Berkeley
With 7,798 residents, a median age of 40 and 88.8% of dwellings as separate houses, Berkeley reads as an established family suburb in southern Wollongong. Household income sits at the 26.1 percentile, below the national midpoint, while 38.5% rent and 32.1% own outright. The housing profile is more detached than apartment-oriented parts of central Wollongong: 53.3% of homes have three bedrooms and 26.9% have four or more. Overseas-born residents account for 22.9%, 1.3 percentage points above the national comparison. With annual growth at 0.22%, Berkeley suits buyers seeking established housing and local services more than those pursuing rapid redevelopment.
Population
7,798
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,217/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
53
Berkeley's housing is geared to buyers wanting land and conventional family layouts: 88.8% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 8.5% apartments and 2.7% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties account for 53.3%, while 26.9% have four or more bedrooms, providing more space than a compact apartment market. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 32.9%, higher than the 23.8% rent-to-income ratio. That pressure matters because household income is $1,217 a week and sits at the 26.1 percentile. A 4.1% vacancy rate and $290 weekly rent provide a useful benchmark for buyers weighing ownership against renting, while the 32.1% outright-ownership share points to an established owner base.
For Buyers
Berkeley's housing is geared to buyers wanting land and conventional family layouts: 88.8% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 8.5% apartments and 2.7% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties account for 53.3%, while 26.9% have four or more bedrooms, providing more space than a compact apartment market. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 32.9%, higher than the 23.8% rent-to-income ratio. That pressure matters because household income is $1,217 a week and sits at the 26.1 percentile. A 4.1% vacancy rate and $290 weekly rent provide a useful benchmark for buyers weighing ownership against renting, while the 32.1% outright-ownership share points to an established owner base.
For Investors
Berkeley's investor case is income-led rather than high-growth. Renting accounts for 38.5% of occupied dwellings, weekly rent is $290 and vacancy is 4.1%, creating a base for rental demand but not proof of superior yield. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, while the annual growth trend is only 0.22%, slower than a high-growth release corridor. Development activity is notable at 54 entries in 12 months, supporting more activity than a quiet established suburb and potentially increasing competition between older homes and upgraded stock. Rent growth is recorded at 84.2%, while affordability worsened from 50.3 in 2011 to 62.5 in 2021. Investors should test achievable rent against insurance, maintenance and the 32.9% mortgage-to-income pressure before assuming a strong margin.
Development Activity
Total DAs
309
Last 12 Months
53
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-3.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Berkeley
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Berkeley has a more settled profile than a young university suburb, with a median age of 40 and 19.0% university-qualified residents, 11.1 percentage points below the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 22.9%, 1.3 points above the national figure, with Macedonian, Arabic, Portuguese, Serbian and Italian languages represented. English ancestry numbers 2,329, followed by Other at 1,097, Scottish at 558 and Macedonian at 503. Christianity is recorded for 4,078 people, no religion for 2,489 and Islam for 493. Household size is 2.5, while 83.7% stayed at the same address and turnover was 16.3%, suggesting established networks rather than rapid churn. The mix is more settled than a high-turnover rental district, while 38.7% of families have children and 25.8% are one-parent families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.8%
Houses
2.7%
Townhouse
8.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Berkeley has a detached-dominant stock profile: 88.8% separate houses, 8.5% apartments and 2.7% semi-detached dwellings. That is a more house-led mix than apartment-oriented parts of Wollongong and helps explain why 53.3% of homes have three bedrooms and 26.9% have four or more. Tenure is split between 32.1% owning outright, 27.8% with a mortgage and 38.5% renting, so renters form a larger share than outright owners. The 32.9% mortgage-to-income ratio is above the 23.8% rent-to-income ratio, even though weekly rent is $290 and the monthly mortgage figure is $1,733. The pattern points to established family housing, but affordability pressure is more relevant for mortgaged households than for renters. Two-bedroom homes represent 15.6%, while 0 to 1 bedroom dwellings are 4.2%, below the family-sized stock.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $290.
$630
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $650
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$568
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
124
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.9% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.7%
Couples with children
34.5%
Couples, no children
25.8%
Single parent
2,064
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Berkeley's largest industry at 20.6% and 352 workers, followed by construction at 12.2% and 208, education at 10.4% and 177, retail at 8.5% and 145, and manufacturing at 8.3% and 141. The occupation mix also leans practical, with 495 trades workers, 434 labourers, 396 community and personal service workers, 389 professionals and 345 clerical or administrative workers. Unemployment is 6.2%, participation is 48.8% and full-time employment is 53.4%. Household income is $1,217 weekly, below the national middle at the 26.1 percentile. SEIFA places education and occupation in decile 1, economic resources in decile 2 and IRSAD in decile 1. This lower position than higher-decile areas reflects weaker education and income measures, despite solid healthcare, construction and trade employment.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
3,081
Unemployed
192
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.4%
Part-time
33.9%
Participation
48.8%
Employed
2,889
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.0%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
22.9%
Dwellings
2,875
Transport to Work
Daily life in Berkeley is strongly car-dependent: 73.9% travel as car drivers, compared with 1.9% using public transport and 1.0% walking or cycling. That makes vehicle access more important than in a transit-oriented suburb, while 17.5% working from home may reduce some commute days. Local education access includes 3 schools, with 2 government primary schools and 1 government secondary school. Check the exact enrolment zone against the address, since school catchments can cross local streets and boundaries. An average household size of 2.5 and 88.8% separate houses support a conventional suburban layout, while the 1st IRSAD decile signals fewer socioeconomic resources than higher-decile areas. Berkeley is likely to suit residents prioritising space and driving access more than those seeking rail-led or walkable urban living.
Drive
73.9%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
17.5%
Population Forecast
+0.22%/yr
(+32 people/yr)
EstablishedBerkeley's forecast profile is established and slow-moving: annual growth is 0.22%, with a Stable trajectory rather than a rapid expansion cycle. Population change across the wider area is 10.7% over 10 years, and Overseas migration is the primary driver, which can support demand without producing a high-growth local feel. Rents have grown 84.2%, while the affordability measure worsened from 50.3 in 2011 to 62.5 in 2021, so housing pressure is rising faster than the 0.22% annual population trend. This makes Berkeley more suited to gradual improvement than a speculative transformation thesis. Fifty-four development entries in 12 months add activity, but the likely effect depends on whether proposals deliver new dwellings, replacements or alterations rather than a large expansion of housing supply.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+89
Net Internal / yr
-120
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -120/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Berkeley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berkeley a good suburb to live in?
Berkeley can suit households seeking established detached housing, practical services and a settled community structure. Separate houses account for 88.8% of dwellings, 38.7% of families have children and 73.9% travel by car. It is a better fit for space and vehicle access than for residents prioritising frequent public transport or a dense urban setting.
What is the median house price in Berkeley?
Use recent settled sales to establish the current median rather than relying on a broad suburb estimate. Berkeley's housing is mostly detached, with 88.8% separate houses, 53.3% three-bedroom homes and 26.9% with four or more bedrooms, so the mix of property sizes can shift the median materially between reporting periods.
What schools are in Berkeley?
Berkeley has 3 local schools: 2 government primary schools and 1 government secondary school. Families should check the exact enrolment zone for each address because catchments can differ across nearby streets. The local mix supports primary and secondary access, but eligibility depends on the published school boundaries.
Is Berkeley safe?
Safety should be assessed using current NSW Police incident information, council updates and visits at different times of day. Berkeley has 7,798 residents and 73.9% of travel is by car, so traffic, parking and street conditions are relevant alongside reported crime. Avoid treating a suburb-wide impression as a substitute for checking the exact street.
Is Berkeley good for property investment?
Berkeley may suit an investor seeking established houses and rental demand, but it calls for careful due diligence rather than a blanket yes. Renting is 38.5%, weekly rent is $290 and vacancy is 4.1%. Annual growth is only 0.22%, while 54 development entries were recorded in 12 months. Compare achievable rent with costs before buying.
How is Berkeley's population changing?
Change appears gradual rather than rapid. The annual growth trend is 0.22%, the wider area's 10-year population change is 10.7% and the trajectory is Stable. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while 83.7% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 16.3%, indicating a relatively settled base.
What development is happening in Berkeley?
There were 54 development entries in the past 12 months, including proposals involving demolition, new structures, earthworks, retaining walls, fences, sheds and dwelling-house work. This indicates ongoing property activity, but buyers should check each application's approval status, conditions and dwelling yield before assuming a substantial increase in housing supply.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Berkeley on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map