Ringwood

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

Ringwood's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 19,918. This figure represents an increase of 1,203 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,715. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates; Ringwood's population was 19,791 in June 2025 and there were 266 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,009 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Ringwood's growth rate of 6.4% since the 2021 census exceeds both its SA4 region (3.8%) and SA3 area, indicating it is a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 90.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest ERP population numbers, Ringwood is projected to grow by 4,370 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 21.2% over the 16-year period.

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

Ringwood has seen approximately 98 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 493 homes were approved, with an additional 166 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 1.5 people moved to the area each year for every dwelling built during these years.

This balance between supply and demand has maintained stable market conditions. The average construction cost of new properties is around $385,000. This financial year, Ringwood has recorded $221.4 million in commercial development approvals, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Ringwood has seen slightly more development, approximately 17.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This balance between buyer choice and support for current property values is evident.

In terms of new building activity, around 35.0% are detached houses, while about 65.0% are medium to high-density housing. This shift from the area's existing housing stock (currently 77.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 303 people per dwelling approval, Ringwood shows a developing market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Ringwood is forecasted to gain approximately 4,231 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting property price increases.

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

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

AreaSearch analysis reveals Ringwood recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Ringwood has a well-educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate in Ringwood was 6.2% as of December 2025. There was an estimated employment growth of 1.3% over the past year.

As of December 2025, 10,484 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation in Ringwood was somewhat below standard at 67.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 33.9% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing showed lower representation at 3.2%, compared to the regional average of 5.2%. There was a ratio of 0.9 workers for each resident as of the Census, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 1.3% while labour force increased by 1.6%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 2.4%, labour force growth of 2.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Ringwood. These projections suggest that national employment is forecast to 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 Ringwood's employment mix suggests that local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years. However, it is important to note that this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Ringwood SA2 has a high national median income of $58,491 and an average income of $75,290. In comparison, Greater Melbourne has a median income of $57,688 and an average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, the estimated median income for Ringwood SA2 as of March 2026 would be approximately $64,118, with the average income being around $82,533. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Ringwood SA2 are modest, ranking between the 45th and 53rd percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The largest income segment comprises 6,433 residents earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, which is similar to the surrounding region at 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Ringwood SA2, with only 81.7% of income remaining, 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 77.0% houses and 23.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ringwood was at 27.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.9% and rented ones at 39.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Ringwood was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. The median weekly rent was $381, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Ringwood's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were higher than 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 account for 65.8% of all households, including 29.2% that are couples with children, 24.6% that are couples without children, and 10.7% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.2%, with lone person households at 30.4% and group households comprising 4.0%. 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 37.3%, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's rate of 31.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 10.3% and graduate diplomas at 3.6%. Vocational credentials are held by 29.5% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.2% and certificates at 17.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.5% in primary, 7.2% in secondary, and 5.5% in tertiary education.

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

Ringwood has 117 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 24 different routes that together facilitate 7,787 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as excellent, with residents on average being located 186 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Ringwood's primarily residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport for these commutes at 81%, while trains are used by 11% of residents. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.1, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, specifically 33.9%, work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 1,112 trips made daily across all routes, equating to approximately 66 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this analysis, showing the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health outcomes in Ringwood are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Ringwood's health indicators show below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 57% of the total population, which amounts to around 11,273 people. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 8.7 and 7.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 70.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 17.9% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling 3,573 people, which is higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general 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 36.6% of its population born overseas and 32.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Ringwood, accounting for 43.3% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 4.2% of Ringwood's population compared to the regional average of 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups in Ringwood are English (22.8%), Australian (20.0%), and Other (12.0%). There are also significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups, with Sri Lankan at 0.7% (vs regional 0.8%), Chinese at 11.4% (vs regional 6.5%), and Polish at 1.0% (vs regional 0.8%).

Ringwood's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Ringwood is close to Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and equivalent to the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Ringwood has a higher concentration of residents aged 75-84 (6.2%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.0%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the percentage of Ringwood's population aged 75 to 84 increased from 5.6% to 6.2%. During this period, the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 decreased from 16.6% to 15.5%, and the percentage of those aged 0 to 4 dropped from 6.2% to 5.2%. By 2041, Ringwood's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The 45 to 54 age group is projected to grow by 32%, adding 818 people and reaching a total of 3,344 from the previous count of 2,525. The 0 to 4 age group is expected to grow at a more modest rate of 4%, with an increase of just 38 residents.