Suburb comparison
Austinmer vs Wollongong West: which Sydney suburb suits you?
The key differences: Wollongong West is $163/wk cheaper per week to rent; Wollongong West has more schools within the postcode. The table below covers all available metrics.
Last refreshed May 2026 (most cards). Per-card sources show exact dates.
Wollongong
Austinmer
2515
Wollongong
Wollongong West
2500
Side-by-side comparison
| Metric | Austinmer | Wollongong West |
|---|---|---|
SAFETYSafety Even (1 each) | ||
| Sub-grade | B-▲(0) | D+(-1) |
| Flood zone coverage | — | — |
| Bushfire zone coverage | 69.7% | 31.4%▲ |
FAMILYFamily Even (1 each) | ||
| Sub-grade | B▲(1) | C(0) |
| SEIFA advantage decile | 10/10 | — |
| Schools in postcode | 4 | 11▲ |
FINANCEFinance | ||
| Sub-grade | insufficient | insufficient |
| Median house price | — | — |
| Median unit price | — | — |
| Median weekly rent | $793/wk | $630/wk |
| Annual price growth | — | — |
LIFESTYLELifestyle Wollongong West leads on 2 of 2 | ||
| Sub-grade | D+(-1) | C+▲(0) |
| Walkability percentile | 9 | 56▲ |
Median prices show levels, not better-or-worse for a buyer. See the suburb pages for context.
Which suits you?
Choose Austinmer if...
Tied on Safety, Family.
Choose Wollongong West if...
- Wollongong West leads on Lifestyle
- You are renting first and want lower weekly outgoings
- School options within walking distance matter
Tied on Safety, Family.
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Common questions
- Is Austinmer or Wollongong West more expensive?
- Price data varies — check each suburb's page for the latest figures.
- Which is better for renters — Austinmer or Wollongong West?
- Median weekly rent is $793/wk in Austinmer and $630/wk in Wollongong West, making Wollongong West the more affordable rental market.
- Is Austinmer or Wollongong West at higher flood risk?
- Flood mapping coverage varies by postcode — see the flood risk pages for both suburbs for authoritative NSW data.
- How many schools are in Austinmer vs Wollongong West?
- Austinmer has 4 schools in the postcode, and Wollongong West has 11. Note that school catchments can extend across postcode boundaries.
Full suburb profiles