Raby

Raby has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Raby is around 5,969, reflecting an increase of 26 people since the 2021 Census. The resident population was estimated at 5,913 by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, with an additional 3 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this change. This results in a density ratio of 2,244 persons per square kilometer, which is above average national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth primarily drove population growth, contributing approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Anticipated future population dynamics suggest lower quartile growth, with the suburb expected to expand by 206 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 4.8% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Raby is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Raby has seen approximately 5 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 27 homes. As of FY-26, 9 approvals have been recorded. During this period, population has fallen, indicating that new supply may be keeping pace with demand, offering buyers good choice while new properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $449,000, moderately above regional levels, suggesting emphasis on quality construction. This financial year, there have been $217,000 in commercial approvals, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to Greater Sydney, where Raby has significantly less development activity (86.0% below regional average per person).

This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. New development consists of 80.0% detached dwellings and 20.0% attached dwellings, sustaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space, at around 1504 people per approval indicating a mature, established area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Raby is expected to grow by 286 residents through to 2041. Development appears to be keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Looking ahead, Raby is expected to grow by 286 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Raby 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 two projects likely impacting the area: Emerald Hills Estate, Kirkham Lane Improvements, Claymore Urban Renewal Project (Hillcroft at Claymore), and South West Rail Link Extension Study are key projects, with the following details focusing on those most 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.

The employment landscape in Raby shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Raby's workforce is skilled with manufacturing and industrial sectors well-represented. The unemployment rate was 4.7% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 5.6%. As of September 2025, 3,298 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 0.5% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation stood at 74.1%, close to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census data showed that 31.9% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area had a notable concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services had limited presence, with only 5.5% of residents employed compared to the regional average of 11.5%. Employment opportunities locally might be limited, as indicated by the lower proportion of Census working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 5.6%, while labour force grew by 5.5%, keeping unemployment broadly stable at 4.7%. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment rise by 2.1% and the labour force grow by 2.4%, with a slight increase in unemployment to 4.4%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Raby's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that in Raby, median income is $54,652 and average income is $60,604. This is lower than Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. By September 2025, adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, estimated median income in Raby would be approximately $59,494 and average income would be around $65,974. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Raby cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. Income brackets show that 38.8% of Raby's population (2,315 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, which is similar to the surrounding region at 30.9%. Housing costs consume 16.0% of income in Raby, but despite this, disposable income remains at the 60th percentile nationally.

Raby is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Raby's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.5% houses and 7.5% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan areas which had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Raby stood at 31.7%, with mortgaged properties at 48.1% and rented ones at 20.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than the Sydney metropolitan average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Raby was $410 compared to Sydney's $470. Nationally, Raby's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $410 against the national figure of $375.

Raby features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 82.7% of all households, including 41.7% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 14.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 17.3%, with lone person households at 15.5% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational outcomes in Raby fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has university qualification rates of 17.5%, significantly lower than the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This difference presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 38.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (27.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Raby has 38 operational public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 35 unique routes, facilitating 932 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 134 meters to the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, Raby sees most residents commuting outward. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 92%, while train usage stands at 5%. The area has an average vehicle ownership of 1.7 per dwelling, surpassing the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 31.9% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 133 trips daily, equating to approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Raby is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Raby faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high among younger and older age cohorts, with common health conditions somewhat prevalent.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~3,040 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 8.5 and 7.6% of residents respectively, while 69.2% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents show an above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. As of 2021, the area has 15.9% of residents aged 65 and over (949 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Raby was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Raby's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 28.4% born overseas and 28.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Raby, accounting for 59.3%. However, Islam was notably overrepresented, comprising 9.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 6.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were Australian (23.7%), English (21.3%), and Other (16.6%). Notably, Samoan (1.3%) and Serbian (0.8%) were overrepresented in Raby compared to regional averages of 0.5% each.

Raby's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Raby's median age is nearly 36 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, which is slightly below Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Raby has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (10.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.8%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 2.7% to 4.1%, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 9.5% to 10.6%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 14.5% to 12.8%, and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 13.2% to 11.8%. Demographic projections indicate significant changes in Raby's age profile by 2041. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 84%, adding 206 residents to reach a total of 451. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 61% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 25 to 34 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to experience population declines.