West Richmond
The suburb has 1,087 residents across just 0.38 square kilometres, producing a density of 2,857.5 people per square kilometre. Its 81.0% separate-house share gives it a more detached character than denser inner-west options, while 36.9% of residents were born overseas, 15.3 percentage points above the national figure. Compared with nearby Mile End and Richmond, West Richmond combines a compact urban setting with a strong mortgage-holder base, as 42.4% of households are paying off a home loan.
Local council: West Torrens
Population
1,087
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,506/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$1.1M
First quarter 2026
Separate houses account for 81.0% of dwellings, while 17.3% are semi-detached and only 1.7% are apartments, so buyers seeking a conventional family layout have more choice than apartment-focused buyers. Three-bedroom homes make up 55.3% of the housing mix, with 13.9% containing 4 or more bedrooms.
For Buyers
Separate houses account for 81.0% of dwellings, while 17.3% are semi-detached and only 1.7% are apartments, so buyers seeking a conventional family layout have more choice than apartment-focused buyers. Three-bedroom homes make up 55.3% of the housing mix, with 13.9% containing 4 or more bedrooms.
For Investors
The rental case is supported by a sizeable tenant base, with 33.3% of households renting and a median weekly rent of $320. However, the 6.7% vacancy rate is higher than the level associated with a tightly held rental market, so investors should allow for leasing competition and property-specific differences. Development activity reached 14 applications over 12 months, including a 1 into 2 Torrens title land division, ancillary accommodation and consulting rooms. That pattern points to incremental infill rather than a large apartment pipeline.
Development Activity
Total DAs
82
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+40.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
West Richmond has a median age of 37, which is 3 years below the national figure, and its university-qualified share is 38.6%, or 8.5 percentage points above the national result. Overseas-born residents account for 36.9%, 15.3 points above the national proportion, helping explain the mix of English, Indian, Greek and Italian ancestry. The largest named ancestry groups include English at 252 people, Indian at 106, Greek at 85 and Italian at 83. Christianity is recorded for 440 residents, while 383 report no religion and 69 report Hinduism. Average household size is 2.5, equal to the national comparison, with couples without children forming 39.2% of families. Compared with nearby Richmond and Mile End, the profile suggests a professionally qualified, internationally connected population without a notably larger household size.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.0%
Houses
17.3%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The latest figure is also the recorded peak, so the peak-to-latest change is 0.0%. Tenure is split between 23.5% owned outright, 42.4% owned with a mortgage and 33.3% rented, making mortgage holders the largest group. The housing stock is more detached than apartment-based: 81.0% are separate houses, 17.3% semi-detached and 1.7% apartments. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 55.3%, compared with 13.9% for 4 or more bedrooms.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$320
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$724
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
30
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.3%
Couples with children
39.2%
Couples, no children
19.3%
Single parent
306
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is West Richmond's largest listed industry at 22.8%, representing 83 workers, followed by Public Administration at 11.3% and 41 workers. Construction contributes 7.4% and 27 workers, while Hospitality and Education each account for 6.9% and 25 workers. The occupational mix is similarly broad, led by Professionals at 113, Trades at 89, Community and Personal Service workers at 85, Clerical and Administrative workers at 74, and Labourers at 71. The labour force totals 579, with a participation rate of 63.6%, full-time employment at 60.8% and unemployment at 6.0%. Weekly household income is $1,506 and sits at the 47.1 percentile, slightly below the national midpoint despite the above-national university share. Healthcare employment is higher than any other listed industry because the suburb draws on nearby medical and service networks as well as local jobs.
Unemployment
6.0%
Labour Force
579
Unemployed
35
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.8%
Part-time
36.2%
Participation
63.6%
Employed
544
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.6%
Postgraduate
9.6%
Born Overseas
36.9%
Dwellings
415
Transport to Work
West Richmond is compact at 0.38 square kilometres, which can make local trips practical, but daily mobility is strongly car-oriented: 74.9% travel as a car driver, compared with 6.1% using public transport and 4.4% walking or cycling. Working from home accounts for 8.5%, providing some flexibility for residents able to avoid peak commuting. The recorded crime rate is 104.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 113 total incidents, so safety should be weighed carefully alongside the suburb's convenient inner-west position. Families should check nearby school options, sector, year levels and enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. Compared with a lower-density outer suburb, West Richmond provides more central access within a smaller footprint, but its car-use share is higher than both public transport and active travel combined.
Drive
74.9%
Public Transport
6.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.4%
Work from Home
8.5%
Growth Outlook
West Richmond's current growth signals are strongest in prices and small-scale redevelopment. The examples include a 1 into 2 Torrens title land division and ancillary accommodation, indicating incremental intensification rather than a major project-led change. The suburb's present population is 1,087 and density is already 2,857.5 people per square kilometre across 0.38 square kilometres, so additional growth is more likely to come from infill and turnover than broad land release. Residential stability remains relatively high, with 79.3% of residents staying at the same address and turnover at 20.7%. Compared with a greenfield growth area, this is a smaller-scale trajectory, driven more by redevelopment and price momentum than by expanding boundaries.
Population trend: West Torrens council area
West Richmond sits in the West Torrens council area. These are the council area's residents, not West Richmond's.
Residents 2025
66,547
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.9%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
113
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
104.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West Richmond compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Richmond a good suburb to live in?
West Richmond can suit buyers and renters wanting a compact inner-west setting with mostly detached housing. It has 1,087 residents, an 81.0% separate-house share and a 2,857.5 people-per-square-kilometre density. Weigh those advantages against a 104.0 incidents-per-1,000 crime rate and strong car dependence.
What schools are in West Richmond?
School choices should be checked against the exact property address, current enrolment zones and year levels. West Richmond covers only 0.38 square kilometres, so nearby school options may sit close to or just beyond the suburb boundary. Confirm sector, transport and eligibility directly before making a housing decision.
Is West Richmond safe?
West Richmond recorded 113 total incidents and a crime rate of 104.0 per 1,000 residents. That is an important consideration for renters and buyers, particularly when comparing streets and property types. Review recent local incident patterns, inspect the address at different times and compare the rate with surrounding suburbs before deciding.
How is West Richmond's population changing?
West Richmond currently has 1,087 residents, with 79.3% staying at the same address and a 20.7% turnover rate. Its compact 0.38-square-kilometre area already has a density of 2,857.5 people per square kilometre, so future change is more likely to appear through household turnover, renovations and infill than large-scale land release.
What languages are spoken in West Richmond?
The largest listed non-English language groups are Punjabi at 36 residents, Greek at 35, Hindi at 16 and Arabic at 15. The overseas-born share is 36.9%, which is 15.3 percentage points above the national figure. Local services and community facilities may therefore reflect a broad international mix.
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).
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