🔍

Wollongong

NSW 2500 • Rest of NSW

20,446
Population (2021)
$80,548
Median Household Income
5.81 km²
Area
$410/wk
Median Rent
Coastal CityUniversity TownSea ChangeScenic Beauty

About Wollongong

Wollongong is NSW's third-largest city, a coastal centre of over 20,000 CBD residents where the Illawarra escarpment meets the Pacific Ocean. Once dependent on steelmaking, it's transformed into an education and lifestyle hub anchored by the University of Wollongong. The setting is spectacular—beaches in front, dramatic escarpment behind, creating scenery unmatched by any Australian city its size.

Crown Street Mall provides CBD shopping, while North Beach cafes and the harbour precinct offer waterfront dining. The free shuttle bus circulates the centre, and the coastal path stretches for kilometres. Wollongong attracts university students, Sydney sea-changers tired of commuting, and anyone who appreciates dramatic scenery with urban convenience. It's a proper city with a beach town soul.

Wollongong falls under postcode 2500 and is governed by Wollongong Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Wollongong electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2500
Urban Area
Wollongong
LGA / Council
Wollongong
Federal Electorate
Cunningham
State Electorate
Wollongong
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-34.43°, 150.89°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
5.81 km²
Elevation
11m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$1.3M
71 sales · ▲ 6.6% vs 2024
🏢Unit / Apartment
$751K
668 sales · ▲ 5.5% 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)
$410
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,950
Avg Household Size
2 people
Median Age
35 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
5.9%

490 state housing + 76 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • Local bus services — Sydney CBD Varies

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
69 km
By Train
Train access via local station
By Car (Peak)
70-120 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
55-90 min

🛣️ Located 69 km from Sydney CBD

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Daily errands can often be done on foot near local shopping strips, but a car is useful for larger trips

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

  • Coles
    200 Crown Street Wollongong 2500 NSW
  • Woolworths
    63 Burelli Street Wollongong 2500 NSW

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There are 10 heritage-listed places in or near Wollongong, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

North Beach Precinct
Cliff Road, Wollongong • SHR #01737
St Michael's Cathedral & Rectory
Church Street, Wollongong • SHR #00602
Wollongong Hospital Nurses Home
Darling Street, Wollongong • SHR #00836
Shop
87 Crown Street Wollongong • SHR #00467
Regent Theatre
197 Keira Street Wollongong • SHR #01735
Little Milton
31-33 Smith Street Wollongong • SHR #00272
Wollongong East Post Office
91 Crown Street Wollongong • SHR #01616
Wollongong Railway Station Group
Illawarra railway, Wollongong • SHR #01289
Wollongong Harbour Precinct
Cliff Road and Endeavour Drive, Wollongong • SHR #01823
Wollongong Original Telegraph Office & Post Office
11 Market Street, Wollongong • SHR #01940

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Wollongong Local Government Area, which contains Wollongong. 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
18,442
Census 2021
20,446
▲ 10.9% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$29,796
Personal Income 2021
$43,472
▲ 45.9% 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
$43,472 / yr
$836/wk
Household
$80,548 / yr
$1549/wk
Family
$105,768 / yr
$2034/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 12,871
Born Overseas 6,535

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 654
  • 2. China 621
  • 3. India 576
  • 4. North Macedonia 309
  • 5. Philippines 225
  • 6. New Zealand 217
  • 7. Vietnam 215
  • 8. Italy 196
  • 9. Thailand 173
  • 10. Nepal 143

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 6,228
Australian 5,192
Irish 2,116
Scottish 1,795
Italian 1,171
Chinese 1,083
German 776
Macedonian 707
Indian 580
Greek 488

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

8,278
Both parents born in Australia
8,426
Both parents born overseas
2,513
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
42.0%
No Religion
40.9%
Islam
4.3%
Hinduism
2.6%
Buddhism
2.3%
Sikhism
0.4%
Judaism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
756 (3.7%)
5-14 years
1,031 (5.0%)
15-19 years
727 (3.6%)
20-24 years
2,722 (13.3%)
25-34 years
4,887 (23.9%)
35-44 years
2,228 (10.9%)
45-54 years
1,975 (9.7%)
55-64 years
2,273 (11.1%)
65-74 years
1,942 (9.5%)
75-84 years
1,328 (6.5%)
85+ years
578 (2.8%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wollongong known for? +

Wollongong is a well-established residential suburb in Wollongong, NSW, with a population of approximately 20,446 residents. The suburb is valued for its local schools, parks, and community facilities.

How far is Wollongong from Sydney CBD? +

Wollongong is approximately 69 kilometres from Sydney CBD, typically a 55-90 min drive outside peak hours.

Does Wollongong have public transport? +

Wollongong is served by local bus services connecting to the broader NSW network. Nearby train stations provide access to Sydney CBD.

What is the population of Wollongong? +

According to the 2021 Census, Wollongong has a population of approximately 20,446 residents.

Is Wollongong a good place to live? +

Wollongong offers a practical and liveable lifestyle with local schools, parks, and shopping. With a median income around $45,346, it attracts a broad demographic mix.

What is the postcode for Wollongong? +

The postcode for Wollongong, NSW is 2500.

What is the average income in Wollongong? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Wollongong is about $836 per week (around $43,500 per year). The median household income is $1,549 per week and the median family income is $2,034 per week.

What is the median house price in Wollongong? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $1,300,000, up 6.6% on the previous year, and the median unit/apartment price is $751,000, up 5.5% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Wollongong? +

The median age in Wollongong is 35. The largest age group is 25–34 (4,887 residents, around 24%). Around 12% of residents are under 20 and about 19% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Wollongong a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Wollongong 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 Wollongong? +

In Wollongong, the median weekly rent is $410, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,950 (2021 Census).