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 around 15,502 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 914 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,588 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,255 in June 2024 and an additional 245 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 141 persons per square kilometer. Raymond Terrace's growth rate of 6.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (5.5%) and the Rest of NSW, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 45.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where data was not available, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. 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 of regional areas nationally, with the area expected to expand by 2,619 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 15.3% over the 17 years.

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

Raymond Terrace has averaged approximately 67 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25339 homes were approved, with a further 8 approved in FY26 as of the present time. On average, around 2.4 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these five years, indicating steady demand that may support property values.

The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $236,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. This financial year has seen $37.3 million in commercial approvals, reflecting strong local business investment. Compared to the rest of NSW, Raymond Terrace has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person.

Nationally, it ranks among the 47th percentile of areas assessed, resulting in relatively limited buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings. The new building activity shows a composition of 74.0% detached houses and 26.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. The estimated population density is approximately 445 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. Future projections suggest Raymond Terrace will add around 2,372 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, although buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 23 projects that may impact the area. Key projects include Raymond Terrace Indoor Sports Facility, Tomago Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Raymond Terrace Public Domain Plan, and Raymond Terrace Housing Delivery Program. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

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

Raymond Terrace has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 9.1% as of September 2025. There were 6,290 residents employed at this time, while the unemployment rate was 5.3% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Raymond Terrace is lower at 55.7%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census data, 14.3% of residents work from home. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. There is a notable specialization in transport, postal & warehousing with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.2% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. As of the Census, there are 0.8 workers for each resident, indicating a higher-than-average level of local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.6%, while employment fell by 2.3%, leading to a 0.3 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.5%, with a slight fall in labour force and an increase in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest that while national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Raymond Terrace's employment mix indicates a potential local employment increase of 6.1% over five years and 12.9% over ten years.

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

Raymond Terrace SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $49,089 and an average of $58,712 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $52,390 and an average income of $65,215. By September 2025, estimates suggest median incomes would be approximately $53,438 and averages at $63,914, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%. The 2021 Census places household, family, and personal incomes in Raymond Terrace between the 18th and 19th percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that 30.4% of residents (4,712 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, similar to broader regional trends at 29.9%. Housing affordability is severe, with only 81.3% of income remaining, 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 dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 80.8% houses and 19.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 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 Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent was $320, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Raymond Terrace's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were lower at $320 compared to 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 account for 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, which is larger than the Rest of 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 (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificates (33.4%).

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

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 together facilitate 2,284 weekly passenger trips. The town's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located just 146 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward for work or other purposes. Cars are the primary mode of transportation in Raymond Terrace, used by 95% of residents. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in the town, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.3% of Raymond Terrace residents work from home, a figure that may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 326 trips per day, equating to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop. A map provided shows the locations of the 100 nearest transport stops to the town'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, common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low, with approximately 48% of the total population (~7,502 people) having it, compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common 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 Rest of NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Raymond Terrace has 17.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,712 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally in line with the overall 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 index of below average with 91.1% citizens, 91.4% born in Australia, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 53.6%. This figure is slightly lower than the Rest of NSW's 55.9%.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (31.9%), English (31.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (8.1%). Notably, Welsh (0.6% vs regional 0.5%), Samoan (0.2% vs 0.1%), and Maori (0.4% vs 0.3%) were overrepresented compared to the regional averages.

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

The median age in Raymond Terrace is 37 years, which is lower than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are particularly prominent at 14.9%, while those aged 75-84 are comparatively smaller at 5.7% compared to the Rest of NSW figure. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of the population aged 25-34 has increased from 12.9% to 14.9%, while the 35-44 age group has risen from 11.9% to 13.0%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has declined from 14.3% to 12.0%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 12.4% to 11.0%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal that the 25-34 age cohort is expected to increase significantly by 816 people (35%), from 2,311 to 3,128. Conversely, both the 65-74 and 55-64 age groups are projected to decrease in number.