🔍

Russell Vale

NSW 2517 • Rest of NSW

1,593
Population (2021)
$89,180
Median Household Income
2.21 km²
Area
$400/wk
Median Rent
Family-FriendlyAffordableIllawarraQuietCoastal Hinterland

About Russell Vale

Russell Vale is a small suburb of Wollongong in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, situated approximately 76 km south of Sydney and 7 km north of the Wollongong CBD. With a population of around 1,600, it straddles the Princes Highway between the Illawarra Escarpment and the coast. The suburb was named after the estate of surveyor Francis Peter MacCabe, whose mother's maiden name was Russell. Around 87% of residents are Australian-born, with predominantly English, Australian, Scottish and Irish ancestry.

Russell Vale offers a quiet, family-oriented lifestyle with easy access to Wollongong's beaches and amenities. The suburb is home to the Russell Vale Golf Course, opened in 1986, and Cawley Park which provides sports facilities for the community. Residents enjoy proximity to both the escarpment bushwalking trails and the coastal suburbs of Bellambi and Corrimal. With a median age of 39 and average household size of 2.7, it attracts young families and established couples seeking affordable housing in the Illawarra.

Russell Vale falls under postcode 2517 and is governed by Wollongong Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Keira electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2517
Urban Area
Wollongong
LGA / Council
Wollongong
Federal Electorate
Cunningham
State Electorate
Keira
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-34.35°, 150.90°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
2.21 km²
Elevation
46m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Russell Vale for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$1.27M
19 sales · ▲ 4% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$400
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,167
Avg Household Size
2.7 people
Median Age
39 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
7%

34 state housing + 6 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Corrimal
1.5 km
18 mins
Bellambi
1.8 km
22 mins
Woonona
2.2 km
27 mins

Bus Services

  • 13 — Wollongong CBD via Corrimal 15 mins
  • 14 — Wollongong to Thirroul via Princes Hwy 20 mins

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
76 km
By Train
90-100 mins via South Coast Line
By Car (Peak)
80-100 mins
By Car (Off-Peak)
60-75 mins

🛣️ Wollongong CBD is only 7 km south (10-15 mins by car). Most residents commute to Wollongong rather than Sydney.

Walkability Car-Dependent

Some local facilities along Princes Highway but most errands require a car or short drive to Corrimal shops

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Wollongong Local Government Area, which contains Russell Vale. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
216.8 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 5.9%
Motor vehicle theft
190.2 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Non-DV assault
342.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
11.3 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
371.3 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 5.5%
View all 62 offence types for Wollongong →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
1,547
Census 2021
1,593
▲ 3.0% growth

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$32,916
Personal Income 2021
$39,988
▲ 21.5% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$39,988 / yr
$769/wk
Household
$89,180 / yr
$1715/wk
Family
$114,452 / yr
$2201/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,386
Born Overseas 156

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 35
  • 2. New Zealand 16
  • 3. United States 10
  • 4. Scotland 8
  • 5. Chile 6
  • 6. Fiji 5
  • 7. North Macedonia 5
  • 8. Thailand 5
  • 9. India 4
  • 10. Ireland 4

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 709
Australian 701
Scottish 216
Irish 176
Italian 56
German 48
Australian Aboriginal 45
Dutch 31
Welsh 24
French 14

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,055
Both parents born in Australia
228
Both parents born overseas
254
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
47.6%
No Religion
44.7%
Buddhism
1.2%
Islam
0.9%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
101 (6.3%)
5-14 years
272 (17.1%)
15-19 years
98 (6.2%)
20-24 years
71 (4.5%)
25-34 years
154 (9.7%)
35-44 years
230 (14.4%)
45-54 years
206 (12.9%)
55-64 years
172 (10.8%)
65-74 years
151 (9.5%)
75-84 years
98 (6.2%)
85+ years
38 (2.4%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Russell Vale known for? +

Russell Vale is a small suburb of Wollongong in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, situated approximately 76 km south of Sydney and 7 km north of the Wollongong CBD. With a population of around 1,600, it straddles the Princes Highway between the Illawarra Escarpment and the coast.

How far is Russell Vale from Sydney CBD? +

Russell Vale is approximately 76 kilometres from Sydney CBD. The drive takes around 80-100 mins during peak hour and 60-75 mins off-peak. By train, the journey takes approximately 90-100 mins via South Coast Line.

Does Russell Vale have public transport? +

Russell Vale is served by Corrimal station (1.5 km, approximately 18 mins walk) on the South Coast Line (Sydney–Wollongong–Kiama). Local bus services including 13 also connect residents to Wollongong CBD via Corrimal.

What is the population of Russell Vale? +

According to the 2021 Census, Russell Vale has a population of approximately 1,593 residents.

Is Russell Vale a good place to live? +

Russell Vale is considered a good place for families, with a suburban setting and access to schools, parks, and local services. Its community character makes it appealing to households at various life stages.

What is the postcode for Russell Vale? +

The postcode for Russell Vale in NSW is 2517.

What is the average income in Russell Vale? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Russell Vale is about $769 per week (around $40,000 per year). The median household income is $1,715 per week and the median family income is $2,201 per week.

What is the median house price in Russell Vale? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $1,275,000, up 4% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Russell Vale? +

The median age in Russell Vale is 39. The largest age group is 5–14 (272 residents, around 17%). Around 30% of residents are under 20 and about 18% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Russell Vale a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Russell Vale is part of the Wollongong LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Russell Vale? +

In Russell Vale, the median weekly rent is $400, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,167 (2021 Census).