Ringwood East
Detached houses account for 92.8% of dwellings in Ringwood East, one of the highest single-house concentrations among Melbourne's middle-ring suburbs, yet the population has grown 16.9% over the past decade through lot subdivisions rather than apartment construction. University qualifications at 44.1% sit 14.0 percentage points above the national average, and SEIFA places the suburb at IRSAD decile 8 with balanced IEO (decile 8) and IER (decile 7), a profile of solid middle-to-upper advantage. Prices peaked at $1,215,000 in early 2024 before pulling back 19.8% to $975,000, the sharpest recent correction in the Maroondah corridor.
Population
10,764
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,817/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$975K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $975,000 median house price has pulled back 19.8% from the Jan-Mar 2024 peak of $1,215,000, opening a buying window that hasn't existed since pre-pandemic. Over 14 years, prices have grown 78.2% from $547,000, compounding at 4.2% annually. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 43.8%, with four-plus bedrooms at 25.6%, suiting the 2.5 average household size that matches the national figure exactly. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, given household income at the 65.5 percentile. Weekly rent of $380 and monthly mortgage of $2,051 represent moderate costs for eastern Melbourne. The 5.9% vacancy rate is within normal bounds.
For Buyers
The $975,000 median house price has pulled back 19.8% from the Jan-Mar 2024 peak of $1,215,000, opening a buying window that hasn't existed since pre-pandemic. Over 14 years, prices have grown 78.2% from $547,000, compounding at 4.2% annually. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 43.8%, with four-plus bedrooms at 25.6%, suiting the 2.5 average household size that matches the national figure exactly. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, given household income at the 65.5 percentile. Weekly rent of $380 and monthly mortgage of $2,051 represent moderate costs for eastern Melbourne. The 5.9% vacancy rate is within normal bounds.
For Investors
Renters make up 29.7% of households, close to the national average, with $380 weekly rent against a $975,000 median producing a gross yield of roughly 2.0%, typical for Melbourne's outer-east. The 5.9% vacancy rate is manageable. Overseas migration of 374 arrivals per year drives population growth, offset by 200 internal departures, giving a net inflow that sustains tenant demand from newly arrived families. Only 13 development applications were lodged in 12 months, mostly two and three lot subdivisions, signalling incremental supply rather than transformative densification. The detached housing at 92.8% and semi-detached at just 6.3% mean new stock comes from splitting existing blocks. Capital growth of 4.2% CAGR over 14 years is moderate.
Development Activity
Total DAs
26
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+116.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ringwood East iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Tintern Grammar
Prep-12 · 985 students
Eastwood Primary School
Prep-6 · 555 students
Tinternvale Primary School
Prep-6 · 328 students
Demographics
English (3,754) ancestry leads, followed by Chinese (1,087), Irish (1,219) and Scottish (1,066), with the Chinese share representing one of the larger East Asian communities in the Maroondah corridor. Mandarin (290 speakers), Cantonese (108), Hindi (50) and Persian (45) lead non-English languages, pointing to a mix of East Asian and South Asian arrivals. The 28.3% overseas-born share sits 6.7 points above national. University qualifications at 44.1% run 14.0 points above the national baseline, and the median age of 38 is 2 years below national. Couples with children (4,057) significantly outnumber couples without children (1,937), confirming a family-formation suburb. Christianity dominates at 4,517, with Buddhism (279) and Hinduism (181) following.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.8%
Houses
6.3%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners make up 32.3%, mortgage holders 38.0% and renters 29.7%, a balanced split with mortgages leading, consistent with a suburb in the family-acquisition phase. The 92.8% detached house share is extraordinarily high for a suburb within 25km of the CBD, with apartments at just 0.9% and semi-detached at 6.3%. Prices have been volatile: from $547,000 in 2013, the median reached $1,215,000 in Jan-Mar 2024 before falling 19.8% to $975,000. The small sample sizes in quarterly data likely amplify this swing, but the direction is real. Three-bedroom stock at 43.8% and four-plus at 25.6% reflect the post-war housing fabric, mostly built for single families. Rent-to-income ratio of 20.9% and mortgage-to-income of 26.1% both sit below stress levels.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,051
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$865
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
258
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.6%
Couples, no children
8,571
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 19.1%, followed by Education at 12.7%, Professional/Tech at 11.8%, Construction at 9.5% and Public Administration at 7.3%. Professionals (1,641) dominate occupations, with Managers (732) and Clerical/Admin (663) following, a white-collar-heavy profile. The 5.1% unemployment rate is close to the national average, and the 61.7% participation rate is moderate. SEIFA IEO decile 8 and IER decile 7 are well-aligned, meaning education advantage roughly matches economic resources, unlike suburbs where credentials outpace earnings. Real income growth of 16.0% over the decade is strong, and the affordability trend has improved from 48.8% rent-to-income in 2011 to 46.4% in 2021. Household income at the 65.5 percentile sits comfortably above the national median.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
11,174
Unemployed
690
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.0%
Part-time
30.9%
Participation
61.7%
Employed
5,092
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.1%
Postgraduate
13.0%
Born Overseas
28.3%
Dwellings
4,097
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 87.0% driver share, with public transport at 4.8% and walking/cycling at 3.3%. Schools are a highlight: Tintern Grammar (ICSEA 1,154, Independent combined, 985 students) sits well above the national benchmark, Eastwood Primary (1,092, Government, 555 students) is strong, and Tinternvale Primary (1,062, Government, 328 students) is also above average. All three schools score above 1,000, giving Ringwood East one of the best school profiles in the outer east. Crime totalled 602 incidents at 55.9 per 1,000 residents, below the Melbourne metropolitan median and consistent with the IRSAD decile 8 reading. Property offences (314) account for 52% of total crime.
Drive
87.0%
Public Transport
4.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.05%/yr
(+208 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 16.9% over the past decade, with trend growth at 1.05% per year (208 persons annually). Overseas migration is the primary driver at 374 arrivals per year, offset by 200 internal departures, meaning growth comes from international families choosing Ringwood East's school catchments and affordable houses. The gentrification score of 16 indicates the suburb is not gentrifying in the traditional sense, though the 35.6% rent growth over the decade suggests rising demand. The age profile is stable: young-adult share declined only 0.4 points and senior share increased just 0.1 points, indicating the suburb is successfully attracting replacement families. Medium projections forecast 21,042 by 2031, up from 19,779 in 2025.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+374
Net Internal / yr
-200
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +19% since 2011, Net internal outflow -200/yr, Strong overseas inflow +374/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
602
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
55.9
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ringwood East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ringwood East a good suburb to live in?
Ringwood East suits families wanting detached housing (92.8% of stock) with strong schools. All 3 local schools score above ICSEA 1,000, and crime at 55.9 per 1,000 sits below the Melbourne median. The $975,000 median and 26.1% mortgage-to-income ratio are manageable at the 65.5 percentile income. IRSAD decile 8 confirms above-average advantage.
What is the median house price in Ringwood East?
The median house price is $975,000 as of April-June 2024, down 19.8% from the peak of $1,215,000 in Jan-Mar 2024. Over 14 years prices have grown 78.2% from $547,000, compounding at 4.2% annually. Monthly mortgage repayments sit at $2,051 and weekly rent is $380, with mortgage-to-income at 26.1%.
What schools are in Ringwood East?
Ringwood East has 3 schools, all above the ICSEA benchmark of 1,000. Tintern Grammar (1,154, Independent combined, 985 students) is the standout, with Eastwood Primary (1,092, Government, 555 students) and Tinternvale Primary (1,062, Government, 328 students) also scoring well. Total enrolment across all three is 1,868 students.
Is Ringwood East safe?
Ringwood East recorded 602 offences at 55.9 per 1,000 residents, below the Melbourne metropolitan median. Property and deception offences dominate at 314 incidents (52%), with crimes against the person at 125 and justice procedures at 90. The IRSAD decile 8 reading is consistent with the lower-than-average crime profile.
Is Ringwood East good for property investment?
Ringwood East's 29.7% renter share is near national average, with $380 weekly rent producing roughly 2.0% gross yield on the $975,000 median. Vacancy at 5.9% is normal. Capital growth has compounded at 4.2% over 14 years. Overseas migration of 374 per year drives population growth at 1.05% annually, and the 13 DAs lodged in 12 months indicate limited new supply.
How is Ringwood East's population changing?
Ringwood East's population sits at roughly 19,779, having grown 16.9% over the past decade. Annual growth runs at 1.05% (208 persons per year), driven by overseas migration of 374 arrivals. The age profile is remarkably stable, with senior share rising just 0.1 points. Median age of 38 is 2 years below national. Medium projections forecast 21,042 by 2031.
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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