Mount Richon

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census Mount Richon's population is estimated at around 2,271 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 204 people (9.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,067 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,261, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,056 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Mount Richon's 9.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.3%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 54.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth were positive factors.

ABS and Geoscience Australia forecasts published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilised by AreaSearch for statistical areas. Where these figures are unavailable, and to calculate expansion after 2032, growth rates per age group from the 2023 release of Greater Capital Region projections (utilising 2022 data) are applied. Looking at upcoming demographic changes, the statistical area is projected to experience growth exceeding the national median, increasing by 454 persons by 2041 according to combined SA2 projections, which represents a total rise of 19.6% over the 16 years.

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

According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS building approvals distributed from local statistics, Mount Richon has averaged approximately 1 dwellings receiving construction approval annually, totaling 5 homes approved throughout the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 2 so far in FY-26. Because an average of 29.4 new residents per year have arrived for each built dwelling during the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), the volume of supply lags demand significantly, which typically intensifies buyer competition and drives prices upward, while newly constructed residences carry an average value of $324,000.

Compared with Greater Perth, development activities in Mount Richon are highly restricted. This limited building volume generally supports demand and prices for established houses, although building approvals have risen recently. The construction rate is also lower than the national figure, suggesting a mature property market and potential building limitations. Additionally, residential construction has consisted entirely of detached homes, maintaining the low-density suburban character of the area which appeals to buyers looking for space. The focus on detached housing in recent approvals is stronger than existing census proportions (77.0% at Census), showing that demand for traditional family properties remains high despite density trends. With roughly 899 people for each residential approval, the suburb displays the characteristics of a mature property sector.

According to the latest quarterly forecasts from AreaSearch, Mount Richon is projected to add 444 residents by 2041. If building activity continues at its current pace, the addition of new housing may not keep up with population gains, which would likely heighten competition among buyers and support property value appreciation.

Mount Richon has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning decisions are major drivers of local growth. AreaSearch has identified a total of 4 projects that are likely to influence the area. Prominent works include the Champion Drive Precinct, the METRONET Armadale Line Transformation, the Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia Facility, and the Armadale Strategic Metropolitan Centre Redevelopment, with details provided below for those of high local relevance.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Mount Richon ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Based on local statistical data compiled by AreaSearch, Mount Richon features a diverse workforce containing both white-collar and blue-collar roles, with a strong presence in essential services, an unemployment rate of 3.1%, and an estimated job growth rate of 1.8% over the past year. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,148, with the jobless rate tracking 1.1% below the 4.2% recorded in Greater Perth, though participation in the labor force is low at 61.4% compared to 70.2% across the wider metropolitan area. Census records indicate that a low proportion of residents (8.6%) worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related lockdowns.

Local jobs are predominantly found in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The construction sector stands out, employing residents at 1.3 times the wider metropolitan average. Conversely, accommodation & food services accounts for only 3.8% of the local workforce, which is below the 6.8% rate seen across Greater Perth. The discrepancy between the number of locally employed workers at the Census and the resident workforce suggests that local employment opportunities within this residential suburb are limited.

AreaSearch evaluations of SALM and ABS figures for the wider region indicate that the job market expanded by 1.8% over the 12-month period, while the overall workforce grew by 2.0%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. Over the same timeframe, Greater Perth saw employment rise by 2.0% and the labor force grow by 2.5%, with unemployment increasing by 0.4 percentage points. National forecasts published by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context regarding future employment trends in Mount Richon. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. While national employment is expected to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, individual sectors will grow at very different rates. Applying these sector-specific models to the local industry mix projects that employment in Mount Richon will rise by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years (note that this represents a direct weighting extrapolation based on industry structure and does not incorporate local demographic forecasts).

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, the suburb of Mount Richon had a median income among taxpayers of $41,995 with the average level standing at $49,275. This is below the national average and compares to levels of $60,748 and $80,248 across Greater Perth respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $46,585 (median) and $54,661 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Mount Richon, between the 29th and 32nd percentiles. Income analysis reveals the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 29.9% of residents (679 people), reflecting patterns seen the region where 32.0% similarly occupy this range. After housing, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

At the time of the last Census, the housing inventory in Mount Richon consisted of 77.2% detached houses and 22.7% semi-detached, apartment, or other dwelling types, which is similar to the Perth metropolitan division breakdown of 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. The rate of outright home ownership in Mount Richon reached 47.2%, which is significantly higher than the Perth metropolitan benchmark, while remaining properties were held with a mortgage (42.1%) or rented (10.7%). The typical monthly mortgage commitment of $1,817 was lower than the metropolitan median of $1,907, and the median weekly rent stood at $300, compared to $350 across wider Perth. On a national level, housing costs in Mount Richon are lower, with mortgage payments below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents tracking well under the national figure of $375.

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

The local household structure is dominated by families, which account for 68.8% of all households, consisting of 25.3% couples raising children, 34.4% couples without children, and 9.4% single-parent households. Non-family living arrangements make up the remaining 31.2% of the area, with single-person households at 29.4% and group shared households representing 1.5%. The typical household size is 2.3 individuals, which is smaller than the average of 2.6 found throughout Greater Perth.

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

The local community experiences educational challenges, as university attainment rates (16.0%) sit well below the nationwide figure of 30.4%. This gap indicates both a deficit and an opening for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees represent the largest share of higher education at 10.4%, followed by postgraduate studies (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational training is highly prevalent, with 43.0% of individuals aged 15+ holding practical trade qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (32.4%).

A significant 23.7% of the local population is enrolled in formal study. This student population includes 8.1% attending primary schools, 7.3% in secondary education, and 3.6% enrolled in higher education or vocational courses.

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

Analysis of transit facilities shows 5 public transport stops located within Mount Richon, operating bus services. These stops are served by 1 routes, which provide a total of 125 weekly passenger journeys. Access to transport is rated as favorable, with residents living an average of 397 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and the vast majority of working residents travel outside the area for employment, with private vehicles being the primary choice for 89% of commutes. Households own an average of 1.6 cars. A relatively small proportion of the population (8.6%) worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been impacted by pandemic conditions.

Buses run at an average frequency of 17 trips daily across the local routes, which translates to roughly 25 weekly services for each transit stop.

Health outcomes in Mount Richon are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Health assessments indicate lower performance levels for Mount Richon based on AreaSearch evaluations of mortality statistics and chronic disease rates, with common conditions slightly more frequent than average in both younger and older populations. The proportion of residents with private health insurance is particularly low at approximately 47% of the population (~1,062 people), compared to 59.0% in Greater Perth and a national benchmark of 55.7%.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent diagnoses locally, affecting 10.6 and 8.1% of residents respectively, while 61.8% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 71.9% in Greater Perth. Residents of working age exhibit higher rates of chronic illness than the regional norm. The area features a significant senior population, with 30.0% of residents aged 65 and over (681 people), exceeding the Greater Perth proportion of 16.1%, while overall national health rankings remain consistent with general population trends.

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

Mount Richon exhibits higher cultural diversity than average, with 7.0% of residents using a language other than English at home and 34.7% of the population born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, practiced by 49.6% of residents, which is higher than the 45.0% average across Greater Perth.

Looking at parent countries of birth, the main ancestries represented in Mount Richon are English at 36.3% of the population (considerably higher than the regional level of 28.0%), Australian at 22.0%, and Scottish at 8.2%. The area also shows unique concentrations of other background groups: Welsh ancestry represents 1.7% of the population (compared to 0.7% regionally), Dutch ancestry represents 3.6% (compared to 1.5%), and South Australian ancestry stands at 1.4% (compared to 1.0%).

Mount Richon ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 50 years in Mount Richon is much higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 and the national average of 38. Compared to the wider Perth area, Mount Richon has a larger proportion of residents in the 65 - 74 age bracket (15.2%) and fewer residents in the 25 - 34 cohort (10.2%). The concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 is also higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 85+ rose from 2.8% to 4.6%, while the 45 to 54 demographic fell from 12.8% to 10.0%, and the 55 to 64 group declined from 16.1% to 14.6%. By 2041, demographic shifts are expected to alter the age profile of the area. The group of residents aged 85+ is projected to expand by 125% (130 people), increasing from 104 to 235 individuals. The aging trend is projected to continue with residents aged 65 and over representing 74% of the forecasted population growth, while both the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 cohorts are expected to contract.