Ridgehaven
At a median age of 43, Ridgehaven skews 3 years older than the national average, and that aging profile shapes almost every other number in the suburb. The 4,304 residents are spread across a 2.11 km2 footprint at a density of 2,040 per km2, with 73.5% of dwellings being separate houses. Household income sits at the 31.2nd percentile nationally, below the national midpoint, yet house prices reached $901,400 in early 2026, a 9.9% jump from $820,000 a year prior. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 6 and IRSAD decile of 5 place Ridgehaven in the middle tier nationally, reflecting a suburb that is neither highly advantaged nor heavily disadvantaged.
Population
4,304
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,307/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
53
Median House
$901K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price hit $901,400 in the first quarter of 2026, up 9.9% from $820,000 in the first quarter of 2025. At that price, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,436, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is dominated by three-bedroom homes at 59.7%, with four-plus bedroom dwellings at 17.4% and two-bedroom at 20.2%, meaning buyers seeking a family-sized separate house have strong choice. Separate houses account for 73.5% of all dwellings, apartments 20.5% and semi-detached 6.0%. With 33.6% of residents owning outright and 42.7% carrying a mortgage, the ownership-to-renter ratio is roughly 3:1, consistent with an established, owner-occupier-heavy suburb.
For Buyers
The median house price hit $901,400 in the first quarter of 2026, up 9.9% from $820,000 in the first quarter of 2025. At that price, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,436, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is dominated by three-bedroom homes at 59.7%, with four-plus bedroom dwellings at 17.4% and two-bedroom at 20.2%, meaning buyers seeking a family-sized separate house have strong choice. Separate houses account for 73.5% of all dwellings, apartments 20.5% and semi-detached 6.0%. With 33.6% of residents owning outright and 42.7% carrying a mortgage, the ownership-to-renter ratio is roughly 3:1, consistent with an established, owner-occupier-heavy suburb.
For Investors
Ridgehaven's 23.7% renter share is lower than the state average, which limits tenant pool depth relative to inner-Adelaide markets. Weekly rent is $320, and against the $901,400 median that implies a gross yield around 1.8%, making capital growth the primary investment argument. The 5.6% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants attention before purchasing. On the demand side, overseas migration drives 83 net arrivals annually compared to 14 net internal arrivals, providing a steady tenant base that is less volatile than locally driven demand. Development activity is active at 51 applications in the past 12 months, including a recent Torrens Title land division creating three detached dwellings, which signals ongoing residential intensification. Rent grew 26.9% over the prior period, above typical national figures, supporting the case for income growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
320
Last 12 Months
53
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+17.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ridgehaven iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ridgehaven Primary School
U, R-6 · 222 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, and the suburb is on an aging trajectory with the senior share rising 4.8 points and the working-age share falling 2.6 points over the decade. The overseas-born share of 24.9% is 3.3 points above national, driven largely by English-speaking migrants: English (1,884) and Scottish (377) ancestry dominate, alongside German (350) and Irish (343), reflecting a predominantly Anglo-Celtic heritage. University qualifications reach 28.6%, which is 1.5 points below the national figure, a marginal gap. Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, consistent with the older couples-without-children profile: 31.0% of families are couples with no children. Languages other than English are spoken by a small minority, led by Punjabi (38 speakers), Mandarin (26) and Hindi (24).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.5%
Houses
6.0%
Townhouse
20.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Ridgehaven splits into three groups: 33.6% own outright, 42.7% carry a mortgage and 23.7% rent. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners signals a mid-cycle suburb where residents are still paying down debt rather than sitting on inherited equity. The house price rose from $820,000 in the first quarter of 2025 to $901,400 in the first quarter of 2026, a 9.9% annual gain that compares favourably with the broader SA market. Three-bedroom homes account for 59.7% of the stock, far above most metropolitan averages where two-bedroom dwellings dominate. The rent-to-income ratio of 24.5% keeps tenants comfortable, below the 30% stress threshold. Mortgage stress is similarly absent at 25.4%, because purchase prices remain lower than in comparable Sydney or Melbourne suburbs at this income decile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (Median 1Q 2026)
Mortgage / mo
$1,436
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$320
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$688
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.6%
Unoccupied
105
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.0%
Couples, no children
3,318
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 21.9% of the local workforce (287 workers), consistent with the older resident profile generating higher service demand. Education follows at 12.2% (160) and Construction at 9.6% (126), with Public Administration at 9.4% (123) and Manufacturing at 7.0% (92) rounding out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead (374) ahead of Clerical and Administrative workers (275) and Community and Personal Service workers (255). The unemployment rate of 6.5% is above typical metropolitan levels, partly because the participation rate of 53.5% is low, reflecting 1,466 residents not in the labour force, likely due to the aging demographic. The SEIFA IEO decile of 5 places education and occupation outcomes at the national median, while the IER decile of 6 for economic resources is modestly above average.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
7,001
Unemployed
177
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.3%
Part-time
31.2%
Participation
53.5%
Employed
1,809
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.6%
Postgraduate
5.9%
Born Overseas
24.9%
Dwellings
1,766
Transport to Work
Transport in Ridgehaven is car-dependent: 81.0% of residents drive to work, compared to the national reliance on cars, while only 10.9% use public transport and 2.7% walk or cycle. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Ridgehaven at the national median for relative advantage, which is neither a high-disadvantage area nor a top-tier enclave. Safety data shows a crime rate of 30.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 131 total recorded crimes, a figure that sits below the rates seen in many inner-city SA postcodes. The volunteering rate of 14.2% reflects moderate community engagement, and 9.5% of residents (395 people) need daily assistance, slightly above the national average, consistent with the older median age. No schools are recorded within the Ridgehaven boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions in adjacent suburbs such as Modbury and Golden Grove.
Drive
81.0%
Public Transport
10.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.51%/yr
(+69 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth runs at 0.51%, adding about 69 persons per year, and the medium forecast puts the wider SA2 population reaching 13,878 by 2031, up from 13,531 in 2025. The 10-year population change was 8.3%, a moderate expansion for an established suburb. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 83 net arrivals annually, more than 5 times the net internal migration of 14, indicating that population stability depends significantly on continued overseas intake. The gentrification score is 24, classified as early signs, so price and demographic uplift is possible but not yet entrenched. Affordability held broadly stable between 2011 (45.9%) and 2021 (44.1%), which means rising prices have been matched by income growth rather than a sharp squeeze on buyers, unlike in higher-growth state capitals.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+83
Net Internal / yr
+14
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
131
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
30.4
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ridgehaven compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ridgehaven a good suburb to live in?
Ridgehaven sits at IRSAD decile 5 and IRSD decile 6, placing it in the middle tier nationally. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4% is below the 30% stress threshold, and the crime rate of 30.4 per 1,000 residents is moderate. Car dependency is high at 81.0% driving to work, so public transport access is limited compared to inner suburbs.
What is the median house price in Ridgehaven?
The median house price in Ridgehaven was $901,400 in the first quarter of 2026, up 9.9% from $820,000 in the first quarter of 2025. Weekly rent averages $320 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,436, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%.
What schools are in Ridgehaven?
No schools are recorded within the Ridgehaven boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Modbury and Golden Grove. The suburb's 28.6% university qualification rate is 1.5 points below the national figure, close to the national average for education attainment.
Is Ridgehaven safe?
Ridgehaven recorded 131 total crimes in the reference period, giving a rate of 30.4 incidents per 1,000 residents. That rate is below many inner-Adelaide postcodes. The IRSD decile of 6 places the suburb above the national median for low disadvantage, which is broadly associated with lower crime outcomes.
Is Ridgehaven good for property investment?
Rent of $320 a week against a $901,400 median gives a gross yield around 1.8%, lower than many regional markets. House prices grew 9.9% in one year and rent rose 26.9% over the prior period. The 5.6% vacancy rate is elevated, and the 23.7% renter share is below state average, so investor returns depend on capital growth more than yield.
How is Ridgehaven's population changing?
Ridgehaven's wider SA2 area grew 8.3% over 10 years, adding about 69 residents per year at a 0.51% annual rate. Overseas migration is the main driver at 83 net arrivals annually. The suburb is on an aging trajectory, with the senior share rising 4.8 points and the working-age share falling 2.6 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Ridgehaven?
There were 51 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a Torrens Title land division creating 3 new detached dwellings and several performance-assessed alterations. This level of activity indicates steady residential intensification for an established suburb of 4,304 residents.
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), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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