Clare
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Clare's population was 4,096 as of Aug 2021. By Aug 2025, it had increased to around 4,197, a rise of 101 people (2.5%). This growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data for June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date. Clare's population density was 56 persons per square kilometer in Aug 2025. The area's 2.5% growth since the Census is within 1.6 percentage points of its SA3 area (4.1%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.2% of Clare's population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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, it adopts SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods. Based on projected demographic shifts, Australia's non-metropolitan areas are expected to have lower quartile growth. Clare is projected to expand by 65 persons by 2041, an increase of 1.0% over the 17 years.

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

Clare has averaged approximately 14 new dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. There were a total of 73 approvals across the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with an additional two recorded so far in FY-26. Over these five years, there has been an average of 0.1 new residents per year per dwelling constructed.

This suggests that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes being built is $360,000. There have also been $14.8 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. When compared to the Rest of SA, Clare shows comparable building activity per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns.

This level is below the national average, reflecting the area's maturity and potentially pointing to planning constraints. All new construction has consisted of standalone homes, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population density is 372 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections suggest Clare will add 41 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Clare has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, or planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects likely to impact this area. Notable projects include Barrier Highway Safety Upgrades, Robertstown Solar Project, Mid North South Australia REZ Expansion, and SA Public Housing Maintenance and Services Contracts. The following list details those most relevant:.

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

Employment performance in Clare exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Clare has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate in Clare is 2.6%, lower than the Rest of SA's 4.6%.

Employment stability has been maintained over the past year. As of June 2025, 2,095 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.0% below Rest of SA's rate. Workforce participation is high at 59.6%, compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food.

Clare has a particular specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 8.0% compared to the regional average of 14.5%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population data. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.3%, but employment declined by 0.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA experienced a 1.2% employment decline and a 1.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Clare's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, although these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for local population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Clare's median income among taxpayers was $49,504 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $62,846 during the same period. These figures compare to those for Rest of SA, which were $46,889 and $56,582 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.83% since financial year 2022, estimated median income as of March 2025 is approximately $54,865, with average income projected at around $69,652. Census data indicates household, family and personal incomes in Clare rank modestly, between the 25th and 39th percentiles. Income analysis shows that 30.8% of Clare's community earns within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, which is similar to the broader area where 27.5% fall into this income band. Housing costs are manageable, with 87.6% of income retained after expenses. However, disposable income ranks below average at the 31st percentile, and Clare's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Clare is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Clare, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 93.0% houses and 7.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 94.2% houses and 5.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clare was 39.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.4% and rented ones at 26.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, higher than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,081. Weekly rent in Clare was $250, compared to Non-Metro SA's $220. Nationally, Clare's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 vs the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375 at $250.

Clare features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 65.9% of all households, including 22.9% couples with children, 33.8% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.1%, with lone person households at 31.6% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Clare fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Clare's educational qualifications lag behind regional benchmarks, with 20.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding university degrees compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 37.1% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 9.8% and certificates for 27.3%. A significant 24.9% of Clare's population is actively pursuing formal education, including 10.2% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

The five schools in Clare have a combined enrollment of 1,035 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1014) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary schools, one secondary school, and two K-12 schools. Clare functions as an education hub with 24.7 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 15.0, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Clare faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 51%, slightly lower than the average SA2 area's 48%.

The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (10%) and mental health concerns (9.6%), while 63.5% report no ailments, compared to Rest of SA's 60.9%. 25% of Clare residents are aged 65 or above (1,048 people), lower than the Rest of SA's 27.7%.

Clare is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Clare's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 91.8% of its population being Australian citizens, 90.8% born in Australia, and 96.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 51.9% of Clare's population. Notably, the 'Other' category made up 1.0% of Clare's population, higher than the regional average of 0.5%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (33.5%), Australian (31.9%), and German (8.5%). There were notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Scottish people made up 7.9% of Clare's population compared to 7.1% regionally, Serbian people comprised 0.2% versus 0.1%, and Polish people accounted for 0.6% versus 0.5%.

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

Clare's median age is 45, which is slightly lower than the Rest of South Australia's figure of 47 but higher than Australia's 38 years. Comparing Clare with the Rest of SA average, those aged 25-34 are notably over-represented at 12.0%, while those aged 65-74 are under-represented at 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, the population share of those aged 35-44 has grown from 10.9% to 12.6%, while the 75-84 age group increased from 8.2% to 9.3%. Conversely, the 45-54 age cohort has declined from 12.3% to 11.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Clare's age structure. The 85+ age group is projected to increase by 133 people (100%) from 134 to 268. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 82% of population growth, indicating demographic aging trends. In contrast, populations aged 0-4 and 5-14 are projected to decline.