North Wollongong vs Fairy Meadow

North Wollongong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 38 in Fairy Meadow. In North Wollongong, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Fairy Meadow, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Fairy Meadow: a median of $1.36 million, against $1.23 million in North Wollongong. On these figures, North 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

Fairy Meadow

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (57% vs 17%)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

North Wollongong

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 36%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,227,500 vs $1,360,000)
  • But Fairy Meadow has cheaper units ($600,000 vs $775,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

North Wollongong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (67% vs 42%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fairy Meadow

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 66/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Fairy Meadow

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 13%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 66/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 93/100)
  • But North Wollongong has more units and townhouses to downsize into (83% vs 43%)

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

Investors

Fairy Meadow

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (1.4% vs -11.8%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
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.

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Walkability 66 / 89
North Wollongong — Walkability: 66/100 Fairy Meadow — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 7 / 23
North Wollongong — Safety: 7/100 Fairy Meadow — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Wollongong — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairy Meadow — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fairy Meadow has more residents (7,512 vs 2,299); Fairy Meadow skews older (38 vs 30).

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Population 2,299 7,512
+227% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -11.8% +1.4%
Median age 30 38
Median household income $80,548/yr
+9% vs other
 $73,164/yr
Median weekly rent $395/wk
+1% vs other
 $390/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
0-4 2.6% / 4.6%
North Wollongong — 0-4: 2.6% Fairy Meadow — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 4.3% / 10.4%
North Wollongong — 5-14: 4.3% Fairy Meadow — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 9.2% / 5.1%
North Wollongong — 15-19: 9.2% Fairy Meadow — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 15.9% / 10.5%
North Wollongong — 20-24: 15.9% Fairy Meadow — 20-24: 10.5%
25-34 26.6% / 14.8%
North Wollongong — 25-34: 26.6% Fairy Meadow — 25-34: 14.8%
35-44 9.5% / 11.6%
North Wollongong — 35-44: 9.5% Fairy Meadow — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 9.3% / 12.0%
North Wollongong — 45-54: 9.3% Fairy Meadow — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 9.5% / 11.4%
North Wollongong — 55-64: 9.5% Fairy Meadow — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 8.7% / 9.4%
North Wollongong — 65-74: 8.7% Fairy Meadow — 65-74: 9.4%
75-84 3.5% / 7.2%
North Wollongong — 75-84: 3.5% Fairy Meadow — 75-84: 7.2%
85+ 0.9% / 3.1%
North Wollongong — 85+: 0.9% Fairy Meadow — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Wollongong 52.7% lone person
North Wollongong — Lone Person: 52.7% North Wollongong — Couple Families: 16.3% North Wollongong — Group Household: 20.0% North Wollongong — One Parent Families: 9.7% North Wollongong — Other Families: 1.3%
Fairy Meadow 39.9% lone person
Fairy Meadow — Lone Person: 39.9% Fairy Meadow — Couple Families: 31.3% Fairy Meadow — Group Household: 10.3% Fairy Meadow — One Parent Families: 16.7% Fairy Meadow — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Wollongong 67.0% renting
North Wollongong — Owned Outright: 19.7% North Wollongong — Mortgage: 13.3% North Wollongong — Renting: 67.0%
Fairy Meadow 42.3% renting
Fairy Meadow — Owned Outright: 35.3% Fairy Meadow — Mortgage: 22.4% Fairy Meadow — Renting: 42.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 13.1%
North Wollongong — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Fairy Meadow — Bachelor Degree: 13.1%
Certificate III & IV 12.6% / 15.7%
North Wollongong — Certificate III & IV: 12.6% Fairy Meadow — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Postgraduate Degree 10.5% / 6.1%
North Wollongong — Postgraduate Degree: 10.5% Fairy Meadow — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 7.8%
North Wollongong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Fairy Meadow — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.6%
North Wollongong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Fairy Meadow — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

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.

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
England 3.4% / 3.0%
North Wollongong — England: 3.4% Fairy Meadow — England: 3.0%
India 2.0% / 2.5%
North Wollongong — India: 2.0% Fairy Meadow — India: 2.5%
Italy 1.5% / 2.4%
North Wollongong — Italy: 1.5% Fairy Meadow — Italy: 2.4%
China 1.7% / 1.7%
North Wollongong — China: 1.7% Fairy Meadow — China: 1.7%
Vietnam 1.0% / 1.7%
North Wollongong — Vietnam: 1.0% Fairy Meadow — Vietnam: 1.7%
Nepal 1.5% / —
North Wollongong — Nepal: 1.5% Fairy Meadow — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Wollongong 75.6% flats / apartments
North Wollongong — Flats / Apartments: 75.6% North Wollongong — Houses: 16.8% North Wollongong — Townhouses: 7.6%
Fairy Meadow 23.1% flats / apartments
Fairy Meadow — Flats / Apartments: 23.1% Fairy Meadow — Houses: 57.4% Fairy Meadow — Townhouses: 19.5%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Median house price $1,227,500 $1,360,000
Median unit price $775,000 $600,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 3 sales
 28 days
from 38 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.

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
1 bed $612K / $500K
North Wollongong — 1 bed: $612K (8 sales) Fairy Meadow — 1 bed: $500K (16 sales)

8 vs 16 sales

2 bed $772K / $590K
North Wollongong — 2 bed: $772K (29 sales) Fairy Meadow — 2 bed: $590K (43 sales)

29 vs 43 sales

3 bed $1.36M / $904K
North Wollongong — 3 bed: $1.36M (8 sales) Fairy Meadow — 3 bed: $904K (18 sales)

8 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

North Wollongong has more land zoned for conservation (19% vs 0%).

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Residential 14% 52%
Infrastructure and transport 34% 13%
Parks and recreation 15% 20%
Environmental 19% 0%
Industrial 16% 11%
Commercial 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 98% of North Wollongong and 99% of Fairy Meadow. 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

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
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.

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Houses — 2.9%
$765/wk on $1.35M
Units 3.6%
$700/wk on $1M
 4.0%
$570/wk on $745K

Ranking within NSW

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
House price Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Income Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
Schools Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 86% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 19% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW

Liveability

Fairy Meadow is more walkable (89 vs 66).

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Grade C
same for both
Score 45/100 48/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

North Wollongong carries more crime risk (93 vs 77).

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 High
77/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
16/100
 Low
17/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 4
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 2.3 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 3.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 15.8% 4.7%

Schools in North Wollongong

  • Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts Government · Secondary at peers
  • Keira High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Para Meadows School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Fairy Meadow

  • Fairy Meadow Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Mount Ousley Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Towradgi Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 8 5
Parks & reserves 3 8
Childcare 2 5
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 1
same for both
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 2 7

Mobility

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Walkability score 66/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 83.3 km 83 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 79 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 95.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 256.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 2500
 1.3%
postcode 2519
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 14
postcode 2500
 30
postcode 2519

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.

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Car (driver) 52.6% / 57.9%
North Wollongong — Car (driver): 52.6% Fairy Meadow — Car (driver): 57.9%
Worked from Home 31.9% / 30.8%
North Wollongong — Worked from Home: 31.9% Fairy Meadow — Worked from Home: 30.8%
Walked Only 4.3% / 3.0%
North Wollongong — Walked Only: 4.3% Fairy Meadow — Walked Only: 3.0%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 3.9%
North Wollongong — Car (passenger): 3.4% Fairy Meadow — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Train 3.9% / 1.2%
North Wollongong — Train: 3.9% Fairy Meadow — Train: 1.2%
Bus 2.6% / 2.5%
North Wollongong — Bus: 2.6% Fairy Meadow — Bus: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.9%).

Setting

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 612 m
847 m to a named beach
 1.2 km
1.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Connectivity score 58/100 69/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
1,576 premises
 44%
3,773 premises

Climate

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Annual rainfall 1,038 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
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

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

North Wollongong Fairy Meadow
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Wollongong

Apartments Beach Coastal Parks River Students

Fairy Meadow

Beach Coastal Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Wollongong

North Wollongong vs Wollongong North Wollongong vs Keiraville North Wollongong vs Gwynneville North Wollongong vs Mount Ousley

Other comparisons with Fairy Meadow

Fairy Meadow vs Balgownie Fairy Meadow vs Towradgi Fairy Meadow vs Mount Ousley Fairy Meadow vs Mount Pleasant Fairy Meadow vs Fernhill
Full data on North Wollongong Full data on Fairy Meadow
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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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