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 was 18,547 as of February 2026. This figure represents a growth of 1,525 people from the 2021 Census total of 17,022, indicating a 9% increase since that date. The estimated resident population in June 2024 was 18,248, with an additional 201 validated new addresses contributing to this growth. This results in a population density of 2,076 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Richmond's growth rate is comparable to Greater Adelaide's, at 9% versus 9.6%. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 89.2% of recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category for areas not covered by this data or years post-2032. Future trends suggest an above median population growth, with Richmond projected to grow by 3,122 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 15.2% over the 17-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 annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 436 homes were approved, with a further 72 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, about 2.2 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average construction cost of $264,000. This year has seen around $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 area's housing mix consists of approximately 54% detached houses and 46% medium and high-density housing, offering diverse options from spacious family homes to more affordable compact dwellings. With around 182 people per dwelling approval, Richmond exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Richmond is projected to gain approximately 2,823 residents by 2041. Development activity appears to be keeping pace with projected population growth, though increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.

Richmond has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that could impact this region. Notable projects include Southwark Grounds (Thebarton Technology Hub), North-South Corridor, Southwark Grounds redevelopment, and Frank Norton Reserve Redevelopment. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Richmond demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Richmond has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors, an unemployment rate of 3.4%, and estimated employment growth of 4.5% over the past year as of September 2025. In this month, 11,118 residents were employed at a rate 0.5% lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%. Workforce participation was higher at 72.4%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%.

According to Census responses, only 10.7% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with the latter showing strong specialization at 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, construction had lower representation at 6.7%, compared to the regional average of 8.7%. The area functioned as an employment hub with 1.2 workers per resident, attracting workers from surrounding areas over the year ending September 2025.

Employment increased by 4.5% while labour force grew by 4.2%, leading to a unemployment fall of 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with an unemployment drop of 0.1 percentage point. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Richmond's employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Richmond SA2 had a median income of $55,517 and an average income of $64,885. This is lower than the national average. Comparatively, Greater Adelaide had a median income of $54,808 and an average income of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $60,402 (median) and $70,595 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Richmond's household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly, between the 38th and 43rd percentiles. Income distribution data indicates that 31.6% of locals (5,860 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, closely mirroring regional levels where 31.8% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Richmond, with only 83.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 39th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places 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 structure, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 66.2% houses and 33.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Richmond was at 27.9%, with the remainder being mortgaged (29.3%) or rented (42.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Richmond was $1,733, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent figure in 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 make up 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 educational attainment than broader benchmarks. 37.5% hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in Greater Adelaide. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 24.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 9.3% and graduate diplomas at 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 in Richmond, 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 a mix of bus routes totalling 54. These routes facilitate 4,353 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents' access to transport is rated good, with an average distance of 222 meters to the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 75% of residents, while buses are used by 12%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.1, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 10.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, there are an average of 621 trips daily, equating to approximately 49 weekly trips per individual stop.

Richmond's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Richmond's health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national mortality rates and health condition benchmarks.

Common health conditions are relatively low among Richmond residents but higher among older cohorts at risk. Private health cover is found to be approximately 51% of the total population (9,496 people). The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 9.0% of residents and arthritis impacting 7.0%. A majority, 70.4%, report no medical ailments compared to Greater Adelaide's 67.9%. Working-age residents' health outcomes are typical. Richmond has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 15.8% (2,937 people) compared to Greater Adelaide's 19.3%. Senior health outcomes present 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 33.0% of its population born overseas and 34.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Richmond, comprising 43.0% of the population. The most notable overrepresentation is in the 'Other' category, which makes up 2.6% of Richmond's population compared to 1.8% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are English (20.2%), Australian (18.1%), and Other (11.9%). There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Greek at 9.5% (regional average is 2.0%), Polish at 1.1% (1.0%), and Italian at 6.9% (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 the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Richmond has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (21.9%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly above the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of Richmond's population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 20.6% to 21.9%, while the proportion of those aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 12.7% to 10.9%. By 2041, Richmond is projected to experience notable changes in its age distribution. Notably, the number of residents aged 75-84 is expected to grow by 55%, reaching 1,303 from 842. The 0-4 age group is anticipated to grow at a more modest rate of 9%, adding only 81 residents.