Rutherford

Rutherford lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Rutherford's population is estimated at around 13,883 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 792 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,091. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 13,358 residents following examination of ABS data released in June 2025 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,030 persons per square kilometer. Rutherford's growth rate of 6.0% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW's 4.9%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 68.0% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics anticipate a significant increase in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally, with Rutherford expected to increase by 3,849 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 23.9% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Rutherford among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Rutherford shows approximately 70 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Between financial years FY-21 to FY-25, around 353 homes were approved, with an additional 71 so far in FY-26. On average, each dwelling constructed over these five years accommodated about 1.5 new residents per year. However, this figure has eased to -0.1 people per dwelling over the past two financial years.

The average construction value of new homes is $335,000. This financial year, $1.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the rest of NSW, Rutherford has 56.0% less construction per person. New development consists of 46.0% standalone homes and 54.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift from the current housing mix of 87.0% houses. With around 161 people per dwelling approval, Rutherford is considered a low-density area. Population forecasts estimate Rutherford will gain 3,324 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Rutherford has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Eleven projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the local area, significantly influencing its performance. Key initiatives include Max McMahon Oval Amenities Redevelopment, Dalmore Park Employment Hub, Truegain Site Remediation, and Melville Ford Bridge Replacement (Milton Morris Bridge). The following list details those anticipated to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment drivers in Rutherford are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Rutherford's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. Its unemployment rate, as of December 2025, stands at 5.6%. In this month, 5,394 residents are employed, which is 1.6% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation lags behind Regional NSW, at 54.3% compared to its 60.5%. According to Census data, only 12.9% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Rutherford specializes in mining, with an employment share 3.2 times the regional level, but agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.9%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.3%, alongside a 4.3% employment decline, keeping the unemployment rate stable. In contrast, Regional NSW saw an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rutherford's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Rutherford's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $50,315. The average income stood at $63,557 during the same period. Regional NSW's median and average incomes for that year were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates project Rutherford's median income to be approximately $55,508 and the average income to reach around $70,116 by March 2026. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Rutherford rank modestly, between the 30th and 34th percentiles. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 36.0% of Rutherford's community (4,997 individuals), mirroring broader trends across the metropolitan region where 29.9% fall into this category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Rutherford, with only 80.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 30th percentile.

Rutherford is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Rutherford's housing structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.1% houses and 12.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rutherford was at 25.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.4% and rented ones at 36.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Regional NSW's average, while the median weekly rent was $360, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Rutherford's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Rutherford has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 71.2% of all households, including 28.9% couples with children, 25.6% couples without children, and 15.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 28.8%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Rutherford faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 10.2%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 7.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 8.7% and certificates at 34.8%. Educational participation is high, with 29.7% currently enrolled in formal education: 11.4% in primary, 7.5% in secondary, and 3.0% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.4% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 3.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Rutherford has 155 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus services. These stops are served by 78 unique routes that collectively facilitate 1,703 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated highly, with the average resident residing just 192 meters from their nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuting in Rutherford is outward-bound, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 94%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 12.9% of residents work from home, which may be partially due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 243 trips per day, equating to roughly 10 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, highlighting the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

Health performance in Rutherford is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Rutherford faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups, with private health cover at approximately 52% of the total population (~7,230 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in Rutherford, impacting 11.9 and 10.0% of residents respectively. Conversely, 59.4% of residents claim to be free from any medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 17.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,415 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally in line with the overall population.

Rutherford is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Rutherford's population was found to be predominantly culturally homogeneous, with 91.8% being Australian citizens, 90.9% born in Australia, and 94.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the most prevalent religion, accounting for 56.7% of Rutherford's population, slightly higher than the Regional NSW average of 55.9%. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.4%), English (30.8%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.3%).

Notably, Welsh ancestry was overrepresented in Rutherford at 0.6%, compared to 0.5% regionally, as were Samoan (0.2%) and Polish (0.7%) ancestries.

Rutherford's population is younger than the national pattern

Rutherford's median age in 2021 was 34 years, which is lower than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Rutherford has an over-representation of the 25-34 age cohort at 17.2%, compared to the Regional NSW average, while the 55-64 age group is under-represented at 8.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 15.9% to 17.2%, and the 15-24 cohort has risen from 11.5% to 12.7%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 9.3% to 8.2%. Demographic projections suggest Rutherford's age profile will significantly change by 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to expand by 781 people (33%), growing from 2,387 to 3,169. Meanwhile, the 55-64 age group is expected to grow modestly by 9% (99 people).