Griffith Surrounds

Griffith Surrounds is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Griffith Surrounds stands at approximately 13,148 as of May 2026. Since the 2021 Census, which counted 12,760 residents, the population has grown by 388 individuals, or 3.0%. This estimation is derived using the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population of 13,139 alongside 418 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The region has a density of 0.60 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and generous spacing. The 3.0% growth rate since the 2021 census outpaced both the SA3 area (1.8%) and the broader SA4 region, making it a regional growth leader. Natural increase was the primary contributor to this growth, accounting for roughly 51.4% of the population gains in recent times.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized by AreaSearch for SA2 areas, supplemented by the NSW State Government's 2022 projections with a 2021 baseline where necessary. Age group growth rates from these datasets are projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on recent annual ERP statistics, demographic trends suggest the population will expand by 738 people by 2041, representing a 5.5% cumulative increase over the 16 years, which is slightly below the median growth rate for non-metropolitan locations in Australia.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Griffith Surrounds, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

In Griffith Surrounds, development approvals average approximately 18 dwellings annually, with 93 residential approvals recorded over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 16 recorded during the current FY-26. Market conditions have remained stable due to a balanced supply and demand dynamic, averaging 1.3 new residents per approved dwelling over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), although this has risen to 6.8 people per dwelling over the past 2 financial years, pointing to tightening supply and rising demand. Developers are targeting the higher-end market segment, with new builds averaging an estimated construction value of $456,000. Additionally, commercial approvals have reached $34.0 million during this financial year, pointing to strong local business investment.

Building activity in Griffith Surrounds is significantly lower than the regional average, running 63.0% below the per capita level for the Rest of NSW. This constrained new supply supports demand and values for existing properties. This rate is also below the national average, reflecting the established character of the area and potentially indicating local planning constraints. Standalone houses make up 93.0% of recent builds, while medium and high-density formats account for 7.0%, keeping the traditional low-density profile suited to families desiring space. The quiet nature of local residential construction is highlighted by an average of 780 people in the area per single dwelling approval.

Based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch, the population of Griffith Surrounds is projected to rise by 729 residents by 2041. The current volume of construction matches this projected growth, supporting stable market conditions without generating significant upward pressure on prices.

Griffith Surrounds has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning changes, and major works are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 54 projects that are likely to influence the local area. Principal developments include the Wickham Hill Estate - Griffith, the Maxus Estate - Griffith, the Yambil Street Upgrade Stage 4, and the Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment, with details of the most significant projects listed below.

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 labour market in Griffith Surrounds shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

The local workforce in Griffith Surrounds is evenly distributed between blue-collar and white-collar roles across a range of industries, with unemployment standing at a low 2.3%. As of March 2026, there are 7,187 employed residents, and the unemployment rate is 1.8% below the 4.1% average for Regional NSW, while workforce participation is high at 69.1% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census data indicates that 13.1% of working residents worked from home, a figure that may be influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance. Employment in agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly high, reaching 5.8 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 8.0% of the workforce, which is lower than the 16.9% recorded across Regional NSW. A comparison between the census working population and the local job base suggests a portion of residents commute outside the area for employment.

AreaSearch's analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that during the year leading to March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 3.2% and total employment fell by 3.4%, leading to a 0.1 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% decline in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25 offer perspective on future labor demand in Griffith Surrounds. These five-year and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential changes. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry mix yields an estimated employment growth of 4.4% over five years and 10.4% over ten years for Griffith Surrounds, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local population forecasts.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Based on AreaSearch's compilation of postcode-level ATO statistics for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Griffith Surrounds SA2 recorded a median income of $51,455 and an average income of $57,413. These figures are below the national benchmarks and compare to $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) across Regional NSW. Adjusting for a 10.32% increase in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimates stand at approximately $56,765 for median income and $63,338 for average income as of March 2026. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes sit in the moderate range, ranking between the 43rd and 55th percentiles. The largest income group is the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, which contains 34.8% of residents (4,575 people), similar to the regional trend where 29.9% fall into this range. Discretionary income remains high, with residents retaining 91.3% of their earnings after housing expenses, and the area is situated in the 4th decile of the SEIFA income index.

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

At the time of the latest Census, residential dwellings in Griffith Surrounds consisted of 96.5% freestanding houses and 3.4% other housing types (including apartments, semi-detached, and alternative dwellings), compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other configurations in Regional NSW. Home ownership is high, with 43.8% of homes owned outright, while the remaining properties are mortgaged (31.9%) or rented (24.3%). The median mortgage payment in the area was $1,200 per month, which is below the Regional NSW median of $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $220, compared to the regional median of $330. Rents and mortgage payments in Griffith Surrounds are also lower than the national averages of $375 per week and $1,863 per month.

Griffith Surrounds has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 73.6%, consisting of couples with children at 32.8%, couples without children at 30.0%, and single-parent households at 9.6%. Non-family living arrangements account for 26.4% of households, with lone person households representing 24.3% and group households representing 2.1%. The average household size is 2.6 people, slightly larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Griffith Surrounds faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Educational outcomes in the area show room for growth, with university completion rates at 14.6% compared to the state average of 32.2%. Among those with university degrees, bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.6% and graduate diplomas at 1.6%. Vocational and technical credentials are standard, with 39.5% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (30.6%).

A high proportion of the population is engaged in study, with 32.6% of residents enrolled in an educational program. This student cohort includes 13.3% in primary school, 9.8% in secondary school, and 2.4% enrolled in higher education.

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

Analysis of local public transport shows 833 active transit stops in Griffith Surrounds, consisting of a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 69 routes, providing 799 weekly passenger journeys. Transport accessibility is high, with the average distance to the nearest stop being 181 meters. Commuters mostly travel outside the area for work, with private cars being the primary mode of transport at 90%, and 7% of residents walking. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.9 cars per household, which is above the regional average. Census data from 2021 shows that a low 13.1% of residents worked from home, though this may reflect conditions during the pandemic.

Service frequency averages 114 trips per day across all routes, which corresponds to approximately 0 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest stops to the center of the area.

Health outcomes in Griffith Surrounds are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the occurrence of chronic conditions, health outcomes in Griffith Surrounds are below average, with chronic illness rates slightly elevated across younger and older demographics, and private health insurance coverage is low at 48% of the population (~6,258 people). This compares to a coverage rate of 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national benchmark of 55.7%.

Asthma and arthritis are the most frequently reported chronic conditions in the area, affecting 10.8% and 8.9% of the population, respectively. Conversely, 67.1% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents experience chronic health conditions at a rate above the national average, while the general population is in line with national levels. Residents aged 65 and over make up 18.9% of the population (2,488 people), which is lower than the 23.4% representation in Regional NSW.

Griffith Surrounds ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cultural diversity in Griffith Surrounds is lower than average, with 82.8% of the population holding citizenship, 89.0% born in Australia, and 90.4% using only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 69.4% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

The most common ancestries in Griffith Surrounds are Australian (29.6%), English (25.6%), and Italian (13.6%), with the Italian proportion significantly higher than the regional average of 2.1%. Notable variations in other ancestries include Australian Aboriginal at 4.8% (compared to 4.6% regionally), Samoan at 0.3% (compared to 0.1% regionally), and Lebanese at 0.3% (compared to 0.2% regionally).

Griffith Surrounds's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age of 40 in Griffith Surrounds is slightly lower than the Regional NSW average of 43, but sits just above the national median of 38. The 55 - 64 age group is larger than the regional average, accounting for 13.7% of the population, while the 75 - 84 cohort is smaller at 5.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 65 to 74 grew from 10.1% to 11.7%. During the same period, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 14.2% to 11.7%, and the 5 to 14 group declined from 13.7% to 12.7%. Projections for 2041 point to significant changes, with the 75 to 84 cohort expected to grow by 349 people (50%), rising from 704 to 1,054. This aging trend is prominent, with individuals aged 65+ making up 52% of the projected growth, while the 55 to 64 and 45 to 54 age groups are expected to decline in population.