Ringwood East

Ringwood East has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Ringwood East's population was approximately 21,132 people as of the 2021 Census. By February 2026, this had increased to around 22,318 people, reflecting a growth of 5.6% since the census. This increase is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 21,866 in June 2024 and an additional 222 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 2,376 persons per square kilometer, placing Ringwood East in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (4.9%), making it a growth leader within the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 74.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, Ringwood East is expected to increase by approximately 9.4% by 2041, reflecting an expansion of around 2,544 persons over the 17-year period.

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

Ringwood East averaged approximately 140 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 703 homes approved during this period and an additional 39 approved in FY26. The average number of people moving to the area per year for each dwelling built was 0.3 over these five financial years, indicating that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new homes was $496,000, suggesting developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments.

In FY26, commercial development approvals totaled $14.6 million, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Ringwood East has shown moderately higher new home approvals, at 49.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, balancing buyer choice with support for current property values. Recent construction comprises 26.0% standalone homes and 74.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition of 92.0% houses, reflecting decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles. The location has approximately 288 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Ringwood East is expected to grow by 2,092 residents through to 2041.

At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Ringwood East has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified 59 potential impact projects. Notable initiatives include Ryman Healthcare Ringwood East Retirement Village, Ringwood East Activity Centre Structure Plan, Bedford Rise, and Canterbury Road-Heathmont Road Intersection Improvements. The following list details those likely 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.

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

Ringwood East has a highly educated workforce with professional services being well-represented. The unemployment rate was 3.5% as of September 2025, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.1%.

There were 11,830 residents employed in September 2025 with an unemployment rate of 1.2% below Greater Melbourne's rate. Workforce participation was somewhat lower than Greater Melbourne's average at 68.8%. According to Census responses, 37.4% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.

The area has a particularly notable concentration in education & training with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. In contrast, transport, postal & warehousing employs only 2.9% of local workers compared to Greater Melbourne's 5.2%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 1.1% while labour force increased by 1.0%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 3.3%, and an increase in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ringwood East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

The Ringwood East SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $59,900 and an average of $74,065 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This was higher than the national average. In Greater Melbourne, the median income was $57,688 with an average income of $75,164 during the same period. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $64,842 (median) and $80,175 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Ringwood East were at the 62nd percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominated with 31.2% of residents (6,963 people), similar to regional levels where 32.8% fell into this bracket. After housing expenses, 85.1% of income remained for other expenditures. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

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

Ringwood East's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.1% houses and 7.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ringwood East stood at 35.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.8% and rented ones at 25.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Ringwood East was $385, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Ringwood East's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

Ringwood East has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 71.9% of all households, including 36.6% couples with children, 23.8% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 28.1%, with lone person households at 25.3% and group households making up 2.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people, aligning with Greater Melbourne's average.

Ringwood East 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 of 38.2% among residents aged 15+, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and that of the SA4 region at 31.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 11.9% and certificates at 17.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.0% in primary, 7.8% in secondary, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ringwood East has 55 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 14 different routes that together facilitate 3,686 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is considered good, with residents typically residing 291 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Ringwood East being primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation at 86%, while trains account for 8%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, 37.4%, work from home, which may be partly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 526 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 67 weekly trips per individual stop.

Ringwood East's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Ringwood East's health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions.

Common health issues are seen across all age groups, with mental health issues affecting 9.0% of residents and asthma impacting 8.6%. Approximately 12,520 people have private health cover, representing 56% of the total population. About 68.7% of Ringwood East residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes for working-age individuals are typical. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 18.1% (4,046 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Overall health rankings are broadly in line with national averages.

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

Ringwood East had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 26.3% of its population born overseas and 21.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Ringwood East, comprising 44.7% of the population. Buddhism, however, was more prevalent in Ringwood East at 2.3%, compared to 4.2% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups were English (26.4%), Australian (23.5%), and Other (9.3%). These figures were higher than regional averages for English and Australian, but lower for Other. Notably, Dutch (2.0%) and Hungarian (0.4%) were overrepresented in Ringwood East compared to regional averages of 1.2% and 0.3%, respectively. Chinese ancestry was also slightly higher at 6.6%.

Ringwood East's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Ringwood East is 39 years, higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and close to Australia's national average of 38 years. Comparing with Greater Melbourne, the 45-54 age group is notably over-represented at 13.8% locally, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has increased from 5.7% to 6.5% of Ringwood East's population, while the 25-34 age group has declined from 12.5% to 11.2%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are forecast for Ringwood East. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 32%, reaching 1,921 people from the current 1,457. This growth will contribute to a total of 56% of anticipated population growth being residents aged 65 and older. Conversely, the 35-44 and 0-4 age groups are projected to experience population declines.