Moving to Berkeley NSW 2506
What the official numbers say about living in Berkeley — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $290 a week, against a median household income of $1,217 a week.
About 60% of homes are owner-occupied and 39% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Berkeley grew 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (7,427 → 7,798 people).
Around 69% of households are families, averaging 2.5 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, North Macedonia, Lebanon; most spoken languages besides English: Macedonian, Arabic, Portuguese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Berkeley scores below the national average (decile 1 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (80% of workers), while 18% work from home.
Nearest train station: Unanderra, 2.4 km north.
Nearest railway halt: Kembla Grange, 2.9 km west.
Nearest bus interchange: Station St opp Wollongong Station, 6.6 km north-east.
Nearest airport: Shellharbour Airport, 10.6 km south-west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 75 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 23 schools · 2 cafes & restaurants · 1 supermarket · 14 parks — see them all on the Berkeley profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Berkeley West Public School 650 m · Illawarra Sports High School 700 m · Berkeley Public School 850 m · Cringila Public School 2 km · Farmborough Road Public School 2.2 km · Lake Heights Public School 2.3 km · Warrawong High School 2.5 km · Warrawong Public School 2.8 km
Groceries: Woolworths 2.4 km
Parks and reserves: West Berkeley Park 700 m · Gladstone Park 1.2 km · Macedonia Park 1.4 km · Wollamai Park 1.6 km · Orana Park 1.8 km · Ranchby Avenue Park 1.9 km · Von Guerard Park 2 km · Lake Heights Reserve 2.1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Berkeley, most often seen first: Common Myna · Rainbow Lorikeet · Magpie-lark · Australian Raven · Grey Butcherbird · Australian Magpie.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Berkeley, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley here | 7,798 | — | 1/10 | 18% |
| Lake Heights | 4,105 | — | 3/10 | 10% |
| Unanderra | 5,476 | — | 2/10 | 12% |
| Cringila | 2,156 | — | 1/10 | 29% |
| Farmborough Heights | 4,179 | — | 9/10 | 37% |
| Warrawong | 4,659 | — | 1/10 | 6% |
| Kanahooka | 5,698 | — | 5/10 | 10% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Wollongong — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Whitlam — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2506 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Berkeley profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $290 a week, and about 39% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 7,427 people to 7,798. It sits about 75 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Unanderra station is roughly 2.4 km away. Local government is Wollongong council, and the federal seat is Whitlam.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Berkeley vs Lake Heights · Berkeley vs Unanderra.
Nearby guides: Lake Heights · Unanderra · Cringila · Farmborough Heights · Warrawong · Kanahooka.
Keep an eye on Berkeley
One email when this data meaningfully changes — new census figures, prices, rankings. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.