Bulli vs Woonona

Bulli is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Woonona. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Bulli, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Bulli: a median of $1.73 million, against $1.48 million in Woonona, though rent is higher in Woonona. On these figures, Bulli tends to suit couples, while Woonona suits people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Bulli

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 63%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 60%)
  • But Woonona carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 63/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Woonona

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($1,387,500 vs $3,500,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,483,000 vs $1,730,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bulli

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 22%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Woonona

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 53/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Woonona

ahead on 5 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (37% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 53/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Bulli

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (11.4% vs 1.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Bulli and Woonona drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bulli Woonona
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bulli Woonona
Walkability 53 / 79
Bulli — Walkability: 53/100 Woonona — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 37 / 49
Bulli — Safety: 37/100 Woonona — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 11 / 10
Bulli — Low fire risk: 11/100 Woonona — Low fire risk: 10/100

Demographics

Woonona has more residents (12,374 vs 6,798); Bulli has higher household incomes ($121,212 vs $94,432).

Bulli Woonona
Population 6,798 12,374
+82% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.4% +1.5%
Median age 40 43
Median household income $121,212/yr
+22% vs other
 $94,432/yr
Median weekly rent $370/wk $395/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bulli Woonona
0-4 6.4% / 5.3%
Bulli — 0-4: 6.4% Woonona — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 15.6% / 13.3%
Bulli — 5-14: 15.6% Woonona — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 6.8% / 6.2%
Bulli — 15-19: 6.8% Woonona — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 5.1% / 4.8%
Bulli — 20-24: 5.1% Woonona — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 8.8% / 9.7%
Bulli — 25-34: 8.8% Woonona — 25-34: 9.7%
35-44 14.7% / 13.2%
Bulli — 35-44: 14.7% Woonona — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 15.0% / 13.9%
Bulli — 45-54: 15.0% Woonona — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 12.8% / 12.1%
Bulli — 55-64: 12.8% Woonona — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 9.1% / 10.2%
Bulli — 65-74: 9.1% Woonona — 65-74: 10.2%
75-84 4.1% / 7.2%
Bulli — 75-84: 4.1% Woonona — 75-84: 7.2%
85+ 1.6% / 4.0%
Bulli — 85+: 1.6% Woonona — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bulli 56.6% couple families
Bulli — Couple Families: 56.6% Bulli — Lone Person: 27.5% Bulli — One Parent Families: 12.8% Bulli — Group Household: 2.1% Bulli — Other Families: 1.1%
Woonona 44.6% couple families
Woonona — Couple Families: 44.6% Woonona — Lone Person: 36.4% Woonona — One Parent Families: 15.5% Woonona — Group Household: 2.6% Woonona — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bulli 21.4% renting
Bulli — Owned Outright: 35.4% Bulli — Mortgage: 43.1% Bulli — Renting: 21.4%
Woonona 25.3% renting
Woonona — Owned Outright: 38.1% Woonona — Mortgage: 36.6% Woonona — Renting: 25.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bulli Woonona
Certificate III & IV 14.2% / 15.1%
Bulli — Certificate III & IV: 14.2% Woonona — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Bachelor Degree 15.2% / 13.4%
Bulli — Bachelor Degree: 15.2% Woonona — Bachelor Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.7%
Bulli — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Woonona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 7.2% / 5.3%
Bulli — Postgraduate Degree: 7.2% Woonona — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.6%
Bulli — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Woonona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bulli Woonona
England 4.1% / 4.3%
Bulli — England: 4.1% Woonona — England: 4.3%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.0%
Bulli — New Zealand: 1.1% Woonona — New Zealand: 1.0%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.7%
Bulli — South Africa: 0.7% Woonona — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.8%
Bulli — Scotland: 0.6% Woonona — Scotland: 0.8%
Italy — / 0.6%
Bulli — Italy: not among its largest Woonona — Italy: 0.6%
Ireland 0.4% / —
Bulli — Ireland: 0.4% Woonona — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bulli 80.4% houses
Bulli — Houses: 80.4% Bulli — Flats / Apartments: 10.5% Bulli — Townhouses: 9.2%
Woonona 63.2% houses
Woonona — Houses: 63.2% Woonona — Flats / Apartments: 19.8% Woonona — Townhouses: 17.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bulli Woonona
Median house price $1,730,000 $1,483,000
Median unit price $895,000 $830,000
Median land price $3,500,000 $1,387,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 51 sales
 30 days
from 87 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bulli Woonona
2 bed $1.09M / $1.13M
Bulli — 2 bed: $1.09M (12 sales) Woonona — 2 bed: $1.13M (7 sales)

12 vs 7 sales

3 bed $1.58M / $1.35M
Bulli — 3 bed: $1.58M (50 sales) Woonona — 3 bed: $1.35M (97 sales)

50 vs 97 sales

4 bed $1.95M / $1.6M
Bulli — 4 bed: $1.95M (45 sales) Woonona — 4 bed: $1.6M (78 sales)

45 vs 78 sales

5 bed $2.25M / $1.84M
Bulli — 5 bed: $2.25M (11 sales) Woonona — 5 bed: $1.84M (12 sales)

11 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Bulli has more land zoned for conservation (57% vs 31%).

Bulli Woonona
Environmental 57% 31%
Residential 25% 53%
Parks and recreation 7% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 4%
Industrial 1% 2%
Rural and farming 1% 0%
Commercial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Bulli and 99% of Woonona. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bulli Woonona
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bulli Woonona
Houses 3.8%
$1,100/wk on $1.5M
 3.2%
$850/wk on $1.4M
Units — 3.9%
$540/wk on $720K

Ranking within NSW

Bulli Woonona
House price Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Income Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
Schools Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 20% of NSW

Liveability

Woonona is more walkable (79 vs 53); Woonona scores higher overall (52 vs 47).

Bulli Woonona
Grade C B
Score 47/100 52/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Bulli carries more crime risk (63 vs 51).

Bulli Woonona
Bushfire High
89/100
 High
90/100
Crime Moderate
63/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
62/100
 Low
22/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bulli Woonona
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km None 1
UOW Wollongong, 9.1 km

Schools in Bulli

  • Bulli Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Bulli High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Waniora Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Woonona

  • Woonona East Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Woonona High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Woonona Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bulli Woonona
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 4 7
Parks & reserves 7 9
Childcare 7 5
GPs 1 3
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 2 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 20 14

Mobility

Bulli Woonona
Walkability score 53/100 79/100
Distance to Sydney 72.6 km 73.8 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 77 min 75 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 95.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 132.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.2%
postcode 2516
 1.2%
postcode 2517
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2516
 36
postcode 2517

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bulli Woonona
Car (driver) 50.8% / 55.0%
Bulli — Car (driver): 50.8% Woonona — Car (driver): 55.0%
Worked from Home 43.1% / 38.2%
Bulli — Worked from Home: 43.1% Woonona — Worked from Home: 38.2%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 2.7%
Bulli — Car (passenger): 2.0% Woonona — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Walked Only 1.5% / 1.4%
Bulli — Walked Only: 1.5% Woonona — Walked Only: 1.4%
Train 1.4% / 1.3%
Bulli — Train: 1.4% Woonona — Train: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.0%).

Setting

Bulli Woonona
Elevation 68 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.9 km
2.0 km to a named beach
 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bulli Woonona
Connectivity score 99/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 99%
2,735 premises
 65%
5,589 premises

Climate

Bulli Woonona
Annual rainfall 1,038 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bulli Woonona
PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.66 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Bulli Woonona
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Bulli Woonona
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bulli Woonona
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bulli

Coastal Parks Professionals

Woonona

Coastal Parks Regional Centre River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bulli

Bulli vs Thirroul

Other comparisons with Woonona

Woonona vs Bellambi Woonona vs Russell Vale
Full data on Bulli Full data on Woonona
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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