🔍

Kanahooka

NSW 2530 • Rest of NSW

5,698
Population (2021)
$72,748
Median Household Income
3.67 km²
Area
$450/wk
Median Rent
Family-FriendlyAffordableYoung Families

About Kanahooka

Kanahooka is a residential suburb located in the Wollongong local government area in New South Wales, situated approximately 8 kilometres south of Wollongong CBD in the Dapto corridor. The suburb is part of the broader Wollongong urban area and sits at a low elevation of around 11 metres on the coastal plain between Lake Illawarra and the Illawarra Escarpment. With a population of about 5,700, Kanahooka is a well-established working-class and middle-income community that developed significantly in the mid-to-late twentieth century. It is bordered by neighbouring suburbs Dapto, Koonawarra, and Brownsville.

Kanahooka has a quiet, suburban character with a strong sense of community among its predominantly family-oriented population. Residents enjoy proximity to Lake Illawarra for water recreation, as well as parks and green spaces throughout the suburb. Dapto town centre, just minutes away, provides supermarkets, shops, and services including Dapto railway station with access to Sydney via the South Coast Line. The suburb is affordable by Wollongong standards and appeals to young families, workers commuting to either Wollongong or Sydney, and long-term residents who value the lake-side lifestyle of the Illawarra.

Kanahooka falls under postcode 2530 and is governed by Wollongong Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Wollongong electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2530
Urban Area
Wollongong
LGA / Council
Wollongong
Federal Electorate
Whitlam
State Electorate
Wollongong
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-34.49°, 150.82°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
3.67 km²
Elevation
11m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Kanahooka for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$894K
92 sales · ▲ 2.7% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$830K
16 sales · ▲ 9.1% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$450
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,000
Avg Household Size
2.5 people
Median Age
48 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
0.5%

0 state housing + 12 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Dapto Station
1.8 km
22 min

Bus Services

  • 33, 35 — Wollongong / Dapto 15-25 min

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
80 km
By Train
~90 min to Central via South Coast Line from Dapto
By Car (Peak)
90-120 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
70-80 min

🛣️ M1 Princes Motorway provides road access north to Sydney; Wollongong CBD is approximately 15 min by train or car

Walkability Car-Dependent

Mostly car-dependent for daily errands; walking paths near lake foreshore areas

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🌳 Parks & Reserves

There are 8 parks and reserves in Kanahooka.

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Wollongong Local Government Area, which contains Kanahooka. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
216.8 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 5.9%
Motor vehicle theft
190.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Non-DV assault
342.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
11.3 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
371.3 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 5.5%
View all 62 offence types for Wollongong →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
5,575
Census 2021
5,698
▲ 2.2% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$27,664
Personal Income 2021
$33,332
▲ 20.5% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$33,332 / yr
$641/wk
Household
$72,748 / yr
$1399/wk
Family
$93,860 / yr
$1805/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 4,399
Born Overseas 1,097

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 391
  • 2. Scotland 73
  • 3. Germany 68
  • 4. Philippines 56
  • 5. Italy 52
  • 6. New Zealand 49
  • 7. North Macedonia 35
  • 8. Wales 31
  • 9. Netherlands 28
  • 10. Malta 26

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 2,554
Australian 2,219
Irish 562
Scottish 552
Italian 273
German 253
Australian Aboriginal 181
Dutch 115
Macedonian 101
Maltese 94

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

3,181
Both parents born in Australia
1,493
Both parents born overseas
815
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
59.7%
No Religion
34.4%
Buddhism
0.5%
Hinduism
0.3%
Islam
0.3%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
285 (5.0%)
5-14 years
629 (11.0%)
15-19 years
301 (5.3%)
20-24 years
261 (4.6%)
25-34 years
535 (9.4%)
35-44 years
608 (10.7%)
45-54 years
675 (11.8%)
55-64 years
638 (11.2%)
65-74 years
826 (14.5%)
75-84 years
657 (11.5%)
85+ years
272 (4.8%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What train station serves Kanahooka? +

The nearest train station is Dapto Station on the South Coast Line, approximately 1.8 km from Kanahooka. Trains run to Wollongong in about 10 minutes and to Sydney Central in approximately 90 minutes.

Is Kanahooka close to Lake Illawarra? +

Yes, Kanahooka is one of the suburbs bordering Lake Illawarra, making it popular with boating and fishing enthusiasts. Several lake foreshore reserves are accessible to residents.

What is the population of Kanahooka? +

According to the 2021 Census, Kanahooka had a population of 5,698 residents in the City of Wollongong LGA.

How far is Kanahooka from Wollongong CBD? +

Kanahooka is approximately 8 km south of Wollongong CBD. By car it takes about 10-15 minutes, or you can catch a train from nearby Dapto station.

What is the average income in Kanahooka? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Kanahooka is about $641 per week (around $33,300 per year). The median household income is $1,399 per week and the median family income is $1,805 per week.

What is the median house price in Kanahooka? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $893,700, up 2.7% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $830,000, up 9.1% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Kanahooka? +

The median age in Kanahooka is 48. The largest age group is 65–74 (826 residents, around 14%). Around 21% of residents are under 20 and about 31% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Kanahooka a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Kanahooka is part of the Wollongong LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Kanahooka? +

In Kanahooka, the median weekly rent is $450, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,000 (2021 Census).