Wollongong

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, Wollongong's population is estimated at around 22,865 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 2,419 people (11.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,446 people in the suburb. The change is inferred from the resident population of 22,456 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS on June 2024 and an additional 813 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,969 persons per square kilometer, placing Wollongong in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 93.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. 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 the 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. Looking ahead, exceptional growth is predicted over this period, placing Wollongong in the top 10 percent of national regional areas. The suburb is expected to increase by 15,208 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 64.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Wollongong among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Wollongong experienced approximately 337 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 1,688 homes were approved, with an additional 120 in FY-26 so far. This indicates an average of about 1.1 people moving to the area per dwelling built over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value for new homes was $405,000. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $133.8 million. Wollongong shows 177.0% higher construction activity per person compared to the Rest of NSW, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New developments consist of 3.0% detached dwellings and 97.0% attached dwellings, favoring compact living which offers affordable entry pathways for various buyers. Wollongong reflects a developing area with around 55 people per approval. Future projections estimate Wollongong adding 14,723 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Wollongong 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 35 projects likely affecting the region. Notable projects include Wollongong Hospital Redevelopment - Planning and Equipment Upgrades, WIN Grand, Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), and Wollongong to Coniston Rail Infrastructure Upgrade. The following list details 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 Wollongong are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Wollongong has a highly educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 6.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1%.

As of June 2025, 12,381 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.8% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation is standard at 60.0%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Wollongong has a particular employment specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.2% compared to 5.3% regionally. There is one worker for every resident, indicating Wollongong functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 1.1%, while labour force increased by 0.7%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.1%, labour force expand by 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wollongong's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 on Wollongong. The median income among taxpayers was $50,083 with an average of $68,445. Nationally, the median was lower at $49,459 and the average was $62,998. By September 2025, estimates suggest Wollongong's median income will be approximately $56,398 and the average will be around $77,076, based on a 12.61% growth in wages since financial year 2022. Census 2021 data shows personal income ranks at the 56th percentile with weekly earnings of $836, while household income is at the 38th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 33.4% of Wollongong's community earns between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (7,636 individuals), similar to regional levels where 29.9% falls into this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 79.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 34th percentile. Wollongong's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Wollongong features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Wollongong, as per the latest Census evaluation, 13.9% of dwellings were houses while 86.1% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's dwelling structure of 58.9% houses and 41.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wollongong stood at 25.1%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 18.4% and rented dwellings making up 56.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Wollongong was $1,950, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,189. The median weekly rent in Wollongong was $410, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $400. Nationally, Wollongong's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Wollongong features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 50.8% of all households, including 12.6% couples with children, 29.6% couples without children, and 7.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 49.2%, with lone person households at 37.4% and group households making up 11.8%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

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

Educational attainment in Wollongong is high, with 40.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 25.2% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 29.2% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (19.2%). Educational participation is notable, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 14.8% in tertiary education, 4.1% in primary education, and 3.4% pursuing secondary education.

Wollongong has five schools with a combined enrollment of 2,504 students. The area shows above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1078. The educational mix includes one primary school, three secondary schools, and one K-12 school. School places per 100 residents (10.9) are below the regional average (14.9), indicating some students may attend schools in nearby areas. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to their parent campus.

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

Wollongong has 109 active public transport stops. These include both train and bus services. There are 83 different routes operating in total.

Each week, these routes facilitate 6,166 passenger trips. Residents have excellent access to transport, with an average distance of 127 meters to the nearest stop. On a daily basis, there are 880 trips across all routes, which amounts to about 56 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Wollongong are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Wollongong shows below-average health outcomes, with common conditions more prevalent than average among both younger and older age groups. Approximately 54% (~12,344 people) have private health cover, compared to 56.6% across Rest of NSW.

Mental health issues affect 10.1% of residents, followed by arthritis at 8.3%. About 68.0% report no medical ailments, similar to the 68.6% in Rest of NSW. Wollongong has 17.5% (4,001 people) aged 65 and over, aligning with general population health profiles.

Wollongong 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's population showed higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 33.7% born overseas and 28.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Wollongong, accounting for 45.6%. Islam was overrepresented compared to the Rest of NSW, making up 4.6% versus 2.5%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.2%), Australian (19.3%) and Other (12.5%). Notable differences included Macedonian at 2.6% in Wollongong versus 1.5% regionally, Serbian at 1.3% versus 0.8%, and Spanish at 0.7% versus 0.5%.

Wollongong's population is younger than the national pattern

Wollongong's median age is 34, which is lower than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's figure of 38. Compared to Rest of NSW average, Wollongong has a notably higher percentage of 25-34 year-olds (27.4%) and a lower percentage of 5-14 year-olds (4.3%). The national percentage for the 25-34 age group is 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, Wollongong's median age has decreased by 1.2 years to 34 due to younger residents shifting the figure downwards. During this period, the 25-34 age group has grown from 23.9% to 27.4%, while the 45-54 age group has declined from 9.7% to 8.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Wollongong, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 82% (5,113 people), reaching a total of 11,379 from its current figure of 6,265.