Wellington (NSW)

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Based on demographic assessments of ABS regional updates, alongside new addresses validated by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Wellington (NSW) has an estimated residency of 4,345 people as of May 2026. This representing a gain of 249 people (6.1%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 4,096 individuals. This adjustment is calculated from a resident base of 4,326, which Districts estimated after evaluating the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) and integrating an extra 4 validated new addresses post-Census. With this population level, the local density stands at 272 persons per square kilometer, which indicates considerable space for residents and capacity for future construction. The 6.1% expansion rate of the suburb of Wellington (NSW) since the 2021 census outpaced the SA4 region (2.8%) as well as the SA3 territory, highlighting it as a leading growth zone. Demographic gains were mostly spurred by overseas migration, which accounted for approximately of the population increase in recent times, though all other contributors, such as interstate moves and natural increases, remained positive.

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Wellington is supported by a balanced job market that includes both white-collar and blue-collar roles, with a strong presence of essential services, an unemployment rate of 4.9%, and an estimated job growth rate of 0.7% over the last year, according to statistical data compiled by Districts. In March 2026, there were 1,549 employed locals, while the unemployment rate sat 0.8% higher than the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, and labour force participation was notably lower (47.2% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW). Census records indicate that a minor 6.8% of employed residents worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related lockdown measures.

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According to aggregated ATO postcode data from the financial year 2023, taxpaying residents in the suburb of Wellington recorded a median income of $39,786 and an average income of $45,311. This sits below the national average and compares to median and average levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW. Adjusting these figures for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of approximately $43,892 (median) and $49,987 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals that family, household, and individual earnings in Wellington all place between the 2nd and 7th percentiles on a national scale. The most common weekly income band is $400 - 799, containing 31.1% of residents (1,351 people), whereas the leading bracket for the wider region is - at . A substantial concentration of of taxpayers earning under weekly highlights the financial constraints faced by many in the area. Once housing costs are paid, of income is retained, placing the area in the th percentile nationally.

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Residential architecture in Wellington at the time of the last Census consisted of 88.8% detached houses and 11.2% alternative housing types (such as semi-detached properties, units, or other options), compared to Regional NSW where detached houses made up 82.6% and other dwellings made up 17.4%. Home ownership rates in Wellington stood slightly lower than the Regional NSW average at 36.8%, with the remaining properties occupied by people with a mortgage (25.2%) or tenants renting (38.1%). The median monthly home loan payment was significantly below the Regional NSW average at $936, while the median weekly rent stood at $230, compared to regional averages of $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Wellington home loan repayments are much lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and rent levels are also well below the national median of $375.

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Families make up the majority of local households at 60.0%, consisting of couples with offspring (16.4%), couples without offspring (23.7%), and single parent arrangements (18.3%). Non-family households represent the remaining 40.0%, with single-person households at 36.5% and group share houses at 3.4%. The average household size of 2.3 residents is slightly below the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

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The local community experiences educational challenges, with university completion rates (12.5% of residents) falling significantly below the NSW state average of 32.2%. This gap presents both a hurdle and a chance for targeted schooling programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary credential at 9.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees (1.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational and technical training are highly prevalent, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding trade qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificates (31.8%).

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An analysis of public transit options shows 83 active transport stops in Wellington, providing a combination of rail and bus connections. These stops are serviced by 22 separate transit routes, offering a total of 532 weekly passenger journeys. Access to transport is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 164 meters from their nearest stop. Since the area is mostly residential, many workers commute to other places; private cars are the main mode of travel at 89%, while 7% of residents walk to work. The average number of motor vehicles per household is 1.0, which is below the regional average. A small proportion of residents (6.8%) worked from home, according to 2021 Census data, which may reflect pandemic conditions.

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Significant healthcare issues are apparent in Wellington, according to assessments of mortality indexes and chronic illness rates by Districts, with various conditions impacting both younger and older residents, while the share of residents with private health insurance is very low at approximately 45% of the community (~1,952 people). This compares to 51.9% for Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

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Wellington has lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens making up 82.1% of the population, 91.5% of residents born in Australia, and 94.7% of households using only English at home. The predominant religious affiliation is Christianity, practiced by 61.5% of residents, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

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The median age of Wellington residents is 41 years, which is slightly below the Regional NSW average of 43 years but slightly higher than the national median of 38 years. Children aged 5 - 14 show a high representation at 14.1% compared to Regional NSW, while adults aged 35 - 44 are less represented at 10.5%. Data collected since the 2021 Census shows the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 9.1% to 10.5% of the population, whereas the 55 to 64 cohort has fallen from 13.7% to 12.8%. Long-term modeling suggests the age distribution will change notably by 2041, with the 35 to 44 cohort projected to grow the fastest at , adding residents to reach a total of while the to and to groups are projected to decline.

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Wellington currently has an estimated 317 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 165 children aged 0-2 and 110 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 21% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 16% by 2041 (to approximately 368 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 417. Recent growth has been driven by high birth rates observed in the area, with approximately 12.0 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the top 30% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.