Wollongong
Suburb profile, market snapshot and recent listings for Wollongong, NSW 2500.
About Wollongong
Welcome to Wollongong
Wollongong is the beating heart of the Illawarra, a coastal city in its own right roughly 80 kilometres south of Sydney and squeezed between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean. It's a place that manages to feel both metropolitan and coastal at once — high-rise apartments and university energy give way within minutes to beaches, headlands and rainforested hills.
With a population of 20,446 and a median age of 35, the suburb attracts a mix of students, young professionals, downsizers and families drawn by the combination of city amenities, beach lifestyle and relative affordability compared with Sydney. It suits those who want a genuine urban centre without giving up easy access to the water, and it works equally well as a rental base, an investment location or a long-term home.
Lifestyle & dining
Wollongong's city centre has grown into a genuine dining and café scene, with Crown Street Mall and the surrounding laneways offering everything from casual coffee spots to more considered restaurants. The harbour precinct around Wollongong Harbour and Belmore Basin adds a working-fishing-village charm, with fresh seafood and waterfront views a short stroll from the main shopping strip.
The presence of the University of Wollongong keeps the suburb youthful and lively, feeding a steady stream of students and academics into the local cafés, bars and share houses. Weekends tend to revolve around the beach, the markets and the escarpment, giving the suburb a laid-back, outdoorsy undertone despite its city status.
Getting around
Wollongong railway station sits right in the centre of town on the South Coast Line, offering a direct rail link up to Sydney and south towards Kiama and Bomaderry — handy for commuters or those wanting an easy day trip. Locally, the suburb is compact and walkable, with the university, hospital, beaches and CBD all within a few minutes of each other.
Road connections run via the Princes Highway and the Southern Freeway/M1 Motorway, linking Wollongong to Sydney and the wider Illawarra. Neighbouring suburbs such as North Wollongong, Gwynneville, Coniston, Fairy Meadow and Mangerton are all a short drive or bus ride away, making the suburb a practical hub for the surrounding area.
Schools & families
Education options in and around Wollongong cover the full spectrum. Younger families have a good spread of public primary schools to choose from, including Wollongong Public School, Wollongong West Public School, Lindsay Park Public School and Mount St Thomas Public School, while Aspect South Coast School and the Illawarra Hospital School cater to students with additional support needs.
The standout is the University of Wollongong itself, a major drawcard for the suburb's demographic mix and a significant local employer, which brings a steady flow of students, staff and researchers into the area and supports a broader ecosystem of tutoring, research and ancillary education services.
Parks & recreation
The escarpment and coastline give Wollongong an outsized recreational footprint for a city centre. North Beach and City Beach are both close by for swimming, surfing or a beachfront walk, while Puckey's Estate and the network of coastal paths connect the suburb to North Wollongong and beyond.
For those who prefer green hills to blue water, Mount Keira and the broader escarpment walking trails are a short drive away, offering some of the best lookout points on the New South Wales coast. Closer to home, local parks and the harbour precinct provide easy, everyday green space.
Housing & architecture
Current listings in Wollongong are dominated by apartments and units, which make up 81% of the mix, reflecting the suburb's role as a dense, walkable city centre. Houses account for just 10% of listings, townhouses 8% and land 2%, so buyers after a freestanding home will find far fewer options here than in surrounding suburbs like Mangerton or Coniston.
The apartment stock ranges from older low-rise blocks to newer high-rise developments near the beach and harbour, many built to capture ocean or escarpment views. It's a housing market shaped by proximity to the university, the CBD and the coast rather than by traditional suburban blocks.
The property market
Wollongong's median house price currently sits at $1.06 million, while units and apartments — the dominant dwelling type in the suburb — have a median of $725,000. Median weekly rent is $770, reflecting steady rental demand from students, hospital staff and young professionals drawn to the area.
House prices have pulled back recently, down 4.5% over the period measured, which may present an opening for buyers who've been priced out during previous growth cycles. Given the listing mix is so heavily weighted towards apartments, the unit market is arguably a better gauge of everyday buyer and investor activity in Wollongong than the smaller, tightly held house segment.
Market snapshot
Wollongong property market
Median sale price
$1.06m
House · 3 bed
Median rent
$770
per week
Gross rental yield
3.8%
annual rent ÷ sale price
Typical price range
Entry
$801k
Median
$1.06m
Premium
$1.49m
Days on market
68
Auction clearance
86%
Sold this year
44
Median sold price trend · House 3 bed
Compound growth +0.8% / yr over 4 yrs
Median price by bedrooms · House
Property types on market
Share of current listings in Wollongong by dwelling type.
Who lives here
Demographics
ABS Census 2021 figures for Wollongong, NSW 2500.
Population
20,446
residents (2021)
Median age
35
years
Household income
$1,549
median, per week
Median rent
$410
per week
Median mortgage
$1,950
per month
Mortgage / income
29%
comfortable
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Suburb-level (SAL) aggregates.
Education
Schools in Wollongong
Government school catchment
Independent & Catholic schools
Aspect South Coast School, Wollongong University
Recent results
Recently sold in Wollongong
$1m
2/16-20 Keira Street
Sold ~July 2026
$900k
47/71-83 Smith Street
Sold ~July 2026
$1.55m
17/22 Kembla Street
Sold ~July 2026
$790k
204/35 Kenny Street
Sold ~July 2026
$695k
406/51 Crown Street
Sold ~July 2026
$690k
2/26 Victoria Street
Sold ~July 2026
$728k
2/12 Strathearn Avenue
Sold ~July 2026
$1.75m
7/28 Cliff Road
Sold ~July 2026
Sold prices as published on the original listing; some may reflect the last advertised price. Dates are approximate.
Explore the area
Properties & amenities in Wollongong
Compare the area
Price map around Wollongong
Every listing for sale near Wollongong, coloured by price — so you can see how it stacks up against the streets and suburbs next door.
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Common questions
Wollongong suburb FAQ
What is the median property price in Wollongong?
The median unit price in Wollongong, NSW is $725k for a 2-bedroom home. Over the past year, median sold prices have risen about 3.6%.
How much is rent in Wollongong?
The median weekly rent in Wollongong is around $675 per week.
Is Wollongong a good place to live?
Wollongong is a city in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Wollongong is an established residential suburb in NSW, with a population of around 20,446 and 8 schools in the area.
What is the population of Wollongong?
Wollongong has a population of 20,446 (ABS 2021 Census), with a median age of 35.
What schools are in Wollongong?
There are 8 schools in or near Wollongong, including Aspect South Coast School, Wollongong University, Illawarra Hospital School and Lindsay Park Public School.
How long do homes take to sell in Wollongong?
Properties in Wollongong take around 33 days to sell on average, with an auction clearance rate of about 62%.
How much do you need to buy in Wollongong?
Entry-level properties in Wollongong start around $541k, while premium homes reach $1.03m.
What suburbs are near Wollongong?
Suburbs near Wollongong include North Wollongong, Gwynneville, Coniston, Fairy Meadow and Mangerton.
Fresh to market
New this week in Wollongong
Contemporary Townhouse Living in a Prime Wollongong Location
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Modern 2-Bedroom Apartment with Resort-Style Amenities & Community Living
Modern 2-Bedroom Apartment with Resort-Style Amenities & Community Living
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