Russell Lea vs Drummoyne

In both, most households own their home. In Russell Lea, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. In Drummoyne, most homes are flats or apartments. Drummoyne is closer to the city centre: 7.1 km, against 8.5 km. On these figures, Russell Lea tends to suit couples, while Drummoyne suits people living alone.

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

Russell Lea

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (68% vs 30%)
  • carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 52/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 52%)
  • But Drummoyne has more parks and reserves (20 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Russell Lea has cheaper rent ($520/wk vs $600/wk)
  • Drummoyne has a bigger rental market to choose from (37% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Drummoyne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 76/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Drummoyne

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (70% vs 32%)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 76/100)
  • But Russell Lea carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 52/100)

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

Investors

Drummoyne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.0% vs 2.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Russell Lea Drummoyne
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.

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Walkability 76 / 95
Russell Lea — Walkability: 76/100 Drummoyne — Walkability: 95/100
Safety 75 / 48
Russell Lea — Safety: 75/100 Drummoyne — Safety: 48/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Russell Lea — Low fire risk: 100/100 Drummoyne — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Drummoyne has more residents (12,011 vs 4,920); Drummoyne rents higher ($600/wk vs $520/wk).

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Population 4,920 12,011
+144% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.6% +0.5%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $138,216/yr $144,352/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $520/wk $600/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Russell Lea Drummoyne
0-4 4.8% / 5.6%
Russell Lea — 0-4: 4.8% Drummoyne — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 13.8% / 10.0%
Russell Lea — 5-14: 13.8% Drummoyne — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 5.5% / 4.4%
Russell Lea — 15-19: 5.5% Drummoyne — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 4.8% / 4.6%
Russell Lea — 20-24: 4.8% Drummoyne — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 10.4% / 14.3%
Russell Lea — 25-34: 10.4% Drummoyne — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 12.9% / 15.0%
Russell Lea — 35-44: 12.9% Drummoyne — 35-44: 15.0%
45-54 16.6% / 14.1%
Russell Lea — 45-54: 16.6% Drummoyne — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 12.5% / 12.4%
Russell Lea — 55-64: 12.5% Drummoyne — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 9.3% / 9.9%
Russell Lea — 65-74: 9.3% Drummoyne — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 5.5% / 6.2%
Russell Lea — 75-84: 5.5% Drummoyne — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 3.8% / 3.4%
Russell Lea — 85+: 3.8% Drummoyne — 85+: 3.4%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Drummoyne 39.2% couple families
Drummoyne — Couple Families: 39.2% Drummoyne — Lone Person: 40.8% Drummoyne — One Parent Families: 12.8% Drummoyne — Group Household: 5.4% Drummoyne — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Russell Lea 26.1% renting
Russell Lea — Owned Outright: 38.2% Russell Lea — Mortgage: 35.7% Russell Lea — Renting: 26.1%
Drummoyne 36.6% renting
Drummoyne — Owned Outright: 34.3% Drummoyne — Mortgage: 29.1% Drummoyne — Renting: 36.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Italy 6.3% / 2.1%
Russell Lea — Italy: 6.3% Drummoyne — Italy: 2.1%
England 3.3% / 4.0%
Russell Lea — England: 3.3% Drummoyne — England: 4.0%
New Zealand 1.5% / 2.1%
Russell Lea — New Zealand: 1.5% Drummoyne — New Zealand: 2.1%
China 1.8% / 1.7%
Russell Lea — China: 1.8% Drummoyne — China: 1.7%
Greece 1.7% / 1.0%
Russell Lea — Greece: 1.7% Drummoyne — Greece: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

Qualifications

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

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Bachelor Degree 21.0% / 25.3%
Russell Lea — Bachelor Degree: 21.0% Drummoyne — Bachelor Degree: 25.3%
Postgraduate Degree 7.6% / 10.7%
Russell Lea — Postgraduate Degree: 7.6% Drummoyne — Postgraduate Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 8.8%
Russell Lea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Drummoyne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 8.7% / 7.4%
Russell Lea — Certificate III & IV: 8.7% Drummoyne — Certificate III & IV: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 2.9%
Russell Lea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Drummoyne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Russell Lea 68.3% houses
Russell Lea — Houses: 68.3% Russell Lea — Flats / Apartments: 24.0% Russell Lea — Townhouses: 7.8%
Drummoyne 30.4% houses
Drummoyne — Houses: 30.4% Drummoyne — Flats / Apartments: 58.8% Drummoyne — Townhouses: 10.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Median house price $3,007,500 $2,925,000
Median unit price $1,265,000 $1,310,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 14 sales
 24 days
from 47 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.

Russell Lea Drummoyne
3 bed $2.9M / $2.91M
Russell Lea — 3 bed: $2.9M (18 sales) Drummoyne — 3 bed: $2.91M (34 sales)

18 vs 34 sales

4 bed $3.4M / $3.11M
Russell Lea — 4 bed: $3.4M (12 sales) Drummoyne — 4 bed: $3.11M (18 sales)

12 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Residential 97% 85%
Parks and recreation 0% 10%
Commercial 2% 1%
Planning zones cover 100% of Russell Lea and 97% of Drummoyne. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Russell Lea Drummoyne
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.

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Houses 2.5%
$1,300/wk on $2.7M
 3.0%
$1,395/wk on $2.4M
Units — 3.2%
$850/wk on $1.4M

Ranking within NSW

Russell Lea Drummoyne
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Income Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 6% of NSW

Liveability

Drummoyne is more walkable (95 vs 76).

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

Risk profile

Drummoyne carries more crime risk (52 vs 25).

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
25/100
 Moderate
52/100
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 2
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Sydney, 5.0 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 2.5%

Schools in Russell Lea

  • Russell Lea Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Drummoyne

  • St Mark's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Drummoyne Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 5 19
Parks & reserves 0 20
Childcare 3 5
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 3

Mobility

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Walkability score 76/100 95/100
Distance to Sydney 8.5 km
+16% vs other
 7.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 15 min 12 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 101.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 464.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 2046
 2.6%
postcode 2047
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 2046
 11
postcode 2047

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.

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Worked from Home 56.5% / 60.3%
Russell Lea — Worked from Home: 56.5% Drummoyne — Worked from Home: 60.3%
Car (driver) 36.8% / 30.9%
Russell Lea — Car (driver): 36.8% Drummoyne — Car (driver): 30.9%
Bus 2.2% / 3.3%
Russell Lea — Bus: 2.2% Drummoyne — Bus: 3.3%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 1.8%
Russell Lea — Car (passenger): 2.0% Drummoyne — Car (passenger): 1.8%
Walked Only 1.4% / 2.3%
Russell Lea — Walked Only: 1.4% Drummoyne — Walked Only: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.3%).

Setting

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.1 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 9.3 km
2.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Connectivity score 87/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
2,076 premises
 25%
6,826 premises

Climate

Russell Lea Drummoyne
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Russell Lea Drummoyne
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Russell Lea

Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Drummoyne

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban
Full data on Russell Lea Full data on Drummoyne
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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