Rivervale

Rivervale lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

By Nov 2025, Rivervale's population is estimated at around 12,852, reflecting an increase of 1,955 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 17.9% rise from the previous figure of 10,897. AreaSearch estimates this based on the resident population of 12,481, derived from ABS ERP data released in Jun 2024, and an additional 223 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 3,847 persons per square kilometer, placing Rivervale in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 75.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered and post-2032 growth estimation, AreaSearch utilizes ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future trends forecast significant population increase, with Rivervale expected to expand by 3,752 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 26.3% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Rivervale shows an average of around 89 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 448 homes were approved, with a further 163 approved in FY-26. This results in an estimated 3 residents arriving per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

Rivervale has seen $7.4 million in commercial approvals registered this year, indicating its primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Perth, Rivervale has had slightly more development, with a 38.0% increase above the regional average per person over the past five years. New building activity shows 40.0% detached dwellings and 60.0% townhouses or apartments. The population is forecasted to grow by 3,381 residents through to 2041, with development keeping pace with projected growth.

Population forecasts indicate Rivervale will gain 3,381 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Rivervale has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 31 projects likely affecting the area. Notable projects are Wyndham LUX Perth Hotel (61-65 Great Eastern Highway), Burswood Station East Planning Framework, 6 Homelea Court Build-to-Rent Development, and Perth Airport New Runway. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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 Rivervale has been broadly consistent with national averages

Rivervale has a well-educated workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.7%.

In the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 3.2%, based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of June 2025, 8,129 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.1% lower than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Rivervale is higher at 71.1%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%. The leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and mining.

Mining has a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. However, education & training has limited presence with 6.1% employment compared to the regional average of 9.2%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, while labour force increased by 3.2% with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 3.7% and labour force growth of 3.8%, with a slight rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer insights into potential future demand within Rivervale. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Rivervale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Rivervale's median income among taxpayers was $60,922 in financial year 2022, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $71,989 during this period. Comparing these figures with Greater Perth's, Rivervale's median and average incomes were higher ($58,380 and $78,020 respectively). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% from financial year 2022 to September 2025, estimated current figures are approximately $69,573 (median) and $82,211 (average). In the 2021 Census, individual earnings at the 80th percentile nationally were $1,015 weekly in Rivervale. However, household income ranked lower at the 48th percentile. The predominant income cohort spans 34.9% of locals (4,485 people) with incomes between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, similar to the surrounding region where 32.0% fall within this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Rivervale, with only 82.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 46th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Rivervale displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Rivervale's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 42.6% houses and 57.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Perth metro's 60.5% houses and 39.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rivervale stood at 16.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (29.5%) or rented (54.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,760, below Perth metro's average of $1,842. The median weekly rent was $350, matching Perth metro's figure but lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, Rivervale's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,760 compared to Australia's average of $1,863.

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

Family households comprise 54.3% of all households, including 18.1% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 45.7%, with lone person households at 38.4% and group households comprising 7.4%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.3.

Rivervale 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 with university qualification rates at 36.7% for residents aged 15+, surpassing both the WA average of 27.9% and the SA4 region average of 29.9%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 33.0% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.7%) and certificates (20.3%).

Educational participation is high at 27.0%, with 8.3% enrolled in tertiary education, 6.8% in primary, and 4.2% in secondary education. Rivervale Primary School and St Augustine's Primary School serve the area, educating a total of 508 students. These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby due to limited local school capacity (4.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.0). The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1060.

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

Analysis of Rivervale's public transport system shows that as of July 2019, there were 33 active transport stops in operation, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by seven individual routes, collectively providing a total of 2,178 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated excellent, with residents typically located 195 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 311 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 66 weekly trips per individual stop.

Rivervale's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Rivervale's health metrics indicate strong overall performance, with low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population.

However, older, at-risk cohorts have higher prevalence rates compared to national averages. Private health cover is prevalent, with approximately 56% (~7,168 people) of the total population holding it. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in Rivervale, affecting 8.1 and 6.4% of residents respectively. A total of 74.8% of residents claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Perth's 73.7%. The area has 13.5% (1,735 people) of its population aged 65 and over, requiring more attention than the broader population.

Rivervale is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Rivervale ranks high in cultural diversity, with 33.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 43.8% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 39.0%. Buddhism is overrepresented at 4.9%, compared to 4.1% regionally.

The top three ancestral groups are English (22.7%), Australian (18.4%), and Other (17.7%). Notable divergences include Korean (1.0% vs regional 0.7%), Spanish (0.6% vs 0.4%), and Sri Lankan (0.5% vs 0.4%) groups.

Rivervale hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Rivervale's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Perth's average of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Rivervale has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (24.2%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.9%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the percentage of Rivervale's population aged 65 to 74 has increased from 7.0% to 8.1%, while the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 25.8% to 24.2%. By 2041, demographic forecasts indicate that Rivervale's population will experience significant changes. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to grow by 48%, adding 689 residents to reach a total of 2,129. In contrast, the 5-14 age cohort is expected to show minimal growth of just 4% (an increase of 44 people).