Coledale
More than half of Coledale's residents, 50.5%, work from home, while the vacancy rate is 10.2%, an unusual combination of lifestyle appeal and available housing choice. Household income is $2,586 per week at the 93.5th percentile nationally, and the median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure. The suburb has 1,372 residents across 2.1 square kilometres, with 92.6% of dwellings detached houses. Compared with the larger Wollongong urban area, Coledale has a smaller-scale, owner-oriented profile, supported by 42.8% outright ownership and 39.7% mortgages. Its 51.7% university-educated share is 21.6 percentage points above the national comparison, helping explain the strong professional and work-from-home presence.
Local council: Wollongong
Population
1,372
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,586/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Coledale suits buyers seeking conventional family housing rather than apartment living. Separate houses account for 92.6% of dwellings, while 43.3% have 3 bedrooms and 41.8% have 4 or more, giving 85.1% of homes at least 3 bedrooms. Monthly mortgage payments average $2,600, but mortgage costs equal 23.2% of household income, below the level generally associated with mortgage stress. Ownership is relatively established, with 42.8% owning outright and 39.7% paying a mortgage. Compared with apartment-heavy parts of Wollongong, the trade-off is less dwelling variety but more land-based housing. Buyers should allow for the 10.2% vacancy rate as a sign that conditions can be less tightly held than in lower-vacancy markets.
For Buyers
Coledale suits buyers seeking conventional family housing rather than apartment living. Separate houses account for 92.6% of dwellings, while 43.3% have 3 bedrooms and 41.8% have 4 or more, giving 85.1% of homes at least 3 bedrooms. Monthly mortgage payments average $2,600, but mortgage costs equal 23.2% of household income, below the level generally associated with mortgage stress. Ownership is relatively established, with 42.8% owning outright and 39.7% paying a mortgage. Compared with apartment-heavy parts of Wollongong, the trade-off is less dwelling variety but more land-based housing. Buyers should allow for the 10.2% vacancy rate as a sign that conditions can be less tightly held than in lower-vacancy markets.
For Investors
Coledale has a small rental pool, with only 14.3% of households renting, and a weekly rent of $600. The 10.2% vacancy rate is high, so investors may find more tenant choice than in a tightly held market, but leasing periods and rental competition deserve close attention. Detached housing makes up 92.6% of stock, which can support demand from households seeking space, particularly as 50.5% of residents work from home. Twenty development applications were recorded over 12 months, with examples focused on dwelling alterations, new structures and pools rather than a large apartment pipeline. Compared with higher-density investment areas, Coledale is more dependent on the performance of individual houses than on unit turnover or broad development volume.
Development Activity
Total DAs
151
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+17.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coledale
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Coledale has a median age of 42, which is 2 years above the national comparison, and an average household size of 2.8, or 0.3 above the national figure. The 51.7% university-educated share is 21.6 percentage points above national levels, consistent with the suburb's large professional workforce. Overseas-born residents account for 15.4%, 6.2 percentage points below the national comparison, while English ancestry is recorded for 552 people, followed by Irish at 232 and Scottish at 209. No religion is the largest stated affiliation at 732 people, compared with 517 identifying with Christianity. Compared with the larger Wollongong urban area, the profile is smaller and more settled: 86.1% stayed at the same address, while turnover was 13.9%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.6%
Houses
5.8%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Coledale's housing stock is strongly detached and family-sized. Separate houses represent 92.6% of dwellings, compared with 5.8% semi-detached homes and 1.6% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 43.3%, while 4-bedroom-or-larger homes account for 41.8%, so 85.1% of dwellings have at least 3 bedrooms. Tenure is weighted toward ownership, with 42.8% owned outright and 39.7% under mortgage, while renting accounts for 14.3%. Mortgage costs equal 23.2% of household income and rent costs also equal 23.2%, neither flagged as stress. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Coledale provides less compact housing choice but a higher concentration of private outdoor and family space. The 10.2% vacancy rate gives buyers and tenants more choice than a low-vacancy market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $600.
$885
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,000 · units $585
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,001
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.2%
Unoccupied
52
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.3%
Couples with children
39.5%
Couples, no children
8.6%
Single parent
382
Total families
Economy & Employment
Coledale's employment base is led by healthcare at 17.9%, or 96 workers, followed by education at 16.0% and 86 workers, professional and technical services at 14.6% and 78 workers, construction at 9.9% and 53 workers, and public administration at 8.0% and 43 workers. Professionals number 269 and managers 123, well ahead of trades at 80, reinforcing the suburb's higher-skilled profile. Household income of $2,586 per week sits at the 93.5th percentile, above most Australian areas, while unemployment is 4.3% and participation is 64.2%. The industry mix supports this income position because healthcare, education and professional work are relatively knowledge-intensive, while construction adds a practical local employment base. Compared with lower-income suburbs, Coledale has stronger capacity to absorb housing costs, although mortgage payments still average $2,600 monthly.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
701
Unemployed
30
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.0%
Part-time
39.5%
Participation
64.2%
Employed
671
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.7%
Postgraduate
17.5%
Born Overseas
15.4%
Dwellings
448
Transport to Work
Coledale supports a home-based and car-oriented lifestyle. About 50.5% of residents work from home, while 42.9% travel as car drivers and only 0.9% use public transport, so daily convenience is likely to depend more on road access than frequent transit. Walking or cycling accounts for 3.1%. Coledale Public School is the listed local school, providing 1 government primary option; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because catchments can cross suburb boundaries. Community participation is relatively strong, with volunteering at 24.5%, while 4.0% of residents need assistance. Compared with transit-oriented Wollongong locations, Coledale has lower public transport use and higher reliance on cars, but the detached housing profile and 2.8-person average household support family living. Recent safety decisions should be based on current street-level information, as no suburb crime rate is available here.
Drive
42.9%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
50.5%
Growth Outlook
Coledale's near-term change appears more renewal-led than expansion-led. The suburb has 1,372 residents within 2.1 square kilometres, a density of 653.7 people per square kilometre, and 20 development applications over 12 months. Recent applications include demolition and replacement of a dwelling, alterations to existing homes, new structures and swimming pools, pointing to incremental improvement of established properties rather than a large new-estate pipeline. Residential stability is also notable: 86.1% of residents stayed at the same address, compared with a 13.9% turnover rate. Compared with higher-churn suburbs, this suggests change is likely to come through renovations, rebuilding and household turnover rather than rapid population replacement. The 50.5% work-from-home rate may support ongoing demand for larger houses, because 85.1% of dwellings have at least 3 bedrooms.
Population trend: Wollongong council area
Coledale sits in the Wollongong council area. These are the council area's residents, not Coledale's.
Residents 2025
224,327
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Coledale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coledale a good suburb to live in?
Coledale can suit households wanting detached housing, home-office space and a quieter coastal setting. About 92.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 50.5% of residents work from home and the median age is 42. The main trade-off is transport: 42.9% drive to work, compared with only 0.9% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Coledale?
A current median house price should be checked against recent sales because values can move quickly in a small market. Review at least 3 comparable Coledale transactions, noting land size, bedrooms and renovation quality. The suburb has 92.6% detached housing, so house sales are more relevant than apartment benchmarks.
What schools are in Coledale?
Coledale Public School is the listed local school. It is a government primary school, giving families 1 school option within the suburb's published listings. Confirm the enrolment zone with the school and NSW Department of Education before signing a lease or contract, since catchments can vary by street and address.
Is Coledale safe?
Safety should be checked using the latest 12-month local crime figures rather than assumed from the suburb's lifestyle profile. Visit the exact street during both daytime and evening, review lighting and foot traffic, and compare recent incidents with nearby suburbs. No current suburb-level crime rate is stated here.
Is Coledale good for property investment?
Coledale may suit investors who prefer detached houses and long-term owner-occupier demand, but the 10.2% vacancy rate warrants caution. Weekly rent is $600 and only 14.3% of households rent, while 20 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Check the purchase price, insurance, maintenance and likely vacancy before estimating returns.
How is Coledale's population changing?
Coledale has 1,372 residents and appears relatively settled, with 86.1% staying at the same address and 13.9% recording turnover. Twenty development applications over 12 months point to ongoing home renewal, including alterations and replacement dwellings. Change is therefore more likely to come through renovations and gradual household turnover than a large new development pipeline.
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).
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