Albion Park
A mortgage-belt suburb where half the housing stock has four or more bedrooms yet only 19.0% of adults hold university qualifications, 11.1 percentage points below the national average. Albion Park's 13,826 residents sit in households earning at the 72.9 percentile nationally ($1,938 weekly), well above median, but the SEIFA picture is split: IER decile 9 signals strong economic resources while IEO decile 4 reveals below-average education attainment. Car dependence runs extreme at 93.6% driver share, the highest among Illawarra suburbs, with public transport at just 0.7%. The median house price of $830,000 pairs with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making it one of the more affordable owner-occupied markets in the Wollongong corridor.
Population
13,826
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,938/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
82
Median House
$830K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $830,000 median house price grew just 0.6% year-on-year, placing Albion Park in a flat pricing band compared to faster-moving Illawarra coastal suburbs. Detached houses dominate at 85.1% of stock, and four-plus bedroom homes account for 50.9%, the largest share of any bedroom category. This skew reflects the suburb's role as a family-formation destination rather than a downsizer market. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,058 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.5%, well below the 30% stress line and lower than Sydney metro averages. Household income at the 72.9 percentile nationally provides a buffer, though the IEO decile 4 reading suggests earnings rely on trades and services rather than professional salary escalation. Buyers should note the 0.7% public transport share, meaning two-car households are essentially mandatory.
For Buyers
The $830,000 median house price grew just 0.6% year-on-year, placing Albion Park in a flat pricing band compared to faster-moving Illawarra coastal suburbs. Detached houses dominate at 85.1% of stock, and four-plus bedroom homes account for 50.9%, the largest share of any bedroom category. This skew reflects the suburb's role as a family-formation destination rather than a downsizer market. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,058 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.5%, well below the 30% stress line and lower than Sydney metro averages. Household income at the 72.9 percentile nationally provides a buffer, though the IEO decile 4 reading suggests earnings rely on trades and services rather than professional salary escalation. Buyers should note the 0.7% public transport share, meaning two-car households are essentially mandatory.
For Investors
Rental returns are constrained by the 17.8% renter share, one of the lower proportions in the Illawarra region, limiting the tenant pool to a small segment. Median weekly rent of $460 against the $830,000 median delivers a gross yield of roughly 2.9%, slightly above Sydney metro averages but below regional NSW benchmarks. The 2.8% vacancy rate is healthy and sits below the national equilibrium of 3.0%. Development activity is moderate with 92 applications lodged in 12 months, including medium density housing and demolition-rebuild projects. Population growth runs at 3.04% annually (153 persons per year), driven primarily by overseas migration at 100 net arrivals per year. The suburb grew 68.9% over 10 years, a pace that should sustain rental demand as new family households form.
Development Activity
Total DAs
517
Last 12 Months
82
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-6.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Albion Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Calderwood Christian School
K-12 · 504 students
St Paul's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 399 students
St Joseph's Catholic High School
7-12 · 736 students
Mount Terry Public School
K-6 · 635 students
Albion Park Public School
K-6 · 516 students
Demographics
English ancestry dominates at 5,921 residents, followed by Scottish (1,376) and Irish (1,326), placing Albion Park firmly in the Anglo-Australian cultural profile. Only 12.7% of residents were born overseas, 8.9 percentage points below the national average, reinforcing the homogeneous demographic. The median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, driven by the family-oriented household structure with an average size of 2.9 persons. University qualification rates at 19.0% sit well below the national 30.1% baseline, which explains the divergence between the strong IER decile 9 (economic resources from trades, construction) and weak IEO decile 4 (education attainment). Christianity accounts for 7,457 adherents, with Islam (77) and Buddhism (69) forming small minorities. The volunteering rate of 10.7% trails the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.1%
Houses
14.3%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure data reveals a mortgage-dominant suburb: 50.0% of households are paying off a mortgage compared to 32.2% owning outright, while renters make up just 17.8%. This lopsided mortgage share, above the national average, reflects recent buyer activity drawn by relative affordability compared to Wollongong proper. Three-bedroom homes account for 42.1% and four-plus bedrooms for 50.9%, producing a housing stock skewed toward larger family dwellings with virtually no studio or one-bedroom inventory (0.6%). The median moved from $830,000 to $835,000 over the latest year, a 0.6% gain that barely keeps pace with inflation. Semi-detached stock at 14.3% and apartments at just 0.5% confirm the suburb has not undergone significant densification despite the 92 DAs lodged in 12 months.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,058
Rent / wk
$460
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$804
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
2.8%
Unoccupied
134
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.6%
Couples, no children
12,010
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 20.6% (937 workers), followed by Construction at 12.1% (547), Education at 10.9% (495), Public Administration at 8.3% (376) and Retail at 7.4% (336). The construction share is above the national average, consistent with Albion Park's role in the Illawarra building corridor. Professionals form the largest occupational group at 1,052, but Community/Personal service workers (990) and Clerical/Admin (932) are close behind, reflecting an economy weighted toward service delivery rather than knowledge work. Unemployment sits at 3.6%, well below the national rate, while the 57.9% participation rate is lower than average, partly because 3,345 residents are not in the labour force. The SEIFA IER decile 9 score confirms strong economic resources despite the lower education attainment (IEO decile 4), a pattern typical of trade-dependent outer suburbs.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
13,173
Unemployed
431
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.1%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
57.9%
Employed
6,122
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.0%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
12.7%
Dwellings
4,703
Transport to Work
Car dependence defines daily life: 93.6% of commuters drive, only 0.7% use public transport, and 1.2% walk or cycle, placing Albion Park among the most car-reliant suburbs in regional NSW. The suburb has 7 schools serving roughly 4,036 students. Calderwood Christian School leads by ICSEA at 1,056 (504 enrolments, Independent), followed by St Paul's Catholic Primary (1,037, 399 students) and St Joseph's Catholic High School (1,029, 736 students). Government schools sit below the ICSEA 1,000 benchmark: Mount Terry Public (982, 635), Albion Park Public (972, 516), and Albion Park High School (964, 900). The IRSAD decile 6 nationally indicates slightly above-median overall advantage, while the IRSD decile 7 suggests relative disadvantage is lower than average.
Drive
93.6%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.04%/yr
(+153 people/yr)
High GrowthPopulation has expanded 68.9% over the past decade, a pace that places Albion Park among the faster-growing suburbs in the Illawarra. Annual growth runs at 3.04%, adding roughly 153 persons per year, with the medium projection putting population at 5,822 by 2031. Overseas migration contributes 100 net arrivals annually while internal migration adds 44, making overseas inflow the primary driver. Despite the rapid population expansion, the gentrification score sits at just 15, classified as not gentrifying, because the growth is driven by affordable family housing rather than credential-led displacement. Affordability improved from 42.5% mortgage-to-income in 2011 to 35.3% in 2021, suggesting incomes have grown faster than housing costs. Real income growth of 16.2% over the decade reinforces this trend.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+100
Net Internal / yr
+44
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Accelerating: 10% → 69%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Albion Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Albion Park a good suburb to live in?
Albion Park suits families wanting large detached housing at $830,000 median, below Wollongong's inner suburbs. Household income at the 72.9 percentile and mortgage-to-income of 24.5% keep costs manageable. Trade-offs include 93.6% car dependence and IEO decile 4, indicating below-average education infrastructure. IRSAD decile 6 places it slightly above the national median on overall advantage.
What is the median house price in Albion Park?
The median house price in Albion Park is $830,000 (2024), rising marginally to $835,000 (2025), a 0.6% year-on-year gain. Monthly mortgage repayments sit at $2,058, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.5%. Median weekly rent is $460 with a 2.8% vacancy rate.
What schools are in Albion Park?
Albion Park has 7 schools. The highest ICSEA is Calderwood Christian School at 1,056 (Independent, 504 students). Catholic schools include St Paul's Primary (1,037) and St Joseph's High (1,029). Government primaries sit below 1,000: Mount Terry (982), Albion Park Public (972), and Albion Park Rail Public (894). Albion Park High School is at 964 ICSEA with 900 enrolments.
Is Albion Park safe?
Crime-specific data is not available for Albion Park. The IRSD decile 7 (above median on low disadvantage) and low unemployment of 3.6% suggest a relatively stable community. The IRSAD decile 6 nationally sits above the midpoint. Rent stress is absent at 23.7% rent-to-income, and mortgage stress at 24.5% is well below the 30% threshold.
Is Albion Park good for property investment?
Albion Park's 17.8% renter share is low, limiting tenant pool depth compared to suburbs above 30%. Gross yield sits around 2.9% ($460 weekly rent on $830,000 median). The 2.8% vacancy rate is healthy, below the 3% equilibrium. Population growth of 3.04% per year and 92 DAs in 12 months suggest ongoing housing demand, though price growth of just 0.6% means capital gains are currently flat.
How is Albion Park's population changing?
Albion Park grew 68.9% over the past decade, one of the fastest rates in the Illawarra. Annual growth is 3.04% (153 persons/year), driven by overseas migration (100 net/year) plus internal migration (44 net/year). The median age of 36 is 4 years below national, reflecting ongoing family formation. The medium projection puts population at 5,822 by 2031.
What development is happening in Albion Park?
Albion Park lodged 92 development applications in the past 12 months, including medium density housing, demolition-rebuilds, and home occupation approvals. Detached houses still account for 85.1% of stock with semi-detached at 14.3% and apartments at just 0.5%. The development pattern reflects incremental infill rather than apartment-led densification.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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