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Lithgow vs Wollongong

Urban Area comparison ≈ 126 km apart · Lithgow profile · Wollongong profile

Lithgow Wollongong

Wollongong and Lithgow are two very different New South Wales centres. Wollongong is a larger hub with a more qualified workforce, where 22.1% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher compared to 10.8% in Lithgow. This helps explain why pay is well higher in Wollongong, with a typical weekly household income of $1,676 against $1,088 in Lithgow. While Wollongong has far more people working from home (24.6%) and a higher share of overseas-born residents (19.5%), Lithgow has a much older population, with the typical resident aged 46 compared to 39 in Wollongong.

Both areas share similar levels of volunteering and a similar percentage of renters, but the gap in their housing styles is widening. Lithgow has a far higher share of separate houses at 85.4%, while Wollongong has more flats or apartments. This contrast is also seen in their layouts; Wollongong has far higher street connectivity, yet Lithgow residents are more likely to live within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.

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Where they differ most

Population: 293,306 larger in Wollongong Living alone: 13.1 pts higher in Lithgow Year 12: 16.8 pts higher in Wollongong Bachelor+: 11.3 pts higher in Wollongong Household income: $588 higher in Wollongong

Demographics & Identity

Population in Lithgowin Wollongong +293,306 larger in Wollongong
12,385 12th pct 305,691 86th pct
Median age in Lithgowin Wollongong +7 yrs older in Lithgow
46 yrs 81st pct 39 yrs 43rd pct
First Nations in Lithgowin Wollongong +4.7 pts higher in Lithgow
8.3% 77th pct 3.6% 28th pct
Aged 65+ in Lithgowin Wollongong +6.5 pts higher in Lithgow
25.5% 82nd pct 19.0% 43rd pct
Under 15 in Lithgowin Wollongong +1.9 pts higher in Wollongong
16.0% 14th pct 17.9% 45th pct
De facto in Lithgowin Wollongong +1.0 pts higher in Wollongong
10.2% 5th pct 11.3% 19th pct

Age structure

26.0% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.1 pts 24.9%
25.5% Seniors (65+) ◂ +6.5 pts 19.0%
22.1% Young adults (25–44) +3.1 pts ▸ 25.2%
16.0% Children (0–14) +1.9 pts ▸ 17.9%
10.2% Youth (15–24) +2.7 pts ▸ 13.0%

Marital status

40.0% Married +5.8 pts ▸ 45.8%
35.8% Never married +0.4 pts ▸ 36.2%
12.0% Divorced ◂ +2.9 pts 9.0%
8.1% Widowed ◂ +2.2 pts 5.8%
4.1% Separated ◂ +1.0 pts 3.1%

Age & sex structure

Lithgow Wollongong

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Lithgowin Wollongong +9.0 pts higher in Wollongong
10.5% 27th pct 19.5% 81st pct

Country of birth

82.2% Australia ◂ +5.9 pts 76.3%
2.2% England +1.7 pts ▸ 3.9%
1.1% New Zealand ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%
0.3% Italy +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.6% India +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.7% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%
0.4% China +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.2% Vietnam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.2% South Africa +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

41.9% Australian ◂ +6.1 pts 35.8%
40.4% English ◂ +3.4 pts 37.0%
11.5% Irish ◂ +1.3 pts 10.1%
11.3% Scottish ◂ +1.5 pts 9.8%
1.7% Italian +3.8 pts ▸ 5.5%
3.1% German +0.8 pts ▸ 3.9%
0.9% Dutch +0.9 pts ▸ 1.8%
1.0% Chinese +0.7 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.5% Greek +1.0 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.6% Indian +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%
1.1% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%
0.2% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

Language

Other language in Lithgowin Wollongong +8.9 pts higher in Wollongong
4.9% 27th pct 13.8% 86th pct
Limited English in Lithgowin Wollongong +1.4 pts higher in Wollongong
0.7% 42nd pct 2.1% 86th pct

Language used at home

86.5% English only ◂ +4.7 pts 81.7%
0.3% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.2% Arabic +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.3% Mandarin +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.2% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.2% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.2% Cantonese even 0.2%
0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%
0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

No religion in Lithgowin Wollongong +3.6 pts higher in Wollongong
34.9% 13th pct 38.5% 30th pct

Religious affiliation

52.6% Christianity ◂ +1.3 pts 51.3%
34.9% No religion +3.6 pts ▸ 38.5%
10.0% Not stated ◂ +4.1 pts 5.9%
0.4% Islam +1.8 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.8% Buddhism +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.6% Hinduism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.6% Other religions ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%
0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Lithgowin Wollongong +16.8 pts higher in Wollongong
34.0% 7th pct 50.7% 75th pct
Bachelor+ in Lithgowin Wollongong +11.3 pts higher in Wollongong
10.8% 12th pct 22.1% 80th pct

Highest year of school

34.0% Year 12 +16.8 pts ▸ 50.7%
33.0% Year 10 ◂ +6.4 pts 26.5%
14.9% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.7 pts 11.2%
6.9% Year 11 ◂ +1.0 pts 5.9%

Highest qualification level

37.9% Certificate III / IV ◂ +5.6 pts 32.2%
13.3% Bachelor degree +9.6 pts ▸ 22.9%
12.8% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.4 pts ▸ 15.2%
3.2% Postgraduate degree +5.6 pts ▸ 8.8%
2.7% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.8 pts ▸ 3.5%
3.0% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.9 pts 2.1%

Field of qualification

19.3% Engineering & related ◂ +2.4 pts 16.9%
13.0% Management & commerce +4.7 pts ▸ 17.7%
9.6% Society & culture +2.9 pts ▸ 12.5%
9.7% Health +0.7 pts ▸ 10.4%
7.3% Education +1.8 pts ▸ 9.1%
4.2% Architecture & building +2.2 pts ▸ 6.5%
6.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.1 pts 4.9%
2.5% Creative arts +1.2 pts ▸ 3.7%
1.3% Natural & physical sciences +1.4 pts ▸ 2.7%
1.5% Information technology +0.9 pts ▸ 2.4%
1.8% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.3 pts 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Lithgowin Wollongong +$141 higher in Wollongong
$610 13th pct $751 56th pct
Household income in Lithgowin Wollongong +$588 higher in Wollongong
$1,088 6th pct $1,676 74th pct
Family income in Lithgowin Wollongong +$594 higher in Wollongong
$1,510 18th pct $2,104 78th pct
High earners in Lithgowin Wollongong +3.9 pts higher in Wollongong
7.5% 38th pct 11.4% 73rd pct
High-income homes in Lithgowin Wollongong +10.1 pts higher in Wollongong
11.7% 27th pct 21.8% 82nd pct

Household income distribution

31.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +5.5 pts 26.2%
22.5% $1,500–$2,999 +6.3 pts ▸ 28.9%
27.1% Under $650 ◂ +10.0 pts 17.0%
6.0% $4,000 or more +5.0 pts ▸ 11.0%
5.7% $3,000–$3,999 +5.1 pts ▸ 10.8%

Personal income distribution

46.8% Under $650 ◂ +4.7 pts 42.2%
27.4% $650–$1,499 +3.2 pts ▸ 30.5%
12.1% $1,500–$2,999 +5.6 pts ▸ 17.8%
2.7% $3,000 or more +1.1 pts ▸ 3.8%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Lithgowin Wollongong +5.8 pts higher in Lithgow
37.0% 84th pct 31.2% 38th pct
Mental health in Lithgowin Wollongong +1.7 pts higher in Lithgow
11.8% 75th pct 10.2% 42nd pct
Needs assistance in Lithgowin Wollongong +1.7 pts higher in Lithgow
8.5% 81st pct 6.8% 53rd pct

Long-term health conditions reported

14.7% Arthritis ◂ +4.2 pts 10.4%
11.8% Mental health ◂ +1.7 pts 10.2%
10.3% Asthma ◂ +1.6 pts 8.7%
8.7% Other condition +0.1 pts ▸ 8.8%
7.2% Diabetes ◂ +2.0 pts 5.2%
6.0% Heart disease ◂ +1.8 pts 4.2%
3.5% Cancer ◂ +0.3 pts 3.2%
3.1% Lung condition ◂ +1.0 pts 2.1%
1.4% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%
1.3% Dementia ◂ +0.5 pts 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

51.3% None +10.3 pts ▸ 61.6%
22.4% One condition ◂ +1.6 pts 20.7%
9.0% Two conditions ◂ +2.2 pts 6.8%
5.7% Three or more ◂ +2.0 pts 3.7%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.8 pts higher in Lithgow
13.5% 24th pct 12.7% 14th pct
Unpaid carers in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.4 pts higher in Wollongong
12.9% 49th pct 13.2% 57th pct
Unpaid child care in Lithgowin Wollongong +4.7 pts higher in Wollongong
22.0% 12th pct 26.7% 65th pct
Defence service in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.7 pts higher in Lithgow
2.9% 32nd pct 2.2% 10th pct
Housework 15h+ in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.7 pts higher in Wollongong
22.2% 60th pct 22.9% 70th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.3 larger in Wollongong
2.2 6th pct 2.5 71st pct
One-parent in Lithgowin Wollongong +6.2 pts higher in Lithgow
21.2% 91st pct 15.1% 31st pct
Living alone in Lithgowin Wollongong +13.1 pts higher in Lithgow
38.1% 100th pct 25.1% 14th pct

Family composition

46.5% Couples with children +10.7 pts ▸ 57.2%
30.9% Couples without children ◂ +4.2 pts 26.7%
21.2% One-parent families ◂ +6.2 pts 15.1%
1.3% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

Household size

38.1% 1 person ◂ +13.1 pts 25.1%
34.2% 2 people ◂ +0.2 pts 34.0%
10.5% 4 people +5.4 pts ▸ 15.9%
11.1% 3 people +4.7 pts ▸ 15.8%
4.1% 5 people +2.3 pts ▸ 6.4%
2.2% 6 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 2.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Lithgowin Wollongong +$130 higher in Wollongong
$270 29th pct $400 90th pct
Mortgage in Lithgowin Wollongong +$705 higher in Wollongong
$1,462 40th pct $2,167 95th pct
People / bedroom in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.10 higher in Wollongong
0.70 0th pct 0.80 57th pct
Renting in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.5 pts higher in Lithgow
29.8% 43rd pct 29.3% 41st pct
Owned outright in Lithgowin Wollongong +4.3 pts higher in Lithgow
39.0% 78th pct 34.8% 56th pct
Separate houses in Lithgowin Wollongong +14.1 pts higher in Lithgow
85.4% 57th pct 71.3% 13th pct
3+ bedrooms in Lithgowin Wollongong +4.5 pts higher in Wollongong
70.8% 13th pct 75.3% 31st pct

How homes are owned or rented

39.0% Owned outright ◂ +4.3 pts 34.8%
26.0% Owned with a mortgage +7.0 pts ▸ 33.0%
29.8% Rented ◂ +0.5 pts 29.3%
2.6% Other tenure ◂ +1.0 pts 1.6%
2.6% Not stated ◂ +1.4 pts 1.3%

Types of homes

85.4% Separate house ◂ +14.1 pts 71.3%
2.3% Flat or apartment +12.5 pts ▸ 14.8%
11.6% Townhouse / semi-detached +1.3 pts ▸ 12.9%
0.4% Other dwelling +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

Bedrooms per home

45.4% 3 bedrooms ◂ +3.8 pts 41.6%
20.7% 4 bedrooms +5.7 pts ▸ 26.4%
22.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +3.7 pts 19.1%
4.6% 5 or more +2.6 pts ▸ 7.2%
3.5% 1 bedroom +0.7 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

55.9% $200–$349 ◂ +35.7 pts 20.3%
16.2% $350–$549 +27.4 pts ▸ 43.5%
23.3% Under $200 ◂ +7.3 pts 16.0%
0.7% $550–$749 +14.0 pts ▸ 14.6%
0.0% $750 or more +2.4 pts ▸ 2.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

42.3% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +19.7 pts 22.7%
24.0% $1,800–$2,999 +14.7 pts ▸ 38.7%
21.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +9.5 pts 12.5%
6.3% $3,000 or more +14.4 pts ▸ 20.7%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Lithgowin Wollongong +4.2 pts higher in Lithgow
11.6% 100th pct 7.4% 79th pct
Work from home in Lithgowin Wollongong +14.9 pts higher in Wollongong
9.7% 60th pct 24.6% 97th pct
PT commute in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.8 pts higher in Wollongong
0.4% 36th pct 1.2% 74th pct

How people get to work

63.9% Car (driver) ◂ +13.2 pts 50.7%
9.7% Worked at home +14.9 pts ▸ 24.6%
4.6% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.6 pts 3.0%
4.5% Walked ◂ +2.7 pts 1.8%
0.2% Bus +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.2% Train +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.3% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

41.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +6.5 pts 35.1%
30.2% 2 vehicles +7.3 pts ▸ 37.5%
10.3% 3 vehicles +2.1 pts ▸ 12.5%
11.6% No vehicle ◂ +4.2 pts 7.4%
6.3% 4 or more +1.2 pts ▸ 7.5%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Lithgowin Wollongong +4.2 pts higher in Wollongong
31.9% 6th pct 36.1% 22nd pct
Recent arrivals in Lithgowin Wollongong +3.2 pts higher in Wollongong
6.4% 10th pct 9.6% 28th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Lithgowin Wollongong +1.8 pts higher in Lithgow
6.5% 87th pct 4.7% 46th pct
Participation in Lithgowin Wollongong +10.3 pts higher in Wollongong
47.8% 10th pct 58.1% 51st pct
Full-time in Lithgowin Wollongong +2.3 pts higher in Lithgow
56.6% 43rd pct 54.3% 22nd pct

Industries people work in

13.6% Health care & social assistance +3.6 pts ▸ 17.3%
10.7% Public administration & safety ◂ +3.5 pts 7.3%
7.1% Education & training +3.4 pts ▸ 10.5%
10.3% Retail trade ◂ +1.3 pts 9.0%
6.2% Construction +3.8 pts ▸ 10.0%
9.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.4 pts 6.9%
8.3% Mining ◂ +6.4 pts 1.9%
3.1% Professional & technical +3.0 pts ▸ 6.1%
4.9% Manufacturing +1.0 pts ▸ 6.0%
4.5% Transport & warehousing +0.1 pts ▸ 4.5%
4.0% Other services ◂ +0.3 pts 3.8%
3.4% Administrative & support ◂ +0.3 pts 3.1%

Occupations people work in

13.7% Professionals +9.5 pts ▸ 23.1%
15.9% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.2 pts 14.7%
14.3% Community & personal service ◂ +1.1 pts 13.2%
13.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.6 pts 12.6%
11.5% Labourers ◂ +2.9 pts 8.7%
9.2% Managers +2.1 pts ▸ 11.3%
11.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +4.6 pts 6.6%
8.7% Sales workers ◂ +0.6 pts 8.2%

Walkability

Walk score in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.6 higher in Lithgow
6.5 94th pct 5.9 84th pct
Types ≤15 min in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.4 more in Lithgow
6.1 91st pct 5.7 86th pct
15-min city in Lithgowin Wollongong +3.1 pts higher in Lithgow
73.8% 88th pct 70.7% 85th pct
Walk to shops in Lithgowin Wollongong +10.7 pts higher in Lithgow
71.5% 86th pct 60.8% 70th pct
Walk to transit in Lithgowin Wollongong +1.4 pts higher in Wollongong
92.4% 86th pct 93.8% 91st pct
Walk to school in Lithgowin Wollongong +10.1 pts higher in Wollongong
69.0% 64th pct 79.0% 87th pct
Walk to a park in Lithgowin Wollongong +3.0 pts higher in Lithgow
97.5% 95th pct 94.5% 80th pct
Walk to health in Lithgowin Wollongong +10.7 pts higher in Lithgow
52.3% 82nd pct 41.5% 57th pct
Amenities/1k in Lithgowin Wollongong +25.3 more in Lithgow
37.3 97th pct 12.0 22nd pct
Intersections/km² in Lithgowin Wollongong +27 higher in Wollongong
20 51st pct 47 85th pct
Mean slope in Lithgowin Wollongong +0.1 pts higher in Lithgow
7.0% 85th pct 6.9% 83rd pct

Compare Lithgow with nearby areas

Bathurst Sydney Mudgee Bowral - Mittagong Orange Central Coast Wollongong Goulburn Morisset - Cooranbong Singleton Muswellbrook 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). Lithgow vs Wollongong [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/1019/lithgow/vs/1036/wollongong