Ringwood
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Ringwood's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 19,789 people. This figure represents an increase of 1,074 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,715. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,633 in June 2024 and an additional 226 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,996 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Ringwood's growth rate of 5.7% since the 2021 census surpassed both the SA4 region (3.9%) and the SA3 area, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 90.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Demographic trends indicate that Ringwood is expected to grow significantly in the top quartile of statistical areas nationally, with an anticipated increase of 4,835 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, representing a total gain of 23.6% over the 17-year period.

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

Ringwood has seen approximately 98 new homes approved annually. Development approval data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicates that between Financial Year (FY) 21 and FY 25, around 493 homes were approved, with an additional 119 approved in FY 26 to date. Over these five years, an average of 1.5 people moved to the area per dwelling built, suggesting a balanced supply and demand market that supports stable conditions. The construction cost value of new properties averages $672,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments.

Commercial approvals this financial year total $221.4 million, reflecting robust local business investment. Comparatively, Ringwood has seen 17.0% more development per person than Greater Melbourne over the past five years. New building activity shows 35.0% detached houses and 65.0% medium to high-density housing, marking a shift from the area's current 77.0% houses. This trend offers affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 303 people per dwelling approval, Ringwood exhibits characteristics of a low-density area.

Population forecasts project an increase of 4,679 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 57 projects potentially impacting this region. Notable ones include AC Hotel by Marriott - East End Ringwood, Ringwood Residences, Dux Churchill Ringwood, and Ringwood Activity Centre Car Park. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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

Ringwood's workforce is well-educated with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate in Ringwood was 5.4% as of a certain period, with an estimated employment growth of 0.9% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 10,454 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Ringwood was on par with Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade.

Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing had lower representation at 3.2% compared to the regional average of 5.2%. There were approximately 0.9 workers for each resident in Ringwood as per the Census data, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 0.9% while labour force grew by 0.7%, leading to a decrease in unemployment of 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5%, labour force growth of 4.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 showed that Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding approximately 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ringwood's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, although it is important to note that this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did 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 2022 shows Ringwood has high national median income of $54,571 and average income of $72,909. Greater Melbourne has median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. By March 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $60,088 (median) and $80,280 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11%. According to the 2021 Census, Ringwood's household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly between the 45th and 53rd percentiles. The largest income segment comprises 32.3% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (6,391 residents), similar to surrounding regions at 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 43rd 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 (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 87.2% houses and 12.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ringwood stood at 27.2%, with mortgaged properties at 32.9% and rented dwellings at 39.9%. 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 $2,000 and $385 respectively. Nationally, Ringwood's mortgage repayments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and rents surpass the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 65.8% of all households, including 29.2% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 10.7% 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% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's rate of 31.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 23.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas comprise 12.2% and certificates make up 17.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.5% in primary, 7.2% in secondary, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education. Ringwood operates a robust network of 10 schools educating approximately 7,017 students, with above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1069). The educational mix includes 3 primary, 6 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. Ringwood functions as an education hub, offering 35.5 school places per 100 residents – significantly higher than the regional average of 15.5 – attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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 offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 25 routes that facilitate 10,641 weekly passenger trips in total. The accessibility of these stops is rated excellent, with residents typically situated 186 meters from the nearest one.

On average, there are 1,520 trips daily across all routes, which amounts to approximately 90 weekly trips per individual stop.

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 a relatively positive picture.

Common health conditions are less prevalent here compared to the general population but higher than national averages among older, at-risk groups. Approximately 56% (~11,081 people) of Ringwood residents have private health cover. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 8.7% and 7.2% of residents respectively. Overall, 70.4% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments compared to 68.7% across Greater Melbourne. Ringwood has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 17.9% (3,534 people) compared to Greater Melbourne's 19.0%. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those in the broader population.

Ringwood is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch 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 compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 4.2% of Ringwood's population versus 2.3%.

The top three ancestry groups in Ringwood are English (22.8%), Australian (20.0%), and Other (12.0%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Chinese is overrepresented at 11.4% compared to the regional average of 6.0%, Sri Lankan is slightly higher at 0.7% versus 0.5%, and Polish is also somewhat more prevalent at 1.0% compared to 0.7%.

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 proportion of residents aged 35-44 (16.7%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (10.9%). According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 16.6% to 15.5%. By the year 2041, Ringwood's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 36%, adding 905 people and reaching a total of 3,431 from 2,525. The 0-4 age group is expected to grow at a more modest rate of 3%, with an increase of only 30 residents.