VIC 3135 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Ringwood East

Its 10,764 residents have a median age of 38, two years below the national median, while household income sits at the 65.5th percentile. Compared with nearby Ringwood and Croydon, the suburb leans strongly toward family housing and lower-density streets. Overseas-born residents account for 28.3%, and 44.1% hold university qualifications, 14 percentage points above the national level. That mix supports steady demand, but the 12.8% fall from the 2024 peak shows buyers still need price discipline.

Ringwood East urban fabric map

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

15

Median House

$1.1M

October to December 2025

4.71 km²· 2,287.7 people/km²· Family income $2,321/wk

The 92.8% separate-house share, combined with 43.8% three-bedroom and 25.6% four-bedroom-plus homes, suits buyers seeking more space than an apartment-led market provides. The $2,051 monthly mortgage benchmark represents 26.1% of household income, compared with 20.9% for rent, and neither mortgage nor rental stress is flagged.

For Buyers

The 92.8% separate-house share, combined with 43.8% three-bedroom and 25.6% four-bedroom-plus homes, suits buyers seeking more space than an apartment-led market provides. The $2,051 monthly mortgage benchmark represents 26.1% of household income, compared with 20.9% for rent, and neither mortgage nor rental stress is flagged.

For Investors

Ringwood East suits a patient, income-focused investor more than a rapid-turnover strategy. Weekly rent is $380, 29.4% of homes are rented and vacancy is 5.9%, so the rental market has activity without the extreme scarcity implied by a very low vacancy rate. The 92.8% separate-house mix supports family rentals, while apartments account for only 0.9%, limiting unit exposure. Fifteen planning applications in 12 months indicate some local activity, yet the established forecast and 1.05% annual trend point to measured rather than explosive growth. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which can support demand because new arrivals often rent before buying.

Development Activity

Total DAs

30

Last 12 Months

15

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+87.5%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
18
Other
4
New Dwelling
1

Schools in Ringwood East

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Tintern Grammar

Pri/Sec Independent

Eastwood Primary School

Primary Government

Tinternvale Primary School

Primary Government

Demographics

Ringwood East has a median age of 38, which is two years below the national median, and an average household size of 2.5, matching the national comparison. The overseas-born share is 28.3%, or 6.7 percentage points above the national level, while university qualifications reach 44.1%, 14 points higher than nationally. English ancestry is recorded for 3,754 people, followed by Irish at 1,219, Chinese at 1,087 and Scottish at 1,066. Mandarin is the most common listed non-English language with 290 speakers. Couples with children account for 49.0% of families, compared with 33.4% for couples without children, helping explain the suburb's strong detached-house orientation.

Age Distribution

0-14
19.1%
15-24
10.8%
25-44
29.6%
45-64
24.4%
65+
16.0%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.6%
2 bed
29.0%
3 bed
43.8%
4+ bed
25.6%

Dwelling Structure

92.8%

Houses

6.3%

Townhouse

0.9%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 32.0% Mortgage 37.7% Rent 29.4% Other 0.9%

Ownership is split between 32.0% owning outright, 37.7% with a mortgage and 29.4% renting. Compared with apartment-heavy suburbs, Ringwood East is unusually detached, with 92.8% separate houses, 6.3% semi-detached dwellings and only 0.9% apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 43.8%, so buyers seeking larger stock may face less choice than in a more mixed housing market.

Mortgage / mo

$2,051

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$380

Census 2021

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

Mandarin
290
Canton
108
Hindi
50
Persian ED
45
Greek
35
Punjabi
26

Ancestry

English
3,754
Other
1,568
Irish
1,219
Chinese
1,087
Scottish
1,066
German
448

Household Composition

49.0%

Couples with children

33.4%

Couples, no children

15.9%

Single parent

2,882

Total families

Economy & Employment

Ringwood East combines professional employment with a substantial practical-services base. Healthcare leads at 19.1% of workers, followed by education at 12.7%, professional and technical services at 11.8%, construction at 9.5% and public administration at 7.3%. The occupation mix includes 1,641 professionals, 732 managers, 723 trades workers and 663 clerical or administrative workers. Labour-force participation is 65.6%, unemployment is 4.8% and 60.1% of workers are employed full time. Household income of $1,817 per week sits at the 65.5th percentile. SEIFA results are above the middle decile, with IEO at 8, IER at 7, IRSD at 7 and IRSAD at 8. The relatively strong advantage scores reflect education and income, while the sizeable trades and construction presence points to a less purely office-based economy.

Unemployment

4.8%

Labour Force

5,704

Unemployed

275

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
8
Disadvantage
7
Economic resources
7
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

60.1%

Part-time

33.7%

Participation

65.6%

Employed

5,429

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 1,641
Managers 732
Trades 723
Clerical/Admin 663
Community/Personal 584
Sales 411
Labourers 382
Machinery/Drivers 199

Top Industries

Healthcare 19.1%
Education 12.7%
Professional/Tech 11.8%
Construction 9.5%
Public Admin 7.3%

University

44.1%

Postgraduate

13.0%

Born Overseas

28.3%

Dwellings

4,097

Transport to Work

Ringwood East is more car-oriented than public-transport-oriented: 54.1% of residents drive to work, compared with 3.0% using public transport, while 37.8% work from home and 2.1% walk or cycle. Families have access to 3 nearby schools spanning 2 government primary schools and 1 independent Pri/Sec school; enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address because they can differ across streets. Recorded crime totals 602 offences, or 55.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences at 314 and crimes against the person at 125. The concentration in property-related offences makes address-level checks and ordinary security measures sensible. IRSAD sits in decile 8, above the middle decile, supporting a generally advantaged residential setting.

Drive

54.1%

Public Transport

3.0%

Walk / Cycle

2.1%

Work from Home

37.8%

Population Forecast

+1.05%/yr

(+208 people/yr)

Established

Ringwood East is classified as an established market, with annual growth forecast at 1.05% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 16.9% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Stable, suggesting gradual expansion rather than a sudden boom. Growth signals are mixed: the shift assessment records a gentrification score of 34 and stage Early signs, but the current gentrification measure is 16 and stage Not gentrifying. Rent growth of 35.6% and real income growth of 16.0% provide support for ongoing demand, while the affordability trend is labelled Improving. Compared with a speculative growth profile, this points to an established suburb absorbing change without a sharp change in identity.

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

16

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

Property and deception offences
314
Crimes against the person
125
Justice procedures offences
90
Drug offences
48

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

Population
Top 4%
Household Income
Top 34%
Rent Level
Top 21%
Apartments
Top 21%
Renters
Top 21%
Uni Educated
Top 14%
Public Transport
Top 44%
Born Overseas
Top 16%
Density
Top 7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What schools are in Ringwood East?

Three nearby schools cover 2 government primary schools and 1 independent Pri/Sec school. Check the exact address and enrolment zone because school access can differ across streets, while the sector mix is broader than a government-only catchment.

Is Ringwood East safe?

The recorded total is 602 offences, or 55.9 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 314, compared with 125 crimes against the person, so address-level checks and normal security habits remain sensible when comparing specific streets.

How is Ringwood East's population changing?

Population change across the wider area is forecast at 16.9% over 10 years, with annual growth of 1.05% and overseas migration the primary driver. The trajectory is labelled Stable, so change looks steadier than a boom cycle rather than a sudden shift.

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), Valuer-General Victoria (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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