Coniston vs Wollongong.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,130,500 and $1,300,000. Wollongong edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Coniston (median $1,130,500) is roughly 13% cheaper to buy into than Wollongong ($1,300,000). Over the past year, Wollongong (+16.6%) ran 6.3 percentage points ahead of Coniston (+10.3%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Wollongong (1066) sits above Coniston (1062). Coniston skews owner-occupied (56%), Wollongong runs more rental-dense (42% owner).
For buyers
Coniston is the lower entry point at $1,130,500 median, 13% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Coniston delivers the better gross yield (3.45% vs 3.00%), but Wollongong has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
For families
Wollongong edges out on average school ICSEA (1066 vs 1062). Coniston also has a higher family-household share (63% vs 51%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Coniston or Wollongong cheaper to buy in?
Coniston has the lower median house price at $1,130,500, roughly 13% below Wollongong ($1,300,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Coniston or Wollongong?
Over the past 12 months, Wollongong grew +16.6% vs +10.3% in Coniston, a gap of 6.3 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Coniston or Wollongong have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Wollongong scores 1066 vs 1062 in Coniston. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Coniston or Wollongong?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.45% in Coniston vs 3.00% in Wollongong. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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