Blackwood

Population growth drivers in Blackwood are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Blackwood's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 13,874. This figure reflects a growth of 911 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,963. The increase is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 13,858 in June 2025 and 73 new addresses validated after the Census date. This results in a population density of 819 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Blackwood's growth rate of 7.0% since the 2021 census exceeds that of its SA3 area (5.6%) and SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 61.8% to overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are used, based on 2021 data and adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead with current demographic trends, Blackwood is expected to increase by approximately 1,572 persons to reach a population of around 15,446 by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 11.2% over the 16-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Blackwood among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Blackwood has seen approximately 49 dwelling approvals per year. From FY-21 to FY-25248 homes were approved, with another 32 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, 4 people move to the area annually for each dwelling built over these five years.

This suggests substantial demand outstripping supply, leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. Developers target the premium market segment, constructing new properties at an average cost of $421,000. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaled $3.5 million, reflecting Blackwood's residential character.

Compared to Greater Adelaide, Blackwood has similar development levels per capita, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. New building activity consists of 92% detached houses and 8% medium-high density housing, preserving the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. With around 296 people per dwelling approval, Blackwood indicates a growing market. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Blackwood will gain 1,556 residents. Building activity aligns with growth projections, but buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

Blackwood has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 16thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects likely affecting this region. Notable ones are Adelaide Public Transport Capacity and Access, Adelaide's Inner And Outer Ring Route Capacity Improvements, Flinders Medical Centre Southern Redevelopment Stage 1 (Acute Services Building), and Flagstaff Pines Residential Development.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in Blackwood places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Blackwood's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 1.1% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 5.0% over the past year. As of that date, 7,849 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 3.8 percentage points lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Blackwood was 69.4%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. According to Census responses, 17.4% of residents worked from home as of December 2025. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Blackwood showed strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level, but manufacturing had lower representation at 4.7% compared to the regional average of 7.0%.

Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 5.0%, and labour force increased by 4.6%, resulting in a decrease in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 4.2% and unemployment fell by 0.3 percentage points over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project that employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years in Blackwood, based on industry-specific projections applied to its local employment mix.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2023 shows Blackwood SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $62,084 and an average of $77,472. Nationally, these figures are very high compared to Greater Adelaide's median of $54,808 and average of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023 up until March 2026 (10.17%), estimated incomes would be approximately $68,398 (median) and $85,351 (average). Census 2021 data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Blackwood cluster around the 73rd percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment comprises 31.0% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 4,300 residents falling into this bracket, similar to the metropolitan region where 31.8% occupy this bracket. A substantial proportion of high earners (32.6%) in Blackwood earn above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout the suburb. After housing costs, residents retain 87.8% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Blackwood's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 91.1% houses and 8.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Blackwood stood at 40.9%, with mortgaged properties at 49.0% and rented ones at 10.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, exceeding Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent figure in Blackwood was $370, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Blackwood's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $370 than the national figure of $375.

Blackwood features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 78.0% of all households, including 39.4% couples with children, 29.7% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.0%, with lone person households at 20.2% and group households making up 1.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Educational achievement in Blackwood places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

In Blackwood, residents aged 15+ with university qualifications comprise 42.0%, outstripping the state average of 25.7% and the SA4 region's 28.1%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 26.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.2%) and graduate diplomas (5.3%). Vocational credentials are held by 29.6% of residents, with advanced diplomas accounting for 11.8% and certificates for 17.8%. Educational participation is high, with 29.0% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.7% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, and 6.0% in tertiary education.

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

Blackwood has 99 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 32 routes providing 959 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated good with residents located an average of 256 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the primary mode at 87%, while train usage stands at 7%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.7, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 17.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 137 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 9 weekly trips per individual stop.

Blackwood's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

AreaSearch's assessment shows Blackwood having excellent health outcomes. Specifically for younger cohorts, common health conditions have very low prevalence rates.

Private health cover is high at approximately 58%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 52.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.0% and 7.9% of residents respectively. 68.3% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 67.9%. Under-65s have better health outcomes overall. Blackwood has a higher proportion of seniors (21.4%, or 2,964 people) compared to Greater Adelaide (19.2%). While senior health outcomes are strong locally, they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Blackwood records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Blackwood's population, born in Australia, stands at 77.8%, with 93.5% being citizens and 91.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 38.9%. Judaism, however, is overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% in Greater Adelaide.

The top three ancestral groups are English (34.6%), Australian (24.8%), and Scottish (8.2%). Notably, German ancestry is overrepresented at 6.1%, Polish at 1.1%, and Dutch at 1.7%.

Blackwood's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Blackwood is 43 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Blackwood has a higher percentage of residents aged 45-54 (14.4%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (8.5%). According to the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group increased from 11.1% to 12.6%, while the 85+ cohort grew from 2.0% to 3.1%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group declined from 13.7% to 12.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Blackwood's age structure. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 120%, reaching 938 people from the current 427. However, the 65-74 age cohort is projected to decline by 63 people.