Russell Vale
With 79.4% separate houses and a $1,080,000 median, Russell Vale sits firmly in the detached-dominant, mortgage-belt tier of the Illawarra fringe. The population of 1,593 residents across 2.21 km2 puts density at 721 per km2, well below Sydney inner-ring levels. Household income lands at the 60.3rd percentile nationally, a middling rank that coexists with a million-dollar housing market because 35.6% of owners hold their properties outright, debt-free. SEIFA decile 7 across all four indexes confirms an above-average but not elite socioeconomic profile, and 86.6% of residents stayed put over five years, signalling strong community attachment and low turnover.
Population
1,593
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,715/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
34
Median House
$1.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,080,000 median house price reflects 79.4% separate-house stock, which limits cheaper alternatives and keeps prices above entry-level coastal markets. Prices rose from $1,000,000 in 2024 to $1,190,000 in 2025, a 19% one-year move based on two quarters of PSI data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.2% sits just below the 30% stress threshold, viable for dual-income households. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.2% of stock, with four-plus bedroom at 31.2%, reflecting a family-sized orientation. Semi-detached options at 15.3% offer lower entry points than full detached houses.
For Buyers
The $1,080,000 median house price reflects 79.4% separate-house stock, which limits cheaper alternatives and keeps prices above entry-level coastal markets. Prices rose from $1,000,000 in 2024 to $1,190,000 in 2025, a 19% one-year move based on two quarters of PSI data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.2% sits just below the 30% stress threshold, viable for dual-income households. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.2% of stock, with four-plus bedroom at 31.2%, reflecting a family-sized orientation. Semi-detached options at 15.3% offer lower entry points than full detached houses.
For Investors
The rental pool is thin at 21.6% of households renting, below typical coastal NSW suburbs. Weekly rent of $400 against a $1,080,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%, low by national standards. The 4.5% vacancy rate signals some oversupply in the rental segment despite the small tenant base. Development activity shows 34 applications in 12 months, including subdivision and new dwelling certificates. Overseas migration adds a net 106 residents per year to the SA2, sustaining baseline demand, but net internal outflow of 36 per year offsets part of that growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
154
Last 12 Months
34
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Russell Vale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Russell Vale Public School
K-6 · 262 students
Demographics
The median age of 39 is 1.0 year below the national figure, reflecting a balanced age structure. Overseas-born residents at 10.1% are 11.5 percentage points below national, pointing to a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (709 residents), Scottish (216) and Irish (176). University qualifications reach 25.4%, which is 4.7 points below the national rate, consistent with decile 7 SEIFA positioning. Average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, and the couple-with-children share is high at 45.4% of families. Volunteering at 15.5% indicates strong civic engagement.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.4%
Houses
15.3%
Townhouse
5.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners at 35.6% outnumber renters at 21.6%, reflecting long-held properties rather than high turnover. Mortgage holders at 42.8% are above the national average for a suburb of this age, because prices rose to a $1,080,000 median where even established residents refinance. Prices moved from $1,000,000 in 2024 to $1,190,000 in 2025, a 19% one-year rise. Stock is 79.4% separate houses, 15.3% semi-detached and 5.4% apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.2%, with four-plus bedroom at 31.2%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.2% sits just below the 30% stress threshold.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$769
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
27
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.6%
Couples, no children
1,339
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 18.4% (90 workers), followed by Education at 13.5% (66) and Construction at 13.1% (64), reflecting proximity to Wollongong's hospital and university. Public Administration at 8.4% and Manufacturing at 7.4% add diversification. Professionals (149) and Managers (93) top the occupation list. The unemployment rate is 3.4% and the full-time rate among employed residents is 61.9%. Household income sits at the 60.3rd percentile nationally, above the median but well below the top quartile, consistent with decile 7 SEIFA scores across all four indexes.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
11,148
Unemployed
420
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.9%
Part-time
34.7%
Participation
53.4%
Employed
632
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.4%
Postgraduate
5.2%
Born Overseas
10.1%
Dwellings
577
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 91.5% of workers driving, above the national average, because the suburb sits outside the core Wollongong bus and train network. Only 1.8% use public transport. The IRSAD decile 7 rank places Russell Vale in the upper-middle advantage tier nationally, indicating below-average disadvantage. Housing stress is contained: mortgage-to-income at 29.2% and rent-to-income at 23.3% stay below 30% stress thresholds. The need-for-assistance rate is 6.9% (106 people). No schools are recorded in the suburb dataset, so families rely on neighbouring Corrimal and Tarrawanna. Density of 720 per km2 reflects a low-rise, quiet residential setting.
Drive
91.5%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.58%/yr
(+121 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth is 0.58% or 121 persons per year, and the 10-year change of 11.4% shows steady expansion. Medium forecasts for the SA2 project growth from 21,264 in 2026 to 21,869 by 2031. Overseas migration at net 106 arrivals per year is the primary driver, outweighing net internal outflow of 36 per year. Rent growth of 56% over the measured period substantially outpaced real income growth of 23.5%, pointing to affordability pressure for renters despite a stable overall affordability trend. The gentrification score of 55 is classified as Active, indicating ongoing socioeconomic uplift compared to a decade ago.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+106
Net Internal / yr
-36
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Russell Vale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Russell Vale a good suburb to live in?
Russell Vale scores SEIFA decile 7 across all four indexes, placing it in the upper-middle tier nationally. Household income sits at the 60.3rd percentile, housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 29.2%, and 86.6% of residents stayed put over five years, reflecting genuine satisfaction with the area.
What is the median house price in Russell Vale?
The median house price is $1,080,000 based on PSI-derived data. Prices rose from $1,000,000 in 2024 to $1,190,000 in 2025, a 19% one-year move. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167 and weekly rent is $400 for the 21.6% of households that rent.
What schools are in Russell Vale?
No schools are recorded inside the Russell Vale boundary in this dataset. The suburb sits adjacent to Corrimal and Tarrawanna, which have established public and Catholic schools servicing the area. About 25.4% of Russell Vale residents hold university qualifications.
Is Russell Vale safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Russell Vale in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores SEIFA decile 7 on both IRSD and IRSAD indexes, placing it above the national median for low disadvantage. Only 6.9% of the 1,593 residents require daily assistance.
Is Russell Vale good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $400 against a $1,080,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%, low by national standards. The vacancy rate of 4.5% is elevated, and the renter pool is thin at 21.6% of households. Prices rose 19% in 2024-2025, but the sample covers only 2 quarters. Overseas migration adding 106 residents per year to the broader area supports longer-term demand.
How is Russell Vale's population changing?
The suburb is growing at 0.58% per year or about 121 persons annually. The 10-year population change is 11.4%, and medium forecasts for the SA2 project growth to 21,869 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver at net 106 arrivals per year, offset by net internal outflow of 36 per year.
How much development is happening in Russell Vale?
There were 34 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including subdivision and new dwelling work. Recent lodgements include Complying Development Certificates for subdivision and new dwelling houses, indicating active, low-scale residential development consistent with the suburb's 11.4% population growth over the past decade.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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