North Wollongong vs Wollongong

North Wollongong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 35 in Wollongong. In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, North Wollongong tends to suit renters.

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

Wollongong

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (17 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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 57%)

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

Commuting to the city

Wollongong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 66/100)

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 residents already 65 and over (19% vs 13%)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 66/100)

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

Investors

Wollongong

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (10.9% vs -11.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.6% vs 3.6%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

North Wollongong 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.

North Wollongong 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.

North Wollongong Wollongong
Walkability 66 / 91
North Wollongong — Walkability: 66/100 Wollongong — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 7 / 7
North Wollongong — Safety: 7/100 Wollongong — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Wollongong — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wollongong — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wollongong has more residents (20,446 vs 2,299); Wollongong skews older (35 vs 30).

North Wollongong Wollongong
Population 2,299 20,446
+789% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -11.8% +10.9%
Median age 30 35
Median household income $80,548/yr
same for both
Median weekly rent $395/wk $410/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Wollongong Wollongong
0-4 2.6% / 3.7%
North Wollongong — 0-4: 2.6% Wollongong — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 4.3% / 5.0%
North Wollongong — 5-14: 4.3% Wollongong — 5-14: 5.0%
15-19 9.2% / 3.6%
North Wollongong — 15-19: 9.2% Wollongong — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 15.9% / 13.3%
North Wollongong — 20-24: 15.9% Wollongong — 20-24: 13.3%
25-34 26.6% / 23.9%
North Wollongong — 25-34: 26.6% Wollongong — 25-34: 23.9%
35-44 9.5% / 10.9%
North Wollongong — 35-44: 9.5% Wollongong — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 9.3% / 9.7%
North Wollongong — 45-54: 9.3% Wollongong — 45-54: 9.7%
55-64 9.5% / 11.1%
North Wollongong — 55-64: 9.5% Wollongong — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 8.7% / 9.5%
North Wollongong — 65-74: 8.7% Wollongong — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 3.5% / 6.5%
North Wollongong — 75-84: 3.5% Wollongong — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 0.9% / 2.8%
North Wollongong — 85+: 0.9% Wollongong — 85+: 2.8%

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 — Group Household: 20.0% North Wollongong — Couple Families: 16.3% North Wollongong — One Parent Families: 9.7% North Wollongong — Other Families: 1.3%
Wollongong 52.9% lone person
Wollongong — Lone Person: 52.9% Wollongong — Group Household: 16.7% Wollongong — Couple Families: 18.1% Wollongong — One Parent Families: 10.3% Wollongong — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families 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%
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.

North Wollongong Wollongong
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 20.9%
North Wollongong — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Wollongong — Bachelor Degree: 20.9%
Certificate III & IV 12.6% / 12.7%
North Wollongong — Certificate III & IV: 12.6% Wollongong — Certificate III & IV: 12.7%
Postgraduate Degree 10.5% / 9.8%
North Wollongong — Postgraduate Degree: 10.5% Wollongong — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 8.1%
North Wollongong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Wollongong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 2.2%
North Wollongong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% 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.

North Wollongong Wollongong
England 3.4% / 3.2%
North Wollongong — England: 3.4% Wollongong — England: 3.2%
India 2.0% / 2.8%
North Wollongong — India: 2.0% Wollongong — India: 2.8%
China 1.7% / 3.0%
North Wollongong — China: 1.7% Wollongong — China: 3.0%
Italy 1.5% / 1.0%
North Wollongong — Italy: 1.5% Wollongong — Italy: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
North Wollongong — New Zealand: 1.1% Wollongong — New Zealand: 1.1%
Nepal 1.5% / —
North Wollongong — Nepal: 1.5% Wollongong — Nepal: not among its largest
Philippines — / 1.1%
North Wollongong — Philippines: not among its largest Wollongong — Philippines: 1.1%

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%
Wollongong 78.8% flats / apartments
Wollongong — Flats / Apartments: 78.8% Wollongong — Houses: 13.8% Wollongong — Townhouses: 7.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

North Wollongong Wollongong
Median house price $1,227,500 $1,225,000
Median unit price $775,000 $715,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 3 sales
 28 days
from 37 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 Wollongong
1 bed $612K / $547K
North Wollongong — 1 bed: $612K (8 sales) Wollongong — 1 bed: $547K (75 sales)

8 vs 75 sales

2 bed $772K / $700K
North Wollongong — 2 bed: $772K (29 sales) Wollongong — 2 bed: $700K (359 sales)

29 vs 359 sales

3 bed $1.36M / $1.17M
North Wollongong — 3 bed: $1.36M (8 sales) Wollongong — 3 bed: $1.17M (106 sales)

8 vs 106 sales

Zoning mix

North Wollongong has more land zoned for conservation (19% vs 2%); Wollongong has more commercially zoned land (11% vs 0%).

North Wollongong Wollongong
Residential 14% 43%
Infrastructure and transport 34% 16%
Environmental 19% 2%
Parks and recreation 15% 17%
Industrial 16% 11%
Commercial 0% 11%
Planning zones cover 98% of North Wollongong 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

North Wollongong 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.

North Wollongong Wollongong
Houses — 4.3%
$770/wk on $940K
Units 3.6%
$700/wk on $1M
 4.6%
$680/wk on $777K

Ranking within NSW

North Wollongong Wollongong
House price Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Income Higher than 48% of NSW
same for both
Schools Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 86% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 84% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW

Liveability

Wollongong is more walkable (91 vs 66).

North Wollongong Wollongong
Grade C B
Score 45/100 49/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
same for both

Risk profile

North Wollongong Wollongong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
16/100
 Moderate
65/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

North Wollongong Wollongong
Inside the suburb 3 5
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 2.3 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 15.8% 6.0%

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 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

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

Mobility

North Wollongong Wollongong
Walkability score 66/100 91/100
Distance to Sydney 83.3 km 84.6 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 79 min 82 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 95.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 602.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

North Wollongong Wollongong
Car (driver) 52.6% / 46.8%
North Wollongong — Car (driver): 52.6% Wollongong — Car (driver): 46.8%
Worked from Home 31.9% / 34.6%
North Wollongong — Worked from Home: 31.9% Wollongong — Worked from Home: 34.6%
Walked Only 4.3% / 10.2%
North Wollongong — Walked Only: 4.3% Wollongong — Walked Only: 10.2%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 3.1%
North Wollongong — Car (passenger): 3.4% Wollongong — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Train 3.9% / 2.4%
North Wollongong — Train: 3.9% Wollongong — Train: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.6%).

Setting

North Wollongong Wollongong
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
 984 m
1.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Wollongong Wollongong
Connectivity score 58/100 93/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
1,576 premises
 85%
14,752 premises

Climate

North Wollongong Wollongong
Annual rainfall 1,038 mm 974 mm
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

North Wollongong 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

North Wollongong Wollongong
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

Wollongong

Affordable Apartments Beach Coastal Professionals Regional Centre Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Wollongong

North Wollongong vs Fairy Meadow North Wollongong vs Keiraville North Wollongong vs Gwynneville North Wollongong vs Mount Ousley

Other comparisons with Wollongong

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