Wollstonecraft
Nearly 70% of Wollstonecraft residents hold university degrees, placing the suburb 39.4 percentage points above the national rate, one of the widest gaps in Sydney. Despite household incomes in the 94th percentile nationally, the vacancy rate of 10.9% signals oversupply in its apartment-heavy market (79.2% units). Median house prices sit around $1.35 million, having dipped 0.4% from 2024 to 2025, a rare flat period for lower north shore property. The 42.5% born overseas contribute to a cosmopolitan workforce where 25.2% work in Professional/Tech and 13.2% in Finance.
Population
8,115
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,639/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
24
Median House
$1.4M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At a $1.35 million median, Wollstonecraft is more accessible than neighbouring Crows Nest or Lavender Bay, though still firmly premium territory. The housing stock is 79.2% apartments and 13.5% semi-detached, so detached-house buyers will find options scarce at just 7.3%. Two-bedroom units dominate at 47.4% of all dwellings. Mortgage-to-income sits at 23.7%, below the stress threshold, because buyers here have household incomes in the 94th percentile ($2,639/week). Walking and cycling account for 22.1% of commutes, higher than most Sydney suburbs, reflecting proximity to North Sydney station and harbour foreshore paths.
For Buyers
At a $1.35 million median, Wollstonecraft is more accessible than neighbouring Crows Nest or Lavender Bay, though still firmly premium territory. The housing stock is 79.2% apartments and 13.5% semi-detached, so detached-house buyers will find options scarce at just 7.3%. Two-bedroom units dominate at 47.4% of all dwellings. Mortgage-to-income sits at 23.7%, below the stress threshold, because buyers here have household incomes in the 94th percentile ($2,639/week). Walking and cycling account for 22.1% of commutes, higher than most Sydney suburbs, reflecting proximity to North Sydney station and harbour foreshore paths.
For Investors
The 49.9% renter share is substantial, but the 10.9% vacancy rate is a caution flag, sitting well above Sydney's average of around 2-3%. Median rent at $576/week against a $1.35M purchase price implies a gross yield near 2.2%, lower than the Sydney metro average. Prices dipped 0.4% over the past year. On the positive side, 23 development applications in 12 months (including multi-dwelling and demolition-rebuild projects) indicate the area is actively renewing its stock. The high-income demographic (94th percentile) supports premium rents, but the vacancy surplus means investors face competition for tenants.
Development Activity
Total DAs
117
Last 12 Months
24
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Wollstonecraft's 69.5% university-educated rate is 39.4 percentage points above the national average, the defining feature of this suburb's demographics. The 42.5% born-overseas population, 20.9 points above national, includes significant Chinese (1,076), Irish (1,071), and English (2,628) ancestry groups. Mandarin (151 speakers) and Cantonese (144) are the top non-English languages. Households average just 2.1 persons, 0.4 below the national figure, reflecting the apartment lifestyle, and 42.5% of families are couples without children. The median age of 38 is 2 years younger than nationally, skewing toward working professionals rather than retirees.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
7.3%
Houses
13.5%
Townhouse
79.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Median prices moved from $1.355M in 2024 to $1.35M in 2025, a minor 0.4% decline that keeps Wollstonecraft roughly flat in real terms. Apartments make up 79.2% of housing, with 2-bedroom units the sweet spot at 47.4%. Renters (49.9%) narrowly outnumber owners, with outright ownership at 27.6% and mortgage holders at 22.5%. Mortgage stress at 23.7% of income remains manageable thanks to the suburb's high earning power. Studio and 1-bed units at 16.2% provide an entry tier, though larger 4+ bed dwellings at just 6.2% show this is not a family-house market. Price-to-income ratios are held in check only because incomes here are exceptionally high.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,711
Rent / wk
$576
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,590
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.9%
Unoccupied
469
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.5%
Couples, no children
5,784
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Tech services lead at 25.2% of employment (1,096 workers), followed by Healthcare at 13.6% and Finance at 13.2%. These three white-collar sectors account for over half of all jobs. Professionals (2,439) and Managers (1,067) dominate occupations, and the 77.2% fulltime employment rate is well above the national average. Unemployment sits at just 3.3%, lower than the broader Sydney figure. The participation rate of 68.7% is strong. The combination of high personal weekly income ($1,590) and low unemployment reflects a suburb where residents compete for corporate and professional roles across the North Sydney and CBD business precincts.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
77.2%
Part-time
19.5%
Participation
68.7%
Employed
4,698
Occupations
Top Industries
University
69.5%
Postgraduate
22.7%
Born Overseas
42.5%
Dwellings
3,826
Transport to Work
Wollstonecraft has no schools within its boundaries, which is notable for a suburb of 8,115 people. Families rely on nearby North Sydney and Crows Nest for primary and secondary education. Public transport serves 15.9% of commuters, well above the Sydney average, thanks to Wollstonecraft and Waverton stations on the T1 line. Walking and cycling at 22.1% is among Sydney's highest. Only 56.6% drive, making it one of the less car-dependent suburbs in the metro area. The volunteering rate of 18.4% and low need-for-assistance at 2.7% point to a self-sufficient, engaged community.
Drive
56.6%
Public Transport
15.9%
Walk / Cycle
22.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wollstonecraft compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wollstonecraft a good suburb to live in?
Wollstonecraft suits professionals wanting lower north shore proximity without Mosman price tags. Household incomes rank in the 94th percentile nationally, and 22.1% commute by walking or cycling. The trade-off is limited family housing, with 79.2% apartments and no schools within the suburb itself.
What is the median house price in Wollstonecraft?
The median house price is $1,350,000 (2025, PSI derived), down 0.4% from $1,355,000 in 2024. This flat movement contrasts with broader Sydney growth. Mortgage repayments of $2,711/month consume 23.7% of household income, kept manageable by the suburb's 94th-percentile earnings.
What schools are in Wollstonecraft?
There are no schools located within Wollstonecraft's boundaries. Families typically access schools in adjacent North Sydney, Crows Nest, and Waverton. This lack of local schooling is consistent with the suburb's apartment-dominated, professional-couple demographic where 42.5% of families have no children.
Is Wollstonecraft safe?
Crime statistics are not separately reported for Wollstonecraft. The suburb's profile suggests low risk: unemployment is just 3.3%, household incomes rank in the 94th percentile, and only 2.7% of residents need assistance. The 65.4% residential stability rate means most people stay long-term.
Is Wollstonecraft good for property investment?
Caution is warranted. The 10.9% vacancy rate far exceeds Sydney's typical 2-3%, and gross rental yield of roughly 2.2% ($576/week on $1.35M) is below average. Prices dipped 0.4% over the past year. However, 23 development applications show renewal activity, and the 49.9% renter share provides a large tenant pool if vacancy tightens.
How is Wollstonecraft's population changing?
Growth is slow at 0.32% annually. The suburb gains 285 overseas migrants per year but loses 341 residents to internal migration, a net churn pattern common in high-cost inner-city areas. Medium projections show the SA2 reaching 21,566 by 2031, up modestly from 20,936 in 2025.
What languages are spoken in Wollstonecraft?
With 42.5% born overseas (20.9 points above the national rate), Wollstonecraft is linguistically diverse. Mandarin (151 speakers), Cantonese (144), Japanese (44), Portuguese (43), and Hindi (40) are the top non-English languages. Chinese ancestry accounts for 1,076 residents, the third-largest group after English (2,628) and Irish (1,071).
What is the development activity in Wollstonecraft?
There were 23 development applications in the past 12 months, including multi-dwelling housing alterations and demolition-rebuilds. Most activity involves Complying Development Certificates for residential upgrades. This level of activity is moderate for a suburb of 8,115 people and signals ongoing stock renewal rather than greenfield expansion.
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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