Fairy Meadow vs North Wollongong
The verdict
North Wollongong is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.29M versus $1.33M in Fairy Meadow. North Wollongong rates higher for liveability (96 vs 78). Fairy Meadow has a shorter estimated CBD commute (114 vs 116 min). On the separate residential safety score, Fairy Meadow rates higher (55 vs 13/100 in North Wollongong).
Scores
| Fairy Meadow | North Wollongong | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 78 | 87 |
| Transport | 92 | 91 |
| Education | 61 | 72 |
| Liveability | 78 | 96 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Fairy Meadow | North Wollongong | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,512 | 2,299 |
| Median age | 38 | 30 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,407 | $1,549 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 38.1% | 53.8% |
| Born in Australia | 68.6% | 67.5% |
| Avg household size | 2.4 | 2 |
Growth: Fairy Meadow Moderate Growth · North Wollongong Moderate Growth
Property
| Fairy Meadow | North Wollongong | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.33M | $1.29M |
| Median unit price | $635K | $757K |
| House price YoY | 14.4% | Data not available |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $832 | $720 |
| Rental yield (house) | 3.2% | Data not available |
| Days on market (house) | 41 | 56 |
Median price history
Safety
| Fairy Meadow | North Wollongong | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 55 | 13 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 186 | 478 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 240 | 478 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 413 | 652 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 6,377 | 11,962 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Fairy Meadow | North Wollongong | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 4 | 3 |
| Government | 3 | 3 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,048 | 1,001 |
See the full school list on each profile: Fairy Meadow · North Wollongong
Transport
| Fairy Meadow | North Wollongong | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 92 | 91 |
| Train stations | 1 | 1 |
| Bus stops | 59 | 29 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 114 | 116 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 330 m | 760 m |
Liveability
| Fairy Meadow | North Wollongong | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 25.0°C | 25.0°C |
| Winter max temp | 17.5°C | 17.5°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,250 | 1,250 |
| Supermarkets | 3 | 0 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 6 | 11 |
| Parks | 9 | 5 |
| Playgrounds | 3 | 3 |
| Swimming pools | 1 | 12 |
| Medical GPs | 0 | 0 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 1.2 km | 610 m |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 64.7 km | 65.9 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 1.2 km | 860 m |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 3.6 km | 2.3 km |
Population & growth
| Fairy Meadow | North Wollongong | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 7,512 | 2,299 |
| Estimated 2025 | 7,777 | 2,380 |
| Projected 2041 | 9,047 | 2,769 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.87% | 0.87% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Fairy Meadow or North Wollongong?
Fairy Meadow has the higher residential safety score (Fairy Meadow 55/100 vs North Wollongong 13/100).
Which is more affordable, Fairy Meadow or North Wollongong?
North Wollongong is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.29M versus $1.33M.
Which has better schools, Fairy Meadow or North Wollongong?
Fairy Meadow has a higher average school ICSEA (Fairy Meadow 1048 vs North Wollongong 1001; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Fairy Meadow or North Wollongong?
Fairy Meadow has the higher transport score (Fairy Meadow 92/100 vs North Wollongong 91/100).
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