Riverstone

Riverstone lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Riverstone is around 13,311. This figure represents an increase of 4,684 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,627. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 12,170 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 830 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,092 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Riverstone's growth rate of 54.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state's 7.1% and Greater Sydney's growth rates, making it a notable growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 72.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and overseas migration also being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends predict exceptional growth, placing Riverstone in the top 10 percent of national areas, with an expected increase of 17,851 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections. This would reflect a gain of 125.5% in total over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Riverstone was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Riverstone has seen an average of 241 new home approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 1,208 homes were approved, with a further 246 approved in FY-26. Each dwelling built over the past five financial years attracted an average of 3.8 people to the area.

This high demand coupled with limited new supply has led to price growth and increased buyer competition. Developers focus on the premium market, with an average construction value of $481,000 for new properties. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $4.3 million, reflecting Riverstone's residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney, Riverstone has shown moderately higher development activity, at 19.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. However, development activity has moderated in recent periods.

Nationally, developer confidence in Riverstone is strong, as indicated by its substantially higher development activity. New building activity in Riverstone consists of 66.0% detached dwellings and 34.0% townhouses or apartments. This shift from the area's existing housing stock (currently 95.0% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and demand for more diverse, affordable housing options. There are approximately 60 people per dwelling approval in Riverstone, indicating an expanding market. By 2041, AreaSearch projects that the location will add 16,710 residents. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 26 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include the New High School for Schofields and Tallawong, Riverstone Community Resource Hub and Aquatic Facility, Schofields Precinct Development, and Crown Hill. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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The employment environment in Riverstone shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Riverstone's workforce is highly educated with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 3.3% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.9%. As of December 2025, 6,605 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.8% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation at 74.7%.

A high proportion of residents, 38.8%, worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction employment is notably concentrated, at 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation, at 7.4% compared to the regional average of 11.5%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited, indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 3.9%, labour force by 3.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. Greater Sydney recorded lower employment growth of 2.2% during this period. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industries. Applying these projections to Riverstone's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.6% in five years and 13.7% in ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Riverstone suburb's income level is above national average according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year ended June 2023. Median income among taxpayers in Riverstone is $61,359 and average income stands at $72,454. These figures compare to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $67,691 (median) and $79,931 (average) as of March 2026. Census data from 2021 shows incomes in Riverstone cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 39.0% of residents (5,191 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, aligning with regional trends where this cohort represents 30.9%. High housing costs consume 19.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 68th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Riverstone is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Riverstone's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 94.9% houses and 5.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Riverstone stood at 19.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.0% and rented ones at 35.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,513, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Riverstone was $450, slightly above Sydney metro's figure of $470. Nationally, Riverstone's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Riverstone features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 81.3% of all households, including 43.3% couples with children, 21.6% couples without children, and 14.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 18.7%, with lone person households at 15.6% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational attainment in Riverstone aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 29.3%, significantly lower than the SA3 area average of 44.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 19.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are held by 33.7% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 24.1%. Educational participation is high, with 31.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 12.0% in primary, 7.5% in secondary, and 4.4% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.0% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Riverstone has 65 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 34 routes providing 3269 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated good with residents typically located 202 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward using cars, which remain the dominant mode at 84%. Train use stands at 11%. The area has an average of 1.5 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 38.8% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 467 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 50 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Riverstone is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Riverstone faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (around 7,395 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 7.7 and 7.7% of residents respectively. Around 73.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. As of the latest data (2016), 8.7% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,158 people), which is lower than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Riverstone 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

Riverstone was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 30.7% of its population born overseas and 30.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Riverstone, comprising 51.4% of people, while Hinduism is overrepresented at 8.9%, compared to 5.2% across Greater Sydney. The top three ancestral groups based on parents' country of birth are Australian (23.7%), English (20.4%), and Other (15.4%).

Notably, Filipino (3.7%) and Maltese (2.1%) populations are overrepresented in Riverstone compared to regional averages of 2.0% and 1.0%, respectively. Additionally, Indian ancestry is also higher at 5.3%.

Riverstone hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Riverstone's median age is 32 years, which is younger than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and significantly lower than Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Riverstone has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (19.9%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (5.0%). This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.3%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 16.3% to 19.9%, while the 5 to 14 cohort has risen from 14.8% to 16.5%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 18.1% to 14.3%, and the 0 to 4 group has fallen from 9.5% to 8.4%. Demographic modeling projects significant changes in Riverstone's age profile by 2041, with the strongest growth expected in the 45 to 54 cohort, projected to increase by 243%, adding 3,909 residents to reach a total of 5,520.