State Electorate · Area profile
Wollongong
79 km²
A population of 85,299 people defines Wollongong, which has grown by 16% since 2011. It is a diverse regional hub where nearly a quarter of residents speak another language at home. The area has a distinct age profile, with a high number of seniors and far fewer children than the national average. This mix of an ageing population and a strong presence of young adults creates a community with a wide range of housing and social needs.
Modest local incomes, but the area's schools serve a more advantaged intake.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The typical resident is 38, which is about the same as the national figure. However, the area has more seniors than most other places, while the proportion of children has fallen to 15.1% since 2011.
About 26% of residents were born overseas, which is a little below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Irish and Scottish heritage.
Language diversity is high, with 23.1% of people using a language other than English at home. This is higher than most similar areas, although the figure has fallen since 2011.
Half of the population identifies as Christian. The number of people reporting no religion has risen sharply by 17 points since 2011 to reach 35.5%.
Qualification levels have risen, with 23.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The area is very well served by schools, with a much higher number of schools per 1,000 children than most areas.
Typical weekly household income is $1,450, which is well below the New South Wales figure of $1,829. While personal incomes have risen since 2011, they remain much lower than in most other similar areas.
Health needs are high here, with 31.5% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 11.1% of residents have a mental health condition.
Fewer people here provide unpaid childcare compared to the state average. However, 12.9% of the community provides some form of unpaid care, which is higher than most areas.
Living arrangements are distinct, with a much higher proportion of people living alone (31.3%) and one-parent families (16.7%) than in most other areas.
Rentals are very common, with 40.1% of households renting, which is well above the national average. The area has far fewer three-bedroom homes and detached houses than the state typical.
Working from home has surged to 24.4% since 2011. While public transport infrastructure is extensive, with many stops and routes, only 1.9% of people use it to commute.
The community is moderately mobile, with 39.2% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 13.7% of the population.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the national figure. Health care, social assistance, and education are the primary industries for local employees.
Wollongong is very walkable, with 97.2% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents can easily reach a park or school on foot, though access to groceries and health services is lower than the state average.