Richmond
Compared with nearby Mile End and Cowandilla, its appeal is tied to urban convenience and a housing mix where 63.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 21.6% semi-detached and 15.4% apartments. Richmond is 4.0 years younger than the national profile, yet its trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 4.5 percentage points.
Population
3,474
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,383/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$1.3M
First quarter 2026
Richmond suits buyers who value an established, compact setting but can fund a premium entry point. Separate houses account for 63.0% of homes, but 21.6% are semi-detached and 15.4% are apartments, creating more choice than a detached-only market. Mortgage stress is flagged false at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.4%, compared with rent-to-income of 21.7%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.0%, so households wanting four or more bedrooms face a smaller 13.3% segment.
For Buyers
Richmond suits buyers who value an established, compact setting but can fund a premium entry point. Separate houses account for 63.0% of homes, but 21.6% are semi-detached and 15.4% are apartments, creating more choice than a detached-only market. Mortgage stress is flagged false at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.4%, compared with rent-to-income of 21.7%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.0%, so households wanting four or more bedrooms face a smaller 13.3% segment.
For Investors
Richmond presents an inner-west investment case built around a substantial renter base and active housing demand. Renting accounts for 44.5% of occupied dwellings, compared with 24.2% owned outright and 30.0% mortgaged, while weekly rent is $300 and vacancy is 7.8%. Price growth was 16.2% between 1Q 2025 and 1Q 2026, higher than the 12.6% real-income growth recorded across the period. Planning activity reached 31 applications in 12 months, so investors should check outcomes because added supply can alter competition between established homes and newer stock. Forecast growth is 1.95% annually and is driven by internal migration.
Development Activity
Total DAs
223
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-6.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Richmond has 3,474 residents, a median age of 36 and average household size of 2.2, pointing to a smaller-household profile than the national average by 0.3 people. Overseas-born residents make up 35.1%, which is 13.5 percentage points above the national comparison, while university-educated residents account for 45.6%, or 15.5 points higher than the national figure. English ancestry is most common at 893 people, followed by Greek at 361, Italian at 275 and Irish at 238. Greek is the leading recorded non-English home language at 117 speakers, with Mandarin at 68 and Punjabi at 62. Couples with children represent 39.4% of families, compared with 36.3% couples without children, while one-parent families account for 20.8%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
63.0%
Houses
21.6%
Townhouse
15.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Richmond's housing profile is more mixed than a conventional detached-house suburb. Separate houses account for 63.0% of dwellings, with 21.6% semi-detached homes and 15.4% apartments. Three-bedroom properties make up 52.0% of stock, while two-bedroom homes represent 26.6%, leaving 13.3% with four or more bedrooms. Tenure is split across 44.5% renting, 30.0% paying a mortgage and 24.2% owning outright, giving the renter share a 20.3 percentage-point lead over outright ownership. Household income is $1,383 per week and sits around the 39.3rd percentile, so price growth has run ahead of the middle-income base. Compared with nearby Mile End and Cowandilla, Richmond's mix gives buyers a broader search range.
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$771
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.8%
Unoccupied
126
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.4%
Couples with children
36.3%
Couples, no children
20.8%
Single parent
875
Total families
Economy & Employment
Richmond's labour market is anchored by healthcare, which employs 21.5% of workers or 296 people, followed by Professional/Tech at 10.3% and 141, Education at 9.7% and 133, Retail at 7.3% and 100, and Construction at 7.2% and 99. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 468, ahead of Community/Personal at 313, Clerical/Admin at 288, Trades at 211 and Managers at 196. The participation rate is 68.5%, unemployment is 5.3% and full-time employment is 56.2%, indicating a mixed employment base rather than a single-industry suburb. Compared with the national profile, university education is higher by 15.5 percentage points, helping explain the professional and technical presence. SEIFA results are uneven: education and occupation ranks in decile 7, economic resources is in decile 2, disadvantage is decile 5 and advantage/disadvantage is decile 6. This split suggests credentials do not translate evenly into household wealth.
Unemployment
5.3%
Labour Force
2,047
Unemployed
108
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.2%
Part-time
38.1%
Participation
68.5%
Employed
1,939
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.6%
Postgraduate
11.6%
Born Overseas
35.1%
Dwellings
1,469
Transport to Work
Richmond packs 3,474 residents into 1.41 sq km, producing a density of 2,471.5 people per sq km and an established inner-west setting. Daily travel is car-led: 70.7% drive, compared with 8.5% using public transport, 4.9% walking or cycling and 10.3% working from home. That pattern suits residents with direct road access, while public transport users should compare routes and peak-time connections before buying. The recorded crime rate is 45.5 incidents per 1,000 people across 158 incidents, so safety decisions should be based on current street-level conditions and the exact property. Socioeconomic conditions are mixed: IRSAD sits in decile 6, IRSD in decile 5, IEO in decile 7, but IER is lower at decile 2. School access should be checked against the exact address, including sector and enrolment zone, before deciding. Compared with lower-density outer suburbs, Richmond offers a more concentrated urban setting because housing sits within a small footprint.
Drive
70.7%
Public Transport
8.5%
Walk / Cycle
4.9%
Work from Home
10.3%
Population Forecast
+1.95%/yr
(+212 people/yr)
EstablishedRichmond's growth outlook is positive but structurally changing. The annual trend is 1.95%, and the primary migration driver is internal migration, suggesting demand is being shaped by movement within Australia. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is 28.6%. The trajectory is classified as Aging, with the senior share up 4.5 percentage points, the young share down 1.5 points and the working share down 0.8 points. Gentrification is scored 42 and staged as Active, while the shift measure records a score of 38 and an Early signs stage. This mixed pattern matters because established-area price growth can continue while the household profile ages. Rents have grown 42.0%, real incomes 12.6% and affordability moved from 46.9% in 2011 to 48.1% in 2021, a Stable trend. Compared with a purely greenfield market, 31 development applications in 12 months point to incremental change rather than a single large release.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+47
Net Internal / yr
+112
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +39% since 2011, Net internal migration +112/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 27%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
158
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
45.5
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Richmond compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Richmond a good suburb to live in?
Richmond can suit buyers and renters who want a compact inner-west setting, with 70.7% of residents driving and 8.5% using public transport. Its 1.41 sq km footprint creates a concentrated urban feel, while the crime rate of 45.5 incidents per 1,000 people means you should compare the exact street and property before deciding.
What schools are in Richmond?
School access for Richmond depends on the exact address and enrolment zone. Compare nearby government and non-government options by sector and type before signing a lease or contract; a 1.41 sq km suburb can still have catchments that differ by street. Confirm current boundaries directly with each school because zones and availability can change.
Is Richmond safe?
Richmond recorded 158 crimes, equal to 45.5 incidents per 1,000 people. That figure should be compared with current local conditions and the specific street, because suburb-wide rates can vary across property locations. Check recent incidents, lighting, access and surrounding streets before committing to a property.
Is Richmond good for property investment?
Richmond may suit investors seeking an established inner-west market, but the purchase price is substantial. Renting accounts for 44.5% of dwellings, weekly rent is $300 and vacancy is 7.8%. Price growth of 16.2% from 1Q 2025 to 1Q 2026 was higher than 12.6% real-income growth, so compare cash flow, borrowing costs and future development before buying.
How is Richmond's population changing?
Richmond has 3,474 residents today. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is 28.6%, with annual growth of 1.95% driven by internal migration. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.5 percentage points and the young share down 1.5 points, so growth is occurring alongside an older household profile compared with the past.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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