Wollongbar
Healthcare and education together employ nearly 40% of Wollongbar's workforce, a concentration that explains why 30.6% of residents hold university qualifications, roughly in line with the national average at 0.5 points above. The suburb sits on 17.63 square kilometres with a population of 3,261 and a density of 185 people per square kilometre, far below metropolitan benchmarks. Separate houses account for 84.3% of dwellings and 46% have four or more bedrooms, signalling a strongly family-oriented housing stock. Household income sits at the 56.7th percentile nationally, placing Wollongbar in the middle tier rather than at either extreme.
Population
3,261
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,639/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
70
Median House
$784K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $784,000 in the 2024-2025 period comes after a notable correction: prices peaked at $860,000 in 2024 before falling 17.2% to $712,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the regional price level. The housing stock skews large, with 46% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and only 9.8% having two bedrooms. Separate houses dominate at 84.3%, so buyers seeking a conventional detached home on a decent block will find consistent supply compared to more apartment-heavy markets. Outright owners and mortgage holders are almost evenly split at 37.5% and 37.3% respectively.
For Buyers
The median house price of $784,000 in the 2024-2025 period comes after a notable correction: prices peaked at $860,000 in 2024 before falling 17.2% to $712,500 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.0%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the regional price level. The housing stock skews large, with 46% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and only 9.8% having two bedrooms. Separate houses dominate at 84.3%, so buyers seeking a conventional detached home on a decent block will find consistent supply compared to more apartment-heavy markets. Outright owners and mortgage holders are almost evenly split at 37.5% and 37.3% respectively.
For Investors
Renters make up 25.1% of the market, lower than many regional centres, and weekly rent sits at $420. The vacancy rate of 5.6% is elevated compared to tight metropolitan markets, suggesting modest rental demand pressure rather than a shortage-driven environment. Development activity is active at 60 applications in 12 months, including dual-occupancy and new dwelling approvals, which adds to supply rather than constraining it. The rent-to-income ratio for tenants is 25.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold, meaning rents are manageable relative to local incomes. Against the $784,000 median, the $420 weekly rent implies a gross yield around 2.8%, modest but comparable to many regional NSW coastal markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
192
Last 12 Months
70
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+191.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Wollongbar iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Wollongbar Public School
K-6 · 243 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, placing Wollongbar at the national average rather than above or below. Overseas-born residents account for 11.2%, which is 10.4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly locally born population. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,498), Irish (431) and Scottish (424) are the top three groups. University qualifications at 30.6% sit 0.5 points above national, a small edge consistent with the professional and educational workforce concentration. Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above the national average, and couples with children (1,089) outnumber couples without children (749), reinforcing the family-oriented character of the suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.3%
Houses
7.3%
Townhouse
8.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Wollongbar's housing tenure is unusually balanced: 37.5% own outright, 37.3% hold a mortgage, and 25.1% rent. This near-even split between outright owners and mortgagees differs from many regional areas where outright ownership dominates strongly. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 84.3%, with apartments at only 8.4% and semi-detached at 7.3%. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 46% of all dwellings and three-bedroom homes for 43.2%, leaving very little small-dwelling supply. Prices fell 17.2% from the 2024 peak of $860,000 to $712,500 in 2025, representing a real affordability improvement for buyers entering after the correction. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.0% sits below the 30% stress threshold, providing some financial headroom compared to higher-cost coastal NSW markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,842
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$792
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.6%
Unoccupied
72
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.3%
Couples, no children
2,740
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 23.1% of working residents (250 people), the single largest sector, followed by Education at 16.4% (177 people). Together these two sectors account for nearly 40% of employment, a concentration typical of a regional service centre. Construction employs 9.7% (105 workers), Public Admin 8.6%, and Retail 6.3%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 355 workers, followed by Community/Personal Service (211), Clerical/Admin (200) and Managers (197). The unemployment rate is 3.1%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate among the employed is 61.0%. Household income sits at the 56.7th percentile nationally, reflecting the public-sector and community-services wage profile rather than high private-sector earnings.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
35.9%
Participation
60.4%
Employed
1,527
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.6%
Postgraduate
6.0%
Born Overseas
11.2%
Dwellings
1,210
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 91.5% of commuters driving, with only 0.8% using public transport and 2.6% walking or cycling, consistent with a low-density regional suburb where walking distances to services are impractical. There are no schools recorded within the Wollongbar boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Alstonville and Lismore institutions. The volunteering rate of 18.9% is above the national average, indicating strong community participation. Housing stress indicators are benign: the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.0% and rent-to-income at 25.6%, both below the 30% threshold, meaning most residents are not financially stretched on accommodation costs. Only 4.7% of residents (149 people) require daily assistance, a low figure relative to the population size.
Drive
91.5%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
2.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wollongbar compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wollongbar a good suburb to live in?
Wollongbar suits families and professionals in healthcare or education. The median age of 40 matches the national average and 76.7% of residents stay year to year, indicating stability. Housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 26.0% and rent-to-income at 25.6%, both below the 30% threshold. The main trade-off is high car dependence at 91.5% given limited public transport.
What is the median house price in Wollongbar?
The median house price is $784,000 for the 2024-2025 period. Prices peaked at $860,000 in 2024 before falling 17.2% to $712,500 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,842, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.0%.
What schools are in Wollongbar?
No schools are recorded within the Wollongbar boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in adjacent suburbs including Alstonville and Lismore. Locally, 30.6% of residents hold university qualifications, 0.5 points above the national figure.
Is Wollongbar safe?
Crime statistics for Wollongbar are not available in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has a 3.1% unemployment rate below the national average, and only 4.7% of residents (149 people) require daily assistance. Residential stability is high, with 76.7% of residents staying in place over the reference period.
Is Wollongbar good for property investment?
Rental yield on the $784,000 median at $420 weekly rent implies roughly 2.8% gross, modest compared to higher-yield regional markets. The vacancy rate of 5.6% is elevated, and prices fell 17.2% from the 2024 peak. The stable healthcare and education employment base (nearly 40% of workers) supports steady tenant demand compared to purely tourism-dependent towns.
How is Wollongbar's population changing?
The current population is 3,261 across 17.63 square kilometres at a density of 185 people per square kilometre. Residential turnover is 23.3%, with 76.7% of residents staying year to year, indicating a stable rather than rapidly growing community. Development applications of 60 in 12 months show moderate new supply entering the market.
How much development is happening in Wollongbar?
There were 60 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including dual-occupancy approvals and new dwelling certificates. Recent samples show complying development certificates for detached houses and dual occupancy with earthworks, suggesting incremental infill rather than large-scale estate development in this 17.63 square kilometre suburb.
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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