Rivett
Household income sits at the 83.8th percentile nationally, yet the median house price is estimated at $509,000, one of the more affordable owner-occupier entry points in the ACT. Rivett's 3,354 residents are well-educated at 47.0% university-qualified, which is 16.9 points above the national average, and the suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD. Despite that advantage, the population grew only 7.6% over the decade and the forecast trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.1 points while the working-age cohort fell 5.8 points. The result is a stable, low-churn suburb where 80.4% of residents stayed put between census periods.
Population
3,354
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,207/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$509K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $509,000 is low relative to household incomes at the 83.8th percentile nationally, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 86.8% of dwellings and apartments are almost absent at 0.2%, so buyers face a predominantly detached housing market. Three-bedroom homes are the modal stock at 54.1%, with four-plus bedroom homes making up 33.7%, meaning families can generally find space without a premium. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,140 and weekly rent runs $322, both moderate compared to most ACT suburbs. Outright owners (32.6%) and mortgage holders (42.1%) together account for nearly three-quarters of households, with renters at 25.3%.
For Buyers
The median house price of $509,000 is low relative to household incomes at the 83.8th percentile nationally, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 86.8% of dwellings and apartments are almost absent at 0.2%, so buyers face a predominantly detached housing market. Three-bedroom homes are the modal stock at 54.1%, with four-plus bedroom homes making up 33.7%, meaning families can generally find space without a premium. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,140 and weekly rent runs $322, both moderate compared to most ACT suburbs. Outright owners (32.6%) and mortgage holders (42.1%) together account for nearly three-quarters of households, with renters at 25.3%.
For Investors
The rental market in Rivett is relatively thin for investors. Renters make up 25.3% of households, below the national average, and weekly rent of $322 against a $509,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.3%. The vacancy rate is 5.6%, elevated enough to suggest limited rental demand pressure. Net overseas migration adds about 23 residents per year while internal migration removes 19, producing only a small net gain. Development activity is minimal with 2 applications lodged in the past 12 months, pointing to stable rather than expanding supply. The slow annual population growth of 0.38% and the aging trajectory mean rental demand growth will be modest, making this a capital-preservation rather than yield-growth market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
23
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-71.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age is 39, just 1 year below the national figure, but the demographic shift is clear: the senior share grew 4.1 points and the working-age share fell 5.8 points over the decade, placing Rivett firmly on an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents stand at 21.7%, close to the national average at just 0.1 points above. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,208), Irish (482) and Scottish (435). University qualifications at 47.0% run 16.9 points above the national figure, consistent with the suburb's Public Service employment base. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure. Volunteering runs at 19.5% and the couples-with-children share at 46.0% of families signals a family-oriented composition.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.8%
Houses
13.0%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Rivett has a strongly owner-occupier character: 32.6% own outright, 42.1% carry a mortgage and only 25.3% rent, with tenants fewer in number than in most ACT suburbs. The stock is almost entirely detached, with separate houses at 86.8% and semi-detached at 13.0%, while apartments are negligible at 0.2%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 54.1% and four-plus bedroom homes for 33.7%, meaning larger family homes are common compared to higher-density suburbs. The vacancy rate of 5.6% is somewhat elevated, which may reflect seasonal or public-service-linked mobility. Rent-to-income sits at 14.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 22.4% is similarly low, making housing costs manageable relative to local incomes in the 83.8th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$2,140
Rent / wk
$322
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,113
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.6%
Unoccupied
75
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.2%
Couples, no children
2,709
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Admin dominates Rivett's employment at 31.0% of workers (378 people), a share far above the national average and typical of ACT suburbs near Canberra's government precinct. Healthcare follows at 16.9% (206 workers) and Education at 13.1% (160), with Professional and Technical services at 11.7% (143). By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 520 and Managers at 272, together making up more than half the employed workforce. The unemployment rate is 4.7% and full-time employment is 66.4% of workers. Real incomes grew 8.8% over the decade, above many comparable suburbs. SEIFA scores place Rivett at decile 8 on IRSAD and IRSD and decile 9 on IEO, meaning it ranks above most Australian suburbs on both education and opportunity measures.
Unemployment
6.0%
Labour Force
1,795
Unemployed
107
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.4%
Part-time
28.9%
Participation
59.5%
Employed
1,510
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.0%
Postgraduate
15.3%
Born Overseas
21.7%
Dwellings
1,280
Transport to Work
Car dependency in Rivett is high at 85.7% of commuters driving, compared to the national figure where public transport takes a larger share. Public transport use is low at 4.5% and walking or cycling accounts for 3.0%. The IRSAD decile of 8 places Rivett in the upper advantage tier nationally, with housing stress low at both rent-to-income (14.6%) and mortgage-to-income (22.4%). About 5.8% of residents (187 people) need daily assistance, a moderate figure. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families draw on schools in neighbouring Weston Creek suburbs. The low turnover rate of 19.6% points to a settled community where long-term residents remain, contributing to the stable character that defines the suburb.
Drive
85.7%
Public Transport
4.5%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.38%/yr
(+13 people/yr)
EstablishedRivett's annual population growth is 0.38%, adding about 13 people per year, which is slow by ACT standards but broadly stable. The 10-year population change was 7.6%, and the medium forecast holds growth near that pace through 2031, reaching an estimated 3,462. The suburb classifies as established with no active gentrification signals recorded and a gentrification score of 26 at the early signs stage. Affordability improved markedly: the housing cost-to-income ratio fell from 39.1% in 2011 to 28.9% in 2021, a 10.2-point improvement that reflects real income growth of 8.8% outpacing price rises. Internal migration runs at a net negative of 19 per year, partially offset by net overseas arrivals of 23, suggesting the suburb retains international newcomers while locals gradually depart.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+23
Net Internal / yr
-19
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rivett compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rivett a good suburb to live in?
Rivett scores decile 8 on IRSAD nationally and household incomes are at the 83.8th percentile. Housing costs are manageable with rent-to-income at 14.6% and mortgage-to-income at 22.4%. The trade-off is high car dependence at 85.7% and limited public transport at 4.5% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Rivett?
The median house price is estimated at $509,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $322 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,140. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4% is well below the 30% stress threshold given local incomes at the 83.8th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Rivett?
No schools are recorded inside the Rivett suburb boundary in this dataset. Families draw on schools in the wider Weston Creek area. Locally, 47.0% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 16.9 points above the national average, reflecting the suburb's professional workforce.
Is Rivett safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Rivett in this dataset. As a proxy indicator, Rivett scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the upper tier nationally. Only 5.8% of residents (187 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Rivett good for property investment?
The rental yield is modest: weekly rent of $322 against a $509,000 median implies about 3.3% gross. The vacancy rate of 5.6% is elevated and the renter share of 25.3% is below average. Annual population growth of 0.38% and an aging trajectory limit rental demand growth, pointing to a capital-preservation rather than high-yield investment.
How is Rivett's population changing?
Population grows at 0.38% annually, adding about 13 people per year. The 10-year rise was 7.6% and the medium forecast reaches 3,462 by 2031. The suburb is aging, with the senior share up 4.1 points and the working-age share down 5.8 points over the decade, and net internal migration runs at negative 19 per year.
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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