Ringwood (Vic.)

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Ringwood's population is estimated at around 20,419 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,275 people (6.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,144 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 20,153 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 263 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,015 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Ringwood's growth of 6.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (4.9%), along with the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to grow by 4,853 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 22.5% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Ringwood had approximately 105 new home approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 527 homes. As of FY-26155 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 accommodates about 1.4 new residents annually. This suggests a balanced supply and demand dynamic in Ringwood's housing market.

The average construction cost value for new properties is around $665,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $221.4 million, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Ringwood has seen slightly more development per person over the past five years, maintaining good buyer choice and supporting existing property values. However, development activity has moderated in recent periods. New developments consist of 33% detached dwellings and 67% attached dwellings, marking a shift from current housing patterns which are predominantly houses (76%).

Ringwood's population density is around 239 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Ringwood is projected to add approximately 4,587 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Ringwood has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 52 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include AC Hotel by Marriott - East End Ringwood, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (Maroondah Hospital Redevelopment), Dux Churchill in Ringwood, and The Ring Development. 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.

Employment performance in Ringwood has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Ringwood has a well-educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 6.1% as of an unspecified past year, with estimated employment growth of 1.3%. As of December 2025, 10,766 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4%, higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation was at 67.6%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. A high proportion, 33.9% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade.

Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing employs only 3.2% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 5.2%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.8 at the Census, indicating substantial employment opportunities locally. Between two unspecified dates, employment increased by 1.3%, labour force grew by 1.6%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 2.4%, labour force expand by 2.8%, with a similar unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ringwood's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Ringwood has a median income of $54,356 and an average income of $72,504. This is higher than the national averages of $51,892 (median) and $70,579 (average). In Greater Melbourne, the median income is $57,688 and the average is $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Ringwood would be approximately $58,840 (median) and $78,486 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Ringwood rank between the 44th and 53rd percentiles. In terms of income distribution, 32.4% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999, consistent with metropolitan trends at 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Ringwood, with only 81.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 42nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Ringwood's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 76.1% houses and 23.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ringwood was at 27.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.6% and rented ones at 40.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Ringwood was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $381 compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Ringwood's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.4% of all households, including 29.0% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.6%, with lone person households at 30.4% and group households comprising 4.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Ringwood shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 37.2% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4%. This rate also exceeds that of the SA4 region (31.2%). Bachelor degrees are the most common, held by 23.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%).

Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15+, with 29.2% holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 12.0% and certificates at 17.2%. Educational participation is high, with 28.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in primary education, 7.1% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis conducted in Ringwood identified 120 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops are used by a mix of bus routes totaling 24, providing 7,787 weekly passenger trips combined. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 185 meters from their nearest transport stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 81%, while train usage accounts for 11%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.1, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 33.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,112 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 64 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Ringwood's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Ringwood's health data shows positive outcomes overall.

Mortality rates and health conditions are largely comparable to national averages. Common health conditions are less prevalent here than nationally but more so among older residents at risk. Private health cover is high, with approximately 55% of Ringwood's total population (~11,326 people) having it. The most common medical issues in Ringwood are mental health problems and arthritis, affecting 8.8 and 7.1% of residents respectively. However, 70.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Under-65s in Ringwood have better-than-average health outcomes. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (18.6%, or 3,797 people) than Greater Melbourne (15.1%). While health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, they are ranked lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Ringwood was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Ringwood has a high level of cultural diversity, with 36.9% of its population born overseas and 33.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Ringwood, comprising 43.3% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 4.2% of Ringwood's population.

The top three ancestry groups in Ringwood are English (22.6%), Australian (20.0%), and Other (12.3%). Some ethnic groups have notable divergences: Polish is overrepresented at 1.0%, Sri Lankan at 0.7%, and Chinese at 11.5%.

Ringwood's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Ringwood is 38 years, close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and equivalent to the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Ringwood has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (6.5%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (10.9%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the population aged 65-74 grew from 8.3% to 9.2%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 25-34 decreased from 16.7% to 15.0%. By 2041, Ringwood's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 34%, adding 877 people and reaching a total of 3,491 from the previous count of 2,613. The 0-4 age group is expected to grow at a more modest rate of 6%, with an increase of 62 residents.