Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Riverwood
4 km²
A short walk to a bus stop or park is the norm for almost everyone in Riverwood. This large community is defined by its deep multicultural roots, with over half the population born overseas. It is a place where people typically earn much less than the state average, but benefit from a very walkable layout and excellent transit links. The area has a mix of lifelong residents and recent arrivals, creating a diverse suburb within Greater Sydney.
Riverwood's schools draw a more advantaged community than local incomes would suggest.
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The typical resident is 40 years old, and the area has a smaller proportion of children and a lower rate of de facto relationships than most similar suburbs.
Born overseas is a common trait here, with 54.7% of people arriving from other countries, far above the national figure of 27.7%. Chinese ancestry is the most prominent, accounting for 32.4% of the population.
Language diversity is very high, as 61.8% of residents use a language other than English at home. This is far above the national average, and 19.1% of the community speaks little or no English.
The community is more religious than the national average, with 40.1% identifying as Christian and 30.6% reporting no religion, which is well below the Australian figure.
Residents are more likely to have completed Year 12 than those in most other areas. A quarter of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, though this is slightly below the state average.
Earnings are significantly lower here than across the state. Typical weekly household income is $1,210, which is well below the New South Wales figure of $1,829.
A higher proportion of people need help with daily activities compared to most areas, though the rate of long-term health conditions is lower than the national average.
Volunteer rates are among the lowest at this level, at 7.1%. There are also fewer people providing unpaid care or housework than in most similar suburbs.
The First Nations community is older than the national average, with a typical age of 35. While household incomes are much lower than most areas, Year 12 completion is well above the state average.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas. About 30.2% of households consist of a single person, which is well above the state average.
Rental properties are very common, with 54.2% of homes rented, far above the national figure. Apartments are the most typical home type, and there are far fewer three-bedroom houses than in most other areas.
Public transport use is high, with 7% of people commuting via transit and 22.2% of homes having no car. This is supported by a high density of transit stops and a very short walk to the nearest one.
The area is quite dynamic, with 37.6% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 12.4% of the population.
The local workforce is smaller than in most areas, with only 46.5% of adults working or looking for work. The unemployment rate of 7.8% is higher than the state and national figures.
The suburb is very walkable, with 99.5% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Nearly every resident lives within 15 minutes of a park, school, and health service.