Woonona
At 12,374 residents across 6.8 square kilometres, Woonona combines an established coastal-neighbourhood feel with above-middle household resources. Its median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, while household income sits at the 65.5th percentile. The suburb is more car and home-work oriented than transit-led, with 55.3% driving and 38.4% working from home. Compared with the busier town-centre roles of nearby Corrimal and Bulli, Woonona reads as more residential, with 63.2% of dwellings being separate houses, although 19.2% apartments add choice. Its SEIFA position in the 7th decile is above the middle nationally, but conditions are not uniformly affluent.
Population
12,374
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,816/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
104
Homebuyers get a housing mix tilted toward conventional family stock: 63.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 41.9% have 3 bedrooms and 32.7% have 4 or more. Three-bedroom homes are more common than 4-plus layouts, while apartments account for 19.2%, giving downsizers and lower-maintenance buyers another format. Average monthly mortgage repayments are $2,200 and mortgage costs equal 28.0% of household income, with the mortgage stress flag inactive. Woonona's 37.5% outright ownership is higher than its 36.1% mortgaged share, so buyers should compare older stock, renovation needs and exact street access rather than treating all listings as equivalent.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a housing mix tilted toward conventional family stock: 63.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 41.9% have 3 bedrooms and 32.7% have 4 or more. Three-bedroom homes are more common than 4-plus layouts, while apartments account for 19.2%, giving downsizers and lower-maintenance buyers another format. Average monthly mortgage repayments are $2,200 and mortgage costs equal 28.0% of household income, with the mortgage stress flag inactive. Woonona's 37.5% outright ownership is higher than its 36.1% mortgaged share, so buyers should compare older stock, renovation needs and exact street access rather than treating all listings as equivalent.
For Investors
Rental investors are entering a market with 24.9% of households renting, weekly rent of $395 and a 5.3% vacancy rate. The renter share is lower than both the outright ownership rate of 37.5% and the mortgaged ownership rate of 36.1%, indicating a sizeable owner-occupier base. Development activity reached 102 matters in 12 months, which can expand choice and increase competition between newer dwellings. Rent growth of 56.0% is far higher than the 0.58% annual population trend, so recent rent performance should not be treated as a permanent yield signal. Overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver, while the mixed trajectory supports conservative cash-flow testing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
609
Last 12 Months
104
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Woonona
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Woonona has an older age profile than Australia overall: median age is 43, or 3 years above national. University attainment is 34.7%, 4.6 percentage points above the national rate, while the overseas-born share is 15.2%, 6.4 points below national. English, Scottish and Irish ancestries are prominent at 5,242, 1,550 and 1,526 people respectively, giving the suburb an Anglo-leaning cultural profile. Average household size is 2.5, equal to the national comparison, and couples with children represent 46.6% of families versus 36.3% for couples without children. This helps explain demand for three and four-bedroom homes, while 16.9% turnover suggests many residents stay put.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
63.2%
Houses
17.0%
Townhouse
19.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is established and owner-weighted. Outright ownership is 37.5%, mortgage ownership 36.1% and renting 24.9%, so each ownership category is higher than renting and tenure is less rental-dependent than an apartment-led market. Separate houses make up 63.2%, compared with 19.2% apartments and 17.0% semi-detached dwellings. The bedroom profile reinforces that pattern: 41.9% are three-bedroom homes and 32.7% have four or more bedrooms, both higher than the 22.0% share of two-bedroom dwellings. Mortgage costs equal 28.0% of household income and rent equals 21.8%, with neither stress flag active because established ownership and a household size of 2.5 reduce pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$2,200
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $395.
$698
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $890 · units $573
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$788
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.3%
Unoccupied
262
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.6%
Couples with children
36.3%
Couples, no children
16.2%
Single parent
3,341
Total families
Economy & Employment
Woonona's economy is anchored by essential services: healthcare accounts for 20.8% of jobs, education 16.6%, public administration 10.9%, construction 9.8% and professional or technical work 7.6%. That mix aligns with the leading occupations, including 1,583 professionals, 774 trades workers and 754 managers, with community or personal service at 715. The labour force totals 5,832, participation is 57.9% and unemployment is 3.7%, while 55.4% of employed residents work full time. SEIFA sits in the 7th decile for education and occupation, economic resources, disadvantage and advantage, placing the suburb above the middle decile nationally. Household income at the 65.5th percentile is consistent with that position, although 3,830 people are outside the labour force.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
5,832
Unemployed
216
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.4%
Part-time
33.6%
Participation
57.9%
Employed
5,616
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.7%
Postgraduate
9.7%
Born Overseas
15.2%
Dwellings
4,632
Transport to Work
Daily life is practical but car-oriented. Driving accounts for 55.3% of commuting, compared with 1.3% by public transport and 2.2% walking or cycling, while 38.4% work from home. That pattern supports local routines and remote work, but households relying on frequent transit should test routes and timetables before buying. Three nearby government schools cover two primary settings and one secondary setting, giving families access to both stages within the suburb; enrolment zones still need checking against the exact address. Woonona's IRSAD sits in the 7th decile, above the middle decile, and its 6.8 square kilometre area has a density of 1,819.9 people per square kilometre. Transport use remains lower than car dependence, so access varies by street.
Drive
55.3%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
38.4%
Population Forecast
+0.58%/yr
(+121 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth looks steady rather than explosive. The annual trend is 0.58%, and population change across the wider area is 11.4% over 10 years, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. The shift trajectory is Mixed: rent growth has reached 56.0%, far higher than the annual population rate, while affordability moved from 45.0 in 2011 to 46.3 in 2021 and is labelled Stable. Gentrification signals are also mixed, with a shift indicator of 55 and an Active stage, but the current gentrification reading is 0 and Not gentrifying. That combination supports measured demand growth rather than rapid transformation because established housing, modest annual growth and migration-led demand pull in different directions. Senior share has risen 2.8 points, while working share has fallen 1.7 points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+106
Net Internal / yr
-36
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Woonona compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Woonona a good suburb to live in?
Woonona suits households seeking established housing, local schools and a quieter residential setting near Corrimal and Bulli. It has 12,374 residents, a median age of 43 and a 7th-decile IRSAD position. The trade-off is car dependence, with 55.3% driving to work compared with 1.3% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Woonona?
A current median house price should be confirmed from recent settled sales, since the local mix includes 63.2% separate houses, 19.2% apartments and 17.0% semi-detached dwellings. Average monthly mortgage repayments are $2,200, but that figure is useful context rather than a substitute for a current sale-based median.
What schools are in Woonona?
Woonona has 3 government schools: Woonona East Public School and Woonona Public School at primary level, plus Woonona High School for secondary students. Families should check the exact enrolment zone before buying or renting, because address boundaries can affect access even within the same 6.8 square kilometre suburb.
Is Woonona safe?
Safety is best assessed with current incident information for the exact streets and property type, rather than relying on a suburb-wide impression. Woonona covers 6.8 square kilometres and has 12,374 residents, so conditions can vary between busy roads, commercial areas and quieter residential pockets.
Is Woonona good for property investment?
Woonona has some investment support, including weekly rent of $395, a 5.3% vacancy rate and 24.9% renting households. Development activity reached 102 matters in 12 months, while annual growth is 0.58%. Investors should allow for competition from new supply and test repayments against conservative vacancy and rent assumptions.
How is Woonona's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 11.4% over 10 years, while the annual growth trend is 0.58%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is labelled Mixed. A 2.8-point rise in senior share and a 1.7-point fall in working share suggest gradual ageing alongside continued demand.
What development is occurring in Woonona?
Development activity recorded 102 matters over 12 months, with recent examples including 3 subdivision applications. This may gradually increase dwelling choice and competition, particularly where older blocks are renewed. Buyers should check the approval status, likely construction timing and any impact on parking, access or neighbouring outlook before committing.
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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