Wellington
At 15.0%, Wellington's vacancy rate stands out more than its 0.73% annual growth rate. The 4,096-person regional town has 88.8% separate houses, 37.5% renters and a median age of 41, which is 1.0 year above the national comparison. Household income sits at the 12.1st percentile, while healthcare accounts for 21.0% of employment. Compared with nearby Dubbo, Wellington has a smaller-town profile, with more detached housing and a clearer aging trajectory. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but the combination of high vacancy and modest growth means buyers and investors should test demand at street level.
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
33
Wellington suits buyers seeking a conventional house rather than apartment living, with 88.8% of dwellings separate houses, 52.8% containing 3 bedrooms and 24.4% containing 4 or more. The 12.1st household-income percentile is below the national midpoint, so the $936 monthly mortgage figure and $230 weekly rent provide useful affordability reference points. Mortgage repayments equal 22.2% of income, while rent equals 23.6%, and neither measure is flagged as stressed. Compared with apartment-led markets, Wellington provides more family-sized stock, but buyers should set a current price benchmark from settled sales and allow for the town's 15.0% vacancy rate when assessing resale and rental alternatives.
For Buyers
Wellington suits buyers seeking a conventional house rather than apartment living, with 88.8% of dwellings separate houses, 52.8% containing 3 bedrooms and 24.4% containing 4 or more. The 12.1st household-income percentile is below the national midpoint, so the $936 monthly mortgage figure and $230 weekly rent provide useful affordability reference points. Mortgage repayments equal 22.2% of income, while rent equals 23.6%, and neither measure is flagged as stressed. Compared with apartment-led markets, Wellington provides more family-sized stock, but buyers should set a current price benchmark from settled sales and allow for the town's 15.0% vacancy rate when assessing resale and rental alternatives.
For Investors
Wellington presents a value-focused investment case with a clear demand risk. Weekly rent is $230 and 37.5% of households rent, but the 15.0% vacancy rate is higher than the low-vacancy conditions investors usually prefer. Rent growth of 18.4% provides evidence of recent upward movement, although sustained returns depend on occupancy because a vacant property can quickly offset rent increases. There were 33 development applications in the past 12 months, including housing, subdivision and residential care proposals, which may broaden future supply. Annual growth is 0.73%, and overseas migration is the primary driver, so the outlook is steadier than high-growth markets rather than strongly speculative.
Development Activity
Total DAs
131
Last 12 Months
33
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+17.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wellington
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Wellington's median age is 41, or 1.0 year above the national comparison, while average household size is 2.3 people, 0.2 below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 8.5%, which is 13.1 percentage points below the national comparison, and university attainment is 14.0%, 16.1 points lower. English ancestry is recorded by 1,379 people, followed by Irish at 359 and Scottish at 250. Christianity has 2,125 adherents and no religion 1,251. The aging trajectory is visible in the 7.1-point rise in senior share, alongside a 3.0-point decline in both young and working shares. Compared with nearby Dubbo, the profile is more settled and locally rooted, with 77.7% of residents staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.8%
Houses
6.4%
Townhouse
3.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is dominated by detached, three-bedroom stock: 88.8% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 3.3% apartments and 6.4% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties make up 52.8% of homes, while 24.4% have 4 or more bedrooms. Tenure is split between 36.4% owned outright, 24.6% with a mortgage and 37.5% rented, with 1.4% in other arrangements. The $230 weekly rent and $936 monthly mortgage are paired with rent-to-income of 23.6% and mortgage-to-income of 22.2%, neither flagged as stressed. Compared with apartment-oriented locations, Wellington has a higher detached-house share and more land-based housing, but the 15.0% vacancy rate can weaken rental competition and resale urgency.
Mortgage / mo
$936
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $230.
$450
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $450
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
26.7%
Couples with children
39.3%
Couples, no children
31.2%
Single parent
938
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Wellington's largest industry at 21.0%, followed by public administration at 15.0%, education at 12.2%, construction at 11.4% and retail at 6.4%. The occupational mix reinforces a service and practical-work base, led by community and personal services with 269 workers, labourers with 233 and trades with 164. Unemployment is 8.2%, participation is 43.4% and full-time employment is 56.9%, while 1,387 people are outside the labour force. The 12.1st household-income percentile and IRSAD decile 2 point to lower economic advantage, with IEO decile 2, IER decile 3 and IRSD decile 2. Compared with higher-income regional centres, the lower university rate and stronger community-service presence help explain the subdued income position.
Unemployment
8.2%
Labour Force
1,414
Unemployed
116
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.9%
Part-time
35.7%
Participation
43.4%
Employed
1,298
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.0%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
8.5%
Dwellings
1,522
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 72.2% travel as a car driver, compared with 2.8% using public transport and 7.5% walking or cycling. Only 7.0% work from home, so access to a vehicle remains more important than in transit-rich centres. Families have 2 government schools covering primary and secondary years, with enrolment zones worth checking against the exact address. The IRSAD decile is 2, indicating lower relative advantage, while 10.6% of residents need assistance with core activities and 13.7% volunteer. These figures make access to healthcare, support services and practical transport important livability considerations. For safety, check current incident information at street level before choosing a home, particularly where service access and night-time travel differ.
Drive
72.2%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
7.5%
Work from Home
7.0%
Population Forecast
+0.73%/yr
(+90 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth across the wider area is measured at 0.73% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. The trajectory is Aging: senior share has increased by 7.1 points, while the young and working shares have each fallen 3.0 points. Population change over 10 years is 8.3%, indicating gradual expansion rather than a rapid surge. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so price pressure is not being driven by a strong reinvestment cycle. Rent growth of 18.4% may support landlord income, but the 15.0% vacancy rate works in the opposite direction. Compared with fast-growing corridors, Wellington's development path is slower, older and more dependent on service demand and overseas migration.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+81
Net Internal / yr
-4
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 can suit residents who value detached housing, local services and a slower pace. It has 88.8% separate houses, 2 government schools and a median age of 41, but car dependence is high at 72.2% and the IRSAD decile is 2, so lifestyle priorities and service access should be considered.
What is the median house price in Wellington?
A reliable current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales rather than asking prices. Wellington's housing is mainly 88.8% separate houses, with 52.8% of homes containing 3 bedrooms, so buyers should compare similar properties and allow for the 15.0% vacancy rate when judging demand.
What schools are in Wellington?
Wellington has 2 government schools: Wellington Public School for primary education and Wellington High School for secondary education. Families should confirm enrolment zones against the exact address, as boundaries can affect access even when a school is within 1 suburb or a short drive.
Is Wellington safe?
A safety decision should use current local incident information and an inspection of the exact street. Wellington has 4,096 residents and 10.6% need assistance with core activities, so proximity to services, lighting, transport and support facilities can matter as much as general suburb impressions.
Is Wellington good for property investment?
Wellington may suit a value-focused investor, with weekly rent of $230 and 37.5% of households renting. However, the 15.0% vacancy rate is higher than tight rental markets, while annual growth is 0.73%. Recent rent growth of 18.4% is encouraging, but occupancy should be tested before purchase.
How is Wellington's population changing?
Wellington has an Aging trajectory, with annual growth of 0.73% and 8.3% population change across the wider area over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while senior share rose 7.1 points and young and working shares each fell 3.0 points. The gentrification score is 0.
What development is occurring in Wellington?
There were 33 development applications in the past 12 months, including a dwelling house, subdivision and residential care facility proposals. This indicates ongoing activity, but the 15.0% vacancy rate means new supply should be assessed alongside local rental demand and the town's 0.73% annual growth rate.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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