West Wollongong vs Wollongong

In West Wollongong, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Wollongong, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, West Wollongong tends to suit families with children, while Wollongong suits 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

West Wollongong

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (63% vs 14%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (54% vs 28%)
  • carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 93/100)
  • But Wollongong has more childcare (17 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

West Wollongong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($561,000 vs $715,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • West Wollongong has cheaper rent ($370/wk vs $410/wk)
  • Wollongong has a bigger rental market to choose from (57% vs 37%)

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 62/100)

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 units and townhouses to downsize into (86% vs 37%)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 62/100)
  • But West Wollongong carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Wollongong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

West 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.

West 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.

West Wollongong Wollongong
Walkability 62 / 91
West Wollongong — Walkability: 62/100 Wollongong — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 44 / 7
West Wollongong — Safety: 44/100 Wollongong — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
West Wollongong — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wollongong — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wollongong has more residents (20,446 vs 5,223); Wollongong rents higher ($410/wk vs $370/wk).

West Wollongong Wollongong
Population 5,223 20,446
+291% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.2% +10.9%
Median age 35
same for both
Median household income $86,944/yr
+7% vs other
 $80,548/yr
Median weekly rent $370/wk $410/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

West Wollongong Wollongong
0-4 6.0% / 3.7%
West Wollongong — 0-4: 6.0% Wollongong — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 12.3% / 5.0%
West Wollongong — 5-14: 12.3% Wollongong — 5-14: 5.0%
15-19 6.8% / 3.6%
West Wollongong — 15-19: 6.8% Wollongong — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 10.9% / 13.3%
West Wollongong — 20-24: 10.9% Wollongong — 20-24: 13.3%
25-34 13.6% / 23.9%
West Wollongong — 25-34: 13.6% Wollongong — 25-34: 23.9%
35-44 14.0% / 10.9%
West Wollongong — 35-44: 14.0% Wollongong — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 12.3% / 9.7%
West Wollongong — 45-54: 12.3% Wollongong — 45-54: 9.7%
55-64 10.2% / 11.1%
West Wollongong — 55-64: 10.2% Wollongong — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 7.1% / 9.5%
West Wollongong — 65-74: 7.1% Wollongong — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 4.6% / 6.5%
West Wollongong — 75-84: 4.6% Wollongong — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 2.3% / 2.8%
West Wollongong — 85+: 2.3% Wollongong — 85+: 2.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

West Wollongong 35.0% lone person
West Wollongong — Lone Person: 35.0% West Wollongong — Couple Families: 39.5% West Wollongong — Group Household: 10.0% West Wollongong — One Parent Families: 14.1% West Wollongong — Other Families: 1.4%
Wollongong 52.9% lone person
Wollongong — Lone Person: 52.9% Wollongong — Couple Families: 18.1% Wollongong — Group Household: 16.7% Wollongong — One Parent Families: 10.3% Wollongong — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

West Wollongong 37.0% renting
West Wollongong — Owned Outright: 31.0% West Wollongong — Mortgage: 31.9% West Wollongong — Renting: 37.0%
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.

West Wollongong Wollongong
Bachelor Degree 16.0% / 20.9%
West Wollongong — Bachelor Degree: 16.0% Wollongong — Bachelor Degree: 20.9%
Certificate III & IV 13.5% / 12.7%
West Wollongong — Certificate III & IV: 13.5% Wollongong — Certificate III & IV: 12.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.7% / 9.8%
West Wollongong — Postgraduate Degree: 6.7% Wollongong — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 8.1%
West Wollongong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Wollongong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.2%
West Wollongong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% 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.

West Wollongong Wollongong
England 2.5% / 3.2%
West Wollongong — England: 2.5% Wollongong — England: 3.2%
India 1.6% / 2.8%
West Wollongong — India: 1.6% Wollongong — India: 2.8%
China 1.3% / 3.0%
West Wollongong — China: 1.3% Wollongong — China: 3.0%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.1%
West Wollongong — New Zealand: 1.4% Wollongong — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines 0.6% / 1.1%
West Wollongong — Philippines: 0.6% Wollongong — Philippines: 1.1%
Thailand 0.8% / 0.8%
West Wollongong — Thailand: 0.8% Wollongong — Thailand: 0.8%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

West Wollongong 20.0% flats / apartments
West Wollongong — Flats / Apartments: 20.0% West Wollongong — Houses: 63.0% West Wollongong — Townhouses: 17.0%
Wollongong 78.8% flats / apartments
Wollongong — Flats / Apartments: 78.8% Wollongong — Houses: 13.8% Wollongong — Townhouses: 7.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

West Wollongong Wollongong
Median house price $1,132,500 $1,225,000
Median unit price $561,000 $715,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 30 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.

West Wollongong Wollongong
3 bed $1.07M / $1.21M
West Wollongong — 3 bed: $1.07M (37 sales) Wollongong — 3 bed: $1.21M (36 sales)

37 vs 36 sales

4 bed $1.2M / $1.35M
West Wollongong — 4 bed: $1.2M (27 sales) Wollongong — 4 bed: $1.35M (19 sales)

27 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Wollongong has more industrially zoned land (11% vs 0%); Wollongong has more commercially zoned land (11% vs 0%).

West Wollongong Wollongong
Residential 81% 43%
Parks and recreation 9% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 16%
Industrial 0% 11%
Commercial 0% 11%
Environmental 2%
same for both
Planning zones cover 100% of West 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

West 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.

West Wollongong Wollongong
Houses 3.3%
$750/wk on $1.19M
 4.3%
$770/wk on $940K
Units — 4.6%
$680/wk on $777K

Ranking within NSW

West Wollongong Wollongong
House price Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Income — Higher than 48% of NSW
Schools Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability — Higher than 28% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 86% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 46% of NSW

Liveability

Wollongong is more walkable (91 vs 62).

West Wollongong Wollongong
Grade B
same for both
Score 50/100 49/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Wollongong carries more crime risk (93 vs 56).

West Wollongong Wollongong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
56/100
 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 12
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

West Wollongong Wollongong
Inside the suburb 5
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 5 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 2.4 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.1% 6.0%

Schools in West Wollongong

  • Edmund Rice College Independent · Secondary at peers
  • Lindsay Park Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Therese Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • The Illawarra Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Wollongong West Public School Government · Primary at 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

West Wollongong Wollongong
Supermarkets 0 6
Cafes & restaurants 0 87
Parks & reserves 7 16
Childcare 6 17
GPs 0 16
Pharmacies 0 8
Hospitals 0 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 9
Fuel stations 3
same for both
EV chargers 0 4
Beaches 0 3

Mobility

West Wollongong Wollongong
Walkability score 62/100 91/100
Distance to Sydney 84.1 km 84.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 78 min 82 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 194.0
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.

West Wollongong Wollongong
Car (driver) 56.8% / 46.8%
West Wollongong — Car (driver): 56.8% Wollongong — Car (driver): 46.8%
Worked from Home 33.9% / 34.6%
West Wollongong — Worked from Home: 33.9% Wollongong — Worked from Home: 34.6%
Walked Only 1.9% / 10.2%
West Wollongong — Walked Only: 1.9% Wollongong — Walked Only: 10.2%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.1%
West Wollongong — Car (passenger): 4.2% Wollongong — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Bus 1.7% / 2.2%
West Wollongong — Bus: 1.7% Wollongong — Bus: 2.2%
Train 0.7% / 2.4%
West Wollongong — Train: 0.7% Wollongong — Train: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.8%).

Setting

West Wollongong Wollongong
Elevation 49 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 984 m
1.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

West Wollongong Wollongong
Connectivity score 98/100 93/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 96%
2,309 premises
 85%
14,752 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

West 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

West Wollongong

Parks

Wollongong

Affordable Apartments Beach Coastal Professionals Regional Centre Urban

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Wollongong

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