Adelaide

Adelaide lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Adelaide's population was around 22,528 as of November 2025. This showed an increase of 4,326 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,202. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,767 in June 2024 and an additional 459 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 2,149 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Adelaide's growth of 23.8% since the 2021 census exceeded the state's (7.1%) and metropolitan area's growth, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 98.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections were used, based on 2021 data and adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on demographic trends, an above median population growth is projected for statistical areas across the nation. The area is expected to expand by 3,202 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 10.8% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Adelaide among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Adelaide saw around 227 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. A total of 1,135 homes were approved during this period, with one approval so far in FY-26. On average, 3.1 people moved to the area per dwelling built each year between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating demand significantly outpacing supply.

This typically exerts upward pressure on prices and intensifies competition among buyers. Developers focus on the premium market, with new dwellings averaging $422,000 in construction cost value. In the current financial year, $865.6 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting high local commercial activity levels. Compared to Greater Adelaide, development levels per person are similar, maintaining market balance, though recent periods show some moderation. This is notably higher than national averages, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location.

New building activity comprises 4.0% detached dwellings and 96.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating a trend towards denser development to cater to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The area has approximately 247 people per dwelling approval, suggesting room for growth. By 2041, Adelaide is projected to grow by 2,441 residents (AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Adelaide has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 57 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Market Square and Central Market Expansion, Festival Plaza Tower 2, The Cullinan, and Little National Hotel Adelaide. Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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.

Adelaide shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Adelaide has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 7.8% as of September 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.4%. As of that date, 12,789 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 3.9%, which is above Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Adelaide was 59.1% compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Leading employment industries among residents comprised accommodation & food, professional & technical services, and health care & social assistance.

The area had a notable concentration in accommodation & food with employment levels at 2.4 times the regional average. Meanwhile, construction had limited presence with 4.1% employment compared to 8.7% regionally. There were 6.6 workers for every resident as of the Census, indicating that Adelaide functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.4% and labour force increased by 3.8%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.5 percentage points compared to Greater Adelaide's growth of 3.0% in employment and 2.9% in labour force with a 0.1 percentage point decrease in unemployment. State-level data to 25-Nov showed SA employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 10,710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.0%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%, with the state's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.14%. National employment forecasts from May-25 projected an expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Adelaide's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and not accounting for localised population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Adelaide SA2 has a median income of $42,296 and an average income of $61,773. This is lower than the national averages of $52,592 (median) and $64,886 (average). In Greater Adelaide, the median income is $52,592 and the average is $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Adelaide SA2 would be approximately $47,723 (median) and $69,698 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that incomes in Adelaide rank modestly, between the 25th and 33rd percentiles for households, families, and individuals. Distribution data shows that the largest segment comprises 29.1% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (6,555 residents), reflecting patterns seen in the region where 31.8% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 76.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 16th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Adelaide features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The latest Census in Adelaide showed that dwelling structures consisted of 4.4% houses and 95.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Adelaide metro had 8.8% houses and 91.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Adelaide was at 18.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 15.7% and rented dwellings at 66.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with the Adelaide metro average, while the median weekly rent was $400, also matching the metropolitan figure. Nationally, Adelaide's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Adelaide features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 40.2% of all households, including 7.0% couples with children, 26.6% couples without children, and 4.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 59.8%, with lone person households at 45.4% and group households comprising 14.5%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which aligns with the Greater Adelaide average.

Adelaide shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Adelaide's residents aged 15 and above have a higher proportion with university qualifications (52.8%) than the state average (25.7%) and the Greater Adelaide area (28.9%). Among these residents, bachelor degrees are most common at 32.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational pathways account for 19.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 9.5% and certificates 9.7%. Educational participation is high in Adelaide, with 42.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 30.7% in tertiary education, 3.0% in primary education, and 2.0% pursuing secondary education.

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

Adelaide has 241 active public transport stops, serving a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. These stops are covered by 258 individual routes, collectively facilitating 27,341 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 142 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 3,905 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 113 weekly trips per stop.

Adelaide's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Adelaide's health outcomes show exceptional results across all age groups, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 51% (~11,399 people) have private health cover, lower than Greater Adelaide's 58.6%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 9.1 and 5.5% respectively. Around 77.1% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 75.2% in Greater Adelaide. The area has 13.0% (2,935 people) aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Adelaide's 15.1%. Senior health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

Adelaide is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Adelaide's population includes 46.3% who speak a language other than English at home, with 55.8% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Adelaide at 26.6%. Buddhism's representation in Adelaide is higher at 5.6%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 4.7%.

Top ancestry groups are Chinese (21.4%), English (20.0%), and Australian (12.0%). Korean (1.5%) and Vietnamese (1.9%) are overrepresented, while French remains comparable regionally at 0.7%.

Adelaide hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Adelaide's median age is 30 years, which is significantly younger than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Adelaide has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (30.0%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (2.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the percentage of Adelaide's population in the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 27.3% to 30.0%, while the percentage of residents aged 75 to 84 increased from 3.3% to 4.9%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 45 to 54 declined from 9.1% to 7.7%, and the percentage of those aged 55 to 64 dropped from 8.5% to 7.2%. Demographic modeling suggests that Adelaide's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the strongest projected growth in the 25 to 34 age cohort (12%), adding 796 residents to reach a total of 7,564. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age cohorts.