Albion Park Rail

Albion Park Rail has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Albion Park Rail's population was 6,920 as of the 2021 Census. By February 2026, it had increased to around 6,986, a rise of 66 people (1.0%). This change is inferred from an estimated resident population of 6,839 in June 2024 and 81 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was approximately 974 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas, released in 2024 with a 2022 base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections otherwise, with a 2021 base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is projected to expand by 124 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a decrease of 0.3% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Albion Park Rail according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Albion Park Rail has averaged approximately 36 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 181 homes. As of FY2025/26, 4 approvals have been recorded to date. This area has experienced population decline, suggesting that new supply is likely meeting demand and providing good purchasing options for buyers. The average construction cost value of new properties is $273,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing choices.

In the current financial year, Albion Park Rail has seen $16.0 million in commercial development approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial growth compared to the Rest of NSW. The area ranks around two-thirds of the rate of new dwelling approvals per person nationally and among the 75th percentile of areas assessed. New building activity shows a significant skew towards attached dwellings, with 85.0% compared to 15.0% detached dwellings. This trend reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements, marking a considerable change from the current housing mix of 78.0% houses. Albion Park Rail has approximately 168 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a low-density area.

With population projections showing stability or decline, the area is expected to experience reduced housing demand pressures, potentially benefiting future buyers.

Albion Park Rail has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects that could affect the region. Notable ones are Regional Multi-Sports, Aquatics & Leisure Facility, Albion Park Rail Industrial Estate Development, Shellharbour Airport Master Plan Upgrades, and Park Central Bulky Goods Complex. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Albion Park Rail face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Albion Park Rail has a balanced workforce with representation across white and blue collar jobs, particularly in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 10.0% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.0%.

As of September 2025, 3,009 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 6.2%, which is 2.4 percentage points higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Albion Park Rail was 59.0%, slightly below Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 15.6% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

The area has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, with only 0.3% of residents employed in these sectors compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 1.0%, while labour force remained stable, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project an increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years for national employment. Applying these projections to Albion Park Rail's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Albion Park Rail SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $58,771 and an average of $68,424. These figures are approximately national averages. Comparatively, Rest of NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Albion Park Rail would be approximately $63,978 (median) and $74,486 (average) as of September 2025. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Albion Park Rail fall between the 16th and 29th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 34.5% of residents (2,410 people), similar to regional levels where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 25th percentile.

Albion Park Rail is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Albion Park Rail, as recorded in the latest Census, 78.1% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 21.9% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This compares to Non-Metro NSW where 82.6% of dwellings were houses and 17.4% were other types. Home ownership in Albion Park Rail stood at 34.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.9% and rented ones at 27.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,820, exceeding Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure for Albion Park Rail was $390, higher than Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Albion Park Rail's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Albion Park Rail has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.3% of all households, including 26.5% couples with children, 28.0% couples without children, and 16.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.7%, with lone person households at 25.0% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Albion Park Rail faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 10.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 7.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 46.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.8%) and certificates (36.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Albion Park Rail has 83 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 50 individual routes, collectively facilitating 1,785 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents located an average of 115 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most commutes are outward-bound, with car being the dominant mode at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 15.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 255 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 21 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Albion Park Rail is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Albion Park Rail faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

A variety of health conditions affect both younger and older age groups, with private health cover at approximately 53% of the total population (~3,723 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.3% and 11.0% of residents respectively. Conversely, 57.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 22.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,543 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally aligned with the broader population.

Albion Park Rail ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Albion Park Rail, as per the census conducted on 27 June 2016, exhibited lower cultural diversity with 84.3% of its residents born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 93.5% speaking English at home exclusively. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 55.5% of the population, slightly below the Rest of NSW average of 55.9%. The leading ancestry groups were English (30.8%), Australian (30.0%), and Scottish (7.6%).

Notably, Spanish (0.8% vs regional 0.3%), Maltese (1.3% vs 0.4%), and Macedonian (0.6% vs 0.4%) ethnicities were more prevalent in Albion Park Rail compared to the wider region.

Albion Park Rail's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Albion Park Rail was 40 years as of a certain date, which is slightly below Rest of NSW's average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. The proportion of people aged 25-34 in Albion Park Rail was notably higher at 16.3% compared to the Rest of NSW average, while those aged 45-54 were under-represented at 9.8%. Between the 2021 Census and a later date, the proportion of people aged 25 to 34 increased from 13.3% to 16.3%, while those aged 75 to 84 grew from 6.6% to 8.0%. Conversely, the proportion of people aged 55 to 64 declined from 13.4% to 11.7%, and those aged 45 to 54 dropped from 11.4% to 9.8%. Population forecasts for a specific year indicate significant demographic changes in Albion Park Rail, with the 75 to 84 age cohort projected to expand by 109 people (20%) from 558 to 668. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.