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Shoalhaven vs Wollongong

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

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 77 km apart · Shoalhaven profile · Wollongong profile

Shoalhaven Wollongong

Shoalhaven and Wollongong are two distinct regions in New South Wales with different demographic profiles. Shoalhaven is an older area, where the typical resident is 48 and 44.7% of homes are owned outright. It is more reliant on detached houses, which make up 87.2% of dwellings. In contrast, Wollongong is younger, with a typical age of 39. It has a more qualified workforce, with 53.7% of residents completing Year 12 compared to 40.6% in Shoalhaven. High-income households earning $3,000 or more a week are also far more common in Wollongong at 22.4%.

Since 2011, the two areas have drifted further apart in several key ways. The age gap has widened, and more people in Wollongong now work from home compared to Shoalhaven. However, they remain similar in some basic areas, such as having the same 4.9% unemployment rate and nearly identical average temperatures. While both are above the national figure for home ownership, Shoalhaven is much more likely to have homes owned outright.

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Where they differ most

Population: 106,033 larger in Wollongong Separate houses: 18.8 pts higher in Shoalhaven Median age: 9 yrs older in Shoalhaven Work from home: 14.0 pts higher in Wollongong Year 12: 13.1 pts higher in Wollongong

Demographics & Identity

Population in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +106,033 larger in Wollongong gap steady

108,531 86th pct 214,564 87th pct

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

48 yrs 79th pct 39 yrs 33rd pct

Age structure

28.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +9.4 pts 18.6%

26.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.5 pts 24.7%

20.4% Young adults (25–44) +5.3 pts ▸ 25.7%

16.0% Children (0–14) +1.6 pts ▸ 17.6%

9.4% Youth (15–24) +4.0 pts ▸ 13.4%

Marital status

47.6% Married ◂ +3.0 pts 44.6%

30.5% Never married +7.2 pts ▸ 37.6%

11.1% Divorced ◂ +2.2 pts 8.9%

7.1% Widowed ◂ +1.3 pts 5.8%

3.7% Separated ◂ +0.7 pts 3.0%

Age & sex structure

Shoalhaven Wollongong

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

80.0% Australia ◂ +5.1 pts 74.9%

4.4% England ◂ +0.7 pts 3.7%

1.2% New Zealand ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

0.3% Italy +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.5% India +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.3% China +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.5% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Vietnam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Nepal even 0.2%

Ancestry

43.1% English ◂ +7.3 pts 35.8%

40.2% Australian ◂ +5.5 pts 34.7%

11.7% Irish ◂ +1.5 pts 10.3%

10.9% Scottish ◂ +1.0 pts 9.8%

2.5% Italian +3.6 pts ▸ 6.1%

3.9% German ◂ +0.2 pts 3.7%

0.8% Chinese +1.2 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.4% Dutch +0.4 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.7% Greek +0.9 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.6% Indian +0.8 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.8% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

Language

Language used at home

88.4% English only ◂ +8.6 pts 79.8%

0.1% Arabic +1.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.3% Italian +1.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.2% Mandarin +0.9 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%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.3%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Punjabi even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.0% Christianity +2.2 pts ▸ 50.2%

41.6% No religion ◂ +2.8 pts 38.8%

8.2% Not stated ◂ +2.4 pts 5.8%

0.3% Islam +2.3 pts ▸ 2.6%

0.8% Buddhism +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.5% Hinduism +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% Other religions even 0.5%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +50 more in Wollongong

37 86th pct 87 88th pct

Schools/1k kids in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +0.17 more in Wollongong

2.13 24th pct 2.31 28th pct

Students in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +17,730 more in Wollongong

14,284 83rd pct 32,014 87th pct

Avg size in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +14 larger in Shoalhaven

386 72nd pct 372 70th pct

ICSEA in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +61 higher in Wollongong

976 53rd pct 1,036 79th pct

Highest year of school

40.6% Year 12 +13.1 pts ▸ 53.7%

31.3% Year 10 ◂ +7.0 pts 24.3%

13.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.5 pts 10.9%

6.4% Year 11 ◂ +0.9 pts 5.5%

Highest qualification level

36.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +6.6 pts 29.9%

17.1% Bachelor degree +7.7 pts ▸ 24.8%

14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma even 14.7%

5.3% Postgraduate degree +5.0 pts ▸ 10.3%

3.2% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.4 pts ▸ 3.6%

2.4% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.4 pts 2.0%

Field of qualification

15.5% Management & commerce +2.2 pts ▸ 17.7%

15.7% Engineering & related +1.0 pts ▸ 16.7%

11.2% Society & culture +1.3 pts ▸ 12.6%

10.0% Health +0.4 pts ▸ 10.4%

8.8% Education +0.3 pts ▸ 9.1%

7.7% Architecture & building ◂ +1.6 pts 6.1%

5.7% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.1 pts 4.6%

2.8% Creative arts +1.3 pts ▸ 4.1%

2.0% Natural & physical sciences +1.0 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.3% Information technology +1.4 pts ▸ 2.7%

2.4% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.9 pts 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +$120 higher in Wollongong gap widening

$634 24th pct $754 52nd pct

Household income in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +$432 higher in Wollongong gap widening

$1,250 31st pct $1,682 71st pct

Family income in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +$614 higher in Wollongong gap widening

$1,537 26th pct $2,151 76th pct

Household income distribution

33.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +8.1 pts 25.7%

26.1% $1,500–$2,999 +2.3 pts ▸ 28.4%

21.2% Under $650 ◂ +3.6 pts 17.5%

5.6% $4,000 or more +6.1 pts ▸ 11.7%

6.5% $3,000–$3,999 +4.3 pts ▸ 10.7%

Personal income distribution

46.8% Under $650 ◂ +4.7 pts 42.1%

30.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.5 pts 30.0%

12.2% $1,500–$2,999 +5.9 pts ▸ 18.1%

2.3% $3,000 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 4.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

14.7% Arthritis ◂ +4.6 pts 10.1%

11.3% Mental health ◂ +1.1 pts 10.1%

9.3% Other condition ◂ +0.4 pts 8.8%

9.0% Asthma ◂ +0.4 pts 8.6%

6.5% Diabetes ◂ +1.4 pts 5.0%

5.9% Heart disease ◂ +1.9 pts 4.0%

4.5% Cancer ◂ +1.3 pts 3.2%

3.2% Lung condition ◂ +1.1 pts 2.1%

1.5% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 1.1%

1.2% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

53.8% None +8.4 pts ▸ 62.2%

22.3% One condition ◂ +1.7 pts 20.6%

8.9% Two conditions ◂ +2.3 pts 6.7%

5.5% Three or more ◂ +1.9 pts 3.6%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +122 larger in Shoalhaven

7,067 89th pct 6,945 89th pct

Median age in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +1 yrs older in Shoalhaven

24 yrs 43rd pct 23 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +$60 higher in Wollongong

$545 48th pct $605 64th pct

Household income in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +$270 higher in Wollongong

$1,332 45th pct $1,602 69th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +0.2 larger in Wollongong gap steady

2.3 29th pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

46.3% Couples with children +11.5 pts ▸ 57.7%

37.1% Couples without children ◂ +10.7 pts 26.4%

15.6% One-parent families ◂ +0.8 pts 14.8%

1.0% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

Household size

40.5% 2 people ◂ +7.3 pts 33.3%

28.5% 1 person ◂ +2.1 pts 26.4%

12.7% 3 people +3.0 pts ▸ 15.7%

11.0% 4 people +4.6 pts ▸ 15.7%

4.8% 5 people +1.4 pts ▸ 6.3%

2.4% 6 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 2.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +$40 higher in Wollongong gap widening

$350 76th pct $390 86th pct

Mortgage in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +$434 higher in Wollongong gap steady

$1,733 71st pct $2,167 87th pct

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

0.70 0th pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

44.7% Owned outright ◂ +10.4 pts 34.2%

27.1% Owned with a mortgage +4.9 pts ▸ 32.0%

24.2% Rented +6.7 pts ▸ 31.0%

2.3% Other tenure ◂ +0.7 pts 1.6%

1.7% Not stated ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

87.2% Separate house ◂ +18.8 pts 68.4%

2.0% Flat or apartment +16.5 pts ▸ 18.5%

8.1% Townhouse / semi-detached +4.1 pts ▸ 12.2%

2.0% Other dwelling ◂ +1.3 pts 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

41.1% 3 bedrooms even 41.1%

30.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +6.9 pts 23.7%

16.0% 2 bedrooms +5.9 pts ▸ 21.9%

7.2% 5 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 6.9%

3.1% 1 bedroom +1.8 pts ▸ 4.9%

0.3% Studio / none even 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

45.7% $350–$549 ◂ +3.5 pts 42.3%

35.7% $200–$349 ◂ +14.4 pts 21.3%

10.4% Under $200 +6.4 pts ▸ 16.8%

3.7% $550–$749 +10.1 pts ▸ 13.8%

0.7% $750 or more +2.0 pts ▸ 2.7%

Monthly mortgage distribution

30.8% $1,800–$2,999 +6.6 pts ▸ 37.4%

31.7% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +9.1 pts 22.6%

11.6% $3,000 or more +10.5 pts ▸ 22.2%

19.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +7.5 pts 12.4%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +575 more in Wollongong

746 86th pct 1,321 88th pct

Stops/1k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +0.72 more in Shoalhaven

6.87 88th pct 6.16 84th pct

Departures/1k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +1,041.9 more in Wollongong

197.7 61st pct 1,239.6 83rd pct

PT routes in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +20 more in Wollongong

24 73rd pct 44 86th pct

Stop walk in Shoalhaven in Wollongong

— 50 78th pct

Drive to city in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +333 longer in Shoalhaven

407 100th pct 74 58th pct

How people get to work

63.7% Car (driver) ◂ +15.4 pts 48.3%

12.5% Worked at home +14.0 pts ▸ 26.6%

4.6% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.6 pts 3.0%

2.8% Walked ◂ +0.7 pts 2.0%

0.0% Train +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Bus +0.6 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

38.3% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.0 pts 36.2%

38.1% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.7 pts 36.5%

12.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.3 pts 11.9%

4.4% No vehicle +4.0 pts ▸ 8.5%

7.0% 4 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 6.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

16.0% Health care & social assistance +1.3 pts ▸ 17.3%

11.9% Construction ◂ +2.7 pts 9.2%

8.3% Education & training +2.9 pts ▸ 11.2%

10.7% Retail trade ◂ +2.1 pts 8.5%

9.8% Public administration & safety ◂ +2.6 pts 7.2%

9.5% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.5 pts 7.0%

4.8% Professional & technical +1.9 pts ▸ 6.7%

4.7% Manufacturing +1.1 pts ▸ 5.7%

3.0% Transport & warehousing +1.4 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.9% Administrative & support ◂ +0.8 pts 3.1%

3.8% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%

1.5% Finance & insurance +2.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

Occupations people work in

18.1% Professionals +7.1 pts ▸ 25.1%

16.6% Technicians & trades ◂ +2.5 pts 14.0%

14.9% Community & personal service ◂ +2.0 pts 12.9%

10.9% Clerical & administrative +1.6 pts ▸ 12.5%

12.5% Managers ◂ +1.0 pts 11.6%

11.0% Labourers ◂ +2.6 pts 8.4%

9.4% Sales workers ◂ +1.6 pts 7.8%

5.0% Machinery operators & drivers +1.0 pts ▸ 6.1%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +3 higher in Wollongong

5 43rd pct 8 71st pct

IRSD decile in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +1 higher in Wollongong

6 57th pct 7 64th pct

IER decile in Shoalhaven in Wollongong even

7 64th pct 7 64th pct

IEO decile in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +3 higher in Wollongong

5 43rd pct 8 71st pct

IRSAD score in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +51 higher in Wollongong

949 46th pct 1,000 76th pct

ERP in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +112,572 higher in Wollongong

111,755 85th pct 224,327 87th pct

Growth in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +1.5 pts higher in Wollongong

3.0% 43rd pct 4.5% 58th pct

Businesses in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +7,984 higher in Wollongong

8,294 80th pct 16,278 86th pct

Approvals in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +852 higher in Wollongong

716 86th pct 1,568 88th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +263 higher in Wollongong

1,130 82nd pct 1,393 89th pct

Max temp in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +1.0 higher in Shoalhaven

22.3 30th pct 21.3 23rd pct

Min temp in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +0.1 higher in Shoalhaven

10.9 46th pct 10.8 44th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +1,539 higher in Wollongong

7,313 42nd pct 8,852 53rd pct

Assault/100k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +251 higher in Shoalhaven

1,036 54th pct 784 36th pct

Sexual/100k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +62 higher in Shoalhaven

353 73rd pct 291 58th pct

Robbery/100k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +10 higher in Wollongong

12 22nd pct 22 46th pct

Burglary/100k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +26 higher in Wollongong

311 25th pct 336 29th pct

Theft/100k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +333 higher in Wollongong

838 29th pct 1,171 45th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +151 higher in Wollongong

429 60th pct 581 74th pct

Property damage/100k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +203 higher in Shoalhaven

848 59th pct 645 41st pct

Drugs/100k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +339 higher in Wollongong

388 43rd pct 727 65th pct

5-yr change in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +9.5 pts higher in Shoalhaven

7.8% 49th pct -1.7% 32nd pct

Walkability

Walk score in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +1.9 higher in Wollongong

4.2 61st pct 6.0 81st pct

Types ≤15 min in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +1.8 more in Wollongong

4.1 53rd pct 5.8 80th pct

15-min city in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +30.1 pts higher in Wollongong

43.4% 42nd pct 73.5% 79th pct

Walk to shops in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +20.6 pts higher in Wollongong

40.6% 37th pct 61.2% 72nd pct

Walk to transit in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +11.8 pts higher in Wollongong

82.4% 77th pct 94.2% 85th pct

Walk to school in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +44.8 pts higher in Wollongong

38.0% 24th pct 82.8% 82nd pct

Walk to a park in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +10.2 pts higher in Wollongong

83.1% 66th pct 93.3% 79th pct

Walk to health in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +8.7 pts higher in Wollongong

29.7% 34th pct 38.3% 51st pct

Amenities/1k in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +5.6 more in Shoalhaven

17.3 45th pct 11.7 15th pct

Intersections/km² in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +23 higher in Wollongong

3 60th pct 26 74th pct

Mean slope in Shoalhaven in Wollongong +1.2 pts higher in Wollongong

6.0% 69th pct 7.2% 81st pct

Compare Shoalhaven with nearby areas

Unincorp. Other Territories Kiama Wingecarribee Shellharbour Goulburn Mulwaree Wollongong Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Wollondilly

Compare Wollongong with nearby areas

Shellharbour Campbelltown Kiama Sutherland Shire Camden Wingecarribee Liverpool Wollondilly

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Shoalhaven vs Wollongong [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA16950/shoalhaven/vs/LGA18450/wollongong