Rankin Park
Rankin Park's clearest signature is its high-income, detached-home profile: household income sits at the 84.1st percentile, while 98.8% of dwellings are separate houses. The 2,547-person suburb has a median age of 40 and 42.5% university-qualified residents, 12.4 percentage points above the national comparison. Compared with nearby Wallsend, Rankin Park feels more owner-occupied and family-oriented, with 87.3% owning outright or paying a mortgage and 43.1% of families raising children. Its 1.44 sq km footprint and 1,771.2 people per sq km make it compact rather than low-density.
Local council: Newcastle (54% of the suburb; the rest sits in a neighbouring council)
Population
2,547
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,214/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Rankin Park suits buyers seeking conventional family housing, because 98.8% of dwellings are separate houses and 56.6% have 3 bedrooms, while a further 40.6% have 4 or more. Mortgage repayments average $2,000 monthly, equivalent to 20.9% of household income, compared with rent at $450 weekly or 20.3% of income. The mortgage share is slightly higher than the rent share, but neither is flagged as financial stress. Compared with the more mixed housing around Wallsend, the suburb is better aligned with buyers wanting space, a yard and a stable owner-occupier setting.
For Buyers
Rankin Park suits buyers seeking conventional family housing, because 98.8% of dwellings are separate houses and 56.6% have 3 bedrooms, while a further 40.6% have 4 or more. Mortgage repayments average $2,000 monthly, equivalent to 20.9% of household income, compared with rent at $450 weekly or 20.3% of income. The mortgage share is slightly higher than the rent share, but neither is flagged as financial stress. Compared with the more mixed housing around Wallsend, the suburb is better aligned with buyers wanting space, a yard and a stable owner-occupier setting.
For Investors
Rankin Park has a relatively small rental pool, with 11.9% of households renting compared with 87.3% owning outright or paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $450 and vacancy is 4.5%, which can support tenant choice but may also indicate less scarcity than tighter markets. The 16.5% turnover rate and 83.5% resident retention point to a settled population, while 21 development applications in 12 months create potential competition from refreshed housing. Compared with renter-heavy suburbs, investment demand here is more dependent on detached-home quality, local services and long-term owner appeal than on a large tenant base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
105
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+42.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Rankin Park has a median age of 40, exactly aligned with the national comparison, and an average household size of 2.7, only 0.2 above the national figure. University-qualified residents account for 42.5%, or 12.4 percentage points above the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 12.4%, 9.2 points below it. English ancestry is reported by 1,136 residents, followed by Irish at 310 and Scottish at 306. No religion is recorded by 1,195 people and Christianity by 1,176. With 83.5% staying at the same address, the suburb is more settled than high-turnover areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.8%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Rankin Park is strongly detached and family-sized: 98.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 56.6% contain 3 bedrooms and 40.6% contain 4 or more. Tenure is split between 42.4% owned outright and 44.9% mortgaged, much higher than the 11.9% renting share. That ownership pattern supports renovation and long-term maintenance because residents have a substantial stake in their homes. Compared with nearby Wallsend, Rankin Park presents a more uniform suburban housing format, with only 1.2% semi-detached dwellings and no recorded apartment share.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $450.
$650
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $700 · units $493
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$928
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
44
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.1%
Couples with children
40.0%
Couples, no children
14.8%
Single parent
782
Total families
Economy & Employment
Rankin Park has a professional and service-led employment base. Healthcare accounts for 25.5% of industry employment, higher than Education at 15.7%, followed by Professional and Technical services at 10.0%, Public Administration at 7.4% and Construction at 7.1%. The occupational mix includes 432 professionals, 181 clerical and administrative workers, 150 managers, 140 trades workers and 133 community or personal service workers. Household income is $2,214 per week at the 84.1st percentile, while personal income is $928 and family income is $2,373. A 2.4% unemployment rate and 64.9% participation rate indicate a stronger labour position than lower-income suburban markets.
Unemployment
2.4%
Labour Force
1,314
Unemployed
32
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.3%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
64.9%
Employed
1,282
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.5%
Postgraduate
10.4%
Born Overseas
12.4%
Dwellings
928
Transport to Work
Daily mobility in Rankin Park is strongly car-based: 61.2% travel as car drivers, compared with only 0.6% using public transport and 1.4% walking or cycling. A further 33.6% work from home, which can reduce commuting pressure for professional households. Compared with transit-oriented suburbs, local convenience and road access matter more here because public transport use is substantially lower than driving. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address, since catchments can cross suburb boundaries. The compact 1.44 sq km area and density of 1,771.2 people per sq km support a close suburban layout, while current safety decisions should rely on recent local incident checks.
Drive
61.2%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
33.6%
Growth Outlook
Rankin Park's immediate growth signals are visible in 21 development applications over 12 months and a 16.5% turnover rate, while 83.5% of residents stayed at the same address. Compared with a high-turnover suburb, that points to a settled base where change is more likely to come through renovations, replacement homes and incremental additions. Recent applications include alterations, demolition and new structures, so activity may refresh existing stock as much as add dwellings. The suburb's population of 2,547 gives it a modest scale, making each completed project more noticeable than in a larger regional centre.
Population trend: Newcastle council area
About 54% of Rankin Park sits in Newcastle; the rest is in a neighbouring council. These are the council area's residents, not Rankin Park's.
Residents 2025
178,935
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rankin Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rankin Park a good suburb to live in?
Rankin Park suits households wanting detached housing and a settled environment. Separate houses account for 98.8% of dwellings, while 83.5% of residents stayed at the same address. Compared with denser nearby areas, the suburb is more owner-occupied and family-focused, although daily travel is more car-dependent.
What is the median house price in Rankin Park?
Use current settled sales to establish the median house price for Rankin Park, because the figure can move as the mix of renovated and older homes changes. The suburb is dominated by 98.8% separate houses, with 56.6% containing 3 bedrooms and 40.6% containing 4 or more, so compare like-for-like detached sales.
What schools are in Rankin Park?
For school planning, check the exact address against NSW enrolment zones and travel routes. Rankin Park has 2,547 residents within 1.44 sq km, but school catchments can cross suburb boundaries. Confirm current government, independent and specialist options directly before signing a lease or purchase contract.
Is Rankin Park safe?
A definitive safety judgement requires checking recent local incidents rather than relying on suburb character alone. Rankin Park has 2,547 residents across 1.44 sq km, so conditions can vary by street and access route. Review current NSW Police information, lighting, traffic conditions and the exact property's surroundings before deciding.
Is Rankin Park good for property investment?
Rankin Park may suit investors targeting detached family housing, with 98.8% separate houses and weekly rent of $450. The rental share is 11.9% and vacancy is 4.5%, while 21 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Compared with renter-heavy suburbs, returns depend more on property quality and long-term owner-occupier demand.
How is Rankin Park's population changing?
The population appears relatively stable rather than highly mobile. Rankin Park has 2,547 residents, with 83.5% staying at the same address and a turnover rate of 16.5%. Compared with a high-turnover suburb, population change is more likely to occur gradually through household moves, renovations and replacement housing.
What development is occurring in Rankin Park?
There were 21 development applications over 12 months, including alterations, demolition, new structures and retaining works. This mix suggests activity is not limited to large housing projects. Compared with a suburb recording only isolated applications, Rankin Park has a more visible flow of property changes, although applications do not guarantee completed dwellings.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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