Housing
Housing tenure
About this topic
Housing tenure shows whether households own their dwelling outright, are purchasing it, rent privately, rent from a social landlord, or occupy it under another arrangement. It describes how households hold or access housing, not the type of dwelling itself.
This topic is useful for analysing housing markets, affordability, stability, and the mix of owners and renters. It works best alongside dwelling type, household composition, and housing cost topics such as mortgage repayments and rent.
Interpretation notes
- Tenure type describes how the dwelling is occupied, including ownership, mortgage, rental, or other arrangements.
- It applies to occupied private dwellings and should not be confused with dwelling structure or housing cost measures.
Key insight
In 2021, 66.2% of households in Wollongong (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 31% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Regional NSW (31.2%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Wollongong (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Wollongong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wollongong (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Fully owned
2021 count
27,598
% of total
34.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
27,598
34.2%
-0.6pp
Mortgage
2021 count
25,777
% of total
32.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
25,777
32.0%
+0.9pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
24,976
% of total
31.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
24,976
31.0%
+0.7pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
5,665
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
5,665
7.0%
-0.7pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
19,184
% of total
23.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
19,184
23.8%
+1.7pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
131
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
131
0.2%
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
1,303
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,303
1.6%
+0.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
998
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
998
1.2%
-1.7pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+1,871
-0.6pp
Mortgage
+2,742
+0.9pp
Renting - Total
+2,598
+0.7pp
Renting - Social housing
-9
-0.7pp
Renting - Private
+2,808
+1.7pp
Renting - Not stated
-191
-0.2pp
Other tenure type
+622
+0.7pp
Not stated
-1,143
-1.7pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Wollongong (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 27,598 | 34.2% | 38.0% | 25,727 | 34.8% | 37.4% | +1,871 | -0.6pp |
| Mortgage | 25,777 | 32.0% | 31.2% | 23,035 | 31.1% | 30.6% | +2,742 | +0.9pp |
| Renting - Total | 24,976 | 31.0% | 26.8% | 22,378 | 30.3% | 27.9% | +2,598 | +0.7pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 5,665 | 7.0% | 4.0% | 5,674 | 7.7% | 4.5% | -9 | -0.7pp |
| Renting - Private | 19,184 | 23.8% | 22.6% | 16,376 | 22.1% | 22.7% | +2,808 | +1.7pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 131 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 322 | 0.4% | 0.7% | -191 | -0.2pp |
| Other tenure type | 1,303 | 1.6% | 2.3% | 681 | 0.9% | 1.0% | +622 | +0.7pp |
| Not stated | 998 | 1.2% | 1.7% | 2,141 | 2.9% | 3.0% | -1,143 | -1.7pp |
| Total households | 80,658 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 73,953 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,705 | 0.0pp |