West Wollongong
At 2,528.2 residents per sq km, West Wollongong is a compact 2.07 sq km suburb with 5,223 people. Its median age is 35, which is 5 years below the national figure, while 42.1% of residents hold a university qualification, 12 percentage points above the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 25.6%, 4 points above the national level. Compared with Wollongong's central apartment areas, West Wollongong is more house-oriented, with 63.1% separate houses and a family base that includes 46.7% couples with children.
Population
5,223
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,672/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
33
West Wollongong suits buyers seeking a mostly house-based market close to Wollongong's established services, although a current median house price is needed to judge entry cost. Separate houses make up 63.1% of dwellings, compared with 19.3% apartments and 17.1% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties account for 45.8%, while 4-bedroom-plus homes represent 25.6%. Mortgage commitments average $2,123 monthly, and mortgage costs equal 29.3% of household income, just below 30%, suggesting less pressure than a heavily leveraged market. Weekly rent is $370, useful for comparing buy-versus-rent decisions.
For Buyers
West Wollongong suits buyers seeking a mostly house-based market close to Wollongong's established services, although a current median house price is needed to judge entry cost. Separate houses make up 63.1% of dwellings, compared with 19.3% apartments and 17.1% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties account for 45.8%, while 4-bedroom-plus homes represent 25.6%. Mortgage commitments average $2,123 monthly, and mortgage costs equal 29.3% of household income, just below 30%, suggesting less pressure than a heavily leveraged market. Weekly rent is $370, useful for comparing buy-versus-rent decisions.
For Investors
The rental case is supported by a sizeable tenant base, with 36.6% of households renting and weekly rent at $370. Vacancy is 5.4%, above 5%, which may give renters more choice and investors a softer leasing environment than a tightly constrained market. Mortgage costs take 29.3% of household income, compared with rent at 22.1%, so affordability pressure is currently greater for leveraged owners than renters. Development activity is notable at 33 applications over 12 months, including residential alterations and an indoor recreation facility. That pipeline may improve amenity, but investors should distinguish renovation activity from new dwelling supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
230
Last 12 Months
33
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-13.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
West Wollongong has a median age of 35, 5 years below the national comparison, and 42.1% of residents have a university qualification, 12 percentage points above the national rate. The overseas-born share is 25.6%, 4 points above the national level, while average household size is 2.5, matching the national comparison. English ancestry is reported by 1,647 residents, followed by Irish at 575 and Scottish at 496. Christianity is the largest recorded religion at 2,533 people, while 1,873 report no religion. Compared with Wollongong's more central areas, the suburb has a family-oriented base, with 46.7% of couples having children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
63.1%
Houses
17.1%
Townhouse
19.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is split across owners, borrowers and renters rather than dominated by one tenure group: 30.7% own outright, 31.6% have a mortgage and 36.6% rent. Separate houses account for 63.1%, substantially higher than the 19.3% apartment share, while semi-detached dwellings make up 17.1%. The bedroom mix is led by 3-bedroom homes at 45.8%, followed by 4-bedroom-plus dwellings at 25.6% and 2-bedroom homes at 22.3%. Weekly rent is $370 and the average mortgage is $2,123 per month. Compared with Wollongong's central apartment areas, this structure is more family-house oriented, although the 6.3% share of 0 to 1-bedroom dwellings still supports some smaller households.
Mortgage / mo
$2,123
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $370.
$650
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $750 · units $640
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$759
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.4%
Unoccupied
111
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.7%
Couples with children
34.9%
Couples, no children
16.6%
Single parent
1,296
Total families
Economy & Employment
West Wollongong's employment base is concentrated in service and knowledge industries. Healthcare leads at 20.2% with 369 workers, above Education at 17.0% and 311 workers, followed by Construction at 8.9%, Public Administration at 8.2% and Professional and Technical services at 7.7%. The occupation mix reinforces that pattern: Professionals number 674, compared with 352 in Trades, 333 in Community and Personal Services, 272 Managers and 267 Clerical and Administrative workers. Labour-force participation is 61.2%, unemployment is 5.7%, and 54.8% of workers are employed full time. Compared with a trade-led economy, the suburb has a stronger professional and public-service orientation because healthcare and education together represent 37.2% of industry employment.
Unemployment
5.7%
Labour Force
2,610
Unemployed
149
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.8%
Part-time
33.2%
Participation
61.2%
Employed
2,461
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.1%
Postgraduate
12.4%
Born Overseas
25.6%
Dwellings
1,952
Transport to Work
Daily travel is strongly car-oriented, with 56.9% driving to work compared with 2.2% using public transport and 2.6% walking or cycling. Working from home is comparatively prominent at 34.0%, which suits residents whose employment is connected to healthcare, education, public administration or professional services. The suburb's density is 2,528.2 people per sq km across 2.07 sq km, making local access more practical than in a spread-out district, while 15.9% volunteer. A suburb-specific crime rate is not stated, so safety should be checked against current address-level information. Compared with a lower-density outer suburb, the compact form and 5,223-person population support convenient everyday movement, but car dependence remains higher than active or public transport use.
Drive
56.9%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.6%
Work from Home
34.0%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West Wollongong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Wollongong a good suburb to live in?
West Wollongong suits households wanting a compact setting near Wollongong services. It has 5,223 residents, a median age of 35 and 34.0% working from home. Separate houses account for 63.1%, higher than apartments at 19.3%, while car use at 56.9% is higher than public transport at 2.2%.
What is the median house price in West Wollongong?
A current median house price is not stated, so recent comparable sales should be checked before making an offer. Key housing markers are $370 weekly rent, a $2,123 monthly mortgage and 63.1% separate houses. The 45.8% share of 3-bedroom homes is useful when comparing similar properties.
What schools are in West Wollongong?
Families should check school catchments and nearby options against the exact address. West Wollongong has 5,223 residents and an average household size of 2.5, but a local school count and individual school list are not stated. Enrolment boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries.
Is West Wollongong safe?
A suburb-specific crime rate is not stated, so a confident safe or unsafe verdict cannot be made from the available local indicators. West Wollongong covers 2.07 sq km and has 5,223 residents. Check current NSW Police information and the immediate street environment before deciding.
Is West Wollongong good for property investment?
It has 36.6% renting households, $370 weekly rent and a 5.4% vacancy rate, which is above 5% and may mean more tenant choice. There were 33 development applications over 12 months. Investors should assess rental demand, property condition and whether applications add dwellings or mainly involve alterations.
How is West Wollongong's population changing?
West Wollongong currently has 5,223 residents. Address stability is relatively high, with 75.8% staying at the same address and turnover of 24.2%. An annual growth rate and migration driver are not stated, so the scale of future population change cannot be quantified. Development activity includes 33 applications over 12 months.
What development is happening in West Wollongong?
There were 33 development applications in the past 12 months. Examples include alterations or additions to residential buildings and an indoor recreation facility. The available examples do not establish a specific number of new dwellings, so buyers should check individual applications, approvals and construction timing.
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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