Balgownie - Fairy Meadow

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow has a population of approximately 22,333 as of May 2026, according to AreaSearch. This represents a 3.8% increase, or 814 residents, from the 21,519 counted during the 2021 Census. The estimate is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 22,303 alongside 116 validated new addresses registered since the census. The local population density stands at 1,821 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical figure for assessed national communities. The post-census growth of 3.8% lags slightly behind the wider SA3 region's expansion of 4.7% by a margin of 0.9 percentage points. Most of this population growth was fueled by overseas migration, which made up roughly 86.4% of the overall gains in recent times.

Projections for each SA2 district are sourced from 2024 ABS and Geoscience Australia publications using 2022 as the base year, while any missing areas rely on 2022 NSW State Government SA2 projections with a 2021 baseline. Age-specific growth trends from these datasets are applied to all locations for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Future demographic estimates indicate that the area will experience population growth above the median for non-metropolitan regions across Australia, with an estimated addition of 4,110 residents by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP data, which equates to an 18.3% increase over the 16-year timeframe.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Balgownie - Fairy Meadow when compared nationally

The region has registered an average of approximately 89 new residential approvals each year, totaling 445 dwellings over the five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and adding 88 approvals during FY-26 so far. With an average of 1 new resident added per constructed dwelling over the five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, local demand and supply are well aligned, ensuring stable conditions in the market. Newly approved homes carry an average construction value of $408,000, which is moderately higher than regional averages and points to a focus on premium builds. Additionally, commercial development approvals reached $34.9 million this financial year, reflecting a strong level of local business investment.

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow records approximately 75% of the per capita construction activity found in the Rest of NSW, placing it in the 57th percentile among all locations evaluated across the country. New residential construction is composed of 43.0% detached houses and 57.0% medium and high-density formats. This shift toward denser housing provides affordable points of entry and holds appeal for investors, downsizers, and first-time buyers. It marks a clear departure from the existing housing stock, which is 68.0% houses, showing a decline in vacant developable land alongside evolving preferences for diverse, cost-effective living spaces. The ratio of about 271 residents for every approved dwelling indicates a low-density profile.

Long-term forecasts suggest Balgownie - Fairy Meadow will add 4,080 new residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If development remains at its current pace, the construction of new housing may not keep up with population growth, which could increase competition among buyers and put upward pressure on prices.

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Local infrastructure updates, planning decisions, and major developments have a significant impact on local performance. A total of 29 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a potential impact on the local area. Significant initiatives include the Mount Ousley Interchange, Elements at IRT Towradgi Beach, Sylvan Ridge, and the 68-74 Princes Highway Mixed-Use Development, with details of the most relevant projects provided in the list below.

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

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Balgownie - Fairy Meadow has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow has a highly educated labor pool, with strong representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of 4.7%, and an estimated employment growth of 2.6% over the previous year. As of March 2026, 11,382 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate that sits 0.6% higher than the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, while workforce participation remains relatively typical at 63.2% versus 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census data indicates that 32.3% of residents worked from home, a figure that should be viewed in light of the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns.

The resident workforce is largely employed in the healthcare & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade sectors. The community is heavily focused on education & training, which employs 1.3 times the proportion seen across the wider region. On the other hand, the agriculture, forestry & fishing sector has very low representation at 0.2% compared to the regional rate of 5.3%. A comparison of the Census working population against the resident worker population suggests that this mostly residential district offers a limited number of local jobs.

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, employment rose by 2.6% and the labour force grew by 2.7% during the 12 months ending March 2026, leading to a minor 0.1 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. This trend contrasts with Regional NSW, where employment declined by 0.9%, the labour force shrank by 0.4%, and unemployment increased by 0.5 percentage points. Future local demand patterns can be analyzed using the May-25 national employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia. These five and ten-year projections have been mapped against the local industry profile to estimate future growth. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary by sector. Applying these national projections to the local industry mix suggests employment in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow would rise by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighted projection that does not factor in local population adjustments.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to the latest ATO postcode statistics for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Balgownie - Fairy Meadow SA2 area recorded a median income of $56,178 and an average income of $73,324. These figures exceed the national average and are higher than the Regional NSW median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Applying a Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year yields updated estimates of $61,976 for the median and $80,891 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals that household, family, and individual incomes are modest, falling between the 34th and 43rd percentiles. The local earnings profile shows that the largest cohort, comprising 27.5% of residents (6,141 people), falls into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which is comparable to the wider metropolitan area where 29.9% share this range. Housing affordability is a major issue, leaving residents with only 83.7% of their income, which ranks in the 44th percentile, while the SEIFA index for income places the area in the 6th decile.

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

According to the latest Census, the housing mix in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow consisted of 68.1% detached houses and 32.0% other options such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative structures, compared to Regional NSW where detached houses made up 82.6% and other dwellings accounted for 17.4%. Home ownership rates in the area were identical to the regional benchmark at 39.4%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (28.2%) or renting (32.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $2,219, which is much higher than the regional average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $380, compared to the regional figure of $330. By comparison, mortgage payments in the area are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents also exceed the national median of $375.

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 67.3%, consisting of couples with children at 29.1%, couples without children at 25.3%, and single parents at 11.9%. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.7%, with single-person households representing 27.5% and group households making up 5.1%. The area has a median household size of 2.5 people, which is slightly above the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Balgownie - Fairy Meadow exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The region features a distinct academic profile relative to the wider area, with university graduation rates at 29.5% of residents aged 15 and over, exceeding both the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA4 region level of 25.2%. Bachelor degrees represent the most common credential at 18.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 7.9% and graduate diplomas at 2.7%. Vocational education is also strong, with 34.4% of residents aged 15 and over holding trade and technical qualifications, split between advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 23.7%.

Student representation is high in the community, with 31.0% of residents actively participating in formal study. This student population includes 9.1% enrolled in university or tertiary courses, 8.6% attending primary school, and 6.8% in secondary education.

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

Public transport services in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow include 204 active train and bus stops. These stops are served by 59 distinct routes, which provide a total of 2,897 passenger trips per week. Transport links are highly accessible, with residents living an average of 147 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, resulting in a high rate of outward commuting, with cars being the primary mode of travel for 90% of commuters. Households own an average of 1.4 vehicles. A high proportion of residents, 32.3%, worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

Across all active routes, service frequencies average 413 trips per day, which translates to roughly 14 weekly departures per stop. The map shows the locations of the 100 nearest transport stops relative to the center of the area.

The level of general health in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow displays positive health trends, as indicated by mortality rates and a low overall prevalence of chronic illnesses, though older and vulnerable groups experience rates above the national average. The proportion of residents with private health insurance is very high at approximately 55% of the population (~12,372 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent diagnoses, affecting 9.2% and 8.4% of the population, respectively, while 67.4% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health statistics for working-age residents are typical. Residents aged 65 and over make up 19.8% of the population (4,413 people), which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 23.4%. Seniors face some health difficulties, and their health rankings are lower relative to the national average than the general local population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Balgownie - Fairy Meadow was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow has a high level of cultural diversity compared to regional averages, with 22.9% of residents born abroad and 18.4% speaking a language other than English in their homes. Christianity is the largest religious denomination, followed by 54.7% of the community. Notably, Islam is represented by 3.4% of the local population, which is higher than the 0.8% average for Regional NSW.

Looking at parental birthplaces, the most common ancestries are English at 24.6%, which is lower than the regional average of 30.5%, followed by Australian at 24.4%, also below the regional rate of 30.0%, and Other at 8.7%. Certain european groups are heavily represented compared to regional averages, with Italian ancestry making up 7.7% of the population (compared to 2.1% regionally), Macedonian ancestry at 1.0% (compared to 0.4%), and Welsh ancestry at 0.8% (compared to 0.5%).

Balgownie - Fairy Meadow's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The area has a median age of 39 years, which is notably lower than the Regional NSW average of 43 and close to the national median of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Balgownie - Fairy Meadow has a larger proportion of young people aged 15 to 24 at 16.4%, but a smaller share of seniors aged 65 to 74 at 9.2%. The median age fell from 40 to 39 years following the 2021 Census, showing a shift toward a younger demographic. Key changes include the 25 to 34 age group increasing from 12.1% to 14.9% of the population, and the 15 to 24 cohort rising from 14.2% to 16.4%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.3% to 10.7%, and the 55 to 64 bracket declined from 12.2% to 10.7%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, the age structure will change significantly, with the 25 to 34 cohort projected to increase by 1,399 people (42%) to reach 4,738 from 3,338, while the 55 to 64 age group is expected to decline by 252 residents.