population.

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

Wollongong was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 88.8% of its population born in Australia as of 2016 Census data. A total of 93.7% were Australian citizens and 95.2% spoke English only at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, comprising 54.5% of Wollongong's population compared to the Regional NSW average of 55.9%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups in Wollongong were English (31.8%), Australian (28.8%), and Irish (9.1%). Notably, Scottish ancestry was overrepresented at 9.0% compared to the regional average of 8.0%, while Spanish ancestry was slightly higher at 0.5% versus 0.3%, and Welsh ancestry was also marginally higher at 0.6% compared to 0.5%.

Wollongbar's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Wollongongbar as of 2021 is 40 years, which is slightly below the Regional NSW average of 43 but above the Australian median of 38. The percentage of individuals aged 15-24 in Wollongongbar is notably higher at 13.3%, compared to the Regional NSW average, while those aged 55-64 are under-represented at 10.7%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the percentage of individuals aged 15-24 increased from 12.0% to 13.3%, while the percentages for those aged 45-54 decreased from 13.0% to 11.4% and those aged 55-64 dropped from 12.0% to 10.7%. Population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes by 2041, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to expand by 130 people (35%), from 375 to 506. The 15-24 age group is expected to grow more modestly, adding only 17 residents.