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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
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Sales Activity
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Sales Detail
Population
Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends
Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn's population is approximately 20,509 as of November 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 2,779 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,730. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates: 19,284 in June 2024 and an additional 1,309 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a density ratio of 150 persons per square kilometer. Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn's growth rate of 15.7% since the 2021 Census exceeded Rest of NSW's 5.7%, indicating significant growth in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 68.2% to overall population gains during recent periods, with other factors also being positive.
AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a 2022 base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a 2021 base year are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predict exceptional growth, placing the area in the top 10 percent of non-metropolitan areas nationally. By 2041, based on latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to increase by 9,220 persons, reflecting a total increase of 39.0% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country
Rutherford North - Aberglasslyn has seen approximately 333 dwelling approvals annually. In the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 1665 homes were approved, with an additional 221 approved in FY26 so far. On average, 1.3 new residents arrived per year for each new home over these five years.
The average construction value of new properties is $289,000. Commercial approvals this financial year totalled $658,000, indicating limited commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Rutherford North - Aberglasslyn shows moderately higher new home approvals, with 48.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This activity is significantly above the national average, suggesting strong developer interest in the area. Recent construction comprises 66.0% standalone homes and 34.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options.
This shift from the current 90.0% houses indicates decreasing developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for affordable housing alternatives. The location has approximately 43 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. Population forecasts indicate Rutherford North - Aberglasslyn will gain around 7994 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 42 projects likely impacting this region. Notable initiatives include Truegain Site Remediation, Max McMahon Oval Amenities Redevelopment, Melville Ford Bridge Replacement (Milton Morris Bridge), and Dalmore Park Employment Hub. The following list details those most relevant:.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation Project
A purpose-built 64-bed mental health rehabilitation facility on the Maitland Hospital campus, featuring 24 low-secure forensic beds, 20 medium-secure forensic beds, and 20 high-support rehabilitation beds. The facility includes single bedrooms with ensuites, shared living spaces, therapy areas, and nature-integrated design with outdoor therapy spaces and walking paths. Richard Crookes Constructions has been appointed as the builder, with works commencing in 2026. The project will relocate and expand services from Morisset Hospital, supporting a contemporary transitional model of care. It is part of the NSW Government's $700 million Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure Program.
Dalmore Park Employment Hub
Dalmore Park is a 150-hectare master-planned employment and innovation precinct in Rutherford, designed to serve as a major economic driver for the Hunter Region. The development features a diverse mix of land uses including advanced manufacturing, logistics, health and medical services, education facilities, and retail hubs. The project incorporates sustainable design principles with dedicated conservation areas and provides strategic connectivity via the New England Highway to support long-term regional growth.
Truegain Site Remediation
NSW Government-led remediation of the former Truegain waste oil refinery in Rutherford to remove PFAS, hydrocarbons, and other contaminants. Following the removal of 11,000 tonnes of waste and 135 tanks in Stage 1, Stage 2 is currently underway as of early 2025. This $5.3 million phase, managed by Ford Civil Contracting, involves the demolition of concrete slabs, removal of an underground storage tank, and excavation of contaminated soil across the 1.2 ha site to enable future industrial reuse.
Rutherford Waste Oil Refinery
Australia's first Category 1 Product Stewardship for Oil (PSO) waste oil refinery facility that processes over 150 million litres of used automotive and lubricating oils annually, converting them into premium grade lubricant base oils and fuel oils. The facility serves automotive workshops, engineering facilities, and mine sites across the Hunter Valley and central coast regions.
Heritage Parc Estate
Heritage Parc is an award-winning residential land estate featuring 394 lots across 102 hectares with over 50% dedicated to open space, lakes, and recreational facilities. The completed development includes 11 parks and playgrounds, cycleways, sporting fields, community gardens, and an outdoor art gallery. Winner of the 2014 UDIA NSW Award for Excellence in Residential Development. Now includes Oak Tree retirement village and Stonybrook Village over-50s community.
Max McMahon Oval Amenities Redevelopment
New $3.1 million amenities building at Max McMahon Oval featuring four unisex changerooms, accessible public amenities, canteen, first aid and referee rooms, timekeeping room, tiered seating with outdoor covered area, and accessible entry. The project replaces a decades-old building from the early 1970s and will significantly boost the user experience for local sporting groups, particularly the Maitland Saints AFL club.
Melville Ford Bridge Replacement (Milton Morris Bridge)
Replacement of the existing low-level, one-lane timber bridge with a new dual-lane concrete bridge elevated approximately 6.7 metres higher to improve flood resilience, connectivity, and safety. The new bridge has been officially named the Milton Morris Bridge. Construction commenced in September 2024 but was delayed due to flood damage in May and August 2025 (erosion to abutments, displacement of deck beams, and debris). Repairs are underway as of November 2025, with beam reinstallation and deck construction resuming; completion date is to be confirmed.
Aberglasslyn Childcare Centre
Development of a 101-place childcare centre leased to an experienced operator, providing essential early education services in a growing residential area.
Employment
Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.4%, Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally
Rutherford North - Aberglasslyn has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%. As of September 2025, 9,060 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.4% lower than Rest of NSW's 3.8%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of NSW at 61.5%.
According to Census data, 17.7% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and mining. Mining is particularly strong with an employment share 4.1 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.5%.
Local employment opportunities appear limited as Census working population is lower than resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.3% and employment declined by 2.3%, leaving unemployment unchanged. In comparison, Rest of NSW had an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Rutherford North - Aberglasslyn's employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment
The Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn SA2 had a higher income level than the national average according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Its median income among taxpayers was $58,237 and the average income stood at $74,140, compared to Rest of NSW's figures of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $63,397 (median) and $80,709 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn cluster around the 50th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 36.3% of the community (7,444 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 29.9% in the same category. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, placing disposable income at the 55th percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.7% houses and 10.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn stood at 26.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.0% and rented ones at 31.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,869, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure was $400, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 77.9% of all households, including 36.4% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 13.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.1%, with lone person households at 19.8% and group households comprising 2.3%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's university qualification rate is 13.4%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 44.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 34.5%. Educational participation is high, with 31.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 12.3% in primary, 8.0% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education.
Educational participation is notably high, with 31.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.3% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn has 198 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 92 individual routes, providing a total of 2,139 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 180 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward using cars as the dominant mode at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 17.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.
Service frequency averages 305 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 10 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data showing the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts
Rutherford North's health profile reveals significant concerns, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence indicate critical health challenges impacting both younger and older age groups.
Private health cover is high at approximately 56% of the total population (~11,505 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW. Mental health issues affect 10.6% of residents, with asthma impacting 9.3%. Conversely, 64.1% report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age population faces notable chronic condition rates. The area has 14.9% of residents aged 65 and over (3,047 people), lower than the 23.0% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors align with national rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Rutherford North-Aberglasslyn showed lower cultural diversity, with 90.4% of its population born in Australia, 92.6% being citizens, and 94.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 59.2%, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.3%), English (30.6%), and Scottish (7.4%).
Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 5.5% (vs regional 4.6%), Polish at 0.8% (vs 0.5%), and Welsh at 0.6% (vs 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn's population is younger than the national pattern
Rutherford North - Aberglasslyn has a median age of 35 years, which is lower than both the Rest of NSW average of 43 and the Australian median of 38. The 25-34 cohort makes up 15.3% of its population, significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average, while the 65-74 age group comprises only 7.9%. According to the 2021 Census, Rutherford North - Aberglasslyn's 25-34 age group grew from 14.3% to 15.3%, and its 65-74 cohort decreased from 8.9% to 7.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Rutherford North - Aberglasslyn's age profile, with the strongest growth expected in the 25-34 cohort, which is projected to increase by 51%, adding 1,611 residents to reach a total of 4,751.