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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
Russell Vale is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends
As of May 2026, the estimated population of Russell Vale is around 1,631 people. This figure reflects an increase of 38 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,593 people in the suburb. The growth was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation using ERP data released by the ABS in June 2025 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 738 persons per square kilometer for Russell Vale, which is relatively consistent with averages across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 2.4% growth since the census places it within 2.3 percentage points of the SA3 area (4.7%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for driving population growth in Russell Vale during recent periods.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, as well as NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by the former data. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the median of locations outside capital cities, with Russell Vale expected to gain approximately 89 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total growth of 5.5% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Russell Vale, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally
Russell Vale has had approximately five dwelling approvals per year based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between financial years 2021 to 2025, around 27 homes were approved, with an additional five approved in the current financial year 2026 so far.
Despite a falling population during this period, development activity has been relatively adequate, which could be beneficial for buyers. The average construction cost value of new homes is approximately $682,000, indicating a focus on premium market developments. Compared to the rest of NSW, Russell Vale has about two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 74th percentile nationally in terms of building activity. This suggests that the area is established with potential planning limitations. Recent construction consists of 43% standalone homes and 57% medium to high-density housing, providing more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift from the existing 79% houses reflects decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring diverse housing options.
Russell Vale has a low density with around 167 people per approval. Future projections estimate an addition of 89 residents by 2041 based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply is expected to meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Russell Vale
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Russell Vale has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects that may affect this region. Major initiatives include Woonona Place, Russell Vale Underground Expansion Project (Energy Storage Transition), The Plaza Woonona Specialist Retail and Recreational Centre, Bulli Hospital Site Redevelopment.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Woonona Place
IRT Group's Woonona Place is an approved seniors housing redevelopment of the existing IRT Woonona site. The project will deliver five buildings with 98 independent living units, new basement parking, additions and refurbishment to the Flametree Residential Care Services, a social and wellness centre with hydrotherapy and allied health spaces, a clubhouse, landscaped open spaces and adaptive reuse of the heritage church as a restaurant and community hub.
Bellambi Estate Renewal Project
A long-term urban renewal led by Homes NSW to transform the Bellambi social housing estate into a modern community. The project proposes delivering up to 2,500 new social, affordable, and market homes, with at least 30 percent dedicated to social housing. Key features include building heights ranging from 3 to 6 storeys, a new local center with retail and services, a public plaza, improved streetscapes, and upgraded community open spaces. The project aims for a 30 percent tree canopy cover and is currently in the assessment phase following public exhibition of the rezoning proposal in early 2026.
Russell Vale Underground Expansion Project (Energy Storage Transition)
Following the February 2024 closure of the coal mine expansion due to regulatory and safety concerns, the site is being repurposed for renewable technology. In September 2025, Wollongong Resources and Green Gravity signed a binding agreement to deploy a world-first gravitational energy storage trial in the #4 mine shaft. The project uses excess solar and wind power to lift 60-80 tonne weights, releasing the stored energy back to the grid during peak demand. The site is currently undergoing engineering studies and regulatory approvals for production trials scheduled for 2026.
The Plaza Woonona Specialist Retail and Recreational Centre
A mixed-use specialist retail and recreational development featuring six individual retail spaces, a gymnasium, a health spa with a 25m swimming pool, and a 0-6 year old childcare centre. The facility includes secure basement parking with allocated spaces for each tenancy and visitor parking, ideally located along the Princes Highway with street access.
Rail Service Improvement Program (Mortdale-Kiama)
The Rail Service Improvement Program (formerly More Trains, More Services) is a multi-billion-dollar NSW Government initiative to modernize the rail network for the Mariyung fleet. The Mortdale to Kiama package involves infrastructure upgrades including the Mortdale Maintenance Centre (active maintenance and shunting works in February 2026), platform extensions at Kiama (completed), and ongoing signaling, power supply, and station improvements at Thirroul and Shellharbour Junction to enable increased service frequency on the T4 Illawarra and South Coast lines.
Corrimal Transport Oriented Development Area
The Corrimal Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program enables high-density residential growth within 400m of the station. The flagship project, 'The Works Corrimal' (formerly Corrimal Coke Works), is a masterplanned precinct delivering roughly 850 dwellings and 9ha of parkland. As of 2026, construction is progressing on Stage 1 (179 apartments), while Stage 2A is undergoing assessment for built form variations. The development integrates heritage preservation of historic chimneys and coke ovens with modern apartments and a retail plaza.
Electrify 2515 Community Pilot
The Electrify 2515 Community Pilot is an $11.8 million Australian-first initiative providing subsidies and expert support to 500 households across the 2515 and 2516 postcodes in northern Illawarra, NSW, to replace gas appliances with efficient electric alternatives, install smart energy management devices, and access home battery subsidies. Delivered by Rewiring Australia, Brighte, and Endeavour Energy with $5.4 million in ARENA funding, the project collects real-world data on consumer behaviour, grid impacts, and barriers to electrification to inform nationwide household energy transition policy. Stage one (60 homes) was completed by mid-2025. The main rollout of 440 homes is underway (September 2025 to August 2026). In March 2026, the pilot expanded southward into Bulli (2516 postcode), with more than 100 households now participating across Austinmer, Clifton, Coledale, Scarborough, Thirroul, Wombarra, and Bulli. Research and analysis continues until September 2027.
More Trains More Services Stage Two - Mortdale to Kiama Capital Works
A comprehensive rail infrastructure package delivered to enable the rollout of the Mariyung intercity fleet. Works included major upgrades to the Mortdale Maintenance Centre (including a new bogie exchange system), platform extensions at Kiama and other stations, and the construction of new stabling yards at Waterfall and Kiama. As of April 2026, the project has reached operational completion with the Mariyung fleet officially entering service on the South Coast Line.
Employment
The labour market strength in Russell Vale positions it well ahead of most Australian regions
Russell Vale has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.9%, lower than Regional NSW's 3.9%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.5%.
As of December 2025834 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.1% below the regional average. Workforce participation is high at 66.1%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. A significant portion, 30.6%, work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. Major employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training.
Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.2 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs none of local workers, compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%. While local opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 1.5% while unemployment remained flat. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 1.2% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years for Russell Vale, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis
According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023, Russell Vale had a median income among taxpayers of $54,009 and an average income of $74,323. These figures are higher than the national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 for Regional NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% from financial year ending June 2023 to March 2026, estimated median income would be approximately $59,583 and average income $81,993 by that date. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Russell Vale rank modestly, between the 42nd and 47th percentiles. Income analysis shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 30.7% of residents (500 people), similar to the regional pattern where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Russell Vale, with only 82.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 47th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Russell Vale is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region
Russell Vale's dwelling structure in its latest Census data showed 79.4% houses and 20.7% other dwellings. This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Russell Vale was at 36.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.9% and rented ones at 20.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, above Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Russell Vale was $400, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Russell Vale's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $400 compared to the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Russell Vale has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households account for 75.3% of all households, including 35.8% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 13.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.7%, with lone person households at 21.7% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
The educational profile of Russell Vale exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics
The area's university qualification rate is 19.9%, significantly lower than the SA3 area average of 33.6%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (32.4%). Educational participation is high, with 31.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.
This includes primary education (12.1%), secondary education (9.2%), and tertiary education (3.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Russell Vale has seven active public transport stops, all of which offer bus services. These stops are served by 17 different routes that together facilitate 543 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically situated 271 meters from their nearest transport stop. Predominantly residential, most Russell Vale residents commute outward using private vehicles, which remain the dominant mode of transportation at 98%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a significant 30.6% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.
The service frequency averages 77 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 77 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Russell Vale is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
Russell Vale faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts.
Private health cover is high, at approximately 56% of the total population (~918 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW. The most common conditions are arthritis (10.2%) and mental health issues (7.9%). 66.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents have a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 17.8% of residents aged 65 and over (290 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are challenging, with national rankings roughly aligned with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Russell Vale is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Russell Vale had a cultural diversity index below average, with 89.9% of its population born in Australia, 93.5% being citizens, and 95.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Russell Vale, comprising 50.6% of people, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.7%), Australian (31.3%), and Scottish (9.7%).
Notably, Welsh (1.1%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.5%, as were French (0.6% vs 0.4%) and Macedonian (0.3% vs 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Russell Vale's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms
The median age in Russell Vale is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Russell Vale has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (15.8%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (9.4%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15 to 24 grew from 10.6% to 13.2%, while the percentage of those aged 5 to 14 declined from 17.1% to 15.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Russell Vale's age structure. Notably, the population aged 25 to 34 is expected to grow by 22%, reaching 195 people from 159. Conversely, the populations aged 55 to 64 and 5 to 14 are projected to decline.