Albion Park Rail

Albion Park Rail has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of Feb 2026, the population of the suburb of Albion Park Rail is estimated at around 6,986, reflecting an increase of 66 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,920. This change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population as 6,839 based on latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 81 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is around 975 persons per square kilometer, inline with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas until 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, the suburb is expected to increase by 125 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a decline of 0.3% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Albion Park Rail according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Between FY12 and FY17, Albion Park Rail received around 36 dwelling approvals per year on average, totalling approximately 181 homes. As of FY26, there have been 4 recorded approvals. The area has experienced a decline in population during this period. The average construction cost value of new homes is $325,000.

In FY26, around $16.0 million in commercial approvals were registered. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Albion Park Rail has about two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 75th percentile nationally. The area shows a shift towards medium and high-density housing, with 83% of approvals for such dwellings in FY12-FY17, compared to the current mix of 78% houses. This reflects reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands. Albion Park Rail has around 161 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

Population projections suggest stability or decline, which may reduce housing demand pressures in the area.

Albion Park Rail has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include the Regional Multi-Sports, Aquatics & Leisure Facility, Albion Park Rail Industrial Estate Development, Shellharbour Airport Master Plan Upgrades, and Park Central Bulky Goods Complex. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment drivers in Albion Park Rail are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Albion Park Rail has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs well represented. Key sectors include essential services, with an unemployment rate of 10.1% as of December 2025. Employment grew by 1.4% in the past year.

The area has 3,024 residents in work, but its unemployment rate is higher than Regional NSW's at 6.2%. Workforce participation is lower too, at 59.3%. About 15.6% of residents work from home, though COVID-19 impacts may have influenced this figure. Dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

The area has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the past year, employment increased by 1.4% while labour force rose by 0.4%, reducing unemployment by 0.9 percentage points. By contrast, Regional NSW saw employment decline of 1.2% and unemployment rise by 0.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Albion Park Rail's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Albion Park Rail's median taxpayer income was $54,718 and average was $63,951 in financial year 2023. This is based on postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. Nationally, the median income was higher at $64,000 and average was $82,000. In Regional NSW, median income was $52,390 and average was $65,215 in 2023. By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $59,566 and average would be around $69,617, accounting for an 8.86% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Income data from Census 2021 shows Albion Park Rail's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 16th and 29th percentiles nationally. In terms of earnings profile, 34.5% (2,410 individuals) in Albion Park Rail earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, similar to regional levels at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 25th percentile nationally.

Albion Park Rail is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Albion Park Rail's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 78.1% houses and 21.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Albion Park Rail stood at 34.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.9% and rented ones at 27.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Albion Park Rail was $390, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents higher at $375.

Albion Park Rail has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 72.3% of all households, including 26.5% couples with children, 28.0% couples without children, and 16.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 27.7%, with lone person households at 25.0% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Albion Park Rail faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has lower university qualification rates at 10.1%, significantly below the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 46.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.8%) and certificates (36.4%).

Educational participation is notably high at 26.0%, including primary education (9.1%), secondary education (6.9%), and tertiary education (3.0%).

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

Albion Park Rail has 83 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 50 individual routes, collectively facilitating 1,785 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 115 meters from the nearest stop. The area, predominantly residential, sees most residents commuting outward, with car remaining the dominant mode at 94%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling stands at 1.5. According to the 2021 Census, 15.6% of residents work from home, a figure possibly influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 255 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 21 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Albion Park Rail is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Albion Park Rail faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Multiple health conditions impact both younger and older age groups, with private health cover at approximately 52% of the total population (~3649 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.3%) and mental health issues (11.0%), while 57.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. The area has 22.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1550 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings largely aligned with the general population.

Albion Park Rail ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Albion Park Rail, as per the census conducted on Tuesday 9 June 2009, exhibited lower than average cultural diversity. A majority of its residents were born in Australia, with 84.3% falling into this category. Citizenship was held by 91.1% of the population, and English was spoken exclusively at home by 93.5%.

Christianity emerged as the predominant religion, practiced by 55.5% of Albion Park Rail's inhabitants. This figure is comparable to the regional NSW average of 55.9%. In terms of ancestral origins, the top three groups in Albion Park Rail were English (30.8%), Australian (30.0%), and Scottish (7.6%). However, notable disparities existed in the representation of certain ethnicities: Spanish residents comprised 0.8% of Albion Park Rail's population, compared to 0.3% regionally; Maltese residents made up 1.3%, against a regional average of 0.4%; and Macedonian residents constituted 0.6%, compared to 0.4% regionally.

Albion Park Rail's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Albion Park Rail is 40 years, which is slightly below Regional NSW's average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. In comparison with Regional NSW, the 25-34 age group is notably higher at 16.3% locally, while the 45-54 age group is lower at 9.9%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 13.3% to 16.3%, and the 75 to 84 cohort has grown from 6.6% to 8.1%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 13.4% to 11.8%, and the 45 to 54 group has fallen from 11.4% to 9.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Albion Park Rail. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to expand by 106 people (19%) from 565 to 672. Meanwhile, the 45-54 and 5-14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.