Ridgehaven

Population growth drivers in Ridgehaven are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Ridgehaven is around 4,898, reflecting a growth of 594 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 13.8% rise from the previous population count of 4,304. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 24 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,321 persons per square kilometer, placing Ridgehaven in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Ridgehaven's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (4.5%) and the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. This growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 86.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For future projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. By 2041, Ridgehaven is expected to increase its population by just below the median of national areas. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 552 persons over the next 17 years, reflecting an overall increase of 1.3%.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Ridgehaven when compared nationally

Between FY21 and FY25, Ridgehaven averaged approximately 43 new dwelling approvals per year, with a total of 219 homes approved during this period. In FY26 up to present, 18 dwellings have been approved. Over the past five financial years, an average of 0.8 people moved to the area for each dwelling built.

This indicates that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes in Ridgehaven is $320,000, which is under regional levels, suggesting more accessible housing choices for buyers. In FY26, commercial development approvals totalled $1.3 million, demonstrating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Ridgehaven has 112.0% higher new home approvals per person, offering buyers greater choice.

New developments consist of 80.0% standalone homes and 20.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 81 people per dwelling approval, Ridgehaven exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Ridgehaven is projected to gain 62 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Ridgehaven has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects expected to affect the region: - Tea Tree Gully Sustainable Sewers Program - Hope Valley Sporting Club Amenities Improvements Other notable initiatives include Golden Grove Neighbourhood Code Amendment and Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme (NAIS) - SA Water.

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

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Employment conditions in Ridgehaven remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Ridgehaven has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.7%, with an estimated employment growth of 0.7% over the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, there are 2,096 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 0.3% lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Ridgehaven lags behind Greater Adelaide at 56.4% compared to 61.7%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area has a particularly notable concentration in other services, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical employs only 5.4% of local workers, below Greater Adelaide's 7.3%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.7%, labour force increased by 0.8%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer insight into potential future demand within Ridgehaven. These projections suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Ridgehaven's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though it is important to note that this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

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

Ridgehaven's median taxpayer income was $48,642 and average was $54,618 in financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages, with Greater Adelaide having a median of $52,592 and average of $64,886. By September 2025, estimates suggest Ridgehaven's median income will be approximately $54,883 and average $61,625, based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Census data from 2021 shows incomes in Ridgehaven fall between the 20th and 26th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 32.1% of residents (1,572 people), similar to regional levels at 31.8%. Housing affordability is severe in Ridgehaven, with only 83.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 20th percentile nationally.

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

Ridgehaven's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 88.6% houses and 11.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ridgehaven was at 33.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.7% and rented dwellings at 23.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Ridgehaven was $1,436, lower than Adelaide metro's $1,517. The median weekly rent figure for Ridgehaven was $320, compared to Adelaide metro's $330. Nationally, Ridgehaven's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 66.7% of all households, including 25.5% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.3%, with lone person households at 31.6% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

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

Educational qualifications in Ridgehaven trail regional benchmarks, with 20.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 37.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 9.8% and certificates for 28.0%. A substantial 23.6% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.1% in primary education, 5.0% in secondary education, and 4.2% in tertiary education.

Ridgehaven Primary School serves the local educational needs within Ridgehaven, with an enrollment of 228 students as of the latest data. The school operates under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 999) and offers balanced educational opportunities. It focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas due to limited local school capacity (4.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 16.6). Consequently, many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Ridgehaven has 27 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 22 different routes that together facilitate 1,675 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located just 176 meters from the nearest stop.

On a daily basis, there are an average of 239 trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 62 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Ridgehaven faces significant health challenges, as indicated by health data. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, covering around 2,381 people, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 10.3% of residents) and mental health issues (impacting 8.5%). Approximately 62.4% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 66.3% in Greater Adelaide. Ridgehaven has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 25.7% or 1,258 people, compared to the 21.2% recorded in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly aligned with those of the general population.

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

Ridgehaven's cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 24.9% of its population born overseas and 14.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Ridgehaven, comprising 46.5% of its population. However, the most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, which accounted for 2.5% of Ridgehaven's population compared to 2.1% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.1%), Australian (24.9%), and Other (7.6%). There were also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: German was slightly overrepresented at 6.0%, compared to 5.8% regionally; Russian was also overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to 0.3%; Dutch, however, was only marginally overrepresented at 1.6%, compared to 1.5%.

Ridgehaven hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Ridgehaven is 43 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Ridgehaven has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (11.1%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (9.9%). This concentration of 75-84 year-olds is well above the national average of 6.0%. According to the 2021 Census, the age group of 35 to 44 has increased from 12.5% to 13.6% of Ridgehaven's population, while the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 12.3% to 11.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Ridgehaven's age structure. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 83%, reaching 413 people from the previous count of 225. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 87% of total population growth, reflecting Ridgehaven's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 age groups are projected to decrease in number.