Median house price
$1.27M
+15% change
NSW · Wollongong Council
West Wollongong, 2500
Est. population · Jun 2025
5,833
Growth (1 yr)
+0.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.7%
Median age
35
Median income
$1,672/wk
Employment rate
57.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,275,000
Languages at home
22.4%non-English
Most common: Arabic, Serbian, Mandarin
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
West Wollongong is a practical mid-sized suburb in Wollongong Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix. Schooling is a clear local strength compared with many peer areas.
Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. The suburb still has an emerging character, as newer residents settle in and local identity forms.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety lag behind, despite relative strength in growth momentum, plus community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
West Wollongong snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$650/wk
Houses $720 · Units $620
Population (ERP)
5,833
+0.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.4%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#74
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
93rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
64th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
76th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 51.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 28% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2006th in Australia
- State rank
- 592nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #74 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #434 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $620
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 758
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,275,000
- Median price change
- +15.4%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
5,833(June 2025)
+0.9% annual · +3.7% over 5 years · 64th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.9%
- 5-year growth
- +3.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +53
- Change in 5 years
- +207
- Growth rank in NSW
- 64th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~6,050), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 5,223
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,672
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 111 of 2,063
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,123
- Employment rate
- 57.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,231 / 333 / 377 (+ 11 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 900
- Against the person
- 132
- Against property
- 278
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 154.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 40 residents
- State safety percentile
- 93th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.4%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions1025
- Malicious Damage To Property396
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault312
- Steal From Retail Store502
- Transport Regulatory Offences1491
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 14
- Median school ICSEA (13 schools)
- 1,072
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 76th
School list
- St Therese Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1090 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 368 students · Top SEA quarter 36% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Wollongong West Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 991 · 43th percentile · LBOTE 48% · 243 students · Top SEA quarter 24% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Edmund Rice CollegeSecondary · Independent · ICSEA 1083 · 79th percentile · LBOTE 14% · 1,054 students · Top SEA quarter 32% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- The Illawarra Grammar SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1159 · 96th percentile · LBOTE 36% · 970 students · Top SEA quarter 64% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- Lindsay Park Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1068 · 75th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 334 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Keiraville Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1103 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 48% · 297 students · Top SEA quarter 44% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Gwynneville Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1065 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 60% · 271 students · Top SEA quarter 34% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Figtree Heights Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1061 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 181 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Illawarra Hospital SchoolSpecial · Government · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Mount St Thomas Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1070 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 18% · 354 students · Top SEA quarter 31% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
104 public transport stops in this suburb
- Euroka St After Adina Av
- Euroka St After Immarna Av
- Euroka St Opp Adina Av
- Euroka St Opp Bimbadeen Av
- Euroka St Opp Immarna Av
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
53 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
3 places of worship · 4 playgrounds · 3 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 7 parks mapped in suburb, 4 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 104 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.34
Shopping(1)
- Reddy ExpressConvenience store
Community(3)
- Edmund Rice CollegeSchool
- Lindsay Park Public SchoolSchool
- Wollongong West Public SchoolSchool
Crown Street, West Wollongong
Sport & outdoors(13)
- Apex ParkPark
- Gilmore ParkPark
- Harry Graham ParkPark
- Koolewong ParkPark
- Millbrook ParkPark
- Molloy ParkPark
- Roy Johanson ParkPark
- Playground (4)
- Gilmore Park Tennis ClubSports field
- Sports field
Transport(18)
18 bus stops
Other(13)
- Bench
- Parking (6)
- BPPetrol station
- ShellPetrol station
- SpeedwayPetrol station
- Picnic Table
- Keiraview Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
- Keiraview Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
30 Fisher Street
- St TheresePlace of worship
1 Princes Highway
- Post Box
- Public Toilet Gilmore ParkPublic toilets
19 Gilmore Street, West Wollongong
- Public Toilet Molloy ParkPublic toilets
128 Robsons Road, West Wollongong
- Return and Earn Woolworths West Wollongong Hellenic ClubRecycling
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Apex ParkPark
- Gilmore ParkPark
- Harry Graham ParkPark
- Koolewong ParkPark
- Millbrook ParkPark
- Molloy ParkPark
- Roy Johanson ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 7
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
3 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Keiraview Uniting Church
- Keiraview Uniting Church
30 Fisher Street
- St Therese
1 Princes Highway
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Wollongong Private Hospital (1.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 139
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 23.8
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 8 proposals
August 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 IMMARNA AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Under Assessment
July 2026
- Residential flat building; Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure471-473 CROWN STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Under Assessment
- Residential flat building; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure471-473 CROWN STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Under Assessment
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 Parsons Street, West WollongongDetermined
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure30 YELLAGONG STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)15 COCHRANE STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Withdrawn
February 2026
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; School112 MOUNT KEIRA ROAD WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators1 THE MALL WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
2025· 24 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)7 PARSONS STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
October 2025
- Subdivision74 MOUNT KEIRA ROAD WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure54 EUROKA STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 LEXBURN AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)4 THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah31 FISHER STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure63 THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink29A THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport25 THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation11 URALBA STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation7 POORAKA AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 ROSEMONT STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support4 BOOYONG STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Residential flat building; Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure471-473 CROWN STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
April 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure70 MOUNT KEIRA ROAD WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport117 ROBSONS ROAD WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah8 STANLEIGH CRESCENT WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
March 2025
- Demolition491 CROWN STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 SHEPPARD STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation15 RESERVE STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation4 THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport50 GILMORE STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
February 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah1 THERRY STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
January 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure33 PARSONS STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
2024· 11 proposals
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 ROSEMONT STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support1 24 SHEPPARD STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 THAMES STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
September 2024
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Co-living; Non-standard Housing93 ROBSONS ROAD WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Under Assessment
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 IMMARNA AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation31 DEMPSTER STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
July 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool8 POORAKA AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation55 Yellagong Street West Wollongong NSW 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 LEXBURN AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 LEXBURN AVENUE WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure33 PARSONS STREET WEST WOLLONGONG 2500Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Cunningham
- Member of Parliament
- Alison BYRNES (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,139
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 32.5%Labor 67.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 1.9 km away).
Coalition 30.8%Labor 69.2%
1.7 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Wollongong WestLabor 69.7% · Coalition 30.3% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- Mount KeiraLabor 65.7% · Coalition 34.4% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- Figtree HeightsLabor 66.9% · Coalition 33.1% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- KeiravilleLabor 71.9% · Coalition 28.1% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- MangertonLabor 69.0% · Coalition 31.0% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.