Gilbert Valley

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Gilbert Valley's population is around 5,307 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 291 people (5.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,016 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,168 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 144 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 3.2 persons per square kilometer, providing ample space per person. Gilbert Valley's 5.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (4.5%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Regarding demographic trends, lower quartile growth for locations outside of capital cities is anticipated, with the area expected to grow by 75 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a reduction of 1.2% 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 around 25 new dwelling approvals each year, totalling 128 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 12 approvals have been recorded. With an average of only 0.6 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations, while new homes are being built at an average value of $265,000. Additionally, $6.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, supporting the area's residential character.

Compared to the Rest of SA, Gilbert Valley has slightly more development (39.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), preserving reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. Furthermore, new construction has been completely comprised of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. At around 210 people per approval, Gilbert Valley reflects a low density area.

With the population expected to remain stable or decline, Gilbert Valley should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Gilbert Valley has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 10thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 6 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Kidman Rise, Bundey BESS and Solar Project, Goyder Renewables Zone, and Robertstown Solar Project, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

AreaSearch analysis indicates Gilbert Valley maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Gilbert Valley has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of only 3.6%, and 2.7% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 2,588 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 2.1% below Regional SA's rate of 5.7%, and workforce participation is fairly standard (61.0% compared to Regional SA's 58.8%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 16.4% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. On the other hand, retail trade is under-represented, with only 6.4% of Gilbert Valley's workforce compared to 9.9% in Regional SA. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.7% and the labour force increased by 3.3%, resulting in unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional SA, where employment rose by 0.7%, the labour force grew by 3.1%, and unemployment rose 2.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Gilbert Valley. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Gilbert Valley's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.0% over five years and 11.4% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The Gilbert Valley SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $45,452 and an average of $57,282 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is below the national average, contrasting with Regional SA's median income of $48,920 and average income of $58,933. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $49,452 (median) and $62,323 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Gilbert Valley all fall between the 17th and 20th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the largest segment comprises 27.7% earning $800 - 1,499 weekly (1,470 residents), unlike trends at regional levels where 27.5% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. While housing costs are modest with 89.8% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 23rd percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure within Gilbert Valley, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Gilbert Valley was well beyond that of Regional SA, at 47.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (35.7%) or rented (17.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Regional SA average at $1,100, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $225, compared to Regional SA's $1,153 and $220. Nationally, Gilbert Valley's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 68.8% of all households, comprising 24.1% couples with children, 36.6% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.2%, with lone person households at 29.1% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size of 2.3 people matches the Regional SA average.

Educational outcomes in Gilbert Valley fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (18.4%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 38.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (28.6%).

Educational participation is notably 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.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health outcomes in Gilbert Valley are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Health indicators suggest below-average outcomes in Gilbert Valley, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~2,526 people). The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.9% and 8.7% of residents, respectively, while 62.4% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 28.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,515 people), which is higher than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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 was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 90.4% of its population being citizens, 87.8% born in Australia, and 97.7% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Gilbert Valley is Christianity, which makes up 50.0% of the population, compared to 45.2% across Regional SA.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Gilbert Valley are English, comprising 34.8% of the population, Australian, comprising 30.5% of the population, and German, comprising 9.0% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Polish is notably overrepresented at 0.8% of Gilbert Valley (vs 0.4% regionally), Dutch at 1.2% (vs 1.3%), and Irish at 7.9% (vs 5.9%).

Gilbert Valley ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

At 51 years, Gilbert Valley's median age is considerably higher than the Regional SA average of 47 and considerably older than the national norm of 38. The age profile shows 55 - 64 year-olds are particularly prominent (17.0%), while the 25 - 34 group is comparatively smaller (7.8%) than in Regional SA. This 55 - 64 concentration is well above the national 11.2%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 8.0% to 9.6% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.4% to 11.7% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 11.8% to 10.4%. 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 solidly, expanding by 167 people (33%) from 511 to 679. Demographic aging continues as residents 65 and older represent 85% of anticipated growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 cohorts.