Richmond (SA)

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

Richmond's population as of May 2026 is approximately 18,575. This figure represents an increase of 1,553 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 17,022. The increase is estimated based on the ABS's June 2025 figure of 18,520 and validated new addresses totaling 226 since the Census date. This results in a population density of around 2,080 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Richmond's growth rate of 9.1% from the 2021 Census exceeds both the state's (7.5%) and its SA3 area, indicating it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 90.6% of overall population gains in 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 and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, released in 2023 using 2021 data, adjusted employing weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends project above median growth for national areas. Richmond is expected to grow by approximately 2,747 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of around 14.5% over the 16-year period.

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

Richmond has seen approximately 87 new homes approved each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 436 homes were approved, with another 80 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 2.2 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these five years, indicating strong demand which should support property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $264,000. This year has seen $114.3 million in commercial approvals registered, suggesting robust commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Richmond records about three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 71st percentile nationally for new building activity.

The type of housing being built shows a mix, with approximately 54.0% detached houses and 46.0% medium and high-density housing, offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to more affordable compact options. With around 182 people per dwelling approval, Richmond exhibits characteristics of a growth area. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Richmond will gain approximately 2,692 residents by 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing population may lead to greater competition among buyers.

Richmond has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that could impact this region. Notable initiatives include Southwark Grounds, North-South Corridor, Southwark Grounds, and Frank Norton Reserve Redevelopment. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

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Richmond ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Richmond has a well-educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.1% as of December 2025, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 6.4%.

As of December 2025, 11,359 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 72.4%, higher than Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. Only 10.7% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with a strong specialization in the latter at 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, construction had lower representation at 6.7% compared to the regional average of 8.7%.

There was one job for every resident as at the Census, indicating Richmond functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 6.4%, labour force grew by 5.6%, and unemployment fell by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide experienced employment growth of 4.2% with a 0.3 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Richmond's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. Richmond SA2 had a median income of $55,517 and an average of $64,885 among taxpayers. This was below the national average. Greater Adelaide's median was $54,808 and average was $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 are approximately $61,163 (median) and $71,484 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Richmond ranked modestly between the 38th and 43rd percentiles. Income distribution showed that 31.6% of locals (5,869 people) were in the $1,500 - $2,999 category, similar to regional levels at 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures were severe with only 83.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 39th percentile. Richmond's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

Richmond displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Richmond's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 66.2% houses and 33.8% other dwellings such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is in contrast to Adelaide metro's structure which was 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Richmond stood at 27.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.3% and rented ones at 42.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, exceeding Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent figure for Richmond was recorded at $325, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Richmond's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 59.3% of all households, including 23.0% couples with children, 23.5% couples without children, and 10.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 40.7%, with lone person households at 31.6% and group households comprising 9.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

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

Richmond's residents aged 15 and above have a higher proportion with university qualifications (37.5%) compared to South Australia (25.7%) and Greater Adelaide (28.9%). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 24.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.0% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.3%) and certificates (16.7%). Educational participation is high, with 28.1% currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 10.1% in tertiary, 7.2% in primary, and 4.9% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in tertiary education, 7.2% in primary education, and 4.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

Richmond has 88 active public transport stops serving mixed bus routes. These stops are covered by 54 different routes offering 4,353 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is assessed as good with residents typically living 222 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most Richmond residents commute outward using cars predominantly (75%), followed by buses at 12%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.1, lower than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 10.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 621 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 49 weekly trips per individual stop.

Richmond's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Richmond's health metrics are close to national benchmarks.

Common health conditions among the general population are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (around 9,510 people). Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 9.0% and 7.0% of residents respectively. About 70.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 15.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,888 people), which is lower than the 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Richmond was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Richmond's population comprises 33.0% born overseas, with 34.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, making up 43.0%. The category 'Other' is overrepresented in Richmond at 2.6%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 1.8%.

The top three parental ancestry groups are English (20.2%), Australian (18.1%), and Other (11.9%). Notably, Greeks make up 9.5% of Richmond's population, higher than the regional average of 2.0%. Poles comprise 1.1%, slightly above the regional 1.0%, and Italians make up 6.9%, compared to the region's 5.2%.

Richmond's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Richmond is 36 years, which is slightly below Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and also slightly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Richmond has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (22.4%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of Richmond's population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 20.6% to 22.4%, while the proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 12.7% to 11.0%. By 2041, Richmond's age composition is expected to change significantly. The group aged 75-84 is projected to grow by 54%, adding 453 people and reaching a total of 1,299 from the current figure of 845. The 0-4 age group is expected to grow at a more modest rate of 8%, with an increase of 71 residents.