Elizabeth East

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

Elizabeth East's population was approximately 14,501 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 454 people, a rise of 3.2% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 14,047. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,444 in June 2024 and an additional 48 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,772 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Elizabeth East has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.2%, outperforming the state's growth rate. Overseas migration contributed approximately 68.3% of overall 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, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecast for the top quartile of statistical areas across the nation. Elizabeth East is expected to increase by 4,514 persons to reach 19,015 by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 30.7% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Elizabeth East when compared nationally

Elizabeth East has averaged approximately 42 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25212 homes were approved, with an additional 34 approved so far in FY-26. This has resulted in an average of 2.8 new residents per year for each dwelling built during this period, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value of these new homes is $194,000, which is lower than regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY-26, $1.5 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting a predominant focus on residential development. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Elizabeth East has shown substantially reduced construction activity, with 83.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. Furthermore, this activity is also below national averages, indicating an established market and possible planning constraints.

Recent construction comprises 84.0% detached houses and 16.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes. The location has approximately 558 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Elizabeth East is expected to grow by 4,457 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth in the future.

Elizabeth East has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects potentially impacting the area. Notable ones include Elizabeth Vale Family Health and Wellbeing Hub, Edinburgh Central Mixed Use Development, Blakes Crossing Master Planned Community, and Lionsgate Business Park. The following list details those most likely relevant.

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

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The labour market performance in Elizabeth East lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Elizabeth East's workforce comprises both white and blue-collar jobs, with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 9.9% as of September 2025, showing a 2.0% employment growth over the preceding year. In this month, 5,919 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 5.9%, which is 2 percentage points higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Elizabeth East was lower at 57.5%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. According to Census responses, only 5.8% of residents worked from home. The leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Manufacturing had a notable concentration with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services employed just 3.3% of local workers, below Greater Adelaide's 7.3%. Over the 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 2.0%, while labour force grew by 1.2%, leading to a 0.7 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded higher employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a smaller reduction in unemployment at 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate that overall employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, applying these projections to Elizabeth East's specific employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The median taxpayer income in Elizabeth East SA2 is $45,396 according to AreaSearch's postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. The average income is $48,771. These figures are lower than the national averages of $54,808 median and $66,852 average in Greater Adelaide. Based on an 8.8% increase from the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $49,391 median and $53,063 average. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Elizabeth East fall between the 9th and 12th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $800 - 1,499 is dominant with 29.9% of residents (4,335 people), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Elizabeth East, with only 82.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 12th percentile nationally.

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

Elizabeth East's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 82.9% houses and 17.1% other dwellings. In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Elizabeth East was 24.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.2% and rented ones at 34.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,233, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent figure in Elizabeth East was $251, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Elizabeth East's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Elizabeth East has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.5% of all households, including 27.7% couples with children, 21.7% couples without children, and 18.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.5%, with lone person households at 27.2% and group households at 3.2%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Elizabeth East faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 10.8%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 8.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 8.4% and certificates at 29.3%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.6% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 3.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Elizabeth East has 82 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by 18 different routes that collectively provide 1,066 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 215 meters from the nearest transport stop. In this primarily residential area, most residents commute outward using cars as the dominant mode of transport at 91%, while only 6% use buses. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 5.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 152 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Elizabeth East is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Elizabeth East faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across various health conditions, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (around 6,684 people), compared to 52.7% in Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 11.3% and 9.6% of residents respectively. However, 62.0% of residents claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 15.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,266 people), lower than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Elizabeth East was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Elizabeth East's population was more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 27.9% born overseas and 18.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Elizabeth East, accounting for 35.9%. However, Islam was notably overrepresented at 8.5%, significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 3.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.1%), Australian (25.0%), and Other (13.3%). Maltese, German, and Welsh ethnicities showed notable divergences in representation compared to regional averages: Maltese at 0.6% vs 0.4%, German at 4.1% vs 5.1%, and Welsh at 0.6% vs 0.6%.

Elizabeth East's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Elizabeth East is 36 years, which is slightly below Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and also slightly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Elizabeth East has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (14.2%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (4.8%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 35-44 has increased from 12.4% to 13.8%, while the population aged 45-54 has decreased from 12.0% to 10.7%. By the year 2041, Elizabeth East is projected to experience significant changes in its age structure. Notably, the 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 53%, increasing from 1,555 to 2,377 people.