Clare

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 is around 4,200 as of May 2026. The 2021 Census reported a population of 4,096 people. By June 2025, the estimated resident population was 4,185, with an additional 65 validated new addresses since the Census date, indicating a growth of 104 people (2.5%) by May 2026. This results in a population density of 56 persons per square kilometer. Clare's 2.5% growth since census is within 0.6 percentage points of the SA3 area's 3.1%, showing competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Projected demographic shifts suggest lower quartile growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with Clare expected to expand by 47 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 0.8% over the 16 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

Over the past 5 financial years, Clare has averaged approximately 14 new dwelling approvals per year, totalling 73 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 7 approvals have been recorded. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an average of 0.1 new residents per year was associated with each dwelling constructed. This suggests that new construction in Clare is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current expectations.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes being built is $280,000. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalling $14.8 million have been registered, indicating balanced commercial development activity in the area. Compared to Rest of SA, Clare shows comparable building activity per person, supporting market stability that aligns with regional patterns. This level of activity is below the national average, reflecting the area's maturity and suggesting potential planning constraints.

All new construction in Clare consists of standalone homes, preserving its low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population density based on dwelling approvals is 372 people per dwelling. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Clare is projected to add 32 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Clare has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 7thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance more than alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Zero projects have been pinpointed by AreaSearch that could potentially impact this area. Notable projects include Barrier Highway Safety Upgrades, Robertstown Solar Project, Mid North South Australia REZ Expansion, and SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program, with the following list outlining those most likely to be pertinent.

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

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

Clare has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 2.9% in December 2025, below Regional SA's rate of 5.7%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.5%.

As of December 2025, 2,095 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 62.5%, compared to Regional SA's 58.3%. Only 7.7% of residents worked from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Clare has a strong specialization in accommodation & food with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 8.0% compared to Regional SA's 14.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 2.5%, labour force grew by 3.2%, and unemployment rose by 0.6 percentage points in Clare. In contrast, Regional SA saw employment rise by 0.7%, labour force grow by 3.1%, and unemployment increase by 2.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Clare's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Clare SA2 had a lower income level than average nationally according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $51,173 with an average of $64,323. This compares to Regional SA's figures of $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 are approximately $56,377 (median) and $70,865 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Clare ranked modestly between the 25th and 38th percentiles. The earnings profile showed that 30.8% of individuals earned between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring regional levels at 27.5%. Housing costs were modest with 87.6% of income retained. However, total disposable income ranked at the 30th percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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

Clare's housing structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.0% houses and 7.0% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Regional South Australia (SA) which had 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clare was at 39.2%, with mortgaged properties at 34.4% and rented ones at 26.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Clare was $1,300, higher than Regional SA's average of $1,153. The median weekly rent figure in Clare was recorded at $250, compared to Regional SA's $220. Nationally, Clare's median monthly mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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 Regional 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 national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 20.6% hold university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent (14.9%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 37.1% of residents holding them - advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 27.3%.

Currently, 24.9% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 10.2% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Clare is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Clare faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high among younger and older age cohorts alike.

Private health cover is relatively low, at approximately 51% of the total population (~2,150 people), compared to 48.9% across Regional SA. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 10.0 and 9.6% of residents respectively. However, 63.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly higher than the 62.5% across Regional SA. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 25.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,056 people), lower than the 27.1% in Regional SA. National rankings for certain health indicators are even higher than those of the general population.

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 90.8% of its population born in Australia, 91.8% being citizens, and 96.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Clare, comprising 51.9% of people. However, there is an overrepresentation in Other religions, which makes up 1.0% of Clare's population compared to 0.8% across Regional SA.

The top three ancestry groups are English (33.5%), Australian (31.9%), and German (8.5%). Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented at 7.9%, Serbian at 0.2%, and Polish at 0.6%.

Clare hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Clare's median age is 45, which is slightly lower than Regional SA's figure of 47 but significantly higher than Australia's 38 years. Compared to the Regional SA average, Clare has a notably higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (11.9%) and a lower percentage of those aged 65-74 (12.6%). Between 2021 and present, Clare's population has seen an increase in the 35 to 44 age group from 10.9% to 12.6%, and the 75 to 84 cohort has grown from 8.2% to 9.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 12.3% to 10.6%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate a significant increase in Clare's 85+ age cohort, with an expected growth of 119 people (91%), bringing the total to 250 residents. Senior residents aged 65 and above will contribute to 76% of population growth, highlighting trends towards demographic aging. In contrast, population declines are projected for children aged 0-4 and those aged 5-14.