Five Dock vs Russell Lea

In both, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. In Russell Lea, most homes are detached houses. Russell Lea is closer to the city centre: 8.5 km, against 9.7 km.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Five Dock

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 3)
  • But Russell Lea carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 64/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Five Dock

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,130,000 vs $1,265,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Five Dock has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 26%)
  • Russell Lea has cheaper rent ($520/wk vs $570/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Five Dock

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 76/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Five Dock

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (55% vs 32%)
  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 76/100)
  • But Russell Lea carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 64/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Five Dock is growing faster (5.0% vs -1.6%)
  • Russell Lea returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.5% vs 2.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Five Dock and Russell Lea drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Five Dock Russell Lea
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Five Dock Russell Lea
Walkability 87 / 76
Five Dock — Walkability: 87/100 Russell Lea — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 36 / 75
Five Dock — Safety: 36/100 Russell Lea — Safety: 75/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Five Dock — Low fire risk: 100/100 Russell Lea — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Five Dock has more residents (9,823 vs 4,920); Russell Lea has higher household incomes ($138,216 vs $121,056).

Five Dock Russell Lea
Population 9,823
+50% vs other
 4,920
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.0% -1.6%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $121,056/yr $138,216/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $570/wk
+9% vs other
 $520/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Five Dock Russell Lea
0-4 6.0% / 4.8%
Five Dock — 0-4: 6.0% Russell Lea — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 11.9% / 13.8%
Five Dock — 5-14: 11.9% Russell Lea — 5-14: 13.8%
15-19 5.0% / 5.5%
Five Dock — 15-19: 5.0% Russell Lea — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 4.1% / 4.8%
Five Dock — 20-24: 4.1% Russell Lea — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 12.6% / 10.4%
Five Dock — 25-34: 12.6% Russell Lea — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 16.4% / 12.9%
Five Dock — 35-44: 16.4% Russell Lea — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 14.6% / 16.6%
Five Dock — 45-54: 14.6% Russell Lea — 45-54: 16.6%
55-64 12.5% / 12.5%
Five Dock — 55-64: 12.5% Russell Lea — 55-64: 12.5%
65-74 8.8% / 9.3%
Five Dock — 65-74: 8.8% Russell Lea — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 5.6% / 5.5%
Five Dock — 75-84: 5.6% Russell Lea — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 2.5% / 3.8%
Five Dock — 85+: 2.5% Russell Lea — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Five Dock 45.6% couple families
Five Dock — Couple Families: 45.6% Five Dock — Lone Person: 35.1% Five Dock — One Parent Families: 13.7% Five Dock — Group Household: 4.0% Five Dock — Other Families: 1.6%
Russell Lea 52.0% couple families
Russell Lea — Couple Families: 52.0% Russell Lea — Lone Person: 30.1% Russell Lea — One Parent Families: 12.5% Russell Lea — Group Household: 3.6% Russell Lea — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Five Dock 37.7% renting
Five Dock — Owned Outright: 32.2% Five Dock — Mortgage: 30.1% Five Dock — Renting: 37.7%
Russell Lea 26.1% renting
Russell Lea — Owned Outright: 38.2% Russell Lea — Mortgage: 35.7% Russell Lea — Renting: 26.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Five Dock Russell Lea
Bachelor Degree 20.2% / 21.0%
Five Dock — Bachelor Degree: 20.2% Russell Lea — Bachelor Degree: 21.0%
Certificate III & IV 9.3% / 8.7%
Five Dock — Certificate III & IV: 9.3% Russell Lea — Certificate III & IV: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 7.6%
Five Dock — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Russell Lea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 8.3% / 7.6%
Five Dock — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3% Russell Lea — Postgraduate Degree: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.6%
Five Dock — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Russell Lea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Five Dock Russell Lea
Italy 7.1% / 6.3%
Five Dock — Italy: 7.1% Russell Lea — Italy: 6.3%
England 2.7% / 3.3%
Five Dock — England: 2.7% Russell Lea — England: 3.3%
China 3.7% / 1.8%
Five Dock — China: 3.7% Russell Lea — China: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.5%
Five Dock — New Zealand: 1.8% Russell Lea — New Zealand: 1.5%
Ireland 1.0% / 0.8%
Five Dock — Ireland: 1.0% Russell Lea — Ireland: 0.8%
Greece — / 1.7%
Five Dock — Greece: not among its largest Russell Lea — Greece: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Five Dock 45.3% houses
Five Dock — Houses: 45.3% Five Dock — Flats / Apartments: 39.6% Five Dock — Townhouses: 15.1%
Russell Lea 68.3% houses
Russell Lea — Houses: 68.3% Russell Lea — Flats / Apartments: 24.0% Russell Lea — Townhouses: 7.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Five Dock Russell Lea
Median house price $2,905,000 $3,007,500
Median unit price $1,130,000 $1,265,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 26 sales
 30 days
from 14 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Five Dock Russell Lea
3 bed $2.55M / $2.9M
Five Dock — 3 bed: $2.55M (22 sales) Russell Lea — 3 bed: $2.9M (18 sales)

22 vs 18 sales

4 bed $3.26M / $3.4M
Five Dock — 4 bed: $3.26M (9 sales) Russell Lea — 4 bed: $3.4M (12 sales)

9 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Five Dock Russell Lea
Residential 81% 97%
Parks and recreation 16% 0%
Commercial 1% 2%
Industrial 1% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Five Dock Russell Lea
New dwellings approved 1,600
across Canada Bay
same for both
Approvals change year on year +72%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Five Dock Russell Lea
Houses 2.0%
$1,000/wk on $2.65M
 2.5%
$1,300/wk on $2.7M
Units 3.9%
$792/wk on $1.04M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Five Dock Russell Lea
House price Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Schools Higher than 43% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 22% of NSW —

Liveability

Russell Lea scores higher overall (88 vs 71); Five Dock is more walkable (87 vs 76).

Five Dock Russell Lea
Grade A A+
Score 71/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Five Dock carries more crime risk (64 vs 25).

Five Dock Russell Lea
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Low
25/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Five Dock Russell Lea
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Strathfield Campus, 4.5 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 2.6%

Schools in Five Dock

  • Rosebank College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • All Hallows Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Domremy Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Five Dock Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Lucas Gardens School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Russell Lea

  • Russell Lea Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Five Dock Russell Lea
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 22 5
Parks & reserves 10 0
Childcare 14 3
GPs 6 0
Pharmacies 5 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 3 0

Mobility

Five Dock Russell Lea
Walkability score 87/100 76/100
Distance to Sydney 9.7 km
+12% vs other
 8.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 15 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 395.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 101.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 2046
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 2046
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Five Dock Russell Lea
Worked from Home 52.4% / 56.5%
Five Dock — Worked from Home: 52.4% Russell Lea — Worked from Home: 56.5%
Car (driver) 37.9% / 36.8%
Five Dock — Car (driver): 37.9% Russell Lea — Car (driver): 36.8%
Bus 3.2% / 2.2%
Five Dock — Bus: 3.2% Russell Lea — Bus: 2.2%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 2.0%
Five Dock — Car (passenger): 2.6% Russell Lea — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 2.7% / 1.4%
Five Dock — Walked Only: 2.7% Russell Lea — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.5%).

Setting

Five Dock Russell Lea
Elevation 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.6 km
4.9 km to a named beach
 10.1 km
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Five Dock Russell Lea
Connectivity score 84/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 35%
5,062 premises
 40%
2,076 premises

Climate

Five Dock Russell Lea
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm 1,176 mm
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C —
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

Five Dock Russell Lea
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.62 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Five Dock Russell Lea
Average residential rate $1,217/yr
same for both
Council Canada Bay
same for both

Federal electorate

Five Dock Russell Lea
Division Reid
same for both
Member Sally Sitou
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Five Dock Russell Lea
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Five Dock

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Urban

Russell Lea

Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Five Dock

Five Dock vs Ashfield Five Dock vs Burwood Five Dock vs Concord Five Dock vs Croydon Five Dock vs Haberfield Five Dock vs Wareemba

Other comparisons with Russell Lea

Russell Lea vs Drummoyne Russell Lea vs Abbotsford Russell Lea vs Chiswick Russell Lea vs Wareemba Russell Lea vs Rodd Point
Full data on Five Dock Full data on Russell Lea
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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