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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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Population
An assessment of population growth drivers in Rankin Park reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends
Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the suburb of Rankin Park's population was estimated at 2,781 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 2,547 people, representing a growth of 234 individuals (9.2%). The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 2,740 residents following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024, along with an additional 18 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,891 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Rankin Park's growth rate of 9.2% since the 2021 census surpassed the Rest of NSW (5.9%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 67.0% 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 applicable, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Considering these projections, an above median population growth is projected for non-metropolitan areas, with Rankin Park expected to expand by 411 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 12.9% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in Rankin Park according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
Rankin Park has seen approximately nine new homes approved annually, with a total of 46 homes approved between the financial years FY-21 and FY-25, and three more approved in FY-26. Each dwelling is estimated to accommodate an average of 2.5 new residents per year over the past five financial years. The average construction cost value for new homes is $401,000, which is higher than regional norms, indicating quality-focused development.
In FY-26, commercial development approvals amounting to $2.6 million have been recorded. New developments consist of 33.0% standalone homes and 67.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 99.0% houses. This change suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and a demand for more diverse, affordable housing options. Rankin Park has a population density of around 682 people per dwelling approval, indicating a highly mature market.
According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to grow by 359 residents by 2041, with development keeping pace with this projected growth. However, increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Rankin Park has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely impacting the region: John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct, Vida at 2 Turrug Street Whitebridge, Infinite Early Learning Elermore Vale, and Elermore Fields Estate. The following details these key projects in order of relevance.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct
The $835 million John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct is a major redevelopment of the John Hunter and John Hunter Children's Hospitals. The centerpiece is a new seven-storey Acute Services Building (ASB) providing an expanded Emergency Department, 22 operating theatres, and 60% increased ICU capacity. Key features include four link bridges to the existing hospital and research centers, a rooftop helipad, 2,600 square meters of elevated gardens, and over 900 additional parking spaces. As of early 2026, the building facade is complete, with works focusing on internal fit-out and landscaping ahead of its anticipated completion later this year.
High Speed Rail - Newcastle to Sydney (Stage 1)
The first stage of Australia's High Speed Rail network involves a 194km dedicated rail line connecting Newcastle to Sydney. The project features trains reaching speeds of 320 km/h on surface sections and 200 km/h in tunnels, aiming to reduce travel time to approximately one hour. Following the 2025 business case evaluation, the project has moved into a two-year Development Phase focusing on design refinement (to 40% maturity), securing planning approvals, and corridor preservation. The route includes approximately 115km of tunneling and six planned stations: Broadmeadow, Lake Macquarie, Gosford, Sydney Central, Parramatta, and Western Sydney International Airport.
Westfield Kotara Mixed-Use Redevelopment
Scentre Group is progressing plans for a significant mixed-use redevelopment of the Westfield Kotara site to create a 'town centre of the future.' The project involves rezoning existing land to integrate high-density residential housing with the established retail hub. This initiative is part of Scentre Group's broader strategy to leverage its strategic land holdings for residential supply, with preliminary talks currently underway with the NSW Government. The redevelopment aims to enhance community connectivity by adding a substantial residential component near transport and shopping infrastructure.
Kotara Transport Oriented Development Precinct
The Kotara Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Precinct is a state-led rezoning initiative under the NSW Government's TOD Program. Commencing on 13 May 2024, the planning controls apply to land within 400m of Kotara station to stimulate mid-rise housing. The controls allow for residential flat buildings and shop-top housing with a maximum building height of 22m (approx. 6-7 storeys) and a maximum Floor Space Ratio (FSR) of 2.5:1. The program includes a mandatory 2% affordable housing contribution for developments over 2,000sqm GFA and is complemented by a concurrent $15.5 million accessibility upgrade to Kotara Station.
Newcastle Inner City Bypass - Rankin Park to Jesmond
The 3.4 km Rankin Park to Jesmond section is the fifth and final stage of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass. It delivers a new four lane divided road with three interchanges (southern at Lookout Road, hospital, and northern at Newcastle Road), removes up to 30,000 vehicles per day from local roads, and provides off road links for pedestrians and cyclists including a new steel arch bridge at the northern interchange. Traffic switches at Jesmond (Dec 2024) and Lookout Rd/McCaffrey Dr (mid 2025) mark major milestones. Opening to traffic is targeted for late 2025, weather permitting.
Infinite Early Learning Elermore Vale
A 141-place state-of-the-art childcare centre with six indoor play areas, originally planned as a medical and childcare facility including pharmacy, cafe, and pathology services, now changed to childcare only and under construction, set to open in Q3 2025.
Hunter Sports Centre Kaiyu Nungkiliko Expansion
The $52 million Hunter Sports Centre, Kaiyu Nungkiliko expansion has delivered a world-class athletics centre and an Australian-first Trampoline Centre of Excellence. The expansion includes a three-level, 4500m2 sport and community centre with community and function rooms, a 24-hour health and fitness centre, offices, caf' with commercial kitchen, and conference spaces. The NSW Trampoline Centre of Excellence features a 1300m2 hall with ten trampolines, two tumbling strips, a foam pit, warm-up areas, and grandstand seating for 400. The facility also houses the Trevor Height Athlete Testing Facility in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, offering cutting-edge sports performance analysis with VO2 max testing equipment for athletes of all levels. The centre serves as the Hunter region's premier sporting venue with Olympic-standard facilities including nine-lane Olympic running tracks and gymnastics centre.
Newcastle 2040
City of Newcastle's Community Strategic Plan (CSP) setting the shared vision and priorities for the next 10+ years. Originally adopted in 2022 and revised in 2024/25, the updated CSP was endorsed by Council on 15 April 2025. It guides policies, strategies and actions across the LGA and is implemented through the Delivery Program and Operational Plan known as Delivering Newcastle 2040.
Employment
AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Rankin Park performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia
Rankin Park has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.3%, lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.8%. Over the past year, ending September 2025, employment grew by an estimated 4.0%.
As of that date, 1,516 residents are employed, with a workforce participation rate of 70.0%, higher than Rest of NSW's 61.5%. The unemployment rate is 2.5% lower than the regional average. Notably, 33.1% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for Rankin Park residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.
The area has a particular specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented at 0.0%, compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels in Rankin Park increased by 4.0% and labour force grew by 4.1%, maintaining a stable unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.1%, and a rise in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rankin Park's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch
Rankin Park suburb has a median taxpayer income of $66,614 and an average of $78,814 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than the national averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $72,516 (median) and $85,797 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Rankin Park are at the 74th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 34.6% of individuals earn between $1,500 - $2,999, which is consistent with broader trends across the area. High weekly earnings exceeding $3,000 are achieved by 30.8% of households, indicating strong consumer spending power. After housing costs, residents retain 88.2% of their income, reflecting robust purchasing power. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Rankin Park is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Rankin Park's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 98.8% houses and 1.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rankin Park stood at 43.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.3% and rented ones at 11.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Rankin Park was $450, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Rankin Park's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Rankin Park features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 81.9% of all households, including 36.2% couples with children, 31.7% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 18.1%, with lone person households at 15.9% and group households making up 2.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Rankin Park demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics
Rankin Park's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 35.3% have university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the Rest of NSW and 26.1% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 23.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (22.8%).
Educational participation is high, with 29.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Rankin Park has 25 active public transport stops, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 31 different routes, offering 460 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated highly, with residents typically living 151 meters from the nearest stop. The area is mainly residential, and most commuters travel outward, primarily by car at a rate of 96%. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling, which is above the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 33.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.
Across all routes, an average of 65 trips are made daily, equating to about 18 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Rankin Park's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts
Health data for Rankin Park shows positive outcomes, matching national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health issues are seen across all age groups, with mental health issues affecting 9.7% and asthma impacting 9.1% of residents.
Approximately 64.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in the rest of NSW. Private health cover is high at 58%, compared to 51.9% across NSW. The working-age population's health outcomes are typical. The area has 19.8% of residents aged 65 and over (550 people), lower than the 23.4% in the rest of NSW, with national rankings broadly similar to the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Rankin Park ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Rankin Park, surveyed in June 2016, had low cultural diversity: 87.6% of residents were born in Australia, 94.8% were citizens, and 92.4% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion (48.5%), compared to 55.9% regionally. Top ancestral groups were English (30.9%), Australian (29.1%), and Irish (8.4%).
Welsh (1.0% vs regional 0.5%) and Polish (1.0% vs regional 0.5%) were overrepresented, while Macedonian representation was similar (0.4% vs regional 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Rankin Park's population is slightly older than the national pattern
The median age in Rankin Park is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but closely aligns with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Rankin Park has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (15.8%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (8.4%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 25-34 grew from 11.6% to 14.0%, while the 55-64 age group decreased from 9.6% to 8.4%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Rankin Park's age structure. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 28%, adding 108 people and reaching a total of 498. Conversely, the 65-74 and 15-24 age groups are projected to decrease in population.