Raymond Terrace

Raymond Terrace has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Raymond Terrace's population is approximately 15,492 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 904 people from the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,588. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 15,345 in June 2025 and an additional 298 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 141 persons per square kilometer. Raymond Terrace's population grew by 6.2% between the 2021 Census and May 2026, outpacing the Rest of NSW's growth rate of 4.9%. Natural growth accounted for approximately 55.6% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all migration factors also contributing positively.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for SA2 areas covered by the data, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth for regional areas nationally, with Raymond Terrace expected to expand by 2,224 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 13.4% over the 16-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Raymond Terrace when compared nationally

Raymond Terrace averaged approximately 67 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25339 homes were approved, with an additional 35 approved so far in FY26. On average, around 2.4 people moved to the area per new home constructed over these five years, indicating strong demand that may support property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $236,000, which is below regional levels, offering more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY26, there have been $37.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to the rest of NSW, Raymond Terrace has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 47th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively limited buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings.

New building activity consists of 74% detached houses and 26% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 445 people, reflecting its quiet and low-activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Raymond Terrace is projected to add 2,077 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, though buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

Raymond Terrace has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 22 such projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the Raymond Terrace Indoor Sports Facility, Tomago Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Raymond Terrace Public Domain Plan, and Raymond Terrace Bowling Club Hotel Development. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Raymond Terrace face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Raymond Terrace has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs. As of December 2025, 6323 residents are employed. The unemployment rate is 9.1%, slightly higher than Regional NSW's 3.9%.

Workforce participation is 55.5%, below the regional average of 60.5%. About 14.3% of residents work from home. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area specializes in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level, but agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.2%.

There are 0.8 workers per resident, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.7% and employment fell by 0.1%, reducing unemployment by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 1.2% and unemployment rise by 0.4%. Job growth projections for Raymond Terrace over five years suggest a 6.1% increase, and over ten years, a 12.9% increase.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The median taxpayer income in Raymond Terrace SA2 is $49,089, with an average of $58,712, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than the national average, compared to Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $54,155 (median) and $64,771 (average) as of March 2026. From the 2021 Census data, household, family, and personal incomes in Raymond Terrace are between the 18th and 19th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that 30.4% of residents fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket (4,709 people), consistent with broader regional trends at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 16th percentile nationally.

Raymond Terrace is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Raymond Terrace's latest Census revealed 80.8% houses and 19.2% other dwellings, compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Raymond Terrace was 28.7%, with mortgages at 31.3% and rentals at 40.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent was $320, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Raymond Terrace's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 versus Australia's $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Raymond Terrace has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 67.4% of all households, including 24.7% couples with children, 23.3% couples without children, and 18.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.6%, with lone person households at 29.3% and group households comprising 3.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Raymond Terrace faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 9.7%, 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 the most common at 7.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.6% and graduate diplomas at 1.1%. Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 9.0% and certificates at 33.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.2% in primary education, 8.9% in secondary education, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Raymond Terrace has 167 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 103 different routes that collectively facilitate 2,284 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 146 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature, and cars remain the primary mode of transport at 95%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.3, lower than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 14.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 326 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map illustrates the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

Health performance in Raymond Terrace is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Raymond Terrace faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Notably, both younger and older age cohorts exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (~7,498 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 13.1% and 9.8% of residents respectively. However, 58.0% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. The working-age population faces substantial health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Raymond Terrace has 18.0% of its residents aged 65 and over (2,785 people), which is lower than the 23.4% figure for Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally in line with those of the general population.

Raymond Terrace is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Raymond Terrace, as per the 2016 Census, had a cultural diversity below average. Its population was predominantly Australian citizens (91.1%), born in Australia (91.4%), and speaking English only at home (95.9%). Christianity was the major religion, with 53.6% of people adhering to it, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (31.9%), English (31.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (8.1%). Certain ethnic groups showed notable differences: Welsh was overrepresented at 0.6%, Samoan at 0.2%, and Maori at 0.4%.

Raymond Terrace's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Raymond Terrace has a median age of 38, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 but matches the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 14.3% of Raymond Terrace's population, higher than Regional NSW's percentage. Conversely, the 75-84 cohort constitutes 6.0%, lower than the regional figure. Post-2021 Census, the 25-34 age group grew from 12.9% to 14.3%, while the 35-44 group increased from 11.9% to 13.0%. However, the 5-14 cohort decreased from 14.3% to 12.0% and the 45-54 group dropped from 12.4% to 11.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates significant changes in Raymond Terrace's age profile. Notably, the 25-34 group is projected to grow by 33%, reaching 2,963 from 2,221 currently. Meanwhile, population declines are forecast for the 15-24 and 65-74 cohorts.