Moving to Russell Vale NSW 2517
What the official numbers say about living in Russell Vale — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $400 a week, against a median household income of $1,715 a week.
About 78% of homes are owner-occupied and 22% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Russell Vale grew 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,518 → 1,593 people).
Around 75% of households are families, averaging 2.7 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, United States; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, French, Macedonian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Russell Vale sits around the national average (decile 5 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (67% of workers), while 31% work from home.
Nearest train station: Bellambi, 850 m south-east.
Nearest bus interchange: Station St opp Wollongong Station, 7.8 km south.
Nearest airport: Shellharbour Airport, 24.6 km south-west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 61 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 23 schools · 16 cafes & restaurants · 5 supermarkets · 21 parks · 5 beaches — see them all on the Russell Vale profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Russell Vale Public School 400 m · Corrimal Public School 1 km · St Columbkille's Catholic Parish Primary School 1.1 km · St Columbkille's Parish School 1.2 km · Holy Spirit College 1.3 km · Woonona East Public School 1.4 km · Woonona Primary School 1.5 km · Woonona High School 1.7 km
Groceries: Coles 1.5 km · Woolworths 1.8 km · IGA 2 km · Foodworks 2.3 km · Woolworths 2.6 km
Parks and reserves: John Parker Reserve 300 m · JJ Sweeney Park 350 m · Cawley Park 400 m · Boyton Park 750 m · Hollymount Park 800 m · Brompton Road Reserve 850 m · Hardie Park 950 m · Harry Henson Park 1.1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Russell Vale, most often seen first: Common Myna · Rainbow Lorikeet · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Little Wattlebird · Magpie-lark · Australian Magpie.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Russell Vale, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Vale here | 1,593 | — | 5/10 | 37% |
| Woonona | 12,374 | — | 8/10 | 34% |
| Corrimal | 6,972 | — | 6/10 | 39% |
| Bellambi | 4,039 | — | 1/10 | 14% |
| East Corrimal | 3,432 | — | 6/10 | 10% |
| Tarrawanna | 2,184 | — | 5/10 | 66% |
| Towradgi | 3,241 | — | 7/10 | 9% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Wollongong — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Cunningham — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2517 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Russell Vale profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $400 a week, and about 22% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 5% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,518 people to 1,593. It sits about 61 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Bellambi station is roughly 0.9 km away. Local government is Wollongong council, and the federal seat is Cunningham.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Russell Vale vs East Corrimal · Russell Vale vs Tarrawanna.
Nearby guides: Woonona · Corrimal · Bellambi · East Corrimal · Tarrawanna · Towradgi.
Keep an eye on Russell Vale
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