Riverwood

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

Riverwood's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 12,442. This figure represents an increase of 836 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,606. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,175 in June 2024 and an additional 98 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,557 persons per square kilometer, placing Riverwood in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. Over the past decade, from 2016 to 2026, Riverwood has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.4%, outperforming its SA3 region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilizes NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Riverwood is forecasted to experience significant population growth, increasing by 4,276 persons to reach a total of 16,718 by the year 2041, reflecting a gain of 32.2% over the 17-year period.

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

Riverwood has approved approximately 35 residential properties annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, a total of 177 homes were approved, with an additional 40 approvals in FY-26 so far. Over these five years, an average of 0.7 new residents per year per dwelling was recorded.

This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and supporting population growth. The average construction value of properties during this period was $357,000. In FY-26, there have been $4.1 million in commercial approvals, indicating the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney, Riverwood shows around 75% of the construction activity per person. Nationally, it ranks at the 38th percentile for areas assessed, suggesting limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes.

Recent construction in Riverwood comprises 44.0% standalone homes and 56.0% townhouses or apartments. This skew towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. The area has approximately 455 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its established nature. Looking ahead, Riverwood is projected to grow by 4,009 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Riverwood has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified ten projects likely influencing the region. Notable initiatives include: 17-21 Pennsylvania Road Residential Development - Riverwood, Riverwood Community Centre Upgrade, 21 Charles St Riverwood & 7-9 Brighton Rd Peakhurst Seniors Housing, and Riverwood Estate Renewal. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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

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The labour market performance in Riverwood lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Riverwood's workforce is highly educated with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 8.6% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.8%.

As of September 2025, 5,869 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 4.5%, higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Riverwood lagged behind Greater Sydney at 60.5% compared to 70.0%. According to Census responses, 38.3% of residents worked from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

The area had notably high employment levels in transport, postal & warehousing at 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, education & training showed lower representation at 6.2% compared to the regional average of 8.9%. Limited local employment opportunities were indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.8% while labour force grew by 4.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.4 percentage points. In Greater Sydney, employment grew by 2.1%, labour force expanded by 2.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years for Riverwood, based on industry-specific projections applied to its local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Riverwood SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $54,820 with an average level of $69,274. This was just above the national average and compared to levels of $60,817 and $83,003 across Greater Sydney respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $59,677 (median) and $75,412 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Riverwood all fell between the 7th and 13th percentiles nationally. Income analysis revealed that 26.8% of the population, which consisted of 3,334 individuals, fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 30.9% occupied this bracket. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 76.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 8th percentile.

Riverwood features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Riverwood, as per the latest Census, 36.2% of dwellings were houses while 63.8% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Sydney metropolitan area had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Riverwood stood at 18.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.3% and rented ones at 58.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, significantly lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Riverwood was $300, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Riverwood's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,100 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $300 against the national figure of $375.

Riverwood features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 65.1% of all households, including 27.9% couples with children, 20.5% couples without children, and 15.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.9%, with lone person households at 30.7% and group households comprising 4.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7 people.

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

Riverwood Trail's residents aged 15+ have 31.0% with university degrees, compared to Greater Sydney's 38.0%. This gap suggests potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common (21.4%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational pathways account for 24.8%, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 14.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.1% currently enrolled in formal education: 8.3% in primary, 6.9% in secondary, and 6.6% in tertiary education.

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

Riverwood has 75 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 17 routes, providing a total of 3827 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically located 121 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode at 66%, followed by train at 22% and bus at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 38.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 546 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 51 weekly trips per stop.

Riverwood's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Riverwood. AreaSearch's assessment indicates low prevalence of common health conditions among younger cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 54% of the total population (~6,706 people), leading that of the average SA2 area but trailing Greater Sydney's 59.9%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (6.9%) and diabetes (6.4%). A majority, 73.0%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Health outcomes for the under-65 population are better than average. Riverwood has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 23.3% (2,898 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 15.4%. While health outcomes among seniors in Riverwood are above average, they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Riverwood is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Riverwood's population is predominantly linguistically diverse, with 67.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Born overseas, 59.5% of Riverwood residents were not born in Australia. Christianity is the main religion in Riverwood, practiced by 42.6%.

Buddhism, however, is more prevalent in Riverwood at 7.9%, compared to Greater Sydney's 4.1%. In terms of ancestry, Chinese heritage is prominent at 30.1% (regional average: 8.4%), followed by Other at 18.9% and Australian at 9.6% (regional average for Australian: 17.8%). Notably, Lebanese (4.7% vs regional 2.6%), Filipino (3.5% vs 2.0%), and Vietnamese (2.8% vs 1.8%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Riverwood.

Riverwood's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Riverwood's median age is 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's figure of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney's average, Riverwood has an over-representation of the 65-74 age cohort at 11.9%, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 8.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 65-74 age group increased from 10.5% to 11.9% of the population, the 15-24 cohort rose from 11.5% to 12.8%, while the 5-14 cohort decreased from 10.2% to 8.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Riverwood's age profile. The 75-84 age cohort is expected to grow by 861 people (an 89% increase) from 969 to 1,831, while the 0-4 cohort will grow modestly by 7% (35 people).