ACT · Unincorporated ACT Council

Richardson, 2905

Est. population · Jun 2025

2,933

Growth (1 yr)

+1.1%

Growth (5 yr)

-0.1%

Median age

36

Median income

$2,043/wk

Employment rate

65%

Languages at home

17.5%non-English

Most common: Arabic, Spanish, Malayalam

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

46.4/100
Average

97th in ACT

Verified 77% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Heritage area
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Richardson is known for: Heritage area, Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

Richardson is a practical mid-sized suburb in Unincorporated ACT, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. Families have many nearby school and early-learning options to choose from.

Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses serve the suburb. Housing sits in the middle of the local market: neither cheap nor premium.

Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Older homes and historic streetscapes give the suburb a character that is hard to manufacture anew.

The desirability picture is around average, weighed down by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities relative to similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Richardson snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

2,933

+1.1% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

3.0%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#60

among Metro Canberra · Established

Safety

75th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

67th

percentile in ACT

Advantage (IRSAD)

5/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

59th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
46.4/100 — Average
National rank
2685th in Australia
State rank
97th in ACT
Peer rank
#60 among Metro Canberra · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#96 among Metro Canberra suburbs
Data confidence
77%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

2,933(June 2025)

+1.1% annual · -0.1% over 5 years · 67th percentile in ACT

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.1%
5-year growth
-0.1%
Change in 1 year
+31
Change in 5 years
-3
Growth rank in ACT
67th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~2,900), extrapolated at -0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
3,058
Median age
36
Median household income / week
$2,043
Dwelling vacancy
3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
34 of 1,143
Median monthly mortgage
$2,000
Employment rate
65%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,065 / 45 / 3

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Community & culture

No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
85
Against the person
23
Against property
19
Rate per 1,000 residents
29
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 133 residents
State safety percentile
75.2th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-32.4%

Most common offence types

  • Assault - Fv11
  • Burglary Dwellings6
  • Other Offences43
  • Other Offences Against A Person5
  • Property Damage8

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • ACT crime statistics by suburb (quarterly)ACT Policing / dataACT · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Quarterly XLSX release

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
8
Median school ICSEA (8 schools)
1,026.5
Median ICSEA percentile
59th
School list
  • Richardson Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 952 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 142 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 0.1 km awayView on My School →
  • Calwell Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1010 · 52th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 201 students · Top SEA quarter 15% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
  • Caroline Chisholm SchoolCombined · Government · ICSEA 989 · 42th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 571 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
  • Calwell High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 972 · 34th percentile · LBOTE 20% · 371 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
  • St Francis of Assisi Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1055 · 70th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 516 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
  • Gowrie Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1043 · 65th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 228 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
  • St Mary MacKillop CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1068 · 75th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 2,088 students · Top SEA quarter 27% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
  • Holy Family Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1076 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 641 students · Top SEA quarter 28% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Richardson Pre-Schoolkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare servicesOpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Amenities

58 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

4 playgrounds

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • A car helps for daily errands
  • Great for outdoor family life5 parks mapped in suburb, 4 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport30 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
30/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.64
Community(2)
  • Richardson Pre-SchoolKindergarten
  • Richardson Primary SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(11)
  • Park (5)
  • Casson Crescent Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
  • Chauncy Crescent Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
  • Clift Crescent Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
  • Vidal Street Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
  • Richardson BowlSports field
  • Sports field
Transport(30)

30 bus stops

Other(8)
  • Tuggeranong HomesteadAttraction
  • Bench (4)
  • Bicycle Parking (2)
  • Drinking water
  • Parking (4)
  • Picnic Table
  • Post Box
  • Telephone

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
5
Parks (OSM)
5

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Canberra Hospital (9.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
115
Participants per 1,000 residents
39.2

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
25° / 10°
Rainfall
168 mm · ~21 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
19° / 5°
Rainfall
142 mm · ~18 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
11° / -2°
Rainfall
105 mm · ~13 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 4°
Rainfall
161 mm · ~20 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from ACT planning register.

2026· 3 proposals
  • June 2026

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • May 2026

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGActive
  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2025· 2 proposals
  • July 2025

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • April 2025

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2023· 3 proposals
  • June 2023

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • March 2023

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2022· 14 proposals
  • December 2022

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • November 2022

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • October 2022

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • September 2022

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • August 2022

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • June 2022

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • March 2022

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • February 2022

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • January 2022

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2021· 5 proposals
  • September 2021

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • May 2021

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • April 2021

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • March 2021

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • February 2021

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2020· 8 proposals
  • August 2020

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • July 2020

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • June 2020

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • May 2020

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • February 2020

  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    RICHARDSON · TUGGERANONGCompleted

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

  • Active & completed development applicationsACT Planning · 2026 · Updated

Heritage

15 heritage places

  • 466 - Murumbeeja Red Gum - Tuggeranong HomesteadNone1 - Nomination to the Heritage Register
  • 74 - Murumbeeja Red Gum Tuggeranong HomesteadNone1 - Nomination to the Heritage Register
  • Aboriginal Places along Urban and Rural Bushfire Containment LinesTUG113 - Registered Places or Objects
  • Aboriginal RecordingsTH44 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
  • Aboriginal RecordingsTH14 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
  • Aboriginal RecordingsTuggeranong Creek PAD4 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
  • Aboriginal RecordingsTH24 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
  • Aboriginal RecordingsTH34 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
  • Pike's Corner 1 - Nomination to the Heritage Register
  • Tuggeranong Homestead Aboriginal ValuesTogranon1 - Nomination to the Heritage Register

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState heritage authority · current · Updated

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via ACT Bushfire Prone Area (SBMP) mapping.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Bean
Member of Parliament
David SMITH (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
113,876
Turnout (2025)
92.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+6.3 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 30.7%Labor 69.3%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.4 km away).

Coalition 34.3%Labor 65.7%

3.6 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +4.9 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • RichardsonLabor 64.1% · Coalition 35.9% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
  • ChisholmLabor 67.5% · Coalition 32.5% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
  • GowrieLabor 70.1% · Coalition 29.9% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
  • CalwellLabor 67.9% · Coalition 32.1% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
  • Isabella PlainsLabor 69.7% · Coalition 30.3% TPP (2025)1.8 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
4/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Unincorporated ACT Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile elsewhere in Australian Capital Territory or interstate.