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Sydney vs Wollongong

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 79 km apart · Sydney profile · Wollongong profile

Sydney Wollongong

Sydney and Wollongong are both major New South Wales hubs, but they differ sharply in their makeup and infrastructure. Sydney is far more diverse, with 40.6% of people born overseas and 40.0% using another language at home, compared to 19.5% and 13.8% in Wollongong. Sydney also has a more highly qualified workforce, where 34.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, versus 22.1% in Wollongong. In contrast, Wollongong has more traditional housing, with 71.3% of homes being separate houses and 75.3% having three or more bedrooms, which is far higher than Sydney's 53.6% and 62.9%.

While these two areas share a similar typical age and unemployment rate, the gap in walkability is wide and persistent. Sydney is very walkable and has much better access to essentials; for example, 71.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, compared to just 41.5% in Wollongong. This is consistent with Sydney's higher rate of people working from home (39.9% versus 24.6%) and the fact that far more of its residents live without a motor vehicle.

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Where they differ most

Other language: 26.2 pts higher in Sydney Population: 4,524,356 larger in Sydney Born overseas: 21.0 pts higher in Sydney Year 12: 17.8 pts higher in Sydney Separate houses: 17.7 pts higher in Wollongong

Demographics & Identity

Population in Sydney in Wollongong +4,524,356 larger in Sydney

4,830,047 100th pct 305,691 86th pct

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

37 yrs 21st pct 39 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

31.0% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +5.8 pts 25.2%

23.7% Older adults (45–64) +1.3 pts ▸ 24.9%

14.7% Seniors (65+) +4.3 pts ▸ 19.0%

18.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.5 pts 17.9%

12.3% Youth (15–24) +0.7 pts ▸ 13.0%

Marital status

48.6% Married ◂ +2.8 pts 45.8%

36.7% Never married ◂ +0.5 pts 36.2%

7.5% Divorced +1.5 pts ▸ 9.0%

4.3% Widowed +1.5 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.9% Separated +0.2 pts ▸ 3.1%

Age & sex structure

Sydney Wollongong

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

54.9% Australia +21.3 pts ▸ 76.3%

4.9% China ◂ +4.2 pts 0.7%

2.8% England +1.1 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.8% India ◂ +3.0 pts 0.9%

1.9% Vietnam ◂ +1.6 pts 0.4%

1.8% Philippines ◂ +1.2 pts 0.6%

1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.6 pts 1.1%

1.2% Nepal ◂ +1.1 pts 0.1%

0.8% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.8% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

Ancestry

22.3% English +14.8 pts ▸ 37.0%

20.8% Australian +15.0 pts ▸ 35.8%

11.3% Chinese ◂ +9.7 pts 1.7%

7.3% Irish +2.8 pts ▸ 10.1%

5.7% Scottish +4.1 pts ▸ 9.8%

4.4% Italian +1.1 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.8% Indian ◂ +3.7 pts 1.1%

2.3% German +1.6 pts ▸ 3.9%

2.6% Filipino ◂ +1.7 pts 1.0%

2.5% Greek ◂ +1.0 pts 1.5%

2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +2.0 pts 0.5%

0.9% Dutch +0.9 pts ▸ 1.8%

Language

Language used at home

54.7% English only +27.0 pts ▸ 81.7%

5.3% Mandarin ◂ +4.5 pts 0.8%

4.5% Arabic ◂ +3.4 pts 1.1%

3.0% Cantonese ◂ +2.8 pts 0.2%

2.3% Vietnamese ◂ +1.9 pts 0.4%

1.6% Hindi ◂ +1.4 pts 0.2%

1.5% Greek ◂ +0.9 pts 0.6%

1.1% Italian even 1.1%

0.9% Tagalog ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

0.9% Punjabi ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

45.3% Christianity +6.0 pts ▸ 51.3%

30.0% No religion +8.5 pts ▸ 38.5%

6.8% Islam ◂ +4.6 pts 2.1%

6.5% Not stated ◂ +0.7 pts 5.9%

5.2% Hinduism ◂ +4.5 pts 0.7%

4.1% Buddhism ◂ +3.1 pts 1.0%

1.4% Other religions ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%

0.8% Judaism ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

68.5% Year 12 ◂ +17.8 pts 50.7%

13.6% Year 10 +13.0 pts ▸ 26.5%

8.0% Year 9 or below +3.2 pts ▸ 11.2%

3.7% Year 11 +2.2 pts ▸ 5.9%

Highest qualification level

34.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +11.3 pts 22.9%

16.7% Certificate III / IV +15.5 pts ▸ 32.2%

14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.5 pts ▸ 15.2%

14.9% Postgraduate degree ◂ +6.1 pts 8.8%

3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.2 pts ▸ 3.5%

1.3% Certificate I / II +0.8 pts ▸ 2.1%

Field of qualification

25.1% Management & commerce ◂ +7.4 pts 17.7%

11.7% Engineering & related +5.2 pts ▸ 16.9%

12.2% Society & culture +0.3 pts ▸ 12.5%

8.6% Health +1.8 pts ▸ 10.4%

6.5% Education +2.6 pts ▸ 9.1%

4.7% Architecture & building +1.8 pts ▸ 6.5%

5.5% Information technology ◂ +3.0 pts 2.4%

3.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.1 pts ▸ 4.9%

4.9% Creative arts ◂ +1.2 pts 3.7%

3.5% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.8 pts 2.7%

1.0% Agriculture & environment +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Sydney in Wollongong +$145 higher in Sydney

$896 87th pct $751 56th pct

Household income in Sydney in Wollongong +$443 higher in Sydney

$2,119 90th pct $1,676 74th pct

Family income in Sydney in Wollongong +$305 higher in Sydney

$2,409 89th pct $2,104 78th pct

Household income distribution

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.4 pts 28.9%

21.1% $650–$1,499 +5.1 pts ▸ 26.2%

19.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +8.2 pts 11.0%

12.9% Under $650 +4.2 pts ▸ 17.0%

11.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.1 pts 10.8%

Personal income distribution

36.9% Under $650 +5.2 pts ▸ 42.2%

29.2% $650–$1,499 +1.3 pts ▸ 30.5%

20.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.2 pts 17.8%

7.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.5 pts 3.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.3% Arthritis +4.1 pts ▸ 10.4%

6.3% Mental health +3.9 pts ▸ 10.2%

7.3% Other condition +1.6 pts ▸ 8.8%

6.5% Asthma +2.2 pts ▸ 8.7%

4.5% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 5.2%

3.2% Heart disease +1.0 pts ▸ 4.2%

2.3% Cancer +0.9 pts ▸ 3.2%

1.1% Lung condition +1.1 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.7% Stroke +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.7% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

69.9% None ◂ +8.4 pts 61.6%

16.3% One condition +4.5 pts ▸ 20.7%

4.4% Two conditions +2.4 pts ▸ 6.8%

2.1% Three or more +1.6 pts ▸ 3.7%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Sydney in Wollongong +0.2 larger in Sydney

2.7 93rd pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

63.1% Couples with children ◂ +5.8 pts 57.2%

22.9% Couples without children +3.8 pts ▸ 26.7%

12.8% One-parent families +2.3 pts ▸ 15.1%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%

Household size

30.4% 2 people +3.6 pts ▸ 34.0%

22.9% 1 person +2.1 pts ▸ 25.1%

17.5% 4 people ◂ +1.7 pts 15.9%

17.4% 3 people ◂ +1.6 pts 15.8%

7.4% 5 people ◂ +1.0 pts 6.4%

4.3% 6 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 2.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Sydney in Wollongong +$75 higher in Sydney

$475 100th pct $400 90th pct

Mortgage in Sydney in Wollongong +$333 higher in Sydney

$2,500 100th pct $2,167 95th pct

People / bedroom in Sydney in Wollongong +0.10 higher in Sydney

0.90 100th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.8% Rented ◂ +7.5 pts 29.3%

27.2% Owned outright +7.6 pts ▸ 34.8%

33.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +0.1 pts 33.0%

1.6% Other tenure even 1.6%

1.3% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 1.3%

Types of homes

53.6% Separate house +17.7 pts ▸ 71.3%

32.8% Flat or apartment ◂ +17.9 pts 14.8%

13.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.1 pts 12.9%

0.4% Other dwelling +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

Bedrooms per home

30.3% 3 bedrooms +11.3 pts ▸ 41.6%

23.6% 4 bedrooms +2.8 pts ▸ 26.4%

26.4% 2 bedrooms ◂ +7.3 pts 19.1%

9.0% 5 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 7.2%

8.5% 1 bedroom ◂ +4.3 pts 4.2%

0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

42.4% $350–$549 +1.2 pts ▸ 43.5%

22.9% $550–$749 ◂ +8.3 pts 14.6%

12.1% $200–$349 +8.2 pts ▸ 20.3%

8.0% Under $200 +7.9 pts ▸ 16.0%

11.4% $750 or more ◂ +9.0 pts 2.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

31.9% $1,800–$2,999 +6.7 pts ▸ 38.7%

35.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +14.5 pts 20.7%

15.6% $1,000–$1,799 +7.1 pts ▸ 22.7%

10.6% Under $1,000 +1.8 pts ▸ 12.5%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

33.0% Car (driver) +17.7 pts ▸ 50.7%

39.9% Worked at home ◂ +15.3 pts 24.6%

2.6% Car (passenger) +0.4 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.6% Train ◂ +2.0 pts 0.6%

2.4% Walked ◂ +0.6 pts 1.8%

1.2% Bus ◂ +0.6 pts 0.6%

0.4% Bicycle even 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

40.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +5.2 pts 35.1%

32.4% 2 vehicles +5.1 pts ▸ 37.5%

9.9% 3 vehicles +2.6 pts ▸ 12.5%

11.7% No vehicle ◂ +4.3 pts 7.4%

5.6% 4 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 7.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.1% Health care & social assistance +4.1 pts ▸ 17.3%

11.3% Professional & technical ◂ +5.2 pts 6.1%

8.5% Education & training +2.0 pts ▸ 10.5%

7.8% Construction +2.2 pts ▸ 10.0%

8.7% Retail trade +0.3 pts ▸ 9.0%

7.3% Finance & insurance ◂ +4.0 pts 3.3%

5.4% Public administration & safety +1.9 pts ▸ 7.3%

5.4% Accommodation & food +1.6 pts ▸ 6.9%

5.3% Manufacturing +0.6 pts ▸ 6.0%

5.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.6 pts 4.5%

3.1% Other services +0.6 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.3% Wholesale trade ◂ +1.6 pts 1.7%

Occupations people work in

30.0% Professionals ◂ +6.9 pts 23.1%

15.4% Managers ◂ +4.1 pts 11.3%

10.1% Technicians & trades +4.6 pts ▸ 14.7%

13.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.2 pts 12.6%

9.0% Community & personal service +4.2 pts ▸ 13.2%

6.5% Labourers +2.1 pts ▸ 8.7%

7.7% Sales workers +0.5 pts ▸ 8.2%

5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +1.1 pts ▸ 6.6%

Walkability

Walk score in Sydney in Wollongong +1.5 higher in Sydney

7.4 100th pct 5.9 84th pct

Types ≤15 min in Sydney in Wollongong +1.1 more in Sydney

6.8 100th pct 5.7 86th pct

15-min city in Sydney in Wollongong +16.0 pts higher in Sydney

86.7% 100th pct 70.7% 85th pct

Walk to shops in Sydney in Wollongong +22.2 pts higher in Sydney

82.9% 100th pct 60.8% 70th pct

Walk to transit in Sydney in Wollongong +2.8 pts higher in Sydney

96.6% 100th pct 93.8% 91st pct

Walk to school in Sydney in Wollongong +11.6 pts higher in Sydney

90.7% 100th pct 79.0% 87th pct

Walk to a park in Sydney in Wollongong +3.0 pts higher in Sydney

97.4% 95th pct 94.5% 80th pct

Walk to health in Sydney in Wollongong +30.3 pts higher in Sydney

71.8% 99th pct 41.5% 57th pct

Amenities/1k in Sydney in Wollongong +1.2 more in Sydney

13.2 32nd pct 12.0 22nd pct

Intersections/km² in Sydney in Wollongong +39 higher in Sydney

86 100th pct 47 85th pct

Mean slope in Sydney in Wollongong +0.1 pts higher in Sydney

7.1% 86th pct 6.9% 83rd pct

Compare Sydney with nearby areas

Central Coast Wollongong Lithgow Bowral - Mittagong Morisset - Cooranbong Nowra - Bomaderry Singleton Newcastle - Maitland Bathurst Muswellbrook St Georges Basin - Sanctuary Point Medowie

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). Sydney vs Wollongong [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/1031/sydney/vs/1036/wollongong