Rivett

An assessment of population growth drivers in Rivett reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Rivett's population was approximately 3,390 as of November 2025, reflecting an increase of 36 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,354. This growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,385 in June 2024 and an additional five validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was around 2,105 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Rivett's growth rate of 1.1% since the 2021 census surpassed the SA3 area's 0.6%, indicating it as a region leader in growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 52.7% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections were used, also based on 2022. Population projections indicate a decline of 43 persons by 2041, with specific age cohorts expected to grow; notably, the 55 to 64 age group is projected to increase by 101 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Rivett according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Rivett has received approximately six dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 30 homes were approved, with an additional four approved in FY26 so far.

Each dwelling built attracted an average of 3.6 people per year over these five years, indicating significant demand exceeding new supply. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $279,000. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Rivett has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, placing it in the 23rd percentile nationally, suggesting limited buyer options and increased demand for established dwellings. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, maintaining Rivett's traditional suburban character focused on family homes.

With around 800 people per dwelling approval, Rivett reflects a mature market with stable or declining population expected in the future, potentially reducing housing pressure and creating buying opportunities.

Rivett has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that may impact this area. Notable projects are Molonglo Group Centre to Town Centre Transition, Fetherston Weston, Canberra Hospital Master Plan, and Deakin Private Hospital. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Rivett recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Rivett's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.1% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.7% over the preceding year.

In Rivett, 1,700 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.6% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%. Workforce participation in Rivett was lower at 63.4%, compared to ACT's 69.6%. Key industries employing Rivett residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Notably, health care & social assistance is particularly specialized with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, accommodation & food services are under-represented at 4.7% compared to ACT's 6.5%. Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 0.7% while labour force grew by 1.2%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, ACT saw employment grow by 1.4%, labour force expand by 1.2%, and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows ACT employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.5%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rivett's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Rivett SA2 had a median income of $62,997 and an average income of $74,944. This is higher than the national averages of $68,678 (median) and $83,634 (average) in the Australian Capital Territory. Using Wage Price Index growth of 13.6% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for Rivett SA2 as of September 2025 would be approximately $71,565 (median) and $85,136 (average). Census 2021 data ranks Rivett's household, family, and personal incomes between the 78th and 86th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 30.5% of individuals earn between $1,500 - $2,999, reflecting a broader area pattern where 34.3% fall into this range. High weekly earnings exceeding $3,000 are achieved by 34.2% of households, indicating strong consumer spending power. After housing costs, residents retain 86.9% of their income, demonstrating robust purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Rivett is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Rivett, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 86.8% houses and 13.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had 81.7% houses and 18.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rivett was 32.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.8% and rented dwellings at 25.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rivett was $2,140, below the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,251. The median weekly rent figure in Rivett was $322, compared to Australian Capital Territory's $420. Nationally, Rivett's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

Rivett has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 72.3% of all households, including 31.9% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 12.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.7%, with lone person households at 25.7% and group households making up 1.9%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Rivett exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

In Rivett, a significant proportion of residents aged 15 and above have achieved university qualifications, at 41.7%, which is higher than the national average of 30.4%. This high level of educational attainment positions the area favourably for opportunities that require advanced knowledge. Among these residents with university qualifications, bachelor degrees are the most common, held by 24.0% of them, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 11.6%, and graduate diplomas at 6.1%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent in Rivett, with 26.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications.

Advanced diplomas account for 10.6% of these residents, while certificates make up 16.3%. Educational participation is notably high in Rivett, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.4% in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 5.0% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Rivett has 19 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by two routes that together offer 345 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 166 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility.

On average, there are 49 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Rivett is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Rivett faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~1,935 people), compared to 60.9% across the Australian Capital Territory.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 9.3% and 9.1% of residents respectively. A total of 64.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.3% across the Australian Capital Territory. The area has 20.1% of residents aged 65 and over (680 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Rivett was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Rivett's cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 21.7% of its population born overseas and 14.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Rivett was Christianity, accounting for 42.5% of the population. Notably, Hinduism was overrepresented, comprising 2.2% of Rivett's population compared to 2.0% across the Australian Capital Territory.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were Australian at 26.5%, English at 25.2%, and Irish at 10.1%. There were also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: French was overrepresented at 0.9% compared to 0.7% regionally, Welsh at 0.8% compared to 0.7%, and Dutch at 1.8% compared to 1.3%.

Rivett's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Rivett's median age is 39, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory figure of 35 and comparable to Australia's median age of 38. The 75-84 age group constitutes 9.3% of Rivett's population, a significant representation compared to the Australian Capital Territory. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort makes up 12.1% of Rivett's population, which is less prevalent than in the Australian Capital Territory. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 6.4% to 9.3% of Rivett's population. During this period, the 65-74 cohort has declined from 10.5% to 8.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate substantial shifts in Rivett's age structure. The 55-64 group is expected to grow by 30%, increasing from 340 to 443 people. This growth is led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 51% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 45-54 and 0-4 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.