Richmond (NSW)

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 is estimated at 6,049 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 5,418 people, a rise of 631 individuals (11.6%). AreaSearch validated this estimate using ERP data released by ABS in June 2024 and additional new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 225 persons per square kilometer. Richmond's growth exceeded that of its SA3 area (4.7%) and SA4 region, making it a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed around 69% to overall population gains.

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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is projected to grow by 2,914 persons, reflecting a total gain of 46.7%.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Richmond averaged around 39 new dwelling approvals annually between FY-21 and FY-25. Approximately 197 homes were approved over these five financial years, with an additional 24 so far in FY-26. Each year, on average, 2.9 new residents are gained per dwelling built during this period, reflecting robust demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $523,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This financial year has seen $10.3 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Richmond records 57.0% more building activity per person. Recent construction comprises 79.0% detached houses and 21.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (55.0% at Census), indicating continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. With around 151 people per dwelling approval, Richmond shows characteristics of a growth area. Future projections estimate Richmond adding 2,827 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Richmond 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 has identified 14 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Redbank North Richmond Master-Planned Community, Hawkesbury Oasis Aquatic and Fitness Centre Improvements, Shared Path Bridge Over Rickabys Creek, and New Richmond Bridge and Traffic Improvements. The following list 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.

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.7%, Richmond has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Richmond has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.7% as of AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, Richmond had 2,908 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.4% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Richmond lagged significantly at 56.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%. According to Census responses, a high 26.3% of residents worked from home. Key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and public administration & safety. Richmond showed strong specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 1.9 times the regional level.

In contrast, professional & technical services employed only 4.7% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 11.5%. The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicated a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Richmond's labour force decreased by 4.9%, alongside a 4.7% decline in employment, causing unemployment to fall by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasted with Greater Sydney, where employment grew by 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Richmond's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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, Richmond had a median income among taxpayers of $50,495. The average income stood at $62,350 in this period. This is lower than national averages which were $60,817 and $83,003 across Greater Sydney respectively during the same year. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Richmond would be approximately $54,969 (median) and $67,874 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household incomes in Richmond ranked at the 24th percentile, family incomes at the 31st percentile, and personal incomes at the 37th percentile. The predominant income cohort spans 31.0% of locals (1,875 people) with incomes between $1,500 - 2,999, similar to the surrounding region where this cohort also represents 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Richmond, with only 80.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 20th percentile.

Richmond displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Richmond, as per the latest Census evaluation, 55.3% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 44.7% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is similar to Sydney metro's composition of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Richmond had a higher home ownership rate at 31.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.3% and rented ones at 45.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Richmond was $1,844, lower than Sydney metro's $2,427. The median weekly rent in Richmond was $375, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Richmond's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were comparable at $375.

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

Family households account for 55.7% of all households, including 19.3% couples with children, 21.8% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 44.3%, with lone person households at 40.9% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Richmond performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 23.4%, significantly lower than Greater Sydney's average of 38.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 26.0%. Educational participation is high, with 27.8% currently enrolled in formal education: 7.4% in primary, 7.0% in tertiary, and 5.6% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.4% in primary education, 7.0% in tertiary education, and 5.6% pursuing secondary education.

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

Richmond has 49 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by 56 routes, offering 3,521 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have good accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 210 meters to the nearest one. The area is predominantly residential, with most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 80%, followed by walking at 8% and train at 7%. On average, there's one vehicle per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents work from home, at 26.3%, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 503 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 71 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Richmond is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Richmond faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Various health conditions impact both younger and older age groups, with approximately 52% (~3,121 people) having private health cover, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 11.8% and 10.3% of residents respectively, while 58.9% report no medical ailments, lower than the 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age adults face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Richmond has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 35.8% (2,165 people), compared to 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly in line with national rankings.

In terms of cultural diversity, Richmond records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Richmond's population shows above-average cultural diversity, with 20.6% born overseas and 13.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Richmond, accounting for 57.4%. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 2.0%, higher than Greater Sydney's average of 1.4%.

In terms of ancestry, English (29.0%) and Australian (27.3%) are significantly overrepresented compared to regional averages of 19.0% and 17.8%, respectively. Irish ancestry also stands out at 8.8%. Certain ethnic groups show notable divergences: Macedonian (1.4%), Maltese (1.5%), and Hungarian (0.3%) are all more prevalent in Richmond compared to regional averages.

Richmond hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Richmond's median age is 44, surpassing Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and the national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group constitutes 14.1%, higher than Greater Sydney's representation. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort stands at 6.3%. Post-2021 Census, Richmond's median age rose from 43 to 44, with notable growth in the 75-84 age group (9.4% to 14.1%) and the 65-74 cohort (10.3% to 13.5%). Meanwhile, the 25-34 cohort declined from 16.8% to 14.3%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 10.8% to 8.6%. By 2041, Richmond's age composition is projected to shift significantly, with the 75-84 cohort expected to grow by 99%, adding 842 residents to reach 1,695. Notably, those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 67% of this growth.