Compare

Kiama vs Wollongong

Name: Kiama vs Wollongong — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 34 km apart · Kiama profile · Wollongong profile

Kiama Wollongong

Wollongong and Kiama are nearby New South Wales areas with very different profiles. Kiama is far older, with a typical resident aged 48 compared to 39 in Wollongong. This older population is reflected in the housing market; 47.5% of Kiama homes are owned outright, while 34.2% are in Wollongong. Conversely, renting is far more common in Wollongong, where 31.0% of households rent, compared to just 17.8% in Kiama. Wollongong is also more diverse, with 15.8% of residents using a language other than English at home, well above the 4.5% seen in Kiama.

The age gap between the two has widened since 2011, as Kiama has become significantly older than Wollongong. Despite this, the two areas share several similarities, including almost identical typical family incomes of around $2,200 a week and the same number of people per home. They also have similar rates of people working from home and people moving into the area in the last five years. Both areas are more likely than the national figure to have residents born overseas.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Population: 191,490 larger in Wollongong Median age: 9 yrs older in Kiama Owned outright: 13.3 pts higher in Kiama No car: 5.0 pts higher in Wollongong Renting: 13.2 pts higher in Wollongong

Demographics & Identity

Population in Kiama in Wollongong +191,490 larger in Wollongong gap steady

23,074 61st pct 214,564 87th pct

Median age in Kiama in Wollongong +9 yrs older in Kiama gap widening

48 yrs 79th pct 39 yrs 33rd pct

Age structure

27.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +9.0 pts 18.6%

26.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.2 pts 24.7%

19.4% Young adults (25–44) +6.3 pts ▸ 25.7%

16.5% Children (0–14) +1.1 pts ▸ 17.6%

9.7% Youth (15–24) +3.7 pts ▸ 13.4%

Marital status

56.4% Married ◂ +11.8 pts 44.6%

26.3% Never married +11.3 pts ▸ 37.6%

8.8% Divorced +0.2 pts ▸ 8.9%

6.2% Widowed ◂ +0.4 pts 5.8%

2.4% Separated +0.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

Age & sex structure

Kiama Wollongong

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

81.3% Australia ◂ +6.5 pts 74.9%

5.2% England ◂ +1.5 pts 3.7%

1.3% New Zealand ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

0.3% Italy +0.7 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% India +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.3% China +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.2% Philippines +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.1% Vietnam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.0% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Ancestry

45.3% English ◂ +9.5 pts 35.8%

38.8% Australian ◂ +4.1 pts 34.7%

15.5% Irish ◂ +5.3 pts 10.3%

13.0% Scottish ◂ +3.2 pts 9.8%

3.2% Italian +2.9 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.0% German ◂ +0.2 pts 3.7%

1.0% Chinese +1.0 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.6% Dutch +0.3 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.9% Greek +0.8 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.3% Indian +1.0 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.4% Filipino +0.6 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

Language

Language used at home

91.0% English only ◂ +11.2 pts 79.8%

0.2% Arabic +1.2 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.4% Italian +0.9 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.3% Mandarin +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.3% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

51.3% Christianity ◂ +1.1 pts 50.2%

41.3% No religion ◂ +2.6 pts 38.8%

5.9% Not stated ◂ +0.2 pts 5.8%

0.2% Islam +2.4 pts ▸ 2.6%

0.6% Buddhism +0.5 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.3% Hinduism +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.2% Other religions +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Kiama in Wollongong +81 more in Wollongong

6 36th pct 87 88th pct

Schools/1k kids in Kiama in Wollongong +0.73 more in Wollongong

1.58 10th pct 2.31 28th pct

Students in Kiama in Wollongong +29,570 more in Wollongong

2,444 53rd pct 32,014 87th pct

Avg size in Kiama in Wollongong +35 larger in Kiama

407 74th pct 372 70th pct

ICSEA in Kiama in Wollongong +29 higher in Kiama

1,065 86th pct 1,036 79th pct

Highest year of school

56.1% Year 12 ◂ +2.4 pts 53.7%

25.6% Year 10 ◂ +1.3 pts 24.3%

7.5% Year 9 or below +3.4 pts ▸ 10.9%

5.4% Year 11 +0.1 pts ▸ 5.5%

Highest qualification level

25.3% Certificate III / IV +4.5 pts ▸ 29.9%

27.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +2.7 pts 24.8%

16.5% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.8 pts 14.7%

9.4% Postgraduate degree +0.9 pts ▸ 10.3%

5.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.5 pts 3.6%

1.9% Certificate I / II +0.2 pts ▸ 2.0%

Field of qualification

17.1% Management & commerce +0.6 pts ▸ 17.7%

14.2% Engineering & related +2.5 pts ▸ 16.7%

14.0% Education ◂ +4.9 pts 9.1%

11.7% Society & culture +0.9 pts ▸ 12.6%

11.8% Health ◂ +1.4 pts 10.4%

7.4% Architecture & building ◂ +1.3 pts 6.1%

3.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.1 pts ▸ 4.6%

3.6% Creative arts +0.5 pts ▸ 4.1%

3.1% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.1 pts 3.0%

1.1% Information technology +1.6 pts ▸ 2.7%

2.2% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.7 pts 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Kiama in Wollongong +$73 higher in Kiama gap steady

$827 69th pct $754 52nd pct

Household income in Kiama in Wollongong +$152 higher in Kiama gap widening

$1,834 78th pct $1,682 71st pct

Family income in Kiama in Wollongong +$51 higher in Kiama gap narrowing

$2,202 78th pct $2,151 76th pct

Household income distribution

28.3% $1,500–$2,999 +0.1 pts ▸ 28.4%

26.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.1 pts 25.7%

13.6% Under $650 +4.0 pts ▸ 17.5%

14.1% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.4 pts 11.7%

10.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.1 pts 10.7%

Personal income distribution

38.6% Under $650 +3.5 pts ▸ 42.1%

30.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.2 pts 30.0%

19.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.6 pts 18.1%

5.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 4.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.8% Arthritis ◂ +1.7 pts 10.1%

7.9% Mental health +2.2 pts ▸ 10.1%

8.8% Other condition +0.1 pts ▸ 8.8%

8.2% Asthma +0.5 pts ▸ 8.6%

5.3% Heart disease ◂ +1.2 pts 4.0%

4.0% Diabetes +1.0 pts ▸ 5.0%

4.2% Cancer ◂ +1.0 pts 3.2%

1.9% Lung condition +0.2 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.1% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

1.1% Stroke even 1.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.4% None +0.8 pts ▸ 62.2%

21.2% One condition ◂ +0.6 pts 20.6%

6.9% Two conditions ◂ +0.3 pts 6.7%

3.4% Three or more +0.2 pts ▸ 3.6%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Kiama in Wollongong +6,411 larger in Wollongong

534 49th pct 6,945 89th pct

Median age in Kiama in Wollongong +2 yrs older in Kiama

25 yrs 50th pct 23 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Kiama in Wollongong +$112 higher in Kiama

$717 81st pct $605 64th pct

Household income in Kiama in Wollongong +$648 higher in Kiama

$2,250 92nd pct $1,602 69th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Kiama in Wollongong even gap narrowing

2.5 71st pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

54.9% Couples with children +2.8 pts ▸ 57.7%

35.0% Couples without children ◂ +8.6 pts 26.4%

9.3% One-parent families +5.5 pts ▸ 14.8%

0.8% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

Household size

40.7% 2 people ◂ +7.4 pts 33.3%

22.7% 1 person +3.6 pts ▸ 26.4%

13.1% 3 people +2.6 pts ▸ 15.7%

14.5% 4 people +1.2 pts ▸ 15.7%

6.7% 5 people ◂ +0.5 pts 6.3%

2.3% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 2.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Kiama in Wollongong +$95 higher in Kiama gap widening

$485 95th pct $390 86th pct

Mortgage in Kiama in Wollongong +$27 higher in Kiama gap narrowing

$2,194 87th pct $2,167 87th pct

People / bedroom in Kiama in Wollongong +0.10 higher in Wollongong gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

47.5% Owned outright ◂ +13.3 pts 34.2%

30.4% Owned with a mortgage +1.6 pts ▸ 32.0%

17.8% Rented +13.2 pts ▸ 31.0%

3.2% Other tenure ◂ +1.6 pts 1.6%

1.2% Not stated even 1.2%

Types of homes

76.1% Separate house ◂ +7.7 pts 68.4%

8.8% Flat or apartment +9.7 pts ▸ 18.5%

14.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +2.1 pts 12.2%

0.6% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

38.8% 3 bedrooms +2.3 pts ▸ 41.1%

33.4% 4 bedrooms ◂ +9.7 pts 23.7%

14.2% 2 bedrooms +7.7 pts ▸ 21.9%

9.6% 5 or more ◂ +2.7 pts 6.9%

2.8% 1 bedroom +2.1 pts ▸ 4.9%

0.3% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

44.6% $350–$549 ◂ +2.4 pts 42.3%

29.6% $550–$749 ◂ +15.9 pts 13.8%

12.3% $200–$349 +9.0 pts ▸ 21.3%

6.5% Under $200 +10.3 pts ▸ 16.8%

3.3% $750 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 2.7%

Monthly mortgage distribution

35.0% $1,800–$2,999 +2.5 pts ▸ 37.4%

27.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.0 pts 22.2%

18.8% $1,000–$1,799 +3.8 pts ▸ 22.6%

13.2% Under $1,000 ◂ +0.8 pts 12.4%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Kiama in Wollongong +1,201 more in Wollongong

120 64th pct 1,321 88th pct

Stops/1k in Kiama in Wollongong +0.96 more in Wollongong

5.20 74th pct 6.16 84th pct

Departures/1k in Kiama in Wollongong +937.0 more in Wollongong

302.6 65th pct 1,239.6 83rd pct

PT routes in Kiama in Wollongong +36 more in Wollongong

8 52nd pct 44 86th pct

Stop walk in Kiama in Wollongong +12 longer in Kiama

62 87th pct 50 78th pct

Drive to city in Kiama in Wollongong +19 longer in Kiama

93 68th pct 74 58th pct

How people get to work

50.3% Car (driver) ◂ +2.0 pts 48.3%

27.4% Worked at home ◂ +0.8 pts 26.6%

2.4% Car (passenger) +0.5 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.3% Walked ◂ +0.3 pts 2.0%

0.3% Train +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Bus +0.6 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.3% Bicycle +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

42.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +6.4 pts 36.5%

31.6% 1 vehicle +4.6 pts ▸ 36.2%

13.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.5 pts 11.9%

8.5% 4 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 6.9%

3.5% No vehicle +5.0 pts ▸ 8.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.5% Health care & social assistance +1.8 pts ▸ 17.3%

12.7% Education & training ◂ +1.5 pts 11.2%

12.1% Construction ◂ +2.8 pts 9.2%

8.9% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.7 pts 7.2%

6.9% Retail trade +1.6 pts ▸ 8.5%

8.0% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.9 pts 7.0%

7.1% Professional & technical ◂ +0.4 pts 6.7%

5.0% Manufacturing +0.8 pts ▸ 5.7%

2.8% Transport & warehousing +1.6 pts ▸ 4.5%

2.9% Other services +0.9 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.6% Finance & insurance +1.0 pts ▸ 3.5%

2.4% Administrative & support +0.6 pts ▸ 3.1%

Occupations people work in

28.4% Professionals ◂ +3.3 pts 25.1%

16.0% Managers ◂ +4.5 pts 11.6%

14.6% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.6 pts 14.0%

12.1% Community & personal service +0.8 pts ▸ 12.9%

10.9% Clerical & administrative +1.6 pts ▸ 12.5%

6.3% Labourers +2.1 pts ▸ 8.4%

6.3% Sales workers +1.6 pts ▸ 7.8%

3.9% Machinery operators & drivers +2.2 pts ▸ 6.1%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Kiama in Wollongong +1 higher in Kiama

9 86th pct 8 71st pct

IRSD decile in Kiama in Wollongong +3 higher in Kiama

10 100th pct 7 64th pct

IER decile in Kiama in Wollongong +3 higher in Kiama

10 100th pct 7 64th pct

IEO decile in Kiama in Wollongong +1 higher in Kiama

9 86th pct 8 71st pct

IRSAD score in Kiama in Wollongong +61 higher in Kiama

1,061 89th pct 1,000 76th pct

ERP in Kiama in Wollongong +201,188 higher in Wollongong

23,139 60th pct 224,327 87th pct

Growth in Kiama in Wollongong +3.7 pts higher in Wollongong

0.7% 20th pct 4.5% 58th pct

Businesses in Kiama in Wollongong +14,067 higher in Wollongong

2,211 59th pct 16,278 86th pct

Approvals in Kiama in Wollongong +1,501 higher in Wollongong

67 54th pct 1,568 88th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Kiama in Wollongong +439 higher in Kiama

1,831 97th pct 1,393 89th pct

Max temp in Kiama in Wollongong even

21.3 23rd pct 21.3 23rd pct

Min temp in Kiama in Wollongong +1.6 higher in Kiama

12.4 65th pct 10.8 44th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Kiama in Wollongong +5,680 higher in Wollongong

3,172 4th pct 8,852 53rd pct

Assault/100k in Kiama in Wollongong +494 higher in Wollongong

290 2nd pct 784 36th pct

Sexual/100k in Kiama in Wollongong +122 higher in Wollongong

169 27th pct 291 58th pct

Robbery/100k in Kiama in Wollongong +18 higher in Wollongong

4 3rd pct 22 46th pct

Burglary/100k in Kiama in Wollongong +172 higher in Wollongong

165 6th pct 336 29th pct

Theft/100k in Kiama in Wollongong +690 higher in Wollongong

481 10th pct 1,171 45th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Kiama in Wollongong +243 higher in Wollongong

338 49th pct 581 74th pct

Property damage/100k in Kiama in Wollongong +354 higher in Wollongong

290 5th pct 645 41st pct

Drugs/100k in Kiama in Wollongong +558 higher in Wollongong

169 17th pct 727 65th pct

5-yr change in Kiama in Wollongong +12.0 pts higher in Wollongong

-13.7% 15th pct -1.7% 32nd pct

Walkability

Walk score in Kiama in Wollongong +0.7 higher in Wollongong

5.3 76th pct 6.0 81st pct

Types ≤15 min in Kiama in Wollongong +0.7 more in Wollongong

5.1 74th pct 5.8 80th pct

15-min city in Kiama in Wollongong +16.1 pts higher in Wollongong

57.4% 67th pct 73.5% 79th pct

Walk to shops in Kiama in Wollongong +4.8 pts higher in Wollongong

56.4% 65th pct 61.2% 72nd pct

Walk to transit in Kiama in Wollongong +5.6 pts higher in Wollongong

88.6% 81st pct 94.2% 85th pct

Walk to school in Kiama in Wollongong +35.6 pts higher in Wollongong

47.2% 37th pct 82.8% 82nd pct

Walk to a park in Kiama in Wollongong +3.6 pts higher in Wollongong

89.7% 73rd pct 93.3% 79th pct

Walk to health in Kiama in Wollongong +11.8 pts higher in Kiama

50.1% 70th pct 38.3% 51st pct

Amenities/1k in Kiama in Wollongong +4.4 more in Kiama

16.1 40th pct 11.7 15th pct

Intersections/km² in Kiama in Wollongong +16 higher in Wollongong

10 72nd pct 26 74th pct

Mean slope in Kiama in Wollongong +2.2 pts higher in Kiama

9.3% 93rd pct 7.2% 81st pct

Compare Kiama with nearby areas

Shellharbour Wollongong Unincorp. Other Territories Wingecarribee Shoalhaven Campbelltown Sutherland Shire Camden

Compare Wollongong with nearby areas

Shellharbour Campbelltown Kiama Sutherland Shire Camden Wingecarribee Liverpool Wollondilly

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Kiama vs Wollongong [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA14400/kiama/vs/LGA18450/wollongong