Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Wollongong

Wollongong sits between the Pacific and the escarpment with a compact CBD along Crown Street and the foreshore, so daily life mixes beachfront promenades and the harbour with city amenities such as cafes, shops, an art gallery and a stadium. Housing ranges from mid-rise waterfront apartments and esplanade shops to older single-fronted cottages and brick homes inland, and the area has good rail and road links plus proximity to the University of Wollongong.

The suburb of Wollongong is home to 20,446 people with a median age of 35 and a mixed community of students, local professionals, families and retirees. Couple households make up the bulk of families, and more dwellings are rented (56.6%) than owner-occupied. There is active public investment across transport, health and education—projects include a station precinct masterplan and road interchange work, upgraded hospital imaging and further health-precinct planning, new TAFE facilities and local coastal and park projects—so whether Wollongong suits you will depend on the kinds of housing and amenities you want nearby.

On the figures, buying in Wollongong 2500 sits well above what a typical local household earned in a year at the last Census: the median house price of $1,112,500 is about 13.8 times a typical local annual household income, and the median unit price of $775,000 is about 9.6 times that annual income. Renting also takes a large share of weekly household income recorded at the last Census — a house rent of $750 a week would be about 48.4% of a typical local household's weekly income, and a unit rent of $660 a week about 42.6%. If you're renting rather than buying, the rent share is the more immediately relevant figure when weighing costs here.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Over the past 12 months in Wollongong, unit values rose 5.1%, while house values were slightly lower, down 1.3%. Rents moved up for both property types: house rents increased 4.2% (a modest rise) and unit rents rose 6.5% (a solid rise), with unit rents growing faster than house rents.

For someone weighing Wollongong as an investment, the value figures relate to capital growth over the year and the rent figures to rental income. On the data for the past year, units have shown stronger capital growth and stronger rental growth than houses; whether that balance suits your plans depends on your goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.