Barmera

Barmera has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Barmera's population is around 6,660 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 259 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,401 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,628 in June 2024 and an additional 52 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 7.8 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 85.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, national non-metropolitan areas are anticipated to have lower quartile growth. The area is expected to grow by 297 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 4.0% in total over the 17 years based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Barmera has seen approximately 12 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, 63 homes were approved, with a further 5 approved in FY-26 to date. This results in an average of around 1 new resident per year arriving per new home over the past five financial years.

The average construction value of these new homes is $218,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY-26, $3.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating Barmera's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of SA, Barmera has significantly less development activity, with 67.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. The area's development activity is also under the national average, suggesting its established nature and potential planning limitations.

All recent development in Barmera has been comprised of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With an estimated 606 people per dwelling approval, this reflects a quiet, low activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Barmera is forecasted to gain 265 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Barmera has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include Bruno Bay Infrastructure Upgrade, Berri Energy Project, McLean Street Residential Estate, and Riverview Drive Reconstruction (Flood Recovery). The following details those expected to be most pertinent.

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.

Employment performance in Barmera has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Barmera has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. Over the past year, employment has been relatively stable. As of September 2025, 3,291 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3% lower than Rest of SA's 5.3%.

Workforce participation is similar to Rest of SA at 58.5%. Census data shows 8.8% of residents work from home. Key industries include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. Manufacturing employment is particularly high, at 1.5 times the regional level.

Retail trade, however, is under-represented with only 7.7% of Barmera's workforce compared to 9.9% in Rest of SA. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.4%, labour force grew by 1.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of SA saw employment growth of 0.3%, labour force growth of 2.3%, and an increase in unemployment rate of 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Barmera's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 5.3% over five years and 12.0% over ten years.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that median income in Barmera SA2 is $46,411 and average income is $52,068. This is lower than national averages of median $48,920 and average $58,933 in Rest of SA. By September 2025, estimated incomes based on Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $50,495 (median) and $56,650 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Barmera fall between the 16th and 19th percentiles nationally. In Barmera, 28.9% of individuals (1,924 people) earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to metropolitan regions at 27.5%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.0% income retention, total disposable income ranks at just the 22nd percentile nationally.

Barmera is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Barmera, as per the latest Census evaluation, 91.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 9.0% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. This compares to Non-Metro SA's figures of 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Barmera stood at 40.7%, closely aligning with Non-Metro SA's rate. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 36.8%, while rented properties made up 22.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,083, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,153 and significantly below the national average of $1,863. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure in Barmera was recorded at $200, compared to Non-Metro SA's $220 and substantially lower than the national figure of $375.

Barmera has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 68.8% of all households, including 23.7% couples with children, 33.0% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.2%, with lone person households at 29.1% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, aligning with the Rest of SA average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 11.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 8.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (7.9%) and certificates (29.8%).

A substantial 23.8% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 11.4% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 1.5% in tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Barmera is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant challenges in Barmera. AreaSearch's assessment found notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover was found to be extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~3,050 people), compared to 48.9% across Rest of SA and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis (11.6%) and mental health issues (9.0%). Conversely, 61.0% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.5% across Rest of SA. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 28.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,866 people). Health outcomes among seniors present additional challenges, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

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

Barmera had a low cultural diversity, with 88.0% born in Australia, 91.9% being citizens, and 90.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion at 44.2%. The 'Other' category was overrepresented at 2.5%, compared to Rest of SA's 0.8%.

Top ancestry groups were English (30.9%), Australian (30.7%), and German (9.1%). Greek (4.1%) was notably higher than the regional average of 0.6%, Hungarian at 0.4% (regional: 0.1%), and Croatian at 0.7% (regional: 0.3%).

Barmera hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Barmera is 48 years, similar to the Rest of South Australia's average of 47 years, and well above the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of SA average, the 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented at 16.0% in Barmera, while the 0-4 year-olds are under-represented at 3.7%. The 65-74 concentration in Barmera is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.1% to 9.4%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 10.2% to 11.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 13.2% to 11.3%, and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 11.9% to 10.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Barmera. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 35%, adding 220 residents, reaching a total of 849. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 78% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Conversely, both the 35 to 44 and 65 to 74 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.