Russell Vale vs Woonona

Russell Vale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 43 in Woonona. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Russell Vale, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Woonona: a median of $1.48 million, against $1.35 million in Russell Vale. On these figures, Russell Vale tends to suit families with children.

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

Woonona

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)
  • But Russell Vale has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 63%)

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

First-home buyers

Woonona

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($830,000 vs $1,045,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Woonona

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 52/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (73.8 km vs 76.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Woonona

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (37% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (79/100 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 Woonona 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 Woonona
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 Woonona
Walkability 52 / 79
Russell Vale — Walkability: 52/100 Woonona — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 35 / 49
Russell Vale — Safety: 35/100 Woonona — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 13 / 10
Russell Vale — Low fire risk: 13/100 Woonona — Low fire risk: 10/100

Demographics

Woonona has more residents (12,374 vs 1,593); Woonona skews older (43 vs 39).

Russell Vale Woonona
Population 1,593 12,374
+677% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +1.5%
Median age 39 43
Median household income $89,180/yr $94,432/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+1% vs other
 $395/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Russell Vale Woonona
0-4 6.3% / 5.3%
Russell Vale — 0-4: 6.3% Woonona — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 17.1% / 13.3%
Russell Vale — 5-14: 17.1% Woonona — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 6.2% / 6.2%
Russell Vale — 15-19: 6.2% Woonona — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 4.5% / 4.8%
Russell Vale — 20-24: 4.5% Woonona — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 9.7% / 9.7%
Russell Vale — 25-34: 9.7% Woonona — 25-34: 9.7%
35-44 14.4% / 13.2%
Russell Vale — 35-44: 14.4% Woonona — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 12.9% / 13.9%
Russell Vale — 45-54: 12.9% Woonona — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 10.8% / 12.1%
Russell Vale — 55-64: 10.8% Woonona — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 9.5% / 10.2%
Russell Vale — 65-74: 9.5% Woonona — 65-74: 10.2%
75-84 6.2% / 7.2%
Russell Vale — 75-84: 6.2% Woonona — 75-84: 7.2%
85+ 2.4% / 4.0%
Russell Vale — 85+: 2.4% Woonona — 85+: 4.0%

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%
Woonona 44.6% couple families
Woonona — Couple Families: 44.6% Woonona — Lone Person: 36.4% Woonona — One Parent Families: 15.5% Woonona — Group Household: 2.6% Woonona — Other Families: 0.8%
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%
Woonona 25.3% renting
Woonona — Owned Outright: 38.1% Woonona — Mortgage: 36.6% Woonona — Renting: 25.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Russell Vale Woonona
Certificate III & IV 20.0% / 15.1%
Russell Vale — Certificate III & IV: 20.0% Woonona — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Bachelor Degree 9.5% / 13.4%
Russell Vale — Bachelor Degree: 9.5% Woonona — Bachelor Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.7% / 8.7%
Russell Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7% Woonona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 5.3%
Russell Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Woonona — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.6%
Russell Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Woonona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

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 Woonona
England 2.2% / 4.3%
Russell Vale — England: 2.2% Woonona — England: 4.3%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.0%
Russell Vale — New Zealand: 1.0% Woonona — New Zealand: 1.0%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.8%
Russell Vale — Scotland: 0.5% Woonona — Scotland: 0.8%
Italy 0.3% / 0.6%
Russell Vale — Italy: 0.3% Woonona — Italy: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.7%
Russell Vale — South Africa: not among its largest Woonona — South Africa: 0.7%
Thailand 0.3% / —
Russell Vale — Thailand: 0.3% Woonona — Thailand: not among its largest
Fiji 0.3% / —
Russell Vale — Fiji: 0.3% Woonona — Fiji: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

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%
Woonona 63.2% houses
Woonona — Houses: 63.2% Woonona — Townhouses: 17.0% Woonona — Flats / Apartments: 19.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Russell Vale Woonona
Median house price $1,350,000 $1,483,000
Median unit price $1,045,000 $830,000
Median land price — $1,387,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 4 sales
 30 days
from 87 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 Woonona
3 bed $1.3M / $1.35M
Russell Vale — 3 bed: $1.3M (17 sales) Woonona — 3 bed: $1.35M (97 sales)

17 vs 97 sales

4 bed $1.58M / $1.6M
Russell Vale — 4 bed: $1.58M (9 sales) Woonona — 4 bed: $1.6M (78 sales)

9 vs 78 sales

Zoning mix

Russell Vale Woonona
Residential 24% 53%
Environmental 40% 31%
Parks and recreation 24% 9%
Industrial 6% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 4%
Commercial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 100% of Russell Vale and 99% of Woonona. 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 Vale Woonona
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 Woonona
Houses — 3.2%
$850/wk on $1.4M
Units — 3.9%
$540/wk on $720K

Ranking within NSW

Russell Vale Woonona
House price Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Income Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 67% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 84% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 28% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 20% of NSW

Liveability

Woonona scores higher overall (52 vs 34); Woonona is more walkable (79 vs 52).

Russell Vale Woonona
Grade C B
Score 34/100 52/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Russell Vale carries more crime risk (65 vs 51).

Russell Vale Woonona
Bushfire High
87/100
 High
90/100
Crime Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
22/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Russell Vale Woonona
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 8.0 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 9.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 2.1%

Schools in Russell Vale

  • Russell Vale Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Woonona

  • Woonona East Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Woonona High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Woonona Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Russell Vale Woonona
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 3 9
Childcare 2 5
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 0 14

Mobility

Russell Vale sits further from the CBD (76.6 km vs 73.8 km).

Russell Vale Woonona
Walkability score 52/100 79/100
Distance to Sydney 76.6 km
+4% vs other
 73.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 77 min 75 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 33.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 132.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 2517
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2517
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.

Russell Vale Woonona
Car (driver) 62.7% / 55.0%
Russell Vale — Car (driver): 62.7% Woonona — Car (driver): 55.0%
Worked from Home 31.5% / 38.2%
Russell Vale — Worked from Home: 31.5% Woonona — Worked from Home: 38.2%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 2.7%
Russell Vale — Car (passenger): 4.1% Woonona — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Train 0.7% / 1.3%
Russell Vale — Train: 0.7% Woonona — Train: 1.3%
Walked Only 0.5% / 1.4%
Russell Vale — Walked Only: 0.5% Woonona — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 0.5% / 0.5%
Russell Vale — Bus: 0.5% Woonona — Bus: 0.5%

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

Setting

Russell Vale Woonona
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Russell Vale Woonona
Connectivity score 100/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
681 premises
 65%
5,589 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Russell Vale Woonona
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

Woonona

Coastal Parks Regional Centre River

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Woonona

Woonona vs Bulli Woonona vs Bellambi
Full data on Russell Vale Full data on Woonona
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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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