Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn
Statistical Area - sa2

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

As of Aug 2025, Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn's population is around 20,261. This reflects an increase of 2,531 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,730. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,287 in June 2024 and an additional 1,250 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 148 persons per square kilometer. Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn's growth rate of 14.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both the non-metro area's 4.8% and the state's growth, indicating it as a leader in regional population growth. Interstate migration contributed approximately 68.2% to overall population gains during recent periods, although natural growth and overseas migration were also positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, 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 dynamics predict exceptional growth, placing Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn in the top 10 percent of non-metropolitan areas nationally. By 2041, based on latest numbers, the area is expected to increase by 9,220 persons, marking a total increase of 40.7% over the 17-year period.

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 averaged approximately 333 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that between Financial Year 2021 (FY-21) and FY-25, around 1665 homes received approval, with 67 approved so far in FY-26. On average, each new dwelling accommodates about 1.3 residents per year over the past five financial years. This balance between supply and demand supports stable market conditions, with new homes constructed at an average cost of $358,000, below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $658,000, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Comparatively, Rutherford North - Aberglasslyn shows moderately higher new home approvals than the rest of NSW, with 48.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period ending FY-25. This activity is significantly above the national average, reflecting robust developer interest in the area. Recent construction comprises 66.0% standalone homes and 34.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options, from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. This shift indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles.

The location has approximately 43 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. Population forecasts project Rutherford North - Aberglasslyn will gain around 8242 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current projections.

Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 42 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include Truegain Site Remediation, Max McMahon Oval Amenities Redevelopment, Melville Ford Bridge Replacement, and Dalmore Park Employment Hub. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.6%, 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 both white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 3.6% as of June 2025.

There are 8,910 residents employed, matching Rest of NSW's unemployment rate of 3.7%, but with higher workforce participation at 63.5%. Key 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% compared to the regional 5.3%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data comparison of working population vs resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 4.2%, employment declined by 4.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW had an employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%. Statewide in NSW as of Sep-25, employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%, comparing favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn's employment mix, local growth is estimated at approximately 6.0%% over five years and 12.9% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn had a higher income level than average nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Its median income among taxpayers was $54,089 and the average income stood at $68,221. Comparatively, Rest of NSW's figures were $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. By March 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6%, estimated incomes would be approximately $59,822 (median) and $75,452 (average). Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn cluster around the 51st percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 36.3% of the community (7,354 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, consistent with broader metropolitan trends at 29.9%. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, leaving disposable income at the 55th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.7% houses and 10.3% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 87.1% houses and 13.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn stood at 26.9%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (42.0%) or rented (31.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,869, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,862. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $400, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $375. Nationally, Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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 comprise the remaining 22.1%, with lone person households at 19.8% and group households at 2.3%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.7.

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%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 9.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 44.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 34.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 12.3% in primary, 8.0% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education. Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn has five schools with a combined enrollment of 3,998 students. The area's ICSEA score is 963, indicating typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities. Educational provision is balanced with three primary and two secondary schools serving distinct age groups.

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

Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn has 187 active public transport stops. These include train and bus services. There are 94 individual routes operating in total.

Each week, these routes provide approximately 2,252 passenger trips collectively. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 180 meters. On average, there are 321 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn faces significant health challenges with a higher prevalence of common conditions compared to averages.

Older age cohorts experience these issues to an even greater extent. Approximately 54% (~10,880 people) have private health cover in the area. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 10.6 and 9.3% of residents respectively. Around 64.1% report having no medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Rest of NSW. The area has 14.9% (3,010 people) of residents aged 65 and over, with health outcomes among seniors requiring more attention than the broader population.

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, surveyed in 2016, had a low 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 dominant religion at 59.2%, slightly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 57.0%. Ancestry-wise, Australian (33.3%), English (30.6%), and Scottish (7.4%) were the top three groups.

Notably, Australian Aboriginal (5.5%) was slightly overrepresented compared to the regional average of 5.1%, while Polish (0.8%) and Welsh (0.6%) showed similar representation to the region.

Rutherford (North) - Aberglasslyn's population is younger than the national pattern

Rutherford North-Aberglasslyn has a median age of 35 years, which is significantly below the Rest of NSW average of 43 and somewhat younger than the Australian median of 38. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented in Rutherford North-Aberglasslyn at 15.3%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while those aged 65-74 are under-represented at 7.9%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 has grown from 14.3% to 15.3%, while the proportion of those aged 65 to 74 has declined from 8.9% to 7.9%. Demographic modeling suggests that Rutherford North-Aberglasslyn's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 cohort, which is expected to grow by 53%, adding 1,649 residents to reach a total of 4,751.