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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 Russell Vale is $1.32m, with units at $976k. House values have moved 1.3% 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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Russell Vale has an estimated 1,633 residents, up from 1,593 at the 2021 Census — a change of 40 people, or 2.5%. That puts 739 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
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Russell Vale has an estimated population of approximately 1,633, according to AreaSearch synthesis of wider ABS demographic releases and validated post-Census address additions. This indicates an expansion of 40 people (2.5%) compared to the 1,593 residents documented in the 2021 Census. AreaSearch established this figure of 1,633 residents by reviewing the ABS Estimated Resident Population (ERP) update from June 2025 alongside 34 validated new addresses added since the Census. With a density of 738 persons per square kilometer, the area aligns closely with typical benchmarks recorded across AreaSearch locations.
Furthermore, the 2.5% increase recorded in the suburb of Russell Vale tracks within 2.3 percentage points of the wider SA3 area (4.8%), highlighting solid demographic momentum that was almost entirely underpinned by overseas migration inflows. Projections for the suburb of Russell Vale utilize ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 modelling published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, supplemented where necessary by NSW State Government SA2 datasets issued in 2022 with a 2021 base year, alongside age-cohort growth rates spanning 2032 to 2041. Looking forward, demographic growth is slated to sit slightly under the median for Australian non-metropolitan locations, with aggregated SA2-level figures anticipating an addition of 100 residents by 2041, representing an overall expansion of 6.1% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity across Russell Vale remains constrained, registering an average of 2 dwelling approvals per year, or 10 dwellings across the entire five-year span. Such minimal building activity is typical of regional settings where construction volumes are naturally curbed by modest local demand and existing infrastructure limits, meaning individual projects can have a marked statistical impact on yearly figures. Building approvals in Russell Vale track considerably below the benchmarks observed across both Rest of NSW and the broader nation. Recent construction activity is evenly split between standalone houses (50.0%) and medium to high-density dwellings (50.0%).
This structural shift toward higher-density options offers more accessible price points for first-home buyers, downsizers, and investors, while marking a significant pivot from the prevailing stock of 79.0% separate houses in response to site constraints and changing consumer preferences. In addition, an average of around 162 people per dwelling approval underscores the low-density nature of the area. With Russell Vale projected to add 100 residents through to 2041 based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, persistent limitations in residential construction could see supply trail population expansion, heightening buyer competition and underpinning local property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Russell Vale
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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 Russell Vale, worth an estimated $35 million. A further 36 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $2.56 billion. 11 are already under construction and 23 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and communities. 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 capital projects and planning developments play a pivotal role in shaping community performance. AreaSearch has identified 6 significant initiatives with local relevance, highlighted by Woonona Place, Russell Vale Underground Expansion Project (Energy Storage Transition), The Plaza Woonona Specialist Retail and Recreational Centre, and Bulli Hospital Site Redevelopment.
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
Russell Vale Underground Expansion Project (Energy Storage Transition)
The Russell Vale Underground Expansion Project (Energy Storage Transition) is a clean technology repurposing initiative led by Green Gravity in partnership with Wollongong Resources. Located at the disused Russell Vale Colliery pit top on Princes Highway, the project utilizes the legacy No. 4 mineshaft to trial Gravitational Energy Storage Technology at depths up to 400 metres with 150 kW capacity. The initiative establishes a pathway to convert former coal mining assets into utility-scale renewable energy storage.
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.
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.
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.
481-485 Princes Highway Multi Dwelling Housing Development
Demolition of an existing warehouse storage facility and construction of 12 double-storey dwelling houses, each with double garages and associated landscaping and infrastructure. Development includes a common driveway, visitor car parking, communal open space areas, and on-site stormwater detention. The application (DA-2020-572) was assessed by the Wollongong Local Planning Panel with MMJ Wollongong acting as planning consultant.
MH Property Woonona-Bulli RSL Townhouse Development
26-townhouse development on the former Woonona-Bulli RSL car park at 15 Nicholson Road, Woonona. Features 52 resident parking spaces and 7 visitor spaces. Court approval granted by the NSW Land and Environment Court in September 2024 following a deemed refusal by Wollongong City Council, which had raised flooding concerns. The court found the stormwater design adequate and rejected the council's conditions.
Bulli Hospital Site Redevelopment
Landcom is transforming the former 2.44 hectare Bulli Hospital site into a residential subdivision of approximately 50 homes, including freestanding houses, duplexes, terraces, and above-garage studios. Ten percent of homes are designated as affordable rental housing for low to moderate income households. The development features a new 2500sqm park, native landscaping with tiered rain gardens, stormwater retention basins, and 58 on-street parking spaces within a new internal street. The Southern Regional Planning Panel approved the subdivision DA in June 2025, demolition and remediation finished in early 2026, with earthworks and landscaping progressing.A revised DA for two-stage subdivision delivery was lodged in late 2025 due to boundary complexities.
3A Cooper Avenue Woonona Development
This residential development consists of six two-storey, three-bedroom dwellings situated above a basement car park for 12 vehicles and two visitor spaces. Designed by PRD Architects, the project includes vegetation management within an onsite riparian corridor and upgrades to Parraweena Way to enhance safety. The development was approved in late 2022 and aims to provide high-quality housing in the Woonona area while preserving established natural landscapes.
849 residents of Russell Vale are employed, from a labour force of 864. Unemployment sits at 1.7%, with participation at 66.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour market in Russell Vale is defined by a skilled workforce and strong participation in essential services, maintaining a low unemployment rate of 1.7% alongside a 3.4% annual employment increase based on aggregated statistical area metrics from AreaSearch. In March 2026849 residents were employed, while the local jobless rate sat 2.4% below the 4.1% recorded across Regional NSW. Participation reached 66.7%, well ahead of Regional NSW's 60.6%, while 30.6% of respondents reported working remotely at the Census, although Covid-19 restrictions during that period should be taken into account.
Resident employment is primarily anchored by health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction shows notable local concentration, with worker representation standing 1.2 times above the regional benchmark. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for no local workers, trailing the 5.3% seen across Regional NSW. A comparison of local jobs to working residents at the Census indicates substantial outbound commuting for employment. Analysis of ABS and SALM statistical area data by AreaSearch reveals that in the year to March 2026, employment grew by 3.4% and the labour pool rose by 3.6%, lifting the jobless rate by 0.2 percentage points, whereas Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in jobs, a 0.4% contraction in the labour force, and a 0.5 percentage points rise in unemployment. National outlooks from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 project five-year and ten-year job growth of 6.6% and 13.7% nationwide, which translates to an estimated expansion of 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years when applied to Russell Vale's industry distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Russell Vale is $1,715 a week (about $89,000 a year), with median personal income at $769 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $54,009 a year against an average of $74,323. 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
Aggregated ATO postcode statistics for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch show that taxpayers in the suburb of Russell Vale achieved a median income of $54,009 and an average income of $74,323, exceeding the Regional NSW equivalents of $52,390 and $65,215 as well as national benchmarks. Accounting for a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated earnings as of March 2026 stand at roughly $59,583 (median) and $81,993 (average). Census data from 2021 places personal, family, and household earnings moderately between the 42nd and 47th percentiles, with the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket accounting for 30.7% of residents (501 people), similar to the 29.9% regional rate.
Disposable income after housing costs is constrained at 82.8% (47th percentile), with the SEIFA income index positioned in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Russell Vale had 572 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 79% detached houses and 5% apartments. 43% are owned with a mortgage, 20% rented and 37% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $400 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month. Rent absorbs 23.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 29.2%. 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, separate houses made up 79.4% of the housing stock in Russell Vale, while semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwellings comprised 20.7%, compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Outright ownership stood at 36.8%, slightly behind Regional NSW, with 42.9% of properties mortgaged and 20.3% rented. Monthly mortgage commitments averaged a median of $2,167 compared to $1,733 regionally and $1,863 nationally, while median weekly rent was $400, surpassing the Regional NSW figure of $330 and the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Russell Vale counted 572 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 25% couples without children. 22% 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
Families constitute the majority of households in the area at 75.3%, consisting of couples with children (35.8%), couples without children (24.9%), and single parent families (13.9%). The remaining 24.7% are non-family arrangements, with single-person residences making up 21.7% and group living accounting for 2.6%. The typical household size is 2.7 people, exceeding the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
19.9% of adults in Russell Vale hold a university qualification, including 13.5% with a bachelor degree and 3.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 32.4% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 263 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,040 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
Attainment of higher education presents an area for growth in the local community, with university qualification levels at 19.9%, trailing the SA3 benchmark of 33.6%. Bachelor degrees comprise 13.5%, postgraduate awards represent 3.5%, and graduate diplomas account for 2.9%. In contrast, vocational and technical training is prominent, with 41.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding credentials, including certificates (32.4%) and advanced diplomas (9.4%). Student participation in educational programs remains strong, with 31.9% of the local population actively undertaking studies. This cohort includes 12.1% attending primary school, 9.2% enrolled in secondary school, and 3.2% engaged in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Russell Vale reaches 7 stops on 17 routes, timetabled for about 840 services a week. The typical home sits about 270 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.5 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
Commuter connectivity in Russell Vale is supported by 7 active bus stops served by 17 distinct routes that generate 843 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is convenient, with residents situated an average distance of 271 meters from their closest stop. Given the residential makeup, outward travel dominates, with private vehicles accounting for 98% of journeys and vehicle ownership standing at 1.5 per dwelling, alongside 30.6% of residents working from home at the 2021 Census amid COVID-19 conditions. Transit services provide an average frequency of 120 trips per day across all routes combined, delivering roughly 120 weekly trips for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.1% of residents in Russell Vale report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 77% of areas nationally. 6.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments by AreaSearch based on chronic illness and mortality indicators show notable health considerations across younger and older age brackets in Russell Vale. At the same time, private health insurance coverage is extensive, held by roughly 56% of the population (~919 people), outperforming the 51.9% regional rate across Regional NSW. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most widespread chronic issues, diagnosed in 10.2 and 7.9% of residents, while 66.1% reported no long-term medical ailments, above the 63.3% rate in Regional NSW. Chronic conditions are elevated among working-age residents.
Seniors aged 65 and over represent 18.0% of the population (293 people), below the Regional NSW share of 23.3%, with senior health metrics tracking in line with national patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Russell Vale is largely Australian-born, at 89.9% of residents, with 5.0% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.7%) and Australian (31.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics for Russell Vale sit below broader averages, with 89.9% of residents born in Australia, 93.5% holding Australian citizenship, and 95.0% speaking only English at home. Christianity forms the predominant faith at 50.6% of the population in Russell Vale, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Regarding ancestral background, the primary self-reported ancestries in Russell Vale are English (31.7%), Australian (31.3%), and Scottish (9.7%). Additionally, Welsh ancestry is overrepresented locally at 1.1% versus 0.5% regionally, while French stands at 0.6% (vs 0.4%) and Macedonian at 0.3% (vs 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Russell Vale is 39. 22.7% 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 Russell Vale maintains a younger demographic profile than Regional NSW, with children and young adults (0 - 24) representing 34.6% of residents as of August 2026 compared to 29.3% regionally, while seniors (65+) account for 18.0% against 23.3% in Regional NSW. The median age is estimated at 39 as at August 2026, mirroring the 2021 Census figure and remaining 4 years younger than Regional NSW's Census median of 43. By 2041, retirees and seniors are projected to lead population growth, expanding by 61 residents (21%) to reach 355, while youth cohorts are expected to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Russell Vale
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 | Aug 2026 2 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| 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 — 34 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,593 at the 2021 Census → 1,633 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 (SAL13463). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.