NSW 2534 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Gerringong

With a median house price of $1,395,000 and 46.2% of dwellings owned outright, Gerringong sits firmly in the high-wealth coastal tier on NSW's Illawarra South Coast. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD and IRSAD, placing it in the top tier nationally for low disadvantage. The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory has accelerated, with the senior share rising 6.4 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.7 points. Household income lands in the 70.9th percentile nationally, and 37.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 7 points above the national rate.

Gerringong urban fabric map

Population

4,165

Median Age

46.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,899/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

71

Median House

$1.4M

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

10.86 km²· 383.6 people/km²· Family income $2,291/wk

The median house price of $1,395,000 sits well above most NSW coastal towns, and the trend data shows prices rose from $1,380,000 in 2024 to $1,400,000 in 2025. Separate houses dominate at 79.3% of dwellings, meaning buyers can expect a genuine detached-house market rather than a unit-heavy mix. Four-bedroom-plus homes account for 46.6% of stock, the largest single category, which suits upsizing families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4%, below the standard 30% stress threshold. With 46.2% of homes owned outright compared to only 33.3% carrying a mortgage, the suburb reflects established, low-debt ownership concentrated in an older demographic rather than first-home-buyer demand.

For Buyers

The median house price of $1,395,000 sits well above most NSW coastal towns, and the trend data shows prices rose from $1,380,000 in 2024 to $1,400,000 in 2025. Separate houses dominate at 79.3% of dwellings, meaning buyers can expect a genuine detached-house market rather than a unit-heavy mix. Four-bedroom-plus homes account for 46.6% of stock, the largest single category, which suits upsizing families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4%, below the standard 30% stress threshold. With 46.2% of homes owned outright compared to only 33.3% carrying a mortgage, the suburb reflects established, low-debt ownership concentrated in an older demographic rather than first-home-buyer demand.

For Investors

The rental market in Gerringong is shallow: only 20.5% of dwellings are rented and weekly rent averages $500. Against the $1,395,000 median price, that implies a gross yield near 1.9%, low even for a premium coastal suburb. The 16.9% vacancy rate is high and signals limited rental demand relative to supply, which is a risk for landlords banking on consistent occupancy. Development activity is meaningful, with 67 applications lodged in the past 12 months, suggesting ongoing renovation and incremental builds. Migration dynamics are mixed: overseas arrivals add a net 41 residents annually while internal migration removes a net 12, producing modest but positive net growth. Investors here are best served by capital growth expectations rather than yield.

Development Activity

Total DAs

325

Last 12 Months

71

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+22.4%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
52
Swimming Pool / Spa
20
Demolition
12
Subdivision
11
New Dwelling
6
Commercial / Industrial
5
Garage / Carport / Shed
4
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
4

Schools in Gerringong iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Gerringong Public School

ICSEA 1091 Primary Government

K-6 · 378 students

Demographics

The median age of 46 sits 6 years above the national average, and the demographic trajectory reinforces this: the senior share grew by 6.4 points over the decade while the young adult share declined 1.8 points. University qualifications reach 37.1%, which is 7 points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 12.6% of the population, which is 9 points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, with English (1,914), Irish (665) and Scottish (535) the top three ancestries. Average household size is 2.6, fractionally above national at 2.5, consistent with the family-and-couples profile. Couples with children (1,420) outnumber couples without children (1,008), though the no-children proportion is rising as the population ages.

Age Distribution

0-14
18.4%
15-24
9.7%
25-44
19.8%
45-64
26.2%
65+
25.8%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.9%
2 bed
13.1%
3 bed
36.5%
4+ bed
46.6%

Dwelling Structure

79.3%

Houses

15.1%

Townhouse

5.3%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 46.2% Mortgage 33.3% Rent 20.5%

The tenure picture shows an ownership-dominant market: 46.2% own outright, 33.3% hold a mortgage and 20.5% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders by a wide margin signals long-held, debt-free wealth concentrated in an older cohort. Separate houses at 79.3% make this one of the most detached-dominant markets in coastal NSW, with semi-detached at 15.1% and apartments at just 5.3%. The bedroom profile skews large: 46.6% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 36.5% have three bedrooms. Prices rose modestly from $1,380,000 in 2024 to $1,400,000 in 2025, a 1.4% gain. The vacancy rate of 16.9% is above typical coastal averages, suggesting holiday-use or seasonal letting may inflate the apparent rental supply.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,167

Rent / wk

$500

HH Size

2.6

Personal Income / wk

$802

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

16.9%

Unoccupied

302

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

26.3%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

26.4%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
1,914
Irish
665
Scottish
535
Other
213
Ancestry NS
150
Italian
131

Household Composition

30.7%

Couples, no children

3,284

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare leads local employment at 20.3% of the workforce (294 workers), followed by Education at 15.7% (227 workers) and Construction at 12.3% (178 workers). Professional occupations are the single largest group at 559 workers, consistent with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, above the national average, partly because the participation rate of 53.3% is low as 1,293 residents are outside the labour force. Full-time employment accounts for 58.6% of those in work, above the part-time share. Real incomes grew 22.2% over the decade, and household income sits in the 70.9th percentile nationally. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD, placing it among the most advantaged nationally.

Unemployment

2.0%

Labour Force

4,357

Unemployed

89

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
8
Disadvantage
9
Economic resources
9
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

58.6%

Part-time

37.4%

Participation

53.3%

Employed

1,735

Occupations

Professionals 559
Managers 298
Community/Personal 250
Clerical/Admin 205
Labourers 133
Sales 105
Machinery/Drivers 48

Top Industries

Healthcare 20.3%
Education 15.7%
Construction 12.3%
Public Admin 11.0%
Professional/Tech 8.6%

University

37.1%

Postgraduate

9.2%

Born Overseas

12.6%

Dwellings

1,480

Transport to Work

Car dependence is near total at 90.8%, which is well above national averages, and public transport use is negligible at 0.3%, reflecting the suburb's coastal non-urban layout. Walking and cycling account for 4.7% of commutes, higher than many similarly remote areas. No school records are captured inside the Gerringong boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby centres. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSAD, placing it in the top disadvantage-advantage tier nationally, and decile 9 on IRSD confirms very low deprivation. Volunteering is strong at 21.7%, above national norms, and only 6.6% of residents (263 people) need daily assistance. Rent-to-income at 26.3% and mortgage-to-income at 26.4% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, indicating manageable housing costs for current residents.

Drive

90.8%

Public Transport

0.3%

Walk / Cycle

4.7%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.65%/yr

(+53 people/yr)

Established

Annual population growth runs at 0.65%, adding roughly 53 residents per year, and the 10-year change was 15.8%, above average for established coastal suburbs. Overseas migration is the primary driver, adding a net 41 residents annually, while internal migration removes a net 12. Medium forecasts for the broader SA2 area project the population rising from 8,121 in 2025 to 8,565 by 2031. The gentrification score sits at 67 in the shift model and is classified as Active, signalling sustained income and education upgrades. The affordability worsening trend, from 54.0% in 2011 to 59.8% in 2021, reflects that price growth has outpaced income gains over the period. Rent grew 66.7% over the decade, well above wage growth, reinforcing the shift toward an ownership-heavy, high-income demographic.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+41

Net Internal / yr

-12

4

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Population +11% since 2011

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Gerringong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 13%
Household Income
Top 29%
Rent Level
Top 6%
Apartments
Top 43%
Renters
Top 49%
Uni Educated
Top 22%
Public Transport
Bottom 1%
Born Overseas
Bottom 43%
Density
Top 20%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gerringong a good suburb to live in?

Gerringong ranks in decile 9 on both IRSD and IRSAD, placing it among the top 10% nationally for low disadvantage and high advantage. Household income sits in the 70.9th percentile nationally, and 46.2% of homes are owned outright. The main trade-off is near-total car dependence at 90.8% and a $1,395,000 median house price.

What is the median house price in Gerringong?

The median house price is $1,395,000 as of 2024-2025. Prices rose from $1,380,000 in 2024 to $1,400,000 in 2025, a 1.4% annual gain. Weekly rent averages $500 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4%, below the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Gerringong?

No schools are recorded inside the Gerringong boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring towns. Locally, 37.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 7 percentage points above the national figure, indicating a well-educated resident base drawing on broader Kiama district schools.

Is Gerringong safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Gerringong in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, in the top 10% nationally, and only 6.6% of its 4,165 residents need daily assistance. Both measures are consistent with a low-disadvantage, stable coastal community.

Is Gerringong good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $500 against a $1,395,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%, which is low. The 16.9% vacancy rate is high and signals limited rental demand. Net overseas migration adds 41 residents annually, supporting modest demand. Annual population growth of 0.65% and a 1.4% price rise in 2024-2025 suggest the investment case rests on long-term capital growth rather than rental yield.

How is Gerringong's population changing?

The population grew 15.8% over the past decade, above average for established NSW coastal suburbs, and is forecast to grow from 8,121 in 2025 to around 8,565 by 2031. Annual growth runs at 0.65%, adding roughly 53 residents per year. The population is aging, with the senior share up 6.4 points and the working-age share down 2.7 points over the decade.

How much development is happening in Gerringong?

There were 67 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including dwelling houses, alterations and commercial works. Recent samples include a new warehouse structure and several residential modifications. This level of activity is consistent with an established coastal suburb where renovation and incremental infill dominate over large-scale greenfield development.

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.

Explore Gerringong on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in NSW