Glenelg (SA)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Glenelg reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Glenelg's population is approximately 22,384 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,862 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 20,522. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,572 in June 2024 and an additional 124 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 3,100 persons per square kilometer, placing Glenelg in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Glenelg's growth rate of 9.1% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (7.4%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period.

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 are adopted with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population dynamics suggest an increase just below the national median for Glenelg, with a projected growth of 2,860 persons by 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of approximately 9.2% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Glenelg among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Glenelg granted approximately 137 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 688 homes. As of FY26, it has recorded 56 approvals. On average, about 1.1 new residents arrived per year for each new home between FY21 and FY25. The average construction value of new dwellings was $432,000 during this period.

In FY26, Glenelg recorded $19.7 million in commercial development approvals. It maintains similar construction rates per person compared to Greater Adelaide. New developments consisted of 41% standalone homes and 59% townhouses or apartments between FY21 and FY25. Glenelg had approximately 230 people per dwelling approval during this period.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Glenelg is projected to add 2,048 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

Glenelg has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 4thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that may affect the region. Notable initiatives include Tram Grade Separation at Marion Road and Cross Road in Plympton, Transforming Jetty Road Glenelg, Dusk Glenelg, and the River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project. The following list highlights those most likely to be 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 exceptional employment performance in Glenelg places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Glenelg has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.7% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.9% over the past year. In September 2025, 12,193 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 2.3% lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Glenelg is broadly similar to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. According to Census responses, 15.4% of residents worked from home. The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Glenelg has a particular specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

However, manufacturing is under-represented, with only 4.9% of Glenelg's workforce compared to 7.0% in Greater Adelaide. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.9%, and labour force increased by 3.5%, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point decrease in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 3.0% and unemployment falling by 0.1 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Glenelg's employment mix indicates potential local employment increases of 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that Glenelg SA2 has a median income of $58,668 and an average income of $82,767. This is higher than Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year ending June 2023, estimated median income as of September 2025 would be approximately $63,831, with an estimated average income of $90,050. According to the 2021 Census, Glenelg's personal income ranks at the 70th percentile ($925 weekly), while household income sits at the 39th percentile. The predominant income cohort in Glenelg is 27.3% of locals (6,110 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 per week, which aligns with the broader area where this cohort represents 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 40th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Glenelg displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Glenelg's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 43.2% houses and 56.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glenelg stood at 37.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.1% and rented ones at 35.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. Median weekly rent in Glenelg was $330, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Glenelg's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $330 versus the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 58.5% of all households, including 20.6% couples with children, 29.8% couples without children, and 7.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 41.5%, consisting of 38.1% lone person households and 3.5% group households. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Glenelg shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Glenelg's educational attainment is notably higher than broader standards. Among residents aged 15 and above, 35.8% possess university qualifications, surpassing South Australia's (SA) average of 25.7% and the SA4 region's 28.1%. University graduates comprise 23.9%, with postgraduate qualifications at 8.4% and graduate diplomas at 3.5%. Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 30.7% of residents holding such qualifications; advanced diplomas account for 12.4% and certificates for 18.3%.

A significant 23.5% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 6.8% in primary, 6.3% in tertiary, and 5.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

Glenelg has 108 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 42 individual routes, collectively providing 5,054 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 170 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, with car being the dominant mode at 82%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 15.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 722 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 46 weekly trips per stop. An accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

The level of general health in Glenelg is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Glenelg exhibits above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts demonstrate low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (13,609 people), compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.3% and 7.7% of residents respectively. A total of 66.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. Glenelg has 29.1% of residents aged 65 and over (6,522 people), which is higher than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Glenelg's population, as per the 2016 Census, showed cultural diversity with 12.7% speaking languages other than English at home and 24.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion at 48.5%. The 'Other' religious category was overrepresented in Glenelg at 0.9%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 1.8%.

Top ancestry groups were English (31.2%), Australian (22.7%), and Irish (8.5%). Notably, German (5.8% vs 5.1%), Polish (0.9% vs 1.0%), and Welsh (0.7% vs 0.6%) ethnicities were overrepresented in Glenelg compared to the regional averages.

Glenelg hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Glenelg's median age is 48 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's 39 years and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Glenelg has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (11.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.9%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the proportion of Glenelg's population aged 75 to 84 increased from 8.4% to 11.0%. During this period, the proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 decreased from 12.5% to 11.2%, and the proportion of those aged 55 to 64 dropped from 14.4% to 13.2%. By 2041, Glenelg is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. Notably, the number of residents aged 85 and above is expected to double (an increase of 932 people), reaching 1,864 from 931. This demographic aging trend continues as residents aged 65 and older are anticipated to represent 75% of the population growth. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 65-74 age groups are expected to decrease in number.