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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
The median house price in Rathmines is $900k, with units at $585k. House values have moved 3.6% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Rathmines has an estimated 2,128 residents, up from 2,076 at the 2021 Census — a change of 52 people, or 2.5%. Growth has averaged 0.9% a year over five years, slower than 77% of areas nationally. That puts 524 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS population metrics alongside new residential addresses confirmed since the Census, the suburb of Rathmines has an estimated count of approximately 2,128 residents as of Aug 2026. Compared with the 2,076 people recorded in the 2021 Census, this represents a gain of 52 residents, or 2.5%. This assessment is based on the 2,128 resident figure established by AreaSearch following the ABS's latest ERP release in June 2025 together with 28 validated new addresses added post-Census. Population density stands at 524 persons per square kilometer, indicating generous space per resident and room for potential future development.
Rathmines's post-Census expansion of 2.5% trails the Rest of NSW (5.1%) by only 2.6 percentage points, reflecting resilient local growth fundamentals. Net overseas migration was the primary driver of expansion, contributing around 53.0% of recent population gains, complemented by positive contributions from natural increase and interstate movements. Projections for the suburb of Rathmines incorporate the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 figures (base year 2022), supplemented where necessary by the NSW State Government's 2022 SA2 releases (base year 2021), with age cohort growth patterns projected forward from 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, long-term expansion is modeled in the bottom quartile for non-metropolitan Australia, with the suburb of Rathmines expected to add just 4 persons through to 2041 under aggregated SA2-level modeling, representing an overall increase of 0.2% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
61 new dwellings have been approved in Rathmines over the past five years, an average of 12 a year. That is 5.5 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 14, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals by AreaSearch indicates that Rathmines records approximately 12 new residential dwelling approvals annually. Over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), a cumulative total of 61 residential dwellings were approved, including 14 approvals recorded during FY-25 to date. Housing demand and construction volume remain well aligned, with an influx averaging 1.7 people per year for every home constructed across the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25). Newly approved homes feature an average construction value of $503,000, moderately higher than regional benchmarks and indicative of high-spec builds.
Concurrently, commercial development approvals totaling $7.7 million were registered this financial year, reinforcing the locality's predominantly residential character. Per capita residential construction in Rathmines runs at roughly 62% of the level observed across Rest of NSW, positioning the locality in the 62nd percentile across Australia. Recent building activity is heavily skewed toward standalone dwellings, with detached houses making up 91.0% and townhouses or apartments accounting for 9.0%, maintaining the neighbourhood's low-density profile to attract buyers seeking spacious living. Rathmines averages roughly 212 people per approved dwelling, confirming its low-density urban footprint. Long-term demographic forecasts from AreaSearch's latest quarterly dataset project Rathmines to gain 4 residents by 2041. With residential building activity consistently keeping pace with demand, the market presents favourable purchasing conditions that could support housing capacity beyond existing population growth estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Rathmines
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Rathmines, worth an estimated $7 million. A further 25 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $156 million. 7 are already under construction and 8 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and environmental & disaster management. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects and planning decisions play a pivotal role in shaping community development. AreaSearch has pinpointed 3 major development schemes with potential local impact, notably Wangi Shores Retirement Village - Stage 3B Block K, Rathmines Park Transformation, 1 Kent Place, Wangi Wangi - 3 storey apartment building (13 residences), alongside the 114-120 Cary Street Mixed Use Development.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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
Wangi Shores Retirement Village - Stage 3B Block K
Stage 3B (Block K) at Wangi Shores Retirement Village is a new waterfront stage on Lake Macquarie, delivering eight over 55s villas (four upper and four lower) with two bedrooms, study, balconies and undercover parking, with residents enjoying access to the village pool, spa, community centre, gardens and other shared facilities; construction has commenced with completion expected in late 2026.
Toronto Foreshore Revitalisation
A $10 million transformation of the Toronto foreshore featuring continuous waterfront pathway, expanded playground, new town green, improved connections, expanded cafe area, boardwalk connections, extended shared pathway, bike hub, new lookout locations, shade pavilion and barbecue facilities. The project is being delivered across four precincts with Town Green Precinct completed in 2022.
Road Rehabilitation - South Parade, Blackalls Park
Council is rehabilitating the section of South Parade between Fassifern Road and Centre Avenue in Blackalls Park to improve safety and amenity for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Works are funded as part of Lake Macquarie City Councils wider road improvements program and include resurfacing, drainage and footpath upgrades, as well as associated traffic and safety improvements. The project is valued at about $1.7 million and is expected to be completed by 2026.
Temporary works to reopen Fennell Crescent culvert, Blackalls Park
Temporary works to remove the collapsed culvert, install a temporary replacement and resurface the road so Fennell Crescent can reopen to traffic. The road was closed from late July 2025 and is being reopened with a 5 tonne load limit and heavy vehicles detouring via Railway Parade. Council plans a full culvert replacement and broader road rehabilitation, with detailed design in the 2026-2027 financial year and construction in 2027-2028.
Rathmines Park Upgrade
Completed Lake Macquarie City Council upgrade of Rathmines Park, including a new youth hub, Lake Macquarie's largest skate park, pump track, multi-court, playground improvements and public recreation facilities. The upgrade strengthens Rathmines Park as a regional foreshore recreation destination while recognising the site's former RAAF seaplane base heritage.
136-138 Brighton Avenue Apartment Development
A low-rise 5-floor apartment building with 28 residential units, 1 commercial unit, and 29 car spaces in Toronto.
1 Kent Place, Wangi Wangi - 3 storey apartment building (13 residences)
A three storey residential building proposed at 1 Kent Place, Wangi Wangi in the Lake Macquarie City Council area. The project is planned to deliver 13 apartments above ground level parking, with 24 car spaces on a 933 square metre B1 Neighbourhood Centre corner site close to shops, services and the Wangi Wangi foreshore.
114-120 Cary Street Mixed Use Development
Five-storey twin towers mixed-use development featuring 108 residential units, commercial premises, and basement parking.
1,014 residents of Rathmines are employed, from a labour force of 1,055. Unemployment sits at 3.9%, with participation at 58.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,890, about 89% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Workforce figures aggregated by AreaSearch highlight Rathmines's skilled labour profile, underpinned by strong participation in essential services and a low unemployment rate of 3.9%. As of March 2026, 1,014 local residents are employed. The jobless rate sits 0.2% below the 4.1% recorded across Regional NSW, while labour force participation tracks closely with the regional benchmark of 60.6%. Census data showed that 21.7% of employed locals worked remotely, though this metric was influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. Local resident employment is primarily concentrated across health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.
In contrast, the agriculture, forestry & fishing industry represents only 0.9% of local jobs compared to 5.3% regionally. Comparison of the Census working population against resident workforce numbers indicates relatively few employment opportunities situated within the immediate locality. According to AreaSearch's evaluation of combined ABS and SALM figures across broader statistical areas, the local labour force contracted by 0.3% while overall employment fell by 2.2% over the 12-month period, lifting the unemployment rate by 1.9 percentage points. Over the same timeframe across Regional NSW, employment decreased by 0.9%, the labour supply shrank by 0.4%, and unemployment climbed by 0.5 percentage points. Broader demand indications are available via Jobs and Skills Australia national projections from Mar-26 across five- and ten-year horizons. Nationally, total employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories vary by industry. Applying these industry growth weights to Rathmines's occupational profile indicates projected local employment expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.9% over ten years (calculated as a baseline illustrative weighting that excludes localized population changes).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Rathmines is $1,517 a week (about $79,000 a year), with median personal income at $728 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $47,028 a year against an average of $65,425. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Based on ATO postcode-level tax records published for financial year 2023 by AreaSearch, taxpayers in the suburb of Rathmines recorded a median income of $47,028 alongside an average of $65,425, placing just below nationwide benchmarks and comparing to Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Factoring in cumulative Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 indicate a median income of approximately $51,881 and an average of $72,177. Across personal, family, and household measures in the 2021 Census, Rathmines places between the 34th and 36th percentiles.
The $1,500 - 2,999 weekly earnings bracket accounts for 30.0% of local earners (638 individuals), matching Regional NSW where 29.9% fall into this tier. Residents retain 85.6% of income after meeting housing commitments, placing the area in the 4th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Rathmines had 767 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 93% detached houses and 0% apartments. 41% are owned with a mortgage, 14% rented and 45% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $400 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 26.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, Rathmines's residential housing stock consists of 92.9% standalone houses and 7.1% other dwellings such as apartments and semi-detached properties, whereas Regional NSW records 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Outright home ownership is exceptionally high at 45.3%, well above regional standards, while mortgaged properties make up 41.0% and rental accommodation accounts for 13.8%. Typical monthly mortgage payments match the Regional NSW median at $1,733, whereas weekly rental payments average $400 compared to $330 regionally (and $1,733 for regional mortgages). In a national context, Rathmines's mortgage repayments sit under the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental costs exceed the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Rathmines counted 767 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 29% are couples with children, against 34% couples without children. 19% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 79.0% of all households in Rathmines, with couples without children representing 34.2%, couples with children making up 29.4%, and single parent families accounting for 15.0%. The remaining 21.0% consists of non-family arrangements, including lone person households at 18.5% and group living situations at 2.3%. The typical household contains a median of 2.6 people, which exceeds the Regional NSW standard of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
20.3% of adults in Rathmines hold a university qualification, including 14.4% with a bachelor degree and 3.7% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 33.8% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 328 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,000 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment levels show that 20.3% of Rathmines residents hold tertiary university qualifications, falling short of the 32.2% NSW benchmark and highlighting an opportunity for skill-building programs. Bachelor degrees form the largest category at 14.4%, with postgraduate qualifications at 3.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.2%. Vocational education is widespread, with 45.2% of the population aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, including 33.8% with certificates and 11.4% with advanced diplomas. Active participation in study is strong across Rathmines, with 27.6% of the population currently engaged in formal learning. Primary school students account for 10.0% of residents, secondary students represent 7.6%, and 3.6% are attending tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Rathmines reaches 25 stops on 32 routes, timetabled for about 220 services a week. The typical home sits about 140 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.8 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport in Rathmines is serviced by 25 transit stops offering bus connections across 32 unique routes that provide 217 weekly passenger trips. Local transit connectivity is rated as excellent, with dwellings situated an average of 139 meters from the closest stop. Reflecting its suburban commuter profile, outward travel is overwhelmingly vehicle-based, with private cars accounting for 96% of journeys and households holding an above-average 1.8 vehicles per dwelling. Meanwhile, 21.7% of workers reported working remotely in the 2021 Census, subject to pandemic conditions. Local public transport generates an average of 31 trips per day across the network, translating to approximately 8 weekly trips per transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
58.8% of residents in Rathmines report no long-term health condition. 6.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch metrics on chronic disease and mortality indicate notable health considerations for Rathmines, with medical conditions evident across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance uptake marginally exceeds typical SA2 levels, covering roughly 53% of the community (~1,123 people). Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent ailments locally, reported by 11.2 and 10.1% of residents respectively, while 58.8% indicated having no long-term medical conditions, below the 63.3% rate across Regional NSW. Chronic conditions are elevated within the working-age cohort. Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 28.2% of the local population (600 people), exceeding the Regional NSW proportion of 23.3%, with elderly health indicators tracking closely with wider community trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Rathmines is largely Australian-born, at 88.2% of residents, with 4.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.8%) and Australian (30.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Rathmines is lower than broader averages, with Australian-born residents accounting for 88.2% of the populace, Australian citizens representing 92.8%, and 95.5% using solely English at home. Christianity is the dominant faith, followed by 55.4% of Rathmines residents, closely aligning with the 55.9% recorded throughout Regional NSW. Ancestry records regarding parents' country of birth show English (32.8%), Australian (30.0%), and Scottish (9.9%) as the primary lineages in Rathmines. Specific ancestries exhibit unique concentrations relative to wider patterns: Welsh ancestry stands at 1.3% locally (vs 0.5% regionally), Lebanese background represents 0.4% (vs 0.2%), and Australian Aboriginal heritage accounts for 2.9% (vs 4.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Rathmines is 47, older than 85% of areas nationally. 19.9% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The suburb of Rathmines exhibits an older demographic composition than Regional NSW. Older residents and retirees (65+) make up 28.2% of the population as at August 2026 compared to 23.3% across the wider region, whereas young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) constitute 19.1% locally versus 23.5% regionally. The estimated median age stands at 47 as at August 2026, identical to the 2021 Census figure, remaining 4 years older than the Regional NSW median of 43 at that Census and above Australia's Census median of 38. Retirees and senior cohorts have expanded from 25.0% at the Census to an estimated 28.2% of the population.
By 2041, young to middle aged adults are projected to see the largest increase, adding 47 persons (11%) to reach 453, while numbers for children, young adults, middle aged residents, and early retirees are expected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Rathmines
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Nov 2025 11 months ago all 1 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Nov 2025. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 28 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,076 at the 2021 Census → 2,128 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL13332). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.