Raymond Terrace

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

According to research conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Raymond Terrace is estimated to be approximately 15,492 in May 2026. This represents an addition of 904 residents (6.2%) compared to the 2021 Census, which recorded 14,588 individuals. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 15,345 combined with 298 validated new addresses registered after the Census. Based on these figures, the population density stands at 141 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and room for potential future growth. The expansion rate of 6.2% since the 2021 census positioned Raymond Terrace ahead of the Rest of NSW (4.9%) and the surrounding SA3 region, making it a key local growth driver. Natural increase was the primary contributor, accounting for roughly 55.6% of the population gains in recent times, though interstate migration, overseas migration, and other factors also played positive roles.

AreaSearch utilizes population projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024, which use 2022 as their baseline year. In cases where SA2 regions lack this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 baseline are applied instead. The age-specific growth rates derived from these sources are extended to project demographic changes from 2032 to 2041. Future expectations point to population increases that exceed the national median for regional areas, with Raymond Terrace projected to gain 2,224 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP figures, translating to a total growth of 13.4% over the 16 years.

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

Approximately 67 residential development approvals are granted annually in Raymond Terrace, with 339 residential approvals registered over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional 56 recorded during FY-26 so far. Over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, an average of 2.3 individuals moved into the locality for every newly built residence, pointing to solid demand that is likely to sustain local property values. Newly constructed homes carry an average building cost of $236,000, which falls below the regional average and offers more affordable entry points for home buyers. Furthermore, commercial development approvals have reached $37.3 million during the current financial year, pointing to healthy corporate investment locally.

The per capita rate of new residential approvals in Raymond Terrace is about three-quarters of the average across the Rest of NSW, placing the locality in the 47th percentile of all analyzed regions nationwide. This results in a somewhat restricted supply of new builds, which in turn channels buyer interest toward established properties. Detached housing makes up 74.0% of new construction activity, while attached options comprise the remaining 26.0%, preserving the low-density feel of the suburb and prioritizing spacious family residences. With an estimated 448 people per single dwelling approval, the locality displays a quiet construction environment with low development intensity.

Long-term projections indicate that Raymond Terrace will add 2,077 residents by 2041, starting from the most recent quarterly estimate by AreaSearch. Construction activity is currently keeping pace with these population projections, although prospective buyers might face increased competition as the local population expands.

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

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development works play a key role in regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that are expected to impact this locality. The most relevant initiatives include the Raymond Terrace Indoor Sports Facility, the Tomago Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the Raymond Terrace Public Domain Plan, and the Raymond Terrace Bowling Club Hotel Development, with further details on these projects listed below.

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Employment drivers in Raymond Terrace are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

The local workforce in Raymond Terrace is evenly distributed between blue-collar and white-collar occupations, with a prominent industrial and manufacturing presence, an unemployment rate of 8.3%, and an estimated job growth rate of 3.2% over the previous year. As of March 2026, there are 6,426 employed residents. The unemployment rate is 4.2% higher than the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, showing room for improvement, and the labor force participation rate of 55.9% sits below the Regional NSW average of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a moderate 14.3% of the local workforce worked from home, though these figures may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. There is a notable concentration of workers in transport, postal & warehousing, which employs residents at 1.8 times the regional average rate. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing represents only a minor share of the workforce at 1.2%, compared to 5.3% across the wider region. At the time of the Census, there were 0.8 local jobs available for every resident worker, indicating an above-average level of local employment opportunities.

According to AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics for the year ending March 2026, the count of employed residents rose by 3.2% while the overall labor force grew by 1.4%, leading to a 1.5 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 0.9% and the labor force contract by 0.4%, with its unemployment rate increasing by 0.5 percentage points. Broader trends in future labor demand can be gathered from Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts released in May-25. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future employment shifts. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates of expansion vary considerably across different industries. Applying these industry-specific trends to the employment distribution of Raymond Terrace suggests local job numbers could rise by 6.1% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.

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

Taxpayer statistics from the ATO at the postcode level, compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, show that Raymond Terrace has a median income of $49,089 and an average income of $58,712. These figures are below the national averages and contrast with Regional NSW, where the median is $52,390 and the average is $65,215. Factoring in a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, estimated figures as of March 2026 would be roughly $54,155 for the median and $64,771 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Raymond Terrace all ranked within the 18th to 19th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, containing 30.4% of residents (4,709 people), which aligns with the regional proportion of 29.9% in the same range. Housing affordability presents a significant challenge, with residents retaining only 81.3% of their income after housing costs, placing the area in the 16th percentile.

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

Data from the latest Census shows that houses make up 80.8% of the residential structures in Raymond Terrace, with semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwellings accounting for the remaining 19.2%. In comparison, Regional NSW has 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative dwellings. The home ownership rate in Raymond Terrace is 28.7%, which is lower than the Regional NSW average, with 31.3% of homes under a mortgage and 40.0% occupied by renters. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,517 is lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent is $320 compared to the Regional NSW average of $330. Nationally, Raymond Terrace's mortgage payments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are also well below the national figure of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 67.4%, which includes couples with children at 24.7%, couples without children at 23.3%, and single parent households at 18.2%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 32.6%, consisting of lone person households at 29.3% and group households at 3.3%. The median household size is 2.5 residents, which is slightly higher 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

Educational outcomes in the area show that 9.7% of residents hold university qualifications, which is lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This gap presents an opportunity for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education qualification at 7.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.6% and graduate diplomas at 1.1%. Vocational and technical training is common, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 9.0% and certificates at 33.4%.

Engagement in learning is high, with 29.4% of the population enrolled in an educational institution. This includes 11.2% in primary schools, 8.9% in secondary schools, and 3.0% in tertiary education programs.

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

An analysis of public transport reveals 167 active transit stops in Raymond Terrace, consisting of bus services. These stops are serviced by 103 different routes, which provide 2,284 passenger trips every week. Accessibility is high, with residents living an average of 146 meters from the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential, and 95% of commuters travel outside the area using a private vehicle. Car ownership averages 1.3 vehicles per household, which is lower than the regional average. In the 2021 Census, 14.3% of residents worked from home, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

Transit services average 326 trips per day across the network, which averages out to approximately 13 weekly trips for each individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest transit stops to the central point of the area.

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

Analysis of mortality statistics and the occurrence of chronic illnesses by AreaSearch highlights significant health concerns for Raymond Terrace, with common medical conditions prevalent in both younger and older age brackets. The rate of private health insurance coverage is low, with approximately 48% of the population (~7,498 people) holding coverage, compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health concerns and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 13.1% and 9.8% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 58.0% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Chronic illness rates are elevated among the working-age population. Residents aged 65 and over make up 18.0% of the population (2,785 people), which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 23.4%. Health indicators for senior residents show challenges that are generally consistent with national trends.

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

Cultural diversity in Raymond Terrace is lower than average, with citizens making up 91.1% of the population, 91.4% of residents born in Australia, and 95.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, followed by 53.6% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

The primary ancestries reported in Raymond Terrace are Australian at 31.9%, English at 31.1%, and Australian Aboriginal at 8.1%. There is also a higher relative concentration of certain other backgrounds compared to the regional average, with Welsh background at 0.6% (compared to 0.5% regionally), Samoan background at 0.2% (compared to 0.1%), and Maori background at 0.4% (compared to 0.3%).

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

The median age of residents in Raymond Terrace is 38, which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 43 but matches the national average of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is well represented at 14.3% compared to Regional NSW, while the 75 - 84 age bracket is less common at 6.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 increased from 12.9% to 14.3%, and the 35 to 44 age bracket grew from 11.9% to 13.0%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group decreased from 14.3% to 12.0%, and the 45 to 54 group fell from 12.4% to 11.2%. Demographic projections indicate that the age structure of Raymond Terrace will change by 2041, led by a 33% increase in the 25 to 34 cohort (adding 741 people) to reach 2,963 from 2,221. Meanwhile, populations in the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 age brackets are projected to decline.