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Central Coast vs Wollongong

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 127 km apart · Central Coast profile · Wollongong profile

Central Coast Wollongong

Central Coast and Wollongong are both large regional hubs in New South Wales, but they differ in layout and demographics. Wollongong is more compact and walkable, with 70.7% of homes in a 15-minute-city walkshed compared to 57.2% in Central Coast. This accessibility extends to schools and groceries, which are far more reachable by foot in Wollongong. Central Coast is noticeably older, with a typical resident aged 43 and a higher share of people aged 65 and over (22.2%). In contrast, Wollongong has a more diverse and highly qualified population, with 22.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and a higher share of people born overseas (19.5%).

Both areas share a similar home environment, with exactly 2.5 people per home. They also have nearly identical rates of children under 15 and people who volunteer. While Wollongong has higher typical incomes and more apartments, Central Coast has more separate houses and a higher share of parks within walking distance. These two regions continue to track similarly across many everyday measures of family life and health.

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Where they differ most

One-parent: 2.4 pts higher in Central Coast Other language: 6.6 pts higher in Wollongong Separate houses: 6.9 pts higher in Central Coast Limited English: 1.3 pts higher in Wollongong Median age: 4 yrs older in Central Coast

Demographics & Identity

Population in Central Coast in Wollongong +37,489 larger in Central Coast

343,180 86th pct 305,691 86th pct

Median age in Central Coast in Wollongong +4 yrs older in Central Coast

43 yrs 64th pct 39 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

25.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.7 pts 24.9%

23.0% Young adults (25–44) +2.2 pts ▸ 25.2%

22.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.3 pts 19.0%

18.0% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.1 pts 17.9%

11.2% Youth (15–24) +1.8 pts ▸ 13.0%

Marital status

44.5% Married +1.3 pts ▸ 45.8%

33.7% Never married +2.5 pts ▸ 36.2%

11.2% Divorced ◂ +2.2 pts 9.0%

6.6% Widowed ◂ +0.8 pts 5.8%

4.0% Separated ◂ +0.9 pts 3.1%

Age & sex structure

Central Coast Wollongong

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

78.9% Australia ◂ +2.7 pts 76.3%

4.6% England ◂ +0.6 pts 3.9%

1.7% New Zealand ◂ +0.6 pts 1.1%

0.3% Italy +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.7% India +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.7% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.6% China +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.1% Vietnam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

42.6% English ◂ +5.6 pts 37.0%

39.8% Australian ◂ +4.0 pts 35.8%

12.0% Irish ◂ +1.9 pts 10.1%

10.5% Scottish ◂ +0.7 pts 9.8%

2.8% Italian +2.7 pts ▸ 5.5%

3.3% German +0.6 pts ▸ 3.9%

1.5% Dutch +0.3 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.5% Chinese +0.2 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.8% Greek +0.8 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.0% Indian +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

1.1% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Language

Language used at home

87.7% English only ◂ +6.0 pts 81.7%

0.3% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% Arabic +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.6% Mandarin +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.3% Cantonese even 0.2%

0.2% Hindi even 0.2%

0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.8% Christianity +0.4 pts ▸ 51.3%

40.0% No religion ◂ +1.5 pts 38.5%

6.5% Not stated ◂ +0.7 pts 5.9%

0.4% Islam +1.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.0% Buddhism even 1.0%

0.6% Hinduism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

47.2% Year 12 +3.6 pts ▸ 50.7%

29.2% Year 10 ◂ +2.6 pts 26.5%

10.7% Year 9 or below +0.5 pts ▸ 11.2%

6.4% Year 11 ◂ +0.5 pts 5.9%

Highest qualification level

34.2% Certificate III / IV ◂ +2.0 pts 32.2%

20.5% Bachelor degree +2.5 pts ▸ 22.9%

15.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.8 pts 15.2%

5.8% Postgraduate degree +3.0 pts ▸ 8.8%

2.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.6 pts ▸ 3.5%

2.3% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.2 pts 2.1%

Field of qualification

18.7% Management & commerce ◂ +1.0 pts 17.7%

13.2% Engineering & related +3.7 pts ▸ 16.9%

11.9% Society & culture +0.6 pts ▸ 12.5%

11.0% Health ◂ +0.6 pts 10.4%

8.5% Education +0.6 pts ▸ 9.1%

7.4% Architecture & building ◂ +0.9 pts 6.5%

5.6% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.7 pts 4.9%

3.6% Creative arts even 3.7%

1.9% Natural & physical sciences +0.7 pts ▸ 2.7%

2.1% Information technology +0.3 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.9% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.4 pts 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Central Coast in Wollongong +$25 higher in Wollongong

$726 48th pct $751 56th pct

Household income in Central Coast in Wollongong +$177 higher in Wollongong

$1,499 57th pct $1,676 74th pct

Family income in Central Coast in Wollongong +$156 higher in Wollongong

$1,948 62nd pct $2,104 78th pct

Household income distribution

28.3% $1,500–$2,999 +0.6 pts ▸ 28.9%

28.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.2 pts 26.2%

18.4% Under $650 ◂ +1.4 pts 17.0%

9.2% $4,000 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 11.0%

9.3% $3,000–$3,999 +1.5 pts ▸ 10.8%

Personal income distribution

42.5% Under $650 ◂ +0.3 pts 42.2%

31.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.1 pts 30.5%

15.5% $1,500–$2,999 +2.3 pts ▸ 17.8%

3.4% $3,000 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 3.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.5% Arthritis ◂ +1.1 pts 10.4%

11.0% Mental health ◂ +0.8 pts 10.2%

9.6% Asthma ◂ +0.9 pts 8.7%

9.0% Other condition ◂ +0.2 pts 8.8%

5.5% Diabetes ◂ +0.3 pts 5.2%

5.0% Heart disease ◂ +0.8 pts 4.2%

3.7% Cancer ◂ +0.5 pts 3.2%

2.7% Lung condition ◂ +0.5 pts 2.1%

1.3% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

1.1% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

58.1% None +3.4 pts ▸ 61.6%

21.9% One condition ◂ +1.2 pts 20.7%

7.7% Two conditions ◂ +0.9 pts 6.8%

4.4% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 3.7%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Central Coast in Wollongong even

2.5 71st pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

53.9% Couples with children +3.4 pts ▸ 57.2%

27.7% Couples without children ◂ +1.0 pts 26.7%

17.5% One-parent families ◂ +2.4 pts 15.1%

0.9% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

Household size

34.3% 2 people ◂ +0.3 pts 34.0%

27.4% 1 person ◂ +2.3 pts 25.1%

14.5% 4 people +1.4 pts ▸ 15.9%

14.9% 3 people +0.9 pts ▸ 15.8%

6.1% 5 people +0.3 pts ▸ 6.4%

2.9% 6 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 2.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Central Coast in Wollongong even

$400 90th pct $400 90th pct

Mortgage in Central Coast in Wollongong +$167 higher in Wollongong

$2,000 88th pct $2,167 95th pct

People / bedroom in Central Coast in Wollongong even

0.80 57th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

34.5% Owned outright +0.3 pts ▸ 34.8%

33.9% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +0.8 pts 33.0%

27.6% Rented +1.7 pts ▸ 29.3%

2.5% Other tenure ◂ +0.9 pts 1.6%

1.5% Not stated ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

Types of homes

78.2% Separate house ◂ +6.9 pts 71.3%

8.8% Flat or apartment +6.0 pts ▸ 14.8%

12.0% Townhouse / semi-detached +0.9 pts ▸ 12.9%

0.7% Other dwelling even 0.8%

Bedrooms per home

38.8% 3 bedrooms +2.8 pts ▸ 41.6%

28.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +1.6 pts 26.4%

19.3% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.2 pts 19.1%

8.4% 5 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 7.2%

3.6% 1 bedroom +0.6 pts ▸ 4.2%

0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

53.7% $350–$549 ◂ +10.2 pts 43.5%

20.9% $200–$349 ◂ +0.6 pts 20.3%

9.8% Under $200 +6.2 pts ▸ 16.0%

10.2% $550–$749 +4.4 pts ▸ 14.6%

2.3% $750 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 2.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

37.9% $1,800–$2,999 +0.7 pts ▸ 38.7%

26.2% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +3.6 pts 22.7%

16.2% $3,000 or more +4.5 pts ▸ 20.7%

13.8% Under $1,000 ◂ +1.4 pts 12.5%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

49.3% Car (driver) +1.4 pts ▸ 50.7%

25.4% Worked at home ◂ +0.9 pts 24.6%

3.3% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%

1.3% Walked +0.5 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.8% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.6% Bus +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Bicycle +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

38.2% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.1 pts 35.1%

36.4% 2 vehicles +1.1 pts ▸ 37.5%

11.9% 3 vehicles +0.6 pts ▸ 12.5%

6.9% 4 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 7.5%

6.5% No vehicle +0.9 pts ▸ 7.4%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.8% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.6 pts 17.3%

11.5% Construction ◂ +1.5 pts 10.0%

8.2% Education & training +2.3 pts ▸ 10.5%

10.2% Retail trade ◂ +1.3 pts 9.0%

6.1% Public administration & safety +1.2 pts ▸ 7.3%

7.0% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.1 pts 6.9%

6.0% Professional & technical +0.1 pts ▸ 6.1%

5.9% Manufacturing even 6.0%

3.7% Transport & warehousing +0.8 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.8% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%

3.3% Finance & insurance even 3.3%

3.3% Administrative & support ◂ +0.2 pts 3.1%

Occupations people work in

20.4% Professionals +2.7 pts ▸ 23.1%

14.6% Technicians & trades +0.1 pts ▸ 14.7%

13.0% Community & personal service +0.2 pts ▸ 13.2%

13.1% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.5 pts 12.6%

12.2% Managers ◂ +1.0 pts 11.3%

9.7% Labourers ◂ +1.1 pts 8.7%

9.2% Sales workers ◂ +1.0 pts 8.2%

6.0% Machinery operators & drivers +0.6 pts ▸ 6.6%

Walkability

Walk score in Central Coast in Wollongong +0.6 higher in Wollongong

5.4 66th pct 5.9 84th pct

Types ≤15 min in Central Coast in Wollongong +0.7 more in Wollongong

5.1 62nd pct 5.7 86th pct

15-min city in Central Coast in Wollongong +13.5 pts higher in Wollongong

57.2% 58th pct 70.7% 85th pct

Walk to shops in Central Coast in Wollongong +10.0 pts higher in Wollongong

50.8% 40th pct 60.8% 70th pct

Walk to transit in Central Coast in Wollongong +0.4 pts higher in Wollongong

93.4% 89th pct 93.8% 91st pct

Walk to school in Central Coast in Wollongong +17.4 pts higher in Wollongong

61.6% 43rd pct 79.0% 87th pct

Walk to a park in Central Coast in Wollongong +1.6 pts higher in Wollongong

92.9% 71st pct 94.5% 80th pct

Walk to health in Central Coast in Wollongong +2.6 pts higher in Wollongong

38.9% 43rd pct 41.5% 57th pct

Amenities/1k in Central Coast in Wollongong +4.9 more in Central Coast

16.9 62nd pct 12.0 22nd pct

Intersections/km² in Central Coast in Wollongong +26 higher in Wollongong

21 56th pct 47 85th pct

Mean slope in Central Coast in Wollongong +0.8 pts higher in Central Coast

7.8% 89th pct 6.9% 83rd pct

Compare Central Coast with nearby areas

Morisset - Cooranbong Sydney Newcastle - Maitland Singleton Medowie Nelson Bay Muswellbrook Lithgow Wollongong Bowral - Mittagong Bathurst Nowra - Bomaderry

Compare Wollongong with nearby areas

Bowral - Mittagong Nowra - Bomaderry Sydney St Georges Basin - Sanctuary Point Ulladulla Central Coast Goulburn Lithgow Batemans Bay Morisset - Cooranbong Bathurst Newcastle - Maitland

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Central Coast vs Wollongong [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/1010/central-coast/vs/1036/wollongong