Red Cliffs

Population growth drivers in Red Cliffs are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of Red Cliffs is around 5,286 people, a decrease of 8 individuals from the 2021 Census figure of 5,294. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 5,264, based on their validation of new addresses and examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024. The current population density is approximately 25 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Red Cliffs has experienced a compound annual growth rate of 0.6%, outperforming its SA4 region. Overseas migration contributed significantly to this growth, accounting for about 74.0% of overall population gains in recent periods. AreaSearch's projections for Red Cliffs are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia forecasts released in 2024, with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by these data, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using a weighted aggregation method to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, Red Cliffs is expected to experience above median population growth for Australian non-metropolitan areas, with an increase of 996 persons projected by 2041. This reflects a total increase of 18.4% over the 17-year period.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis using ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data, Red Cliffs has seen approximately 30 new homes approved annually. Between financial years FY21 and FY25, around 152 homes were approved, with an additional 18 approved so far in FY26. Despite population decline, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average construction value for new properties is $332,000. This financial year, $4.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Red Cliffs records elevated construction activity, at 11.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

However, construction activity has eased recently. Recent constructions comprise 96.0% standalone homes and 4.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's low density character focused on family homes. Red Cliffs reflects a low-density area with around 233 people per approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Red Cliffs is expected to grow by 974 residents through to 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Red Cliffs has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified ten projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Red Cliffs Solar Farm, Sunraysia Water Efficiency Project, Red Cliffs Early Years Hub, and Mildura Solar Farm. The following details those 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 Red Cliffs demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Red Cliffs has a balanced workforce consisting of both white and blue collar jobs. It has diverse sector representation with an unemployment rate of 2.0% as of December 2025. This is 1.7% lower than Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation in Red Cliffs is similar to Regional Vic.'s at 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 9.4% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 2.2 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance has lower representation at 11.6% compared to Regional Vic.'s average of 16.8%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 0.9%, while labour force decreased by 2.2%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 3.0 percentage points. By contrast, Regional Vic. saw an employment decline of 0.6% and labour force decline of 0.7%, with unemployment falling by 0.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Red Cliffs' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.1% over five years and 11.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The suburb of Red Cliffs had an income level below the national average according to the latest Australian Taxation Office data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Red Cliffs was $44,403 and the average income stood at $49,258. These figures compared to those of Regional Vic., which were $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Red Cliffs would be approximately $48,066 (median) and $53,322 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, incomes in Red Cliffs all fell between the 19th and 23rd percentiles nationally. The income bracket indicating earnings of $1,500 - 2,999 captured 31.8% of the community (1,680 individuals), which was consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 30.3% in the same category. Housing costs were modest with 88.0% of income retained, but the total disposable income ranked at just the 24th percentile nationally.

Red Cliffs is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Red Cliffs, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional Vic.'s dwelling structure was 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Red Cliffs was 37.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.4% and rented dwellings at 25.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, below Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. Median weekly rent in Red Cliffs was $240, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Red Cliffs's median monthly mortgage repayment is lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and median weekly rent is substantially below the national figure of $375.

Red Cliffs has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.3% of all households, including 28.0% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.7%, with lone person households at 28.1% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Red Cliffs fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has lower university qualification rates than the Victorian average. As of 2020, only 12.3% of residents held a university degree compared to VIC's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees were most common at 8.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.9%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.7%). Vocational credentials were prevalent among residents aged 15+, with 41.6% holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (31.6%).

Educational participation was high in the area, with 29.8% of residents enrolled in formal education as of 2021. This included 11.5% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Red Cliffs has 19 operational public transport stops. Two routes serve these stops, offering a total of 203 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is moderate, with residents living an average of 552 meters from the nearest stop. Most Red Cliffs residents commute outwards, primarily using cars (94%). On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 9.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 29 trips daily across all routes, resulting in approximately 10 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Red Cliffs faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age cohorts exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is extremely low in Red Cliffs, at approximately 46% of the total population (~2,453 people), compared to 50.5% across Regional Vic., and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 10.0 and 9.6% of residents respectively. Conversely, 62.5% of residents claim to be completely free of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic.. Health challenges among the working-age population are notable due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 19.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,041 people), lower than the 23.9% in Regional Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors present additional challenges, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

Red Cliffs is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Red Cliffs had a cultural diversity index below average, with 86.4% citizens, 89.4% born in Australia, and 91.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 43.5%. Islam's representation was slightly higher than regional averages, at 1.1%.

The top three parental ancestry groups were Australian (32.1%), English (30.5%), and Scottish (7.9%). Italian (5.2%) and German (3.9%) populations were notably higher compared to Regional Vic., while Australian Aboriginal representation was also higher at 3.2%.

Red Cliffs's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Red Cliffs is 40 years, which is slightly below Regional Vic.'s average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 15.3% of the population in Red Cliffs, higher than the Regional Vic. average, while those aged 75-84 are under-represented at 5.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the percentage of people aged 25 to 34 has increased from 12.2% to 15.3%, while the 65 to 74 age group has risen from 10.6% to 11.7%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 13.0% to 10.6% and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 12.3% to 10.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Red Cliffs. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 277 people (34%), from 808 to 1,086. Meanwhile, the 15-24 age group is projected to decrease by 11 people.