Edwardstown
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Edwardstown are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Edwardstown's population was around 15,436 as of August 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 873 people, a 6.0% rise from the 2021 Census count of 14,563 individuals. The change is inferred from ABS estimates of 15,317 residents in June 2024 and validated new addresses totalling 125 since the Census date. This population density equates to 2,786 persons per square kilometer, placing Edwardstown in the upper quartile compared to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth of 6.0% since the 2021 census outperformed the SA4 region's growth rate of 5.2%, positioning it as a growth leader within the region. Recent population gains were primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 75.4% of overall population increases.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered or years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are used, adjusted employing weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population growth for Edwardstown is projected to be above median statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch. By 2041, based on the latest population numbers, the area is expected to increase by 2,483 persons, representing a total increase of 15.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Edwardstown among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Edwardstown has recorded approximately 103 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, between FY21 and FY25518 dwellings have been approved, with an additional 10 approved so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling constructed over these years accommodates approximately 1.7 new residents annually.

This indicates a balanced supply and demand market, supporting stable conditions for property development. The average construction cost of new properties is $326,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options for purchasers. In the current financial year, there have been $10.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting balanced commercial development activity comparable to Greater Adelaide's construction activity per person.

The property market consists of 60% detached dwellings and 40% attached dwellings, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments catering to various price points and living preferences. Edwardstown has approximately 158 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Population forecasts project that Edwardstown will gain 2,310 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Edwardstown has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

Infrastructure projects significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified seven such projects likely influencing this region. Notable initiatives include Tram Grade Separation Projects, Tonsley Innovation District, Tram Grade Separation Project (Glenelg Line), and SA Health - Building a Bigger Health System in the South (Daw Park Urgent Care Hub & other upgrades). Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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

The labour market in Edwardstown demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Edwardstown has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, with estimated employment growth of 2.6% over the past year as of June 2025.

In this month, 8734 residents are employed, aligning with Greater Adelaide's 4.0% unemployment rate and showing a workforce participation rate of 65.4%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training, with healthcare being particularly strong at 1.3 times the regional level. Construction is under-represented at 6.8%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 8.7%. Local employment opportunities exist but many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data.

Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 2.6% while labour force rose by 2.7%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide where employment grew by 2.1%. State-level data to Sep-25 shows SA employment grew by 1.06% year-on-year, with a state unemployment rate of 4.5%, matching the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Edwardstown's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.0%% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, although these are illustrative extrapolations not accounting for localized population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Edwardstown is below the national average. The median income is $52,320 while the average income stands at $60,429. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide's figures of a median income of $52,592 and an average income of $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $57,986 (median) and $66,973 (average) as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Edwardstown, between the 33rd and 45th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 31.9% of locals (4,924 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, aligning with regional levels where this cohort also represents 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Edwardstown, with only 82.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 31st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Edwardstown displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Edwardstown's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 56.2% houses and 43.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 70.8% houses and 29.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Edwardstown was at 26.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.7% and rented ones at 39.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,643, lower than Adelaide metro's $1,700. The median weekly rent was $310, compared to Adelaide metro's $330. Nationally, Edwardstown's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,643 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 58.4% of all households, including 23.8% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 41.6%, with lone person households at 35.3% and group households comprising 6.3%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Edwardstown exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 35.6% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the South Australian average of 25.7% and the SA4 region average of 28.1%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 29.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas account for 10.3% and certificates for 18.7%.

Educational participation is high, at 28.1%, including 8.3% in tertiary education, 8.1% in primary education, and 5.2% pursuing secondary education. Edwardstown's five schools have a combined enrollment of 1,394 students. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1069. Educational mix includes two primary, two secondary, and one K-12 school.

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

Edwardstown has 78 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These are a mix of train and bus services. There are 41 individual routes serving these stops, collectively providing 3,708 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 176 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 529 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 47 weekly trips per individual stop.

Edwardstown's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Edwardstown residents show positive health outcomes, with common conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 50%, or around 7,718 people, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues affect 8.6% of residents, while arthritis impacts 7.6%. About 70.4% report no medical ailments, compared to 68.1% in Greater Adelaide. The area has 17.2%, or 2,648 people aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Adelaide's 19.2%. This aligns with the general population's health profile.

Edwardstown is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Edwardstown's cultural diversity is notable, with 33.3% of its population born overseas and 30.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Edwardstown, making up 39.1% of people, while Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Greater Adelaide, comprising 6.7%. The top three ancestry groups are English (23.7%), Australian (21.0%), and Other (13.0%).

Some ethnic groups show notable differences in representation: Polish at 1.0%, German at 5.1%, and Hungarian at 0.4% compared to regional averages.

Edwardstown's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Edwardstown is 36 years, which is slightly below Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Edwardstown has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (19.3%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (9.8%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the population aged 75-84 grew from 4.8% to 5.5%. Conversely, the population aged 55-64 declined from 11.1% to 9.8%. By 2041, Edwardstown's age composition is projected to change significantly. Notably, the 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 26%, adding 454 people and reaching a total of 2,169 from 1,714 previously. The 0-4 age group is expected to grow more modestly at 9%, adding only 69 residents.