North Wollongong, NSW: suburb profile

The population of North Wollongong NSW is 2,299 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in North Wollongong is $709 per week ($36,868 per year). Median rent in North Wollongong is $395 per week ($1,712 per month). North Wollongong has a median age of 30 years, younger than the national median of 38. North Wollongong has a population density of 949 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in North Wollongong is England. The most common religion is No religion (44.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Arabic. The median monthly mortgage repayment in North Wollongong is $1,950.

There were 111 recorded offences in North Wollongong in 2025-26, a rate of 48 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was traffic (53 offences).

Population
2,299
Census 2021
Median income
$709/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$395/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
30years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

North Wollongong vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in North Wollongong is $709 a week, 7% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,341st of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $395 a week, $10 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 25.5% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 30, 13 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureNorth WollongongTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$709/wk$765/wk −7%$766/wk
Household income$1,549/wk$1,704/wk −9%$1,637/wk
Rent$395/wk$385/wk +3%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,950/mo$1,965/mo −1%$1,733/mo
Median age3043 −13 yrs42
Rent share of household income25.5%22.6% +2.9 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in North Wollongong, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

North Wollongong Population

2,299 residents at the 2021 Census.

North Wollongong Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$709/wk
$36,868 per year
Ranked 5,330 of 14,663
Median Rent
$395/wk
$1,712 per month
Ranked 2,200 of 14,663
Median Age
30years
8 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,950/mo
Avg household size: 2 · 0.9 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

North Wollongong Rent Prices & Affordability

26% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,549/wk
Median rent $395/wk
Rent to income 25.5%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in North Wollongong against your income

About $6,712 a month
Median rent $395/wk
Left after rent $1,154/wk
Rent share 25.5%

North Wollongong Schools

25
schools nearby
16
government
1056
avg ICSEA score
9,109
total students
Smiths Hill High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 736 students
1186
ICSEA
The Illawarra Grammar School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 970 students
1159
ICSEA
Pleasant Heights Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 241 students
1126
ICSEA
Elonera Montessori School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 187 students
1108
ICSEA
St Mary Star of the Sea College Independent
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,128 students
1104
ICSEA
Keiraville Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 297 students
1103
ICSEA
St Therese Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 368 students
1090
ICSEA
Wollongong Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 579 students
1084
ICSEA
St Brigid's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 175 students
1083
ICSEA
Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 335 students
1081
ICSEA
Mount Ousley Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 193 students
1079
ICSEA
Balgownie Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 329 students
1076
ICSEA
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,169 students
1075
ICSEA
Gwynneville Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 271 students
1065
ICSEA
Corrimal East Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 297 students
1046
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 25 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near North Wollongong, with a map

North Wollongong Map

North Wollongong, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

People in North Wollongong

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.2% (1,176) Female 48.8% (1,119)

Population Density

949
people per km²
2,299 people · 2.4 km²

Households

2
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$2,044
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
3.4%
India
2.0%
China
1.7%
Italy
1.5%
Nepal
1.5%
Sri Lanka
1.1%
New Zealand
1.1%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Arabic
2.1%
Mandarin
2.0%
Nepali
1.6%
Macedonian
1.5%
Italian
1.5%
Vietnamese
1.0%
Spanish
0.9%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
34.1%
Australian
29.7%
Irish
11.9%
Scottish
8.0%
Italian
7.4%
German
4.0%
Chinese
3.2%
Indian
2.6%
Australian Aboriginal
2.4%
Dutch
2.3%
Macedonian
2.0%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
44.1%
Catholic
19.5%
Anglican
8.7%
Not stated
5.1%
Islam
4.5%
Eastern Orthodox
3.3%
Hinduism
3.3%
Christian (other)
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

2.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
27.1% 579
Separated
2.6% 55
Divorced
8.7% 187
Widowed
2.2% 46
Never married
59.4% 1,271

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
49.1%
Couple: children under 15
25.1%
Couple: no children under 15
12.0%
One parent: no children under 15
7.7%
One parent: children under 15
6.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
38.2%
2 persons
39.6%
3 persons
12.9%
4 persons
6.5%
5 persons
2.0%
6+ persons
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in North Wollongong

Housing Tenure

Of the 997 occupied private dwellings in North Wollongong at the 2021 Census, 65.7% were rented, 19.4% owned outright and 13.0% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.9% 9 dwellings
Owned outright
19.4% 193 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
13.0% 130 dwellings
Rented
65.7% 655 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.1% 11 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
68.2%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
29.0%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
12.6%
2 bedrooms
54.7%
3 bedrooms
23.7%
4 bedrooms
6.1%
5 bedrooms
1.4%
6+ bedrooms
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.1%
$300-$449/mo
7.6%
$450-$599/mo
2.5%
$600-$799/mo
4.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
14.4%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
12.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
27.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
20.3%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
12.6%
1 vehicle
49.1%
2 vehicles
27.3%
3 vehicles
7.4%
4+ vehicles
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in North Wollongong

Employment

Employed full-time
33.1% 624 people
Employed part-time
24.5% 461 people
Unemployed
6.0% 113 people
Not in labour force
36.4% 687 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
39.3%
Community & Personal Service
13.9%
Technicians & Trade Workers
10.5%
Managers
9.9%
Clerical & Administrative
9.8%
Sales Workers
7.8%
Labourers
5.6%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.8%
$1-$149/wk
0.5%
$150-$299/wk
2.8%
$300-$399/wk
3.8%
$400-$499/wk
7.1%
$500-$649/wk
4.5%
$650-$799/wk
5.8%
$800-$999/wk
6.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.1%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
13.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
6.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.9%
$4,000+/wk
9.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.7%
$1-$149/wk
4.4%
$150-$299/wk
9.2%
$300-$399/wk
6.1%
$400-$499/wk
4.7%
$500-$649/wk
4.9%
$650-$799/wk
8.2%
$800-$999/wk
9.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.3%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
9.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.7%
$3,500+/wk
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
60.1%
Did not go to work
22.0%
Walked only
4.9%
Car (passenger)
3.9%
Train
3.3%
Bus
2.4%
Bicycle
1.4%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.0%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.5%
Truck
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
78.2%
Year 10 or equivalent
15.0%
Year 11 or equivalent
3.6%
Year 9 or equivalent
3.2%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
38.2%
Certificate III/IV
23.5%
Postgraduate Degree
19.4%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
15.0%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.4%
Certificate I/II
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
22.6%
Engineering
14.8%
Health
14.7%
Society & Culture
14.6%
Education
9.0%
Creative Arts
5.6%
Natural & Physical Sciences
4.9%
Information Technology
4.9%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
4.2%
Architecture & Building
2.8%
Agriculture & Environment
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Vocational Education
33.8%
Primary: Government
17.4%
Secondary: Government
16.9%
Secondary: Catholic
9.1%
Primary: Catholic
8.7%
Pre-school
8.2%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
4.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
93.1%
Has need for assistance
4.0%
Need for assistance not stated
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
301
Asthma
79
Arthritis
54
Heart disease
38
Diabetes
38
Cancer
37
Lung condition
28
Kidney disease
18
Stroke
11
Dementia
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
8.2% 168
Did not provide
91.8% 1,882

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
16.2% 334
Not a volunteer
83.8% 1,729

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.3% 7
Current ADF: Reserves
0.4% 8
Previously served
1.6% 34
Never served
97.6% 2,032

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
64.2%
1 child
7.0%
2 children
17.6%
3 children
8.3%
4 children
2.6%
5+ children
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
3
1951: 1960
27
1961: 1970
72
1971: 1980
61
1981: 1990
52
1991: 2000
61
2001: 2010
91
2011: 2015
89
2016
45
2017
40
2018
37
2019
56
2020
36

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

35.8%
moved in the last year
65.5%
moved in the last 5 years
8.5%
unemployment rate (Census)
64.5%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,418
Moved from NSW
579
Moved: same area (SA2)
106
Moved from overseas
35
Moved from ACT
19
Moved from VIC
19
Moved from QLD
11
Moved from TAS
7

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
31.0%
5: 14 hours
30.6%
15: 29 hours
8.7%
30+ hours
4.4%
Did not do domestic work
25.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
88.1%
Step family: no other children
8.5%
Blended family: no other children
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

North Wollongong Crime Statistics

111 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Traffic
53
Theft
19
Property Damage
12
Other Against Property
11
Other Against Person
5
Drug Offences
5
Assault
4
Sexual Offences
1
Robbery
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near North Wollongong

The closest suburb to North Wollongong is Fairy Meadow, 1.0 km away.

Fairy Meadow
1.0 km away · income $674/wk · rent $390/wk
Gwynneville
1.4 km away · income $602/wk · rent $350/wk
Mount Ousley
1.5 km away · income $832/wk · rent $500/wk
Keiraville
2.0 km away · income $610/wk · rent $420/wk
Wollongong
2.5 km away · income $836/wk · rent $410/wk
Towradgi
2.6 km away · income $725/wk · rent $350/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About North Wollongong

What is the population of North Wollongong NSW?

The population of North Wollongong NSW is 2,299 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 949 people per km². North Wollongong is ranked #2,828 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in North Wollongong?

The median personal income in North Wollongong NSW is $709 per week, or $36,868 per year. The median household income is $1,549 per week. Family income is $2,044 per week. North Wollongong is ranked #5,330 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in North Wollongong?

Median rent in North Wollongong NSW is $395 per week ($1,712 per month). Rent represents 25.5% of household income, which is considered moderate. North Wollongong ranks #2,200 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in North Wollongong?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in North Wollongong NSW is $1,950. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in North Wollongong?

The median age in North Wollongong NSW is 30 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is North Wollongong a good suburb to live in?

North Wollongong is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 2,299. The median income is $709/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (25.5% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13027. All dollar figures in AUD.