Gilbert Valley
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Gilbert Valley's population was around 5,329 as of November 2025. This reflected an increase of 313 people, a 6.2% rise from the 2021 Census figure of 5,016 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,168 in June 2024 and an additional 142 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 3.2 persons per square kilometer. Gilbert Valley's growth exceeded the SA3 area's 5.7% increase since the 2021 census, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted 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, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category were used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Demographic trends suggest lower quartile growth for locations outside capital cities moving forward. Gilbert Valley is expected to grow by 75 persons to reach 2041, based on the latest population numbers, with an anticipated reduction of 1.6% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Gilbert Valley according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Gilbert Valley has averaged approximately 25 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 128 homes. As of FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.6 people per year have moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. This pace suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing buyers with more options and enabling population growth.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes over this period has been $265,000. In FY-26, $6.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's residential character. Compared to the Rest of SA, Gilbert Valley has seen slightly more development, with 39.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

This level of development preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. All new construction during this period comprised standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space. With around 210 people per approval, Gilbert Valley reflects a transitioning market in terms of population growth. Given that population is expected to remain stable or decline, there should be reduced pressure on housing in the area, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Gilbert Valley has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 29thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Kidman Rise, Bundey BESS and Solar Project, Goyder Renewables Zone, and Robertstown Solar Project. The following details projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment landscape in Gilbert Valley presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.8%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Gilbert Valley has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 3.8% as of June 2025. It has 2,515 residents in work, which is 0.8% lower than Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%.

The workforce participation rate is 57.4%, slightly higher than the regional rate of 54.1%. Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has a strong presence with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Retail trade has limited presence at 6.4% compared to the regional average of 9.9%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparisons. In the year to June 2025, Gilbert Valley's labour force increased by 0.2%, while employment declined by 1.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of SA where employment fell by 1.2% and unemployment rose by 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Gilbert Valley. Applying these projections to the local employment mix indicates a growth rate of approximately 5.0% over five years and 11.4% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Gilbert Valley is below the national average. The median assessed income is $45,408 and the average income stands at $56,346. This contrasts with Rest of SA's figures where the median income is $46,889 and the average income is $56,582. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $51,234 (median) and $63,575 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Gilbert Valley all fall between the 17th and 21st percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 27.7% of the population (1,476 individuals) fall within the $800 - $1,499 income range, unlike metropolitan trends where 27.5% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Housing costs are modest with 89.8% of income retained, but the total disposable income ranks at just the 24th percentile nationally.

Gilbert Valley is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The latest Census revealed that 96.1% of dwellings in Gilbert Valley were houses, with the remaining 3.9% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types. This is compared to Non-Metro SA's figures of 94.2% houses and 5.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gilbert Valley stood at 47.4%, similar to Non-Metro SA's rate. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 35.7%, with rented properties making up 17.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,100, higher than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,081 but significantly lower than the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Gilbert Valley was $225, slightly higher than Non-Metro SA's figure of $220 and substantially below the national average of $375.

Gilbert Valley has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 68.8% of all households, including 24.1% couples with children, 36.6% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.2%, comprising 29.1% lone person households and 2.2% group households. The median household size is 2.3 people, aligning with the Rest of SA average.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 18.4%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 28.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education. A network of 7 schools operates within Gilbert Valley, educating approximately 436 students. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 963) with balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with 6 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents at 8.3 fall below the regional average of 15.0, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Gilbert Valley faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (~2,557 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (10.9%) and mental health issues (8.7%). Approximately 62.4% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the Rest of SA's 60.9%. As of 20XX, 27.8% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,481 people). Health outcomes among seniors in Gilbert Valley are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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

Gilbert Valley's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.4% of its population being citizens, 87.8% born in Australia, and 97.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Gilbert Valley, comprising 50.0% of people, compared to 51.3% across Rest of SA. The top three ancestry groups are English (34.8%), Australian (30.5%), and German (9.0%).

Notably, Polish (0.8%) is overrepresented in Gilbert Valley compared to the regional average (0.5%), as are Dutch (1.2% vs 1.0%) and Irish (7.9% vs 6.8%).

Gilbert Valley ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Gilbert Valley's median age is 51 years, which is higher than the Rest of SA average of 47 years and considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 17.6% of the population, compared to the national average of 11.2%. This is higher than the Rest of SA's figure for this age group. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age group makes up only 7.7%, which is smaller than the Rest of SA average. Between 2021 and present day, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 8.0% to 9.7%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.4% to 11.9%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 11.8% to 10.7%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Gilbert Valley's age structure. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to increase by 163 people (32%), from 515 to 679. This expansion will be driven largely by demographic aging, with residents aged 65 and older representing 88% of the anticipated growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 65-74 and 0-4 years.