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, as of November 2025, is approximately 4,234 people. This figure represents a growth of 138 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 4,096. The increase is inferred from an estimated resident population of 4,173 in June 2024 and an additional 59 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 57 persons per square kilometer. Clare's growth rate of 3.4% since the census places it within 2.3 percentage points of the SA3 area, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 82.2% of overall population gains during recent periods in Clare.

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, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth is anticipated for Australia's non-metropolitan areas. Clare is expected to expand by 65 persons to the year 2041, reflecting an increase of approximately 0.1% in total over the 17-year period, according to the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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 over the past five financial years, totalling 73 homes. As of FY26, 2 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.1 new residents settle annually for each dwelling constructed between FY21 and FY25. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing buyers with more options and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

The average value of new homes being built is $280,000. In FY26, Clare has registered $14.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of South Australia, Clare shows comparable building activity per capita, supporting market stability aligned with regional patterns but below national averages, reflecting its maturity and possible planning constraints. All new construction consists 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 development environment. Future projections estimate Clare adding 4 residents by 2041 based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. 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 14thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting 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 details those most likely to be relevant.

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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 was 2.9% as of September 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.0%. As of this date, 2,076 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.4%, below Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%. Workforce participation in Clare was 59.6%, higher than Rest of SA's 54.1%. Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food.

The area showed strong specialization in accommodation & food with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence at 8.0%, compared to 14.5% regionally. While local employment opportunities existed, many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 1.0% while labour force grew by 1.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.7 percentage points in Clare. In contrast, Rest of SA saw employment rise by 0.3%, labour force grow by 2.3%, and unemployment increase by 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered insights into potential future demand within Clare. These projections suggested that national employment would expand by 6.6% over five years and 12.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Clare's employment mix indicated local employment should increase by approximately 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though these were simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and did not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Clare SA2'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 are lower than those for Rest of SA, which were $46,889 and $56,582 respectively. By September 2025, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.83%, estimated incomes would be approximately $55,855 (median) and $70,909 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Clare rank modestly, between the 25th and 38th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 30.8% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, which is similar to regional levels at 27.5%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for retention of 87.6% of income, total disposable income ranks at the 30th percentile nationally. 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

Clare's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.0% houses and 7.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro SA's 94.2% houses and 5.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Clare was at 39.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.4% and rented ones at 26.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Clare was $1,300, higher than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,081. Weekly rent in Clare stood at $250, compared to Non-Metro SA's figure of $220. Nationally, Clare's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,300 versus Australia's 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 constitute 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 account for 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, 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 residents aged 15+ have lower university degree holders (20.6%) compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common (14.9%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.1% holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.8%) and certificates (27.3%). Currently, 24.9% of the population is engaged in formal education, comprising 10.2% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

A substantial 24.9% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Health data indicates significant challenges for Clare, with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 51% of the total population (~2,163 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area's 48.0%.

The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 10.0% of residents) and mental health issues (9.6%). Notably, 63.5% of Clare's residents report being free from medical ailments, compared to 60.9% in the rest of South Australia. Regarding age demographics, 25.0% of Clare's population is aged 65 and over (1,057 people), lower than the Rest of SA's figure of 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 population showed low cultural diversity, with 90.8% born in Australia (compared to 74.3% in Rest of SA, Aug 2016), 91.8% being citizens (vs 82.5%), and 96.3% speaking English only at home (vs 78.4%). Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 51.9%. The 'Other' category was overrepresented at 1.0%, compared to 0.5% regionally.

In ancestry, the top groups were English (33.5%), Australian (31.9%), and German (8.5%). Notably, Scottish ancestry was higher at 7.9% (vs 7.1%), Serbian at 0.2% (vs 0.1%), and Polish at 0.6% (vs 0.5%) compared to regional averages.

Clare hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Clare's median age is 45, which is slightly lower than the Rest of South Australia's figure of 47 but notably higher than Australia's average age of 38 years. Comparing Clare with the Rest of SA average, the 25-34 age cohort is significantly overrepresented at 12.0%, while those aged 65-74 are underrepresented at 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, the population share of the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 10.9% to 12.6%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has grown from 8.2% to 9.3%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 12.3% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Clare's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is expected to increase markedly by 132 people (98%), rising from 135 to 268. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 85% of the population growth, emphasizing demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0-4 and 5-14 age cohorts.