Russell Vale vs Corrimal

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Russell Vale, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Russell Vale tends to suit families with children and couples, while Corrimal 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

Corrimal

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)
  • But Russell Vale has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 58%)

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

First-home buyers

Corrimal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($678,000 vs $1,045,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Corrimal

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Corrimal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 52/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Corrimal

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (42% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 52/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Russell Vale and Corrimal 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 Vale Corrimal
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 Vale Corrimal
Walkability 52 / 84
Russell Vale — Walkability: 52/100 Corrimal — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 35 / 29
Russell Vale — Safety: 35/100 Corrimal — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 13 / 19
Russell Vale — Low fire risk: 13/100 Corrimal — Low fire risk: 19/100

Demographics

Corrimal has more residents (6,972 vs 1,593); Russell Vale has higher household incomes ($89,180 vs $78,416).

Russell Vale Corrimal
Population 1,593 6,972
+338% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +6.9%
Median age 39 41
Median household income $89,180/yr
+12% vs other
 $78,416/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+9% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Russell Vale Corrimal
0-4 6.3% / 5.2%
Russell Vale — 0-4: 6.3% Corrimal — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 17.1% / 11.6%
Russell Vale — 5-14: 17.1% Corrimal — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 6.2% / 5.2%
Russell Vale — 15-19: 6.2% Corrimal — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 4.5% / 5.7%
Russell Vale — 20-24: 4.5% Corrimal — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 9.7% / 13.7%
Russell Vale — 25-34: 9.7% Corrimal — 25-34: 13.7%
35-44 14.4% / 12.4%
Russell Vale — 35-44: 14.4% Corrimal — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 12.9% / 12.0%
Russell Vale — 45-54: 12.9% Corrimal — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 10.8% / 13.1%
Russell Vale — 55-64: 10.8% Corrimal — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 9.5% / 10.8%
Russell Vale — 65-74: 9.5% Corrimal — 65-74: 10.8%
75-84 6.2% / 6.6%
Russell Vale — 75-84: 6.2% Corrimal — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 2.4% / 3.9%
Russell Vale — 85+: 2.4% Corrimal — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Russell Vale 48.1% couple families
Russell Vale — Couple Families: 48.1% Russell Vale — Lone Person: 29.5% Russell Vale — One Parent Families: 18.2% Russell Vale — Group Household: 3.5% Russell Vale — Other Families: 0.7%
Corrimal 36.8% couple families
Corrimal — Couple Families: 36.8% Corrimal — Lone Person: 41.0% Corrimal — One Parent Families: 15.9% Corrimal — Group Household: 4.8% Corrimal — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Russell Vale 21.6% renting
Russell Vale — Owned Outright: 35.6% Russell Vale — Mortgage: 42.8% Russell Vale — Renting: 21.6%
Corrimal 33.3% renting
Corrimal — Owned Outright: 35.0% Corrimal — Mortgage: 31.7% Corrimal — Renting: 33.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Russell Vale Corrimal
Certificate III & IV 20.0% / 17.4%
Russell Vale — Certificate III & IV: 20.0% Corrimal — Certificate III & IV: 17.4%
Bachelor Degree 9.5% / 12.2%
Russell Vale — Bachelor Degree: 9.5% Corrimal — Bachelor Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.7% / 8.6%
Russell Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7% Corrimal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 3.7%
Russell Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Corrimal — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.7%
Russell Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Corrimal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

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.

Russell Vale Corrimal
England 2.2% / 4.0%
Russell Vale — England: 2.2% Corrimal — England: 4.0%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.3%
Russell Vale — New Zealand: 1.0% Corrimal — New Zealand: 1.3%
Italy 0.3% / 2.0%
Russell Vale — Italy: 0.3% Corrimal — Italy: 2.0%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.8%
Russell Vale — Scotland: 0.5% Corrimal — Scotland: 0.8%
Thailand 0.3% / 0.6%
Russell Vale — Thailand: 0.3% Corrimal — Thailand: 0.6%
India 0.3% / 0.6%
Russell Vale — India: 0.3% Corrimal — India: 0.6%
Fiji 0.3% / —
Russell Vale — Fiji: 0.3% Corrimal — Fiji: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Russell Vale 80.1% houses
Russell Vale — Houses: 80.1% Russell Vale — Townhouses: 15.4% Russell Vale — Flats / Apartments: 4.5%
Corrimal 58.4% houses
Corrimal — Houses: 58.4% Corrimal — Townhouses: 19.5% Corrimal — Flats / Apartments: 22.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Russell Vale Corrimal
Median house price $1,350,000 $1,255,000
Median unit price $1,045,000 $678,000
Median land price — $1,117,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 4 sales
 30 days
from 56 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 Vale Corrimal
3 bed $1.3M / $1.2M
Russell Vale — 3 bed: $1.3M (17 sales) Corrimal — 3 bed: $1.2M (59 sales)

17 vs 59 sales

4 bed $1.58M / $1.42M
Russell Vale — 4 bed: $1.58M (9 sales) Corrimal — 4 bed: $1.42M (26 sales)

9 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Corrimal has more rural and farming land (13% vs 0%); Russell Vale has more land zoned for conservation (40% vs 30%).

Russell Vale Corrimal
Residential 24% 42%
Environmental 40% 30%
Parks and recreation 24% 6%
Rural and farming 0% 13%
Industrial 6% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 4%
Commercial 0% 3%
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 Vale Corrimal
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
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 Vale Corrimal
Houses — 3.5%
$805/wk on $1.2M
Units — 4.5%
$550/wk on $640K

Ranking within NSW

Russell Vale Corrimal
House price Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
Income Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 12% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 44% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 42% of NSW

Liveability

Corrimal is more walkable (84 vs 52).

Russell Vale Corrimal
Grade C
same for both
Score 34/100 35/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Russell Vale Corrimal
Bushfire High
87/100
 High
81/100
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
71/100
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
same for both

Schools

Russell Vale Corrimal
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 8.0 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 2.2%

Schools in Russell Vale

  • Russell Vale Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Corrimal

  • Corrimal Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Columbkille's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Aspect South Coast School Independent · Primary · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Russell Vale Corrimal
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 3 6
Childcare 2 5
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 0 5

Mobility

Russell Vale Corrimal
Walkability score 52/100 84/100
Distance to Sydney 76.6 km 77.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 77 min 78 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 33.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 173.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 2517
 0.8%
postcode 2518
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2517
 29
postcode 2518

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 Vale Corrimal
Car (driver) 62.7% / 60.3%
Russell Vale — Car (driver): 62.7% Corrimal — Car (driver): 60.3%
Worked from Home 31.5% / 31.3%
Russell Vale — Worked from Home: 31.5% Corrimal — Worked from Home: 31.3%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 3.0%
Russell Vale — Car (passenger): 4.1% Corrimal — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Train 0.7% / 1.8%
Russell Vale — Train: 0.7% Corrimal — Train: 1.8%
Walked Only 0.5% / 1.9%
Russell Vale — Walked Only: 0.5% Corrimal — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus 0.5% / 1.0%
Russell Vale — Bus: 0.5% Corrimal — Bus: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.7%).

Setting

Russell Vale Corrimal
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 35 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 2.7 km
2.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Russell Vale Corrimal
Connectivity score 100/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
681 premises
 96%
3,799 premises

Climate

Russell Vale Corrimal
Annual rainfall 1,038 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Russell Vale Corrimal
PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.66 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Russell Vale Corrimal
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Russell Vale Corrimal
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Russell Vale

Coastal Family

Corrimal

Coastal Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Russell Vale

Russell Vale vs Woonona Russell Vale vs Bellambi

Other comparisons with Corrimal

Corrimal vs Bellambi Corrimal vs East Corrimal Corrimal vs Towradgi Corrimal vs Tarrawanna Corrimal vs Fernhill
Full data on Russell Vale Full data on Corrimal
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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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