Russell Lea NSW 2046

Suburb

Suburb Summary

Russell Lea, NSW 2046 is a waterside suburb in Sydney’s Inner West & Inner West Fringe, governed by the City of Canada Bay Council. It has a low-density residential character, with housing dominated by separate houses (60%) and a smaller apartment share (20%). The suburb is known for harbourfront surroundings, solid tree canopy, many bus services, and about 40 minutes to the CBD by public transport. Safety is moderate, while both primary and secondary school ratings are very strong. Household income is generally above average. Residents are mainly Australian-born, with Australian and English ancestry prominent. Major shopping options nearby include Birkenhead Point Brand Outlet.

PART 1
Geographic Profile

Property Type Mix

The mix of houses and apartments that make up the Russell Lea NSW 2046 property market, and the sale price range each achieved over the past 12 months.

Houses vs Apartments
68%
22.7%
9.3%
Houses (68%)
Apartments (22.7%)
Townhouses/Villas/Unclassified (9.3%)
House Price Range$307k–$7.7MPast 12 months
Apartment Price Range$400k–$4.9MPast 12 months

Major Road Frontage & Noise

How close Russell Lea NSW 2046 properties sit to major roads or rail, and how much traffic noise that brings compared to properties set back from them.

Road & rail proximity
10.1%
9.1%
80.8%
On a major road (10.1%)
Near a major road
Away from major road or rail
Major Roads in Russell
LYONS RD10.1% of suburb properties

Public Transport

Train, metro, light rail, ferry and B-Line services accessible from Russell Lea NSW 2046.

Services in Russell Lea NSW 2046
Chiswick
Hawthorne
Leichhardt North

Schools

Primary and secondary school catchments serving Russell Lea NSW 2046, with star ratings and the share of suburb dwellings each catchment covers.

Primary School
Russell Lea Public School
Strong level50.2% of suburb properties in catchment
Primary School
Abbotsford Public School
Good level42.8% of suburb properties in catchment
Primary School
Five Dock Public School
Developing level6.9% of suburb properties in catchment
Secondary School
Concord High School
Good level100% of suburb properties in catchment
PART 2
Houses

"Houses" in this report includes detached houses, duplexes, and terraces.

Land Topography

How house lots across Russell Lea NSW 2046 sit relative to street level — topography that affects drainage, flood risk, privacy, and build cost.

High-side vs low-side lots
High-sideFlatLow-side
20.1%
64.8%
15%
High-side (1m above)
Flat
Low-side (1m below)

Risks & Overlays

See which key planning overlays and environmental risks affect this suburb before you buy.

Heritage
4.8%
Of houses affected
Bushfire
0%
Of houses affected
Flood
0%
Of houses affected
High voltage power line
0%
Of houses affected

Train Station Proximity

The share of Russell Lea NSW 2046 houses within easy walking distance (1.2km) of a train station.

Houses within 1.2km of train station0%Of all houses

Median Price Trend - Houses

The 20-year trend in median house sale prices across Russell Lea NSW 2046, tracked separately from apartments.

Russell Lea House Median
$1.3M$2.5M$3.8M$5M$620k · 2000$915k · 2003$1.1M · 2004$900k · 2006$976k · 2007$882k · 2008$950k · 2009$1.1M · 2010$1.1M · 2011$1.1M · 2012$1.3M · 2013$1.5M · 2014$1.7M · 2015$1.9M · 2016$2.2M · 2017$1.9M · 2018$1.9M · 2019$2.1M · 2020$2.9M · 2021$2.7M · 2022$2.8M · 2023$3M · 2024$3.3M · 202519962003201120182026

Land & Property Feature Metrics

Typical land characteristics and common property features across Russell Lea NSW 2046.

Median land value$2.3MOf houses affected
Median lot frontage12.3mOf houses affected
Median land size430m²Of houses affected
Houses with a pool13.7%Of houses affected

Pocket Price Distribution

How property prices vary across the different pockets of Russell Lea NSW 2046, and how each pocket compares.

Median house priceDerived from sales
House sales46Past 12 months
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PART 3
Apartments

Median Price Trend - Apartments

The 20-year trend in median apartment sale prices across Russell Lea NSW 2046, tracked separately from houses.

Russell Lea Apartment Median
$500k$1M$1.5M$2M$457k · 2003$461k · 2004$444k · 2005$410k · 2006$518k · 2008$490k · 2009$581k · 2010$560k · 2011$569k · 2012$645k · 2013$643k · 2014$788k · 2015$776k · 2016$850k · 2017$713k · 2018$770k · 2019$835k · 2020$912k · 2021$950k · 2022$988k · 2023$1.1M · 2024$1.2M · 202519962003201120182026

Apartment Projects

Where apartment projects are concentrated across Russell Lea NSW 2046, with project-level sales context.

Median apartment priceDerived from sales
Apartment sales19Past 12 months

Median Rent

The median weekly rent for apartments in Russell Lea NSW 2046.

Median apartment rent$780Per week

Largest Apartment Projects

The largest apartment projects in Russell Lea NSW 2046, ranked by number of lots.

1
5 EDENHOLME RD, RUSSELL LEA NSW 2046Small-Medium project (20-50 lots)
2
55 PARKVIEW RD, RUSSELL LEA NSW 2046Small-Medium project (20-50 lots)
3
275 LYONS RD, RUSSELL LEA NSW 2046Small-Medium project (20-50 lots)
4
5 BAY RD, RUSSELL LEA NSW 2046Small-Medium project (20-50 lots)
5
78 HAMPDEN RD, RUSSELL LEA NSW 2046Small-Medium project (20-50 lots)
PART 4
Community Profile

Top 3 Occupations

The most common occupations among Russell Lea NSW 2046 residents.

Professionals30%
Managers20%
Technicians and Trades Workers10%

Key Demographics & Tenure

Median age, household income, and the renter-versus-owner split that shape the Russell Lea NSW 2046 community.

Median age43Years
Median income$3,256Household / week
Renters vs owner-occupiers
RentersOwner-occupiers
30%
70%
Renters
Owner-occupiers

Household Composition

How households are made up across Russell Lea NSW 2046 — from families with children to couples and single-person homes.

Household type
Married with children63.7%
Married without children34.7%
Other1.8%

Top 5 Birth Countries

The leading countries of birth among Russell Lea NSW 2046 residents, reflecting the suburb's cultural diversity.

Country of birth
Australia67.6%
Italy7.4%
England3%
New_Zealand1.9%
China1.6%

Religion

The most common religious affiliations reported by Russell Lea NSW 2046 residents.

Top 3 religious affiliations
Christianity68.1%
No Religion7.3%
Buddhism1.1%

Crime in Russell Lea NSW 2046

How safe is Russell Lea NSW 2046? A local safety rating based on recorded crime rates in the area.

Suburb safety rating
The suburb safety rating is calculated by knest.ai based on crime statistics in NSW by BOCSAR.

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Living in Russell Lea NSW 2046: Suburb Profile & FAQs

Common questions about living in and buying property in Russell Lea NSW 2046 — lifestyle, transport, schools, and the housing market.

Note: Data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Census data and knest.ai internal statistical data.

Is Russell Lea NSW 2046 a good suburb for families?

Russell Lea NSW 2046 is a strong suburb for families, especially for buyers prioritising schooling and a more established residential setting. The school indicators are standout at 5 out of 5 for both primary and secondary, which is a major plus for family buyers looking at long-term education options. The suburb also has a solid safety rating of 3 out of 5, a fairly healthy share of school-aged children at 13.2%, and an average household size of 2.7, which suggests genuine family living rather than a purely transient market. Housing is also tilted toward family-style stock, with 60% separate houses and only 20% apartments. The trade-off is that Russell Lea is not the cheapest Inner West family suburb, and its safety profile is solid rather than exceptionally calm. For buyers who want top schooling credentials and a house-oriented suburb, Russell Lea is a very credible family-friendly suburb.

What is it like to live in Russell Lea NSW 2046?

Living in Russell Lea NSW 2046 feels established, residential and quietly waterside rather than busy or highly urban. It sits in the Inner West & Inner West Fringe but reads more as low-density residential than high-energy mixed-use living, which will appeal to buyers who want a calmer home base. The waterfront setting adds lifestyle appeal, yet this is not a beach suburb, and the local environment is more practical than lush, with canopy cover at 13.07%. Day-to-day convenience is moderate rather than exceptional, with walkability at 3 out of 5, retail at 2 out of 5 and culture at 2 out of 5. Safety is also middle-of-the-road at 3 out of 5. In plain terms, Russell Lea offers a settled suburban lifestyle with some water influence, but not a walk-everywhere or highly animated village atmosphere. Buyers wanting peace and family rhythm may like that balance more than those chasing buzz.

Is Russell Lea NSW 2046 well connected for commuting?

Russell Lea NSW 2046 is reasonably well connected for commuting, but it is not one of Sydney’s strongest rail-based suburbs. There is no train, metro, light rail or ferry service directly in the suburb, so the transport picture depends heavily on buses and road access. The good news is bus coverage is rated as many, and the average commute is workable at about 40 minutes by public transport and 20 minutes by car to the Sydney CBD. That makes Russell Lea a practical choice for many Inner West commuters, particularly those who drive or are comfortable using buses as part of the daily routine. The trade-off is obvious: buyers who strongly prefer direct train access may find Russell Lea less convenient than nearby suburbs with rail infrastructure. For commuters who value a residential setting and can accept a bus-led commute, Russell Lea still performs reasonably well.

Who does Russell Lea NSW 2046 suit best?

Russell Lea NSW 2046 suits established families, professional households and buyers who want an Inner West location without stepping into a denser apartment-heavy environment. The resident profile leans professional, with professionals making up 30.67% of occupations, managers 20.26%, and managers and professionals together accounting for just over 50% of residents. Median family income is $2,670 per week, which points to a relatively comfortable buyer base, while the median age of 41 suggests a mature, settled community rather than a very young renter-led market. Housing also supports that profile, with 60% separate houses and a relatively modest rental share of 26.01%. This is likely to appeal to buyers looking for stability, space and a more traditional residential feel. It may suit first-home buyers or buyers wanting a highly urban apartment lifestyle less well, especially if budget or walkable convenience is the main priority.

What are the pros and cons of living in Russell Lea NSW 2046?

The main trade-off in Russell Lea NSW 2046 is that you get a quieter, house-oriented Inner West setting, but you give up some of the convenience and vibrancy found in more connected nearby suburbs. On the plus side, Russell Lea has strong schooling, many bus services, a reasonable CBD drive time, a waterfront setting and a housing mix that still favours separate houses. It also has a relatively low rental share, which can appeal to buyers who prefer a more established owner-occupier feel. On the other hand, retail is only 2 out of 5, culture is 2 out of 5, and there is no direct train, metro, light rail or ferry. Canopy cover is also fairly modest, so buyers should not expect a particularly leafy streetscape throughout. For families and professionals who value stability over buzz, Russell Lea can be a very good fit. Buyers wanting maximum walkability or rail convenience may feel the compromise more.

What are property prices like in Russell Lea NSW 2046?

Property prices in Russell Lea NSW 2046 are expensive by normal Sydney buyer expectations, particularly for houses. Over the most recent six months of sales in the available data, houses had a median price of $3,365,000 across 9 sales, while apartments had a median price of $902,500 across 3 sales. That creates a clear split in the suburb’s entry points. Russell Lea house prices place it in a higher-budget bracket, which is consistent with its Inner West location, family appeal and stronger schooling profile. Apartments offer a notably lower price point for buyers wanting to access the suburb without stretching to a house budget. The trade-off is that buyers are paying a premium for a settled residential setting rather than for standout rail convenience or a highly walkable lifestyle core. In practical terms, buying property in Russell Lea tends to suit buyers with solid budgets, especially if they are targeting detached homes.