Federal Electorate · Area profile
Richmond
2,131 km²
A typical resident of Richmond is now 46, making the area far older than the national figure. This is a shifting community where the number of seniors has jumped significantly since 2011, now making up 25% of the population. While the area has grown slightly to 167,436 people, it is defined by a high proportion of retirees and a move toward larger, owner-occupied homes. It feels like a mature, stable region with a strong lean toward secularism and a modest, local pace of life.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The population has aged rapidly, with the typical resident now 12 years older than in 2011. Seniors make up a quarter of the community, which is well above the state and national figures. Meanwhile, the proportion of children has fallen slightly to 16.3%.
The area is predominantly Australian-born, with 76.1% of people born here. The proportion of people born overseas has dropped sharply since 2011, falling 32 points to 16.4%, which is far below the national average.
English is the primary language for 86.6% of residents. The use of other languages at home has seen a huge decline since 2011, falling 48 points to just 6%, and very few people speak little or no English.
A large number of residents report no religion, at 45.9%, which is well above the national figure. This represents a significant shift over the last decade, as the number of non-religious people rose by 28 points since 2011.
While 21.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 has fallen 14 points since 2011 to 50.2%, which is well below the state average.
Typical incomes are much lower than in most other areas. The typical household earns $1,376 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746, and only 15.6% of homes earn $3,000 or more weekly.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 30.3% of people living with a long-term health condition. Around 6.6% of residents need help with daily activities, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Volunteerism is higher than the national average at 15.9%. Residents also provide more unpaid care and do more housework than people in most other areas, while 3.2% of the community have served in the Defence Force.
Homes are generally smaller, with a typical 2.4 people per house. However, one-parent families make up 16% of the community, which is much higher than in most areas, and 28.4% of people live alone.
Home ownership is very strong, with 40.5% of homes owned outright, well above the national figure. Separate houses are common, and while typical rents are a little above the national average, the proportion of renters has fallen since 2011.
The area relies heavily on cars, with only 0.4% of people commuting by public transport. While most homes have at least one vehicle, the walk to the nearest stop is among the longest for areas of this level.
About 40.4% of people have moved in the last five years, which is about the same as the rest of the country. The number of recent overseas arrivals has fallen 13 points since 2011 to 10.5%.
Fewer people are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 54.4%. Full-time employment is far below the national figure, with many residents working in health care or construction.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.9, well below the state average. Many residents live more than 15 minutes away from schools, health services, and groceries.