Wellington
At $300,000, Wellington's median house price sits well below the national average, yet 38.1% of residents rent rather than own, and vacancy runs at 15.0%, signalling weak buyer demand rather than simple affordability. Household income lands in the 12.1st percentile nationally, making this one of the lower-income regional centres in NSW. SEIFA scores tell a consistent story: IRSAD decile 2 and IRSD decile 2 both place Wellington in the bottom fifth of Australian communities for socio-economic advantage. The dominant employment sectors are Healthcare (21.0%) and Public Administration (15.0%), a pattern typical of service-dependent regional towns where government anchors the local economy.
Population
4,096
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$975/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$300K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $300,000 median house price is among the more affordable in regional NSW, and the 4.5% price rise from 2024 to $313,500 in 2025 shows modest momentum. Separate houses dominate at 88.8% of dwellings, giving buyers a genuine choice of detached stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 52.8% of the mix and four-plus bedroom properties 24.4%, so family-sized floor plans are the norm. Monthly mortgage repayments average $936, and mortgage-to-income sits at 22.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers can service a typical purchase comfortably relative to local incomes. Outright owners at 36.9% outnumber mortgage holders at 25.0%, pointing to a stable long-hold ownership base rather than speculative churn.
For Buyers
The $300,000 median house price is among the more affordable in regional NSW, and the 4.5% price rise from 2024 to $313,500 in 2025 shows modest momentum. Separate houses dominate at 88.8% of dwellings, giving buyers a genuine choice of detached stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 52.8% of the mix and four-plus bedroom properties 24.4%, so family-sized floor plans are the norm. Monthly mortgage repayments average $936, and mortgage-to-income sits at 22.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers can service a typical purchase comfortably relative to local incomes. Outright owners at 36.9% outnumber mortgage holders at 25.0%, pointing to a stable long-hold ownership base rather than speculative churn.
For Investors
Wellington's 38.1% renter share is above average for a regional town and provides a broad tenant pool, but the 15.0% vacancy rate signals that supply already exceeds current demand. Weekly rent of $230 against a $300,000 median implies a gross yield of around 4.0%, which is higher than most capital-city markets yet reflects the town's income constraints. Net migration runs on a balanced basis, with overseas arrivals adding 29 residents per year and internal movement adding 20, providing thin but positive demand. Development activity reached 27 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations and commercial changes rather than new dwelling supply. With IRSD decile 2 and household incomes in the 12.1st percentile nationally, rental demand is unlikely to accelerate without a major employment catalyst.
Development Activity
Total DAs
121
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wellington iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary's Catholic School Wellington
K-10 · 196 students
Wellington Christian School
K-6 · 78 students
Wellington Public School
P-6 · 405 students
Wellington High School
7-12 · 284 students
Demographics
Wellington's median age of 41 is one year above the national figure, and the young-adult share has fallen 2.8 points over the decade, reinforcing an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents make up 8.5%, which is 13.1 points below the national rate, reflecting the inland regional character of the town. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,379), Irish (359) and Scottish (250) are the three largest groups. University qualifications reach 14.0%, which is 16.1 points below the national average, consistent with the decile 2 IEO score for education and occupation. Average household size is 2.3, marginally below the national figure. The volunteering rate of 13.7% is moderate, and 10.6% of residents (370 people) require daily assistance, higher than typical for a community this size.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.8%
Houses
6.4%
Townhouse
3.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Wellington's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 88.8% separate houses and only 3.3% apartments, a classic inland regional profile. Tenure is split between outright owners (36.9%), renters (38.1%) and mortgage holders (25.0%), with renters slightly ahead of owners, which is unusual and suggests lower confidence in long-term capital growth compared to owner-occupier markets. Three-bedroom homes make up 52.8% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom 24.4%, so the stock skews large relative to household size of 2.3. The median house price moved from $300,000 in 2024 to $313,500 in 2025, a 4.5% annual change. Rent-to-income sits at 23.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, so renters are not under acute financial pressure despite incomes in the 12.1st percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$936
Rent / wk
$230
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$552
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.0%
Unoccupied
268
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.7%
Couples, no children
2,617
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare anchors the local workforce at 21.0% (151 workers), followed by Public Administration at 15.0% (108), Education at 12.2% (88) and Construction at 11.4% (82). By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers lead (269), followed by Labourers (233) and Professionals (159), a distribution that reflects a public-sector and care-economy town rather than a commercial hub. The unemployment rate is 8.8%, notably above the national average, and the participation rate of 40.4% is low, with 1,387 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment among those working is 61.4%. SEIFA IRSD sits at decile 2 and IRSAD at decile 2, placing Wellington in the bottom fifth nationally on both disadvantage measures, consistent with the household income percentile of 12.1.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
3,485
Unemployed
126
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.4%
Part-time
29.8%
Participation
40.4%
Employed
1,202
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.0%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
8.5%
Dwellings
1,522
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high: 77.6% of residents drive to work, and only 3.0% use public transport, consistent with a regional town more than 350 km from Sydney. Walking and cycling account for 8.0%, reasonable for a low-density town. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in the broader Wellington area. IRSAD sits at decile 2, the bottom fifth nationally, indicating concentrated disadvantage across income, education and employment dimensions. The need-for-assistance rate of 10.6% is notably higher than state averages, likely linked to the older age profile and lower socio-economic position. Rent-to-income at 23.6% and mortgage-to-income at 22.2% are both below stress thresholds, so day-to-day housing costs remain manageable relative to local incomes.
Drive
77.6%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
8.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.13%/yr
(+12 people/yr)
EstablishedWellington's population grew by 1.7% over 10 years, reaching 9,159 in 2025, with annual growth of just 0.13% adding roughly 12 residents per year. Medium forecasts project a population of around 9,179 by 2031, barely above the current level. Migration is balanced: net overseas arrivals average 29 per year and internal migration adds 20, giving modest but positive flow. The young-adult share fell 2.8 points while the senior share rose 1.6 points over the decade, a pattern described as declining young trajectory. Real income grew 23.9% over the period and rent growth reached 64.3%, meaning housing costs rose far faster than incomes, worsening affordability from 34.6% in 2011 to 37.3% in 2021. The gentrification score of 60 in the shift data sits in the active range, though the separate gentrification module reads not gentrifying.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+29
Net Internal / yr
+20
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wellington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wellington a good suburb to live in?
Wellington offers very affordable housing at a $300,000 median and manageable housing costs, with mortgage-to-income at 22.2% below stress thresholds. However, it ranks in SEIFA decile 2 on IRSAD and IRSD, the bottom fifth nationally, and unemployment sits at 8.8%. It suits those seeking low-cost regional living anchored by healthcare and public sector employment.
What is the median house price in Wellington?
The median house price is $300,000 as of 2024, rising to $313,500 in 2025, a 4.5% increase. Monthly mortgage repayments average $936. Rent averages $230 per week, implying a gross yield of around 4.0% for investors. Household income sits in the 12.1st percentile nationally.
What schools are in Wellington?
No schools are recorded inside the Wellington suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Wellington township area. The local university qualification rate is 14.0%, which is 16.1 points below the national average, reflecting limited post-secondary education pathways locally.
Is Wellington safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Wellington are not available in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores IRSD decile 2, placing it in the bottom fifth nationally for relative disadvantage, and unemployment is 8.8%, above the national average. These factors are typically correlated with higher crime rates in comparable regional towns.
Is Wellington good for property investment?
Wellington offers a 4.0% gross yield on a $300,000 median with weekly rent of $230, higher than most capital-city markets. However, the 15.0% vacancy rate signals oversupply, and household incomes sit in the 12.1st percentile nationally, limiting rent growth. Population growth is just 0.13% per year, so capital growth expectations should be modest.
How is Wellington's population changing?
Wellington had 9,159 residents in 2025, up 1.7% over 10 years, with annual growth of roughly 12 people per year. Medium forecasts project around 9,179 by 2031. Net overseas migration adds 29 residents per year and internal migration adds 20. The young-adult share fell 2.8 points while the senior share rose 1.6 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Wellington?
There were 27 development applications lodged in Wellington in the past 12 months. Recent examples include commercial use changes, club alterations and shop fit-outs, reflecting maintenance and commercial activity rather than new residential supply. This is a moderate level compared to faster-growing regional centres.
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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