Coniston vs Wollongong

Wollongong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 39 in Coniston. In Coniston, most households own their home. In Wollongong, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Wollongong: a median of $1.23 million, against $1.06 million in Coniston, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Wollongong tends to suit renters, young adults, and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Coniston has more separate houses rather than flats (51% vs 14%)
  • Wollongong has more parks and reserves (16 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Coniston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($570,000 vs $715,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,060,000 vs $1,225,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Coniston has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $410/wk)
  • Wollongong has a bigger rental market to choose from (57% vs 43%)

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

Commuting to the city

Wollongong

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 72/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (84.6 km vs 87.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Wollongong

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (16 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (86% vs 49%)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 72/100)
  • But Coniston carries lower crime risk (78/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Wollongong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.9% vs 0.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Coniston Wollongong
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.

Coniston Wollongong
Walkability 72 / 91
Coniston — Walkability: 72/100 Wollongong — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 22 / 7
Coniston — Safety: 22/100 Wollongong — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Coniston — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wollongong — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wollongong has more residents (20,446 vs 2,267); Wollongong rents higher ($410/wk vs $350/wk).

Coniston Wollongong
Population 2,267 20,446
+802% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.0% +10.9%
Median age 39 35
Median household income $79,820/yr $80,548/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk $410/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coniston Wollongong
0-4 4.3% / 3.7%
Coniston — 0-4: 4.3% Wollongong — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 9.9% / 5.0%
Coniston — 5-14: 9.9% Wollongong — 5-14: 5.0%
15-19 4.9% / 3.6%
Coniston — 15-19: 4.9% Wollongong — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 9.8% / 13.3%
Coniston — 20-24: 9.8% Wollongong — 20-24: 13.3%
25-34 15.8% / 23.9%
Coniston — 25-34: 15.8% Wollongong — 25-34: 23.9%
35-44 11.9% / 10.9%
Coniston — 35-44: 11.9% Wollongong — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 12.6% / 9.7%
Coniston — 45-54: 12.6% Wollongong — 45-54: 9.7%
55-64 11.1% / 11.1%
Coniston — 55-64: 11.1% Wollongong — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 9.6% / 9.5%
Coniston — 65-74: 9.6% Wollongong — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 6.7% / 6.5%
Coniston — 75-84: 6.7% Wollongong — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 3.7% / 2.8%
Coniston — 85+: 3.7% Wollongong — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coniston 41.9% lone person
Coniston — Lone Person: 41.9% Coniston — Couple Families: 32.5% Coniston — One Parent Families: 16.9% Coniston — Group Household: 6.9% Coniston — Other Families: 1.8%
Wollongong 52.9% lone person
Wollongong — Lone Person: 52.9% Wollongong — Couple Families: 18.1% Wollongong — One Parent Families: 10.3% Wollongong — Group Household: 16.7% Wollongong — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Coniston 42.6% renting
Coniston — Owned Outright: 31.8% Coniston — Mortgage: 25.6% Coniston — Renting: 42.6%
Wollongong 56.6% renting
Wollongong — Owned Outright: 25.0% Wollongong — Mortgage: 18.4% Wollongong — Renting: 56.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coniston Wollongong
Bachelor Degree 13.3% / 20.9%
Coniston — Bachelor Degree: 13.3% Wollongong — Bachelor Degree: 20.9%
Certificate III & IV 13.7% / 12.7%
Coniston — Certificate III & IV: 13.7% Wollongong — Certificate III & IV: 12.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.1%
Coniston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Wollongong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 9.8%
Coniston — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% Wollongong — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.2%
Coniston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Wollongong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.9%).

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.

Coniston Wollongong
England 2.4% / 3.2%
Coniston — England: 2.4% Wollongong — England: 3.2%
China 1.1% / 3.0%
Coniston — China: 1.1% Wollongong — China: 3.0%
India 0.7% / 2.8%
Coniston — India: 0.7% Wollongong — India: 2.8%
Vietnam 1.2% / 1.1%
Coniston — Vietnam: 1.2% Wollongong — Vietnam: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Coniston — New Zealand: 1.1% Wollongong — New Zealand: 1.1%
Greece 1.1% / —
Coniston — Greece: 1.1% Wollongong — Greece: not among its largest
Philippines — / 1.1%
Coniston — Philippines: not among its largest Wollongong — Philippines: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coniston 31.2% flats / apartments
Coniston — Flats / Apartments: 31.2% Coniston — Houses: 50.9% Coniston — Townhouses: 17.9%
Wollongong 78.8% flats / apartments
Wollongong — Flats / Apartments: 78.8% Wollongong — Houses: 13.8% Wollongong — Townhouses: 7.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Coniston Wollongong
Median house price $1,060,000 $1,225,000
Median unit price $570,000 $715,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 12 sales
 28 days
from 37 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.

Coniston Wollongong
3 bed $1.05M / $1.21M
Coniston — 3 bed: $1.05M (26 sales) Wollongong — 3 bed: $1.21M (36 sales)

26 vs 36 sales

4 bed $1.27M / $1.35M
Coniston — 4 bed: $1.27M (5 sales) Wollongong — 4 bed: $1.35M (19 sales)

5 vs 19 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Coniston Wollongong
1 bed $410K / $547K
Coniston — 1 bed: $410K (6 sales) Wollongong — 1 bed: $547K (75 sales)

6 vs 75 sales

2 bed $568K / $700K
Coniston — 2 bed: $568K (12 sales) Wollongong — 2 bed: $700K (359 sales)

12 vs 359 sales

Zoning mix

Coniston has more industrially zoned land (24% vs 11%).

Coniston Wollongong
Residential 60% 43%
Industrial 24% 11%
Parks and recreation 5% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 16%
Commercial 1% 11%
Environmental 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 100% of Coniston and 99% of Wollongong. 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

Coniston Wollongong
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.

Coniston Wollongong
Houses 3.9%
$735/wk on $975K
 4.3%
$770/wk on $940K
Units — 4.6%
$680/wk on $777K

Ranking within NSW

Coniston Wollongong
House price Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Income Higher than 47% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 23% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 86% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 46% of NSW

Liveability

Wollongong is more walkable (91 vs 72); Coniston scores higher overall (55 vs 49).

Coniston Wollongong
Grade B
same for both
Score 55/100 49/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Wollongong carries more crime risk (93 vs 78).

Coniston Wollongong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
78/100
 High
93/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
65/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 18
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

Coniston Wollongong
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 1.5 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 6.0%

Schools in Coniston

  • Coniston Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Wollongong

  • Smiths Hill High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary Star of the Sea College Independent · Secondary at peers
  • Wollongong Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Illawarra Hospital School Government · Combined · Special school
  • Novo Education Space Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Coniston Wollongong
Supermarkets 0 6
Cafes & restaurants 0 87
Parks & reserves 1 16
Childcare 2 17
GPs 0 16
Pharmacies 0 8
Hospitals 0 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 9
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 0 4
Beaches 0 3

Mobility

Coniston sits further from the CBD (87.6 km vs 84.6 km).

Coniston Wollongong
Walkability score 72/100 91/100
Distance to Sydney 87.6 km
+3% vs other
 84.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 84 min 82 min
Public transport score 80/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 34.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 602.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 2500
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 14
postcode 2500
same for both

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.

Coniston Wollongong
Car (driver) 56.3% / 46.8%
Coniston — Car (driver): 56.3% Wollongong — Car (driver): 46.8%
Worked from Home 31.0% / 34.6%
Coniston — Worked from Home: 31.0% Wollongong — Worked from Home: 34.6%
Walked Only 2.4% / 10.2%
Coniston — Walked Only: 2.4% Wollongong — Walked Only: 10.2%
Car (passenger) 5.2% / 3.1%
Coniston — Car (passenger): 5.2% Wollongong — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Train 3.4% / 2.4%
Coniston — Train: 3.4% Wollongong — Train: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.3%).

Setting

Coniston Wollongong
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 984 m
1.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Coniston Wollongong
Connectivity score 100/100 93/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,176 premises
 85%
14,752 premises

Climate

Coniston Wollongong
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Coniston Wollongong
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

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

Federal electorate

Coniston Wollongong
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Coniston Wollongong
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Coniston

Apartments Coastal Parks Trains Transport Hub

Wollongong

Affordable Apartments Beach Coastal Professionals Regional Centre Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coniston

Coniston vs Port Kembla Coniston vs Mangerton Coniston vs Mount Saint Thomas Coniston vs Spring Hill

Other comparisons with Wollongong

Wollongong vs West Wollongong Wollongong vs Port Kembla Wollongong vs Gwynneville Wollongong vs Mangerton Wollongong vs North Wollongong
Full data on Coniston Full data on Wollongong
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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