Richmond - Clarendon

Population growth drivers in Richmond - Clarendon are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to research conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Richmond - Clarendon stands at approximately 16,755 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 1,516 people (9.9%) relative to the 15,239 people recorded in the 2021 Census. This population shift is calculated utilizing the ABS estimated resident population of 16,743 from June 2025 alongside 349 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The density of the area is 224 persons per square kilometer, which indicates low density living and potential capacity for future construction. The area's 9.9% growth rate since the 2021 census outpaced the broader SA3 area (5.0%) and the SA4 region, establishing it as a regional growth leader. The primary driver of this population expansion was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 73.4% of the overall gains, though other components such as overseas migration and natural growth also made positive contributions.

Projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 area. In cases where data is unavailable for certain SA2 areas, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 using 2021 as a base year are applied instead. The age group growth rates derived from these sources are extended to cover the years 2032 to 2041. Looking forward, population growth is anticipated to exceed the national median for statistical areas, with a projected increase of 3,371 persons by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a total rise of 20.1% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Richmond - Clarendon among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Development approvals in Richmond - Clarendon average approximately 147 dwellings per year, with 735 residential approvals recorded over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 103 documented so far in FY-26. An average of 2.3 new residents per dwelling over the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25 points to solid demand supporting local property values, with the expected construction cost of new homes averaging $330,000. Additionally, commercial approvals have reached $23.9 million during the current financial year, indicating a moderate level of commercial construction activity.

When measured on a per capita basis, Richmond - Clarendon displays 110.0% more development activity than Greater Sydney, giving purchasers a wider selection of properties, even though building pace has slowed of late. Houses account for 79.0% of the new construction, while townhouses or apartments make up the remaining 21.0%, keeping the historical low density profile intact and offering spacious residences suitable for families. Averaging about 158 people for every approved dwelling, Richmond - Clarendon exhibits the hallmarks of a growing residential hub.

Projections indicate that Richmond - Clarendon will add 3,359 residents by 2041, calculated from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current construction volumes suggest that the supply of new housing will easily satisfy this demand, maintaining favorable purchasing conditions and potentially paving the way for expansion beyond official forecasts.

Richmond - Clarendon has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Local infrastructure updates, planning schemes, and major developments have a significant influence on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 21 projects expected to influence this locality. The most relevant projects include the New Richmond Bridge and Traffic Improvements, the Redbank North Richmond Master-Planned Community, the Redbank North Richmond - Masterplanned Community, and the North Richmond Woolworths & Retail Expansion, with further details provided on the key initiatives below.

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

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.4%, Richmond - Clarendon has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

The local workforce in Richmond - Clarendon is characterized by strong skill levels and a solid representation in essential services, paired with a low unemployment rate of 3.4%. Employed residents numbered 8,325 as of March 2026, with unemployment sitting 0.8% below the 4.1% recorded for Greater Sydney. However, the participation rate of 61.8% is notably lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 69.1%. Census responses indicate that 27.6% of working residents performed their duties from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 containment measures.

Health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade represent the primary employment sectors for local residents. Construction is a major area of local specialization, employing residents at a rate 1.5 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, the professional & technical sector is underrepresented, making up 4.9% of employment compared to 11.5% across the wider region. Although local jobs are available, census data comparing the working population to the local population indicates that a large number of residents travel outside the area for employment.

According to AreaSearch evaluations of Salm and Abs information, the twelve-month span witnessed a 3.9% reduction in the labour force alongside a 3.9% drop in employment, which resulted in unemployment remaining largely unchanged. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced a 1.9% rise in employment and a 1.9% increase in the labour force, accompanied by a slight decrease in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide additional context regarding potential future demand in the Richmond - Clarendon area. These projections, which span five and ten-year horizons, were overlaid with the local employment profile to estimate growth trends. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, expansion rates vary considerably across different industry sectors. When these sector-specific forecasts are applied to the employment composition of Richmond - Clarendon, local employment is anticipated to rise by 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates that the median taxpayer income in the Richmond - Clarendon SA2 is $57,739, with an average of $69,899. This sits slightly above the national average, though it is lower than the median of $60,817 and average of $83,003 recorded in Greater Sydney. Accounting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated figures as of March 2026 are approximately $63,698 for the median and $77,113 for the average. In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household incomes for the area were modest, placing between the 40th and 47th percentiles. The dominant weekly household income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, containing 33.0% of residents (5,529 people), which is comparable to the 30.9% share seen across the wider region. Affordability constraints are significant, with residents retaining only 80.9% of their income, which ranks in the 38th percentile, while the SEIFA index for income places the area in the 5th decile.

Richmond - Clarendon is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Census data reveals that houses make up 74.7% of the residential dwellings in Richmond - Clarendon, while semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative dwellings account for 25.4%. This differs from the broader Sydney metropolitan area, which consists of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in the area stands at 32.2%, which is higher than the Sydney metro average, with mortgaged properties making up 31.8% and rented dwellings accounting for 36.0%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,167 is lower than the Sydney metro average of $2,427, and the median weekly rent of $400 is below the metro average of $470. On a national level, mortgage repayments in Richmond - Clarendon are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents exceed the national median of $375.

Richmond - Clarendon features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of local households at 66.8%, consisting of couples with children (26.9%), couples without children (25.2%), and single parent households (13.8%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 33.2% of households, consisting of lone person households (30.5%) and group households (2.7%). The median household size is 2.4 residents, which is smaller than the average of 2.7 registered across Greater Sydney.

Educational attainment in Richmond - Clarendon aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The region shows lower rates of higher education, with university qualification levels at 19.9% compared to the Greater Sydney average of 38.0%. This highlights a gap that could be addressed through targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 12.7%, with postgraduate qualifications at 5.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational training is highly represented, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificates (28.4%).

A substantial proportion of the population is engaged in study, with 27.6% of residents enrolled in an educational institution. This population includes 8.9% attending primary school, 6.9% in secondary education, and 4.6% enrolled in tertiary courses.

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

Public transport options in Richmond - Clarendon include 143 active bus and train stops. These stops accommodate 91 routes, providing 3,696 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 229 meters from their nearest stop. Commuters mostly travel outside the area, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of transport at 89%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.4 cars, which is higher than the regional average. A high proportion of residents, 27.6%, work from home, based on 2021 Census data that may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

Service frequency across all routes averages 528 trips daily, which translates to about 25 weekly departures per individual stop. The associated map illustrates the 100 closest stops relative to the center of the area.

Health performance in Richmond - Clarendon is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality statistics and chronic disease rates, Richmond - Clarendon faces notable health issues across both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is slightly above the typical SA2 average at approximately 54% of the population (~9,030 people). This is lower than the 59.9% private coverage rate observed across Greater Sydney.

Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the most prevalent medical issues in the area, affecting 10.3% and 9.5% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 63.1% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Residents of working age exhibit higher than average rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and older make up 21.7% of the local population (3,635 people), compared to 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes for this older demographic show challenges, with national rankings aligning generally with the broader population.

Richmond - Clarendon ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cultural diversity in Richmond - Clarendon is lower than average, with citizens making up 87.2% of the population, 83.2% of residents born in Australia, and 90.3% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, practiced by 59.7% of the population, compared to 49.2% across Greater Sydney.

English ancestry is claimed by 29.1% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 19.0%, followed by Australian ancestry at 28.7% (compared to 17.8% regionally), and Irish ancestry at 7.9%. Other ancestral backgrounds show distinct concentrations compared to regional figures: Maltese ancestry makes up 2.7% of the population (vs 1.0% regionally), Macedonian represents 1.1% (vs 0.4%), and Dutch ancestry accounts for 1.7% (vs 0.7%).

Richmond - Clarendon's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age of residents in Richmond - Clarendon is 39 years, which is slightly higher than the Greater Sydney median of 37 years and close to the national median of 38 years. The 75 - 84 age cohort is over-represented locally at 8.9% compared to Greater Sydney, while the 35 - 44 cohort is under-represented at 12.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 35 to 44 age group increased its share of the population from 11.4% to 12.5%, whereas the 65 to 74 cohort decreased from 10.2% to 9.2%. Projections for 2041 point to significant demographic shifts, led by a 60% increase in the 75 to 84 cohort, rising from 1,489 to 2,376 residents. This aging trend is further reflected by the fact that residents aged 65 and older represent 56% of the expected population growth, while the 0 to 4 group is projected to grow by a modest 4%, adding 40 residents.