Wongawilli
A median household income at the 96.4th percentile nationally sits alongside a median age of just 31, nine years below the national figure, making Wongawilli one of the most affluent young-family pockets in the Illawarra. The suburb's 1,213 residents are overwhelmingly owner-occupiers, with 77.5% carrying a mortgage and only 9.4% renting, reflecting a deliberate move-in demographic rather than a transient rental market. Detached houses account for 99.2% of dwellings, and 85.9% of homes have four or more bedrooms, a concentration that is rare even in outer-metro NSW.
Population
1,213
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,841/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
44
Median House
$1.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The current median house price is $1,010,000, but the price history tells a sharper story: the median jumped from $767,500 in 2024 to $1,175,000 in 2025, a 53.1% rise over one year. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes are in the 96.4th percentile nationally. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 99.2%, with 85.9% of dwellings carrying four or more bedrooms, so buyers seeking large family homes face very limited choice outside this format. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600. The suburb has only 0.8% semi-detached and no recorded apartments, meaning little entry-level stock exists and competition concentrates on larger properties.
For Buyers
The current median house price is $1,010,000, but the price history tells a sharper story: the median jumped from $767,500 in 2024 to $1,175,000 in 2025, a 53.1% rise over one year. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes are in the 96.4th percentile nationally. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 99.2%, with 85.9% of dwellings carrying four or more bedrooms, so buyers seeking large family homes face very limited choice outside this format. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600. The suburb has only 0.8% semi-detached and no recorded apartments, meaning little entry-level stock exists and competition concentrates on larger properties.
For Investors
The rental market is thin: only 9.4% of households rent, compared to the national average of roughly 30%, and weekly rent sits at $600. Against a $1,010,000 median price, that implies a gross yield near 3.1%, below most NSW regional benchmarks. Vacancy at 4.3% is elevated relative to the tight rental conditions seen in most Illawarra suburbs, which reflects low renter demand rather than supply excess. On the positive side, 42 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, including dual occupancy and subdivision projects, signalling land-use intensification. The 53.1% price growth from 2024 to 2025 shows strong capital uplift, so investment returns here rely on appreciation rather than rental yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
363
Last 12 Months
44
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-22.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 31 is 9 years below the national figure, placing Wongawilli among NSW's younger suburban populations. Household size averages 3.4 persons, 0.9 above national, consistent with the dominance of couples with children, who make up 733 of the 1,129 total family households. Overseas-born residents account for 17.1% of the population, 4.5 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is firmly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (404 residents), Scottish (95) and Irish (80). University qualifications reach 34.2%, which is 4.1 points above the national average, and professionals are the largest occupation group at 158 workers. The profile fits a well-paid, family-focused, Australian-born community in a new-growth corridor.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.2%
Houses
0.8%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Wongawilli is almost a single-product housing market: 99.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 85.9% have four or more bedrooms, proportions that are well above state norms. Tenure is mortgage-heavy at 77.5%, with outright owners at only 13.2% and renters at 9.4%, reflecting a relatively young owner base still paying down debt. Price movement has been dramatic: from $767,500 in 2024 to $1,175,000 in 2025, a 53.1% one-year gain. The current PSI-derived median of $1,010,000 sits between those data points, suggesting the market remains active. With mortgage-to-income at 21.1% and incomes at the 96.4th percentile nationally, residents are servicing debt comfortably despite high nominal prices.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$600
HH Size
3.4
Personal Income / wk
$1,195
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.3%
Unoccupied
16
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.3%
Couples, no children
1,129
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 24.8% of workers (115 people), followed by Education at 12.1% (56) and Construction at 9.3% (43), a mix that reflects the suburb's proximity to Wollongong's major hospitals and schools. Professional and Technical services add 8.4% and Manufacturing 8.2%, providing economic breadth. The full-time employment rate is 69.3% and the unemployment rate is 3.0%, both better than national averages. Household income places the suburb in the 96.4th percentile nationally, well above state medians. Professionals (158) are the largest occupation group, ahead of Clerical/Admin (100) and Managers (74), confirming a white-collar-skewed workforce despite the outer-suburban setting.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.3%
Part-time
27.7%
Participation
69.7%
Employed
579
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.2%
Postgraduate
8.3%
Born Overseas
17.1%
Dwellings
353
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme: 96.5% of residents commute by car, while only 0.8% walk or cycle, placing Wongawilli well above the national average for car reliance. Public transport figures are not available, but the car-only pattern indicates limited transit access. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring Wollongong-area suburbs. Crime statistics are not available for Wongawilli in this dataset. Housing stress is low, with both rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income at 21.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Only 2.8% of residents (32 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a young, healthy population. Volunteering sits at 8.9% of adults.
Drive
96.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wongawilli compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wongawilli a good suburb to live in?
Wongawilli suits families seeking large detached homes with strong finances: household income ranks at the 96.4th percentile nationally and mortgage-to-income is 21.1%, below the stress threshold. The median age of 31 is 9 years below national, and average household size of 3.4 reflects a family-oriented community. The main trade-off is near-total car dependence at 96.5% of commuters and limited local services.
What is the median house price in Wongawilli?
The current median house price is approximately $1,010,000. Prices rose sharply from $767,500 in 2024 to $1,175,000 in 2025, a 53.1% increase. Weekly rent averages $600 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,600, giving a manageable mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.1% given local income levels.
What schools are in Wongawilli?
No schools are recorded inside the Wongawilli suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Illawarra suburbs. The resident population is well-educated, with 34.2% holding university qualifications, which is 4.1 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Wongawilli safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Wongawilli in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the unemployment rate is 3.0%, household income sits at the 96.4th percentile nationally, and only 2.8% of residents (32 people) need daily assistance. Low economic stress typically correlates with lower crime rates in comparable outer-NSW suburbs.
Is Wongawilli good for property investment?
The capital growth story is strong: prices rose 53.1% from $767,500 in 2024 to $1,175,000 in 2025. However, rental yield is modest, with $600 weekly rent against a $1,010,000 median implying around 3.1% gross. The 9.4% renter share is far below national norms and vacancy sits at 4.3%, so this market suits capital-growth investors rather than yield-focused landlords.
How is Wongawilli's population changing?
Wongawilli has 1,213 residents with a median age of 31, nine years below the national figure. The 38.4% annual turnover rate suggests moderate mobility, with 61.6% of residents remaining in place. The 42 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including subdivision and dual occupancy proposals, indicate the suburb is in an active growth phase.
How much development is happening in Wongawilli?
42 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. These include dual occupancy and subdivision projects alongside dwelling houses and swimming pools, pointing to both densification and estate-style expansion. The 53.1% price rise from 2024 to 2025 has likely encouraged landowners to explore subdivision as a value-capture strategy.
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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