Riverview (NSW)

Riverview is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of the suburb of Riverview (NSW) is estimated at around 2,983 people, reflecting a decrease of 165 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,148 people. This estimation is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 2 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 2,177 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. For Riverview's future population dynamics, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from these aggregations for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Riverview is expected to increase by 424 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 21.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Riverview when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data shows Riverview has experienced around 42 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 210 homes. As of FY-26, one approval has been recorded.

The population decline in recent years has resulted in adequate housing supply relative to demand, maintaining a balanced market with good buyer choice. Compared to Greater Sydney, Riverview has 111.0% more construction activity per person, indicating strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 4.0% detached houses and 96.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift contrasts with the area's existing housing composition of 98.0% houses, suggesting decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles. Riverview has a low-density characteristic, with around 32 people per dwelling approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Riverview is expected to grow by 637 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Looking ahead, Riverview is expected to grow by 637 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

The performance of a region is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 11 such projects that could impact this area. Notable projects include St Leonards Plaza & Interchange, Lane Cove Industrial Complex, Lane Cove Sport & Recreation Centre, Beaches Link, and Gore Hill Freeway Connection. The following list details those likely to be 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 Riverview has been broadly consistent with national averages

Riverview has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 3.9% as of September 2025, below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation stood at 73.5%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 70.0%.

A significant 65.3% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and finance & insurance. Riverview specializes in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, construction employs only 4.8% of local workers, lower than Greater Sydney's 8.6%.

The resident-to-worker ratio was 0.7 as at the Census, indicating ample local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment in Riverview increased by 0.1%, while labour force grew by 0.6%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney saw employment grow by 2.1% and labour force by 2.4%, with a smaller unemployment increase of 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Riverview's employment mix suggests local employment could grow by 7.7% over five years and 15.2% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Riverview suburb's median income among taxpayers was $75,778, and average income stood at $116,860 in financial year 2023. These figures compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $82,492 (median) and $127,214 (average). Census data showed Riverview's household, family, and personal incomes ranked highly nationally, between the 96th and 99th percentiles. Income brackets indicated that 59.4% of locals (1,771 people) fell into the $4000+ category, unlike metropolitan trends where 30.9% were in the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Higher earners made up a substantial presence with 68.8% exceeding $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retained 89.2% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 10th decile.

Riverview is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

As per the latest Census evaluation in Riverview, 98.3% of dwellings were houses while 1.8% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In contrast, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Riverview stood at 48.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.0% and rented ones at 8.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $4,333, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Weekly rent median in Riverview was $1,000 compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Riverview's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $4,333 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 88.7% of all households, including 54.7% couples with children, 23.9% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 11.3%, with lone person households at 10.2% and group households comprising 0.9%. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Riverview demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Riverview's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 58.4% have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. This high level of educational attainment is driven by bachelor degrees (36.3%), postgraduate qualifications (18.1%), and graduate diplomas (4.0%). Vocational pathways account for 15.0%, with advanced diplomas at 8.3% and certificates at 6.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 37.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.0% in secondary education, 11.8% in primary education, and 8.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Riverview has 32 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These stops are served by 20 individual routes, providing a total of 571 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 107 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 84%, followed by train at 6% and walking at 5%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.8, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 65.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 81 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 17 weekly trips per individual stop.

Riverview's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Riverview's health outcomes show remarkable results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 73% of the total population (2,175 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 6.9 and 6.5% of residents respectively. A majority, 74.6%, report being completely free from medical ailments, similar to the 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Riverview has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 18.4% (548 people), compared to 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Riverview's cultural diversity was above average, with 14.3% speaking a language other than English at home and 26.3% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Riverview, comprising 66.0%. Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 1.3% of Riverview's population versus 0.8%.

In ancestry, English (24.0%) and Australian (21.0%) were the top groups, both higher than regional averages of 19.0% and 6.1%, respectively. Irish ancestry was also notably high at 12.6%. Hungarian (0.9%), South African (1.1%), and Polish (1.0%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to regional figures of 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.6% respectively.

Riverview's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Riverview is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years, and also considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 5-14 age group represents 16.5% of the population in Riverview, compared to Greater Sydney's proportion. However, the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 4.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 15.1% to 17.0%, while the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 17.7% to 16.5%. Population forecasts for Riverview in the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes. Notably, the 45 to 54 age group is expected to grow by 52%, increasing from 492 people to 747. Conversely, the 15 to 24 and 25 to 34 cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.