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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Richardson has an estimated 3,062 residents. That puts 1,367 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Demographic updates from the ABS for the surrounding region alongside post-Census address validations by AreaSearch indicate that the suburb of Richardson has an estimated resident count of around 3,062 as of Aug 2026. This represents a net gain of 4 people (0.1%) relative to the 2021 Census figure of 3,058 people. The updated total is derived from an Estimated Resident Population of 3,060 established by AreaSearch following the ABS ERP release in June 2025, combined with 12 validated new addresses recorded after the Census date. Consequently, the suburb of Richardson exhibits a population density of 1,367 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical level across locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch.
Furthermore, the 0.1% increase in the suburb of Richardson since the census trails the broader SA3 area (1.4%) by 1.3 percentage points, displaying resilient growth fundamentals. Natural increase served as the primary demographic driver, accounting for roughly 66.0% of all recent population additions in the suburb of Richardson. Long-term demographic modeling by AreaSearch incorporates the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections that use 2022 as a base year. Where SA2 coverage is absent or extends beyond 2032, projections adopt ACT Government SA2 age cohort growth trajectories anchored to 2022. Looking forward, the suburb of Richardson is projected to experience a demographic contraction, shedding 162 persons by 2041 under this framework. Despite the broader reduction, particular demographics will expand, most notably the 75 to 84 age bracket, which is slated to add 36 people. See the age section for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
21 new dwellings have been approved in Richardson over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 1.3 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 3, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Evaluating ABS residential construction approvals apportioned from statistical divisions, AreaSearch figures show that annual planning permits in the area average approximately 4 dwellings. Across the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), an aggregate of 21 homes secured approval, alongside 3 approved to date in FY-25. Given recent demographic contractions, this pace of residential construction provides sufficient supply for prospective buyers, while average construction costs of $264,000 sit under regional benchmarks, pointing toward relatively affordable entry-level builds. In addition, non-residential building approvals stand at $56,000 for the current financial year, highlighting subdued commercial development.
Relative to the Australian Capital Territory, per-capita residential construction volume is 10.0% lower, placing the locality in the 9th percentile across Australia. This constrained building pipeline limits new supply while reinforcing demand for the existing housing stock. These below-average approval volumes across the nation also reflect a fully built-out environment with potential planning limitations. Recent building approvals are split evenly between detached houses (50.0%) and attached dwellings (50.0%). This shift toward higher-density development provides more accessible entry prices for first-home buyers, investors, and downsizers, representing a clear shift from the historical built form where detached houses account for 96.0% of stock. This transition reflects diminishing greenfield space as well as shifts in lifestyle preferences and affordability demands, with the area recording approximately 2017 people per dwelling approval in a mature residential setting. With demographic forecasts pointing toward either a static or shrinking populace, diminishing demand pressures on residential stock should generate favourable market dynamics for prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Richardson
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 14 current infrastructure and development projects close to Richardson, worth an estimated $2.16 billion. 2 are already under construction and 5 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and telecommunications. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Infrastructure upgrades, major planning initiatives, and civic projects exert a major influence on local performance. AreaSearch has highlighted 4 notable developments with potential implications for the surrounding area. Prominent schemes include Banks Gateway Estate, Calwell Retirement Living Precinct, Calwell Public Housing Development, and Canberra Light Rail Stage 4 - Woden to Tuggeranong, with key details provided below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Wanniassa Hills Primary School Modernisation
ACT Government modernisation project at Wanniassa Hills Primary School delivering a preschool upgrade and replacement of existing gas boilers with fully electric heat pumps to improve energy efficiency, thermal comfort and learning environments. The works build on the school's earlier major modernisation program including new learning communities, administration refurbishment, hall improvements and expanded parking. Electrical supply upgrade works were tendered in 2025 to support the new HVAC system.
Erindale Group Centre Master Plan Implementation - Stage 1
A long-term revitalisation of the Erindale Group Centre focused on transforming public spaces, improving pedestrian and active travel links, and upgrading community infrastructure. The 2025-26 ACT Budget specifically funded the Erindale shops upgrade, with concept designs for public space improvements, including new lighting, paving, and furniture, expected for community feedback in 2026. The broader master plan facilitates future mixed-use development and roughly 800 new dwellings to support Tuggeranong growth.
Calwell Retirement Living Precinct
A retirement living precinct proposal by KBDC, featuring 30 one-storey townhouses alongside the Calwell shopping strip.
Canberra Light Rail Stage 4 - Woden to Tuggeranong
Proposed southern extension of the Canberra light rail network connecting Woden Town Centre to Tuggeranong Town Centre via the Athllon Drive corridor. Recent 2026 updates indicate the ACT Government is developing a transit-oriented development (ToD) plan for the Athllon Drive corridor, with conceptual integrated bus and light rail network options for Canberra South expected by June 2026. The project remains part of the long-term City-wide Light Rail Network plan to support a population of 500,000.
Calwell Public Housing Development
30 new public housing townhouses (2 and 3 bedroom) built to Class C Adaptable standards. Features evaporative heating/cooling, 6-star energy rating hot water systems, double-glazed windows, and sustainable design.
Banks Gateway Estate
New residential subdivision by the Suburban Land Agency delivering approximately 220 new homes in Banks, directly adjacent to northern Gordon and within the same primary school catchment. The project is focused on creating a thriving local community.
EV Fast Charging Infrastructure - Calwell (Calwell Shopping Centre)
Public DC fast EV charging delivered at Calwell Shopping Centre and operated by Evie Networks, supported by ACT Government grants and ARENA funding to expand Canberra's charging network.
Calwell Group Centre improvements
Public space upgrades at local shops including new seating, playground with nature play elements, accessible parking bays, improved pedestrian access, upgraded lighting, and enhanced landscaping. Features nest swing, trampolines, slide, steppers and new shade sail.
1,586 residents of Richardson are employed, from a labour force of 1,700. Unemployment sits at 6.7%, with participation at 68.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,306, about 75% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour market features a skilled demographic with strong representation across vital public services, registering an unemployment rate of 6.7% alongside annual job growth estimated at 1.1% based on statistical area aggregations from AreaSearch. Total employed residents reached 1,586 as of March 2026. The local jobless rate exceeds the Australian Capital Territory benchmark of 4.1% by 2.7%, whereas labour force engagement aligns closely with the territory benchmark of 70.6%. Census figures indicated that a modest 8.0% of local workers operated from home, though this metric was subject to COVID-19 restriction patterns.
The primary employment sectors for local workers comprise public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. The local workforce demonstrates an intense concentration in construction, where its share of employment is 2.0 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, public administration & safety represents 22.8% of employed residents compared to 30.4% across the wider region. As an established residential community, local job opportunities within the boundary remain limited, as shown by comparing the count of resident workers against the local daytime workforce. Drawing on SALM and ABS figures compiled across statistical boundaries by AreaSearch, the 12 months to March 2026 saw employment expand by 1.1% alongside a 1.0% increase in the total labour force, bringing about a 0.1 percentage point reduction in unemployment. In contrast, the wider Australian Capital Territory recorded employment growth of 0.3%, a workforce expansion of 1.1%, and a 0.7 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future workplace requirements can be assessed through Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment projections from Mar-26. These five- and ten-year industry outlooks, when correlated with local occupational distributions, offer projections of future demand. Nationally, total employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely across sectors. Applying these sector-level expectations to the local workforce composition indicates prospective employment expansion of 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years (noting this illustrative weighting excludes localized demographic shifts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Richardson is $2,043 a week (about $106,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,012 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $59,751 a year against an average of $66,221. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of ATO postcode statistics for financial year 2023, personal earnings in the suburb of Richardson sit marginally beneath national baselines, featuring a median income of $59,751 and an average of $66,221. These levels sit below the wider Australian Capital Territory, where median and average incomes reach $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Adjusting for the 10.44% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated earnings as of March 2026 are modeled at roughly $65,989 for the median and $73,134 on average. Census returns place personal, family, and household incomes around the 73rd percentile across Australia.
The dominant weekly income bracket spans $1,500 - 2,999, capturing 38.6% of residents (1,181 people), which corresponds with the broader regional proportion of 34.3%. Accommodation outlays absorb 15.7% of earnings; nevertheless, solid overall remuneration sustains disposable earnings at the 68th percentile nationally, with the SEIFA income index positioning the area in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Richardson had 1,108 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 0% apartments. 48% are owned with a mortgage, 26% rented and 27% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $391 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,000 a month. Rent absorbs 19.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate that standalone houses constitute 95.7% of the residential stock, with semi-detached dwellings, apartments, and other categories making up the remaining 4.3%, in contrast to the Australian Capital Territory breakdown of 63.3% separate houses and 36.7% higher-density dwellings. Outright home ownership matches the territory baseline at 26.5%, while 47.8% of properties carry a mortgage and 25.6% are tenanted. Typical monthly mortgage repayments stand at $2,000, undercutting the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080, while median weekly rent is $391 compared to $450 territory-wide. When viewed against national figures, mortgage commitments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents surpass the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Richardson counted 1,108 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 23% couples without children. 23% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the core living arrangement, accounting for 75.0% of all households. This group includes couples with children (33.3%), couples without children (23.4%), and single parent arrangements (16.4%). Non-family living situations comprise the other 25.0% of dwellings, split between single-person residences (22.8%) and share houses (2.4%). The typical household comprises 2.6 people, slightly higher than the Australian Capital Territory standard of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
21.3% of adults in Richardson hold a university qualification, including 14.0% with a bachelor degree and 4.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 25.5% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 140 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 951 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment reveals lower tertiary completion levels, as the share of residents holding university qualifications (21.3%) sits well beneath the SA4 regional figure of 46.8%, presenting an avenue for educational development. Within higher education, bachelor degrees represent 14.0%, postgraduate credentials account for 4.8%, and graduate diplomas comprise 2.5%. Conversely, vocational and technical qualifications are prevalent, with 37.2% of persons aged 15+ possessing trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (25.5%). Engagement with learning institutions is substantial, with 29.2% of the local population actively participating in formal study. This student cohort comprises 10.6% attending primary schools, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.4% enrolled in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Richardson reaches 27 stops on 46 routes, timetabled for about 3,100 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Commuter analysis shows 27 operational transit stops distributed throughout the suburb of Richardson, consisting of bus facilities. These transit points are integrated across 46 separate routes that deliver an aggregate of 3,138 passenger services each week. Local connectivity is very high, with typical walking distances to a stop averaging 183 meters. Given its primarily residential character, outward travel dominates local commuting: private vehicles serve as the main mode of transit at 93%, while buses capture 6%. Households maintain an average of 1.6 motor vehicles, exceeding regional standards. Home-based workers represented a relatively small 8.0% of the working population at the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic measures.
Scheduled services across the public transport network average 448 departures daily, which translates to roughly 116 trips per week for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.3% of residents in Richardson report no long-term health condition. 6.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Public health analysis by AreaSearch points to notable well-being considerations based on chronic illness and mortality metrics, with prevalent conditions distributed across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance membership stands at approximately 53% of residents (~1,633 people), just exceeding the standard SA2 level while trailing the Australian Capital Territory overall rate of 62.4%. Diagnoses in the area are most frequently associated with mental health conditions and arthritis, reported by 10.0 and 8.6% of the local population respectively. Meanwhile, 66.3% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory.
Health burdens are elevated among working-age cohorts, where chronic ailments are more frequent. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 15.4% of the population (471 people), exceeding the territory proportion of 14.2%, with health outcomes in this elderly group tracking general population baselines nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Richardson is largely Australian-born, at 78.2% of residents, with 17.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (27.6%) and English (24.7%). 3.3% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural measures reflect an above-average level of demographic diversity, with 21.8% of the populace born overseas and 17.5% using a non-English language in their domestic environment. Christianity forms the most widespread faith, accounting for 46.5% of residents. The most pronounced religious divergence is observed in the Islamic faith, which represents 3.3% of the community compared to 3.4% across the Australian Capital Territory. Evaluating ancestral background through parental birthplaces, the largest groups identified locally are Australian (27.6%), English (24.7%), and Other (9.2%). Specific cultural ancestries also show distinct variations relative to the broader territory: Spanish ancestry accounts for 0.8% (versus 0.5% across the region), while Hungarian and Serbian backgrounds each represent 0.6% locally (compared to 0.3% and 0.4% regionally, respectively).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Richardson is 36. 27.8% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Age distributions align closely with broader territory profiles across all standard demographic brackets, with the maximum divergence from the Australian Capital Territory being 1.6 percentage points. The median age remains stable at an estimated 36 years, matching the 2021 Census result and sitting 1 year older than the territory benchmark of 35 recorded at that Census. Since that time, the 45 - 64 age bracket has decreased from 25.9% of the local population to an estimated 22.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, senior cohorts (65+) will see the strongest growth, expanding by 31 residents (7%) to reach 503, whereas young to middle-aged adults, along with children and young adults, are forecasted to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Richardson
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 12 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,058 at the 2021 Census → 3,062 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL80114). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.