Suburb report · NSW 2500
Wollongong
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
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Population
23,295
Wollongong suburb profile
Who lives in Wollongong
Wollongong is 69km from the Sydney CBD, measured in a straight line. Wollongong is one of the most populous suburbs in New South Wales, with 23,295 residents, more than 97% of the state's suburbs. Among the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, it ranks 10 by population. The median age is 34, younger than 86% of New South Wales suburbs, where the median suburb sits at 40. Against the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, it is older than 65 and younger than 669. That is 4 years older than the average of 30 in the other suburb of the Wollongong-East statistical area.
Income and home ownership
Median household income is $92,700, close to the $104,500 of a typical New South Wales suburb. That matches the average of $92,700 in the other suburb of the Wollongong-East statistical area. On household income it ranks 322 of 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD. Renters are the majority: 56.6% of households rent and 43.4% own, one of the lowest ownership shares in New South Wales. 744 of the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD have a higher ownership share. That is 10.4 points above the 33% ownership share in the other suburb of the Wollongong-East statistical area.
Household mix
The 2021 Census counted 9,526 occupied private dwellings in Wollongong, one of the larger housing stocks in New South Wales. People living alone are the largest household type at 37.4%, ahead of families with children at 21.2% and couples at 29.6%. Among New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 15 of 761 have a smaller share of families with children than Wollongong. Few New South Wales suburbs have fewer families with children: 21.2% of households, at the 3rd percentile. At 29.6%, couples without children are more common here than in 72% of New South Wales suburbs. In the other 1 suburb of the Wollongong-East statistical area, families with children make up 19.3% of households, against 21.2% here.
Housing supply
Approvals have surged: 680 new dwellings were approved across the Wollongong-East statistical area in the year to June 2025, against its 2020 to 2024 average of 228 a year. Supply figures here are for the Wollongong-East statistical area, home to 18,274 residents in 2025, which covers only part of Wollongong. Per head of population the pipeline is deep: 37.2 approvals per 1,000 residents of that area against 3 for the median New South Wales area. Over the 6 years to June 2025, annual approvals ranged from 132 in 2024 to 680 in 2025.
Population trend
The population of the Wollongong-East statistical area surged 14.8% from 2020 to 2025, against 5.9% for New South Wales as a whole. Over those 5 years a typical New South Wales statistical area added 2.5%, putting this area 12.3 points ahead. That rate is faster than 91% of New South Wales statistical areas. Growth was strongest in the year to 2022 (4.3%) and weakest in the year to 2021 (0.7%).
Against its neighbours
Of the nearby suburbs listed below, Horsley differs most on the share of people living alone: 13% there against 37.4% in Wollongong. Dapto is the closest match on the median household income, at $85,100 against $92,700. Figtree sits 5km away, with a median household income of $114,700 against $92,700 here.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
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Reading this report
Every figure in the Wollongong data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Wollongong-East statistical area, whose boundary differs from Wollongong's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
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This report is market intelligence prepared by Chase Wealth Australia for general information only. Figures are statistical estimates for the suburb, not valuations of any individual property, and do not constitute financial or credit advice. Consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before acting. Demographic figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021 (licensed CC BY 4.0) where available.