Stanwell Park
One of Stanwell Park's clearest signals is its high-income, established household base: household income sits at the 96.1st percentile, while the median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure. The suburb has 1,532 residents across 3.04 sq km, with 88.5% of dwellings separate houses and 50.6% working from home. Compared with larger Helensburgh, it reads as a smaller, more settled coastal community, supported by 83.0% residential stability and a 21.8% volunteering rate.
Local council: Wollongong
Population
1,532
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,798/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Homebuyers are choosing a strongly detached housing market, with separate houses accounting for 88.5% of dwellings and 4 or more bedrooms representing 49.0%. The ownership split is unusually even: 39.4% own outright and 39.6% have a mortgage, compared with 17.1% renting. A monthly mortgage figure of $2,675 sits alongside a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.1%, while the rent-to-income ratio is 16.4%. This structure supports a settled owner-occupier market because many households have either built equity or are servicing established homes.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a strongly detached housing market, with separate houses accounting for 88.5% of dwellings and 4 or more bedrooms representing 49.0%. The ownership split is unusually even: 39.4% own outright and 39.6% have a mortgage, compared with 17.1% renting. A monthly mortgage figure of $2,675 sits alongside a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.1%, while the rent-to-income ratio is 16.4%. This structure supports a settled owner-occupier market because many households have either built equity or are servicing established homes.
For Investors
Stanwell Park presents a selective rather than broad-based rental proposition. Weekly rent is $460, while the vacancy rate is 9.2%, a figure that deserves testing against comparable properties and nearby markets before purchase. Compared with the 39.6% mortgage and 39.4% outright ownership shares, only 17.1% of households rent, which may limit tenant depth but also reflects strong owner occupation. Thirteen development applications in 12 months point to continuing renovation and small-scale construction activity, although investors should assess each property's access, maintenance costs and likely tenant profile.
Development Activity
Total DAs
107
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+85.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Stanwell Park
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Stanwell Park is older and more university educated than the national profile: its median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, while university attainment at 48.1% is 18 percentage points higher. The overseas-born share is 16.4%, or 5.2 points below the national comparison, and ancestry is led by English at 696 people, Irish at 249 and Scottish at 185. No religion accounts for 774 residents, compared with 622 identifying with Christianity. Compared with more mobile suburbs, the 83.0% stayed-at-the-same-address rate helps explain the suburb's established social character.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.5%
Houses
7.0%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Stanwell Park is space-led and detached, with 88.5% separate houses, 7.0% semi-detached dwellings and only 4.4% apartments. The bedroom profile reinforces that pattern: 49.0% have 4 or more bedrooms, 33.9% have 3 bedrooms, and 13.9% have 2. Tenure is balanced between outright ownership at 39.4% and mortgages at 39.6%, compared with 17.1% renting. A weekly rent of $460 and monthly mortgage figure of $2,675 provide useful affordability reference points, while the 2.9-person average household size helps explain demand for larger homes.
Mortgage / mo
$2,675
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $460.
$750
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $900
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,110
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.2%
Unoccupied
50
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.8%
Couples with children
42.0%
Couples, no children
7.9%
Single parent
431
Total families
Economy & Employment
Stanwell Park's employment base combines public-facing services with professional work. Healthcare leads at 16.6% with 99 workers, just above Education at 16.4% and 98 workers; Professional and Technical services account for 13.9% and 83 workers, followed by Construction at 12.0% and 72 and Public Administration at 9.4% and 56. Occupations are led by Professionals at 271, Managers at 122 and Trades at 112. Compared with the 52.1% full-time rate, the 3.6% unemployment rate and 61.6% participation rate point to a reasonably engaged labour market, while 50.6% working from home supports professional and administrative employment.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
782
Unemployed
28
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.1%
Part-time
38.1%
Participation
61.6%
Employed
754
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.1%
Postgraduate
16.1%
Born Overseas
16.4%
Dwellings
497
Transport to Work
Daily life is highly car-independent only for a small minority: 45.5% drive to work, compared with 1.4% using public transport and 1.9% walking or cycling. Work from home is much higher at 50.6%, which reduces commuting pressure for many households and helps suit the suburb's coastal setting. Stanwell Park Public School is the local government primary school, and families should confirm intake boundaries for the exact address. Compared with a denser urban suburb, the 3.04 sq km area, 504.6 people per sq km and 1,532 residents create a smaller community setting, while current street conditions and incident patterns should be checked before deciding.
Drive
45.5%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
50.6%
Growth Outlook
Stanwell Park's current growth profile points to incremental change rather than rapid turnover. The suburb has 1,532 residents, a 17.0% turnover rate and an 83.0% stayed-at-the-same-address rate, indicating strong residential continuity. Thirteen development applications over 12 months show ongoing investment in subdivisions, additions, balconies and residential works, but the activity appears focused on existing homes and small projects rather than a large expansion program. Compared with a higher-churn development corridor, this combination suggests that future change is likely to be shaped by renovations, selective redevelopment and gradual household replacement.
Population trend: Wollongong council area
Stanwell Park sits in the Wollongong council area. These are the council area's residents, not Stanwell Park'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 Stanwell Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stanwell Park a good suburb to live in?
Stanwell Park suits households seeking detached housing, a stable community and a quieter coastal setting. The median age is 45, 50.6% work from home and 88.5% of dwellings are separate houses. Compared with more urban suburbs, public transport use is low at 1.4%, so access to a car may be important.
What is the median house price in Stanwell Park?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales rather than inferred from rent or mortgage figures. Stanwell Park has 88.5% separate houses, a weekly rent of $460 and 49.0% of homes with 4 or more bedrooms, so land size, views and property condition can materially change the sale price.
What schools are in Stanwell Park?
Stanwell Park Public School is the listed local school, serving the government primary sector. Families should confirm current intake boundaries and enrolment requirements for the exact address. The suburb has 1 named local school across 3.04 sq km, so nearby options may require travel outside Stanwell Park.
Is Stanwell Park safe?
Safety should be assessed using current incident information, street-level conditions and local visits at different times. Stanwell Park has 1,532 residents across 3.04 sq km, and no suburb crime rate is stated here. Compare recent police figures with nearby suburbs before making a housing decision, particularly if location and evening access are priorities.
Is Stanwell Park good for property investment?
Stanwell Park may suit investors targeting detached homes and a settled tenant profile, but the rental market is relatively small at 17.1% renting. Weekly rent is $460, vacancy is 9.2% and 13 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Compared with a higher-rental suburb, investors should test tenant demand and resale liquidity carefully.
How is Stanwell Park's population changing?
Stanwell Park has 1,532 residents and a stable mobility pattern, with 83.0% staying at the same address and 17.0% turning over. The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, pointing to an established resident base. Compared with a fast-changing suburb, population change here is more likely to come through gradual household replacement and small-scale redevelopment.
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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