Koonawarra
Koonawarra's most striking characteristic is its tenure split: 42.2% of households rent, well above the national average, while just 27.1% own outright. With a median house price of $764,500 and household income in the 28.1st percentile nationally, this is a suburb where purchase affordability is stretched. The workforce leans toward community-facing roles, with healthcare employing 25.4% of local workers. At a median age of 36, Koonawarra's population is 4 years younger than the national figure, and the area remains predominantly detached houses at 93.5% of all dwellings in a compact 2.23 km2 footprint.
Population
3,732
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,258/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
19
Median House
$764K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $764,500 reflects a 5% rise from $737,000 in 2024 to $773,500 in 2025, above the pace of many comparable Illawarra-region suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.8%, above the 30% stress threshold given household incomes in the 28.1st percentile nationally. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 93.5%, with 69.3% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 25.6% having 4 or more, giving buyers limited entry-level options but solid family-sized supply. Apartments account for just 1.9% of dwellings. Outright owners represent 27.1% of households, fewer than mortgage holders at 30.7%, suggesting a relatively young or recently transitioned ownership base rather than long-held, debt-free wealth.
For Buyers
The median house price of $764,500 reflects a 5% rise from $737,000 in 2024 to $773,500 in 2025, above the pace of many comparable Illawarra-region suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.8%, above the 30% stress threshold given household incomes in the 28.1st percentile nationally. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 93.5%, with 69.3% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 25.6% having 4 or more, giving buyers limited entry-level options but solid family-sized supply. Apartments account for just 1.9% of dwellings. Outright owners represent 27.1% of households, fewer than mortgage holders at 30.7%, suggesting a relatively young or recently transitioned ownership base rather than long-held, debt-free wealth.
For Investors
A 42.2% renter share and weekly rent of $350 give landlords a consistently active tenant pool, larger than typical for an outer metro suburb. Against the $764,500 median, that rent implies a gross yield around 2.4%, modest but more realistic than inner-city alternatives. The vacancy rate of 3.6% is elevated compared to tight Illawarra markets, signalling moderate rather than high rental demand pressure. Development activity runs at 18 applications in the past 12 months, including secondary dwelling and dual occupancy proposals, which indicates incremental densification rather than large-scale supply additions. Rent-to-income at 27.8% keeps tenants below the standard 30% stress threshold, supporting stable tenancies. Price growth of 5% in one year is a positive signal for capital appreciation, though households at the 28.1st income percentile nationally cap sustainable rent increases.
Development Activity
Total DAs
74
Last 12 Months
19
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+26.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
At a median age of 36, Koonawarra's residents are 4 years younger than the national figure, reflecting a working-age and family-forming demographic rather than an aging population. Overseas-born residents make up 16.4% of the population, which is 5.2 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic led by English (1,565 residents), Scottish (355), and Irish (296). Average household size is 2.6, fractionally above national, consistent with the family-house profile. University qualifications reach just 13.2%, which is 16.9 percentage points below the national figure, while the top occupations are community and personal services (229 workers) and labourers (210), ahead of professionals (158). Christianity accounts for the largest religious group at 1,635 residents. Household composition shows 927 couples with children, compared to 651 couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.5%
Houses
4.6%
Townhouse
1.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Koonawarra is one of the more renter-heavy suburbs in the Illawarra region, with 42.2% of households renting compared to the national average, while outright owners at 27.1% are below typical levels. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 93.5%, with semi-detached dwellings at 4.6% and apartments barely present at 1.9%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 69.3% and 4-plus bedroom properties at 25.6%, leaving very little small-format stock. Median house price rose from $737,000 in 2024 to $773,500 in 2025, a 5% annual gain. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 against household incomes in the 28.1st percentile nationally produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.8%, above the 30% stress line. The turnover rate of 16.8% indicates that roughly 1 in 6 residents moved in the past year, suggesting moderate population churn.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$584
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
50
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.8% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.7%
Couples, no children
2,996
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local industry base at 25.4% of employed residents (211 workers), more than double the next largest sector, construction at 12.0% (100 workers). Education follows at 9.1%, retail at 7.9%, and manufacturing at 7.3%, giving the economy a mix of community services and trade rather than knowledge industries. By occupation, community and personal services workers (229) and labourers (210) rank above professionals (158) and machinery operators (149), which aligns with the relatively low university attainment at 13.2%, well below the national rate. The unemployment rate is 8.0% and the participation rate is 43.7%, both weaker than national benchmarks, with 1,254 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment represents 61.0% of those employed. The household income at the 28.1st percentile nationally reflects the workforce composition, not an anomaly.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
43.7%
Employed
1,188
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.2%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
16.4%
Dwellings
1,335
Transport to Work
Car dependence is pronounced at 88.8% of residents commuting by car, with public transport at just 3.3% and walking or cycling at 0.7%, placing Koonawarra below average for active or sustainable transport options compared to higher-density suburbs. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in surrounding Wollongong-area suburbs. The need-for-assistance rate of 9.0% (313 residents) is a meaningful share of the 3,732-strong population, indicating a segment with health or disability support needs. Rent-to-income at 27.8% sits just below the 30% stress threshold, meaning most renters are managing costs without acute financial pressure. The volunteering rate of 8.6% reflects moderate community participation. At a density of 1,675 residents per km2 across 2.23 km2, the suburb is mid-range in terms of urban compactness, consistent with its detached-house, family suburb character.
Drive
88.8%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Koonawarra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Koonawarra a good suburb to live in?
Koonawarra suits families and working-age residents looking for detached housing in the Illawarra region. The median house price is $764,500 and 93.5% of dwellings are separate houses. The 8% unemployment rate and household incomes at the 28.1st percentile nationally indicate cost-of-living pressure, though rent-to-income at 27.8% keeps renters below the stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Koonawarra?
The median house price is $764,500, rising 5% from $737,000 in 2024 to $773,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.8%, above the 30% stress line given that household incomes sit at the 28.1st percentile nationally.
What schools are in Koonawarra?
No schools are recorded inside the Koonawarra suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of 3,732 and a median age of 36, families make up a significant share of residents and rely on schools in neighbouring Wollongong-area suburbs. The suburb had 927 couples with children recorded in the census.
Is Koonawarra safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Koonawarra are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, 9.0% of residents (313 people) need daily assistance, above typical levels for mid-range suburbs. The 8% unemployment rate is higher than the national average, which can be a correlate of localised disadvantage, though no direct crime data is available to confirm risk levels.
Is Koonawarra good for property investment?
The 42.2% renter share gives landlords a deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $350 against a $764,500 median implies a gross yield around 2.4%. Price growth of 5% in one year is positive, but household incomes at the 28.1st percentile nationally limit how far rents can rise. The 3.6% vacancy rate is moderate, suggesting reasonable but not critically tight rental demand.
How is Koonawarra's population changing?
Specific population growth forecast data is not available for Koonawarra in this dataset. The turnover rate of 16.8% means roughly 1 in 6 residents moved in the past year, indicating moderate churn. The median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, and 927 couples with children suggest a population in family-formation rather than aging or declining phases.
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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