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 22,381 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,859 people, a 9.1% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 20,522. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,572 in June 2024 and an additional 116 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,099 persons per square kilometer, placing Glenelg in the upper quartile compared to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Glenelg's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (7.3%) and SA3 area, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth 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, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the national median to 2041, with Glenelg expected to gain approximately 2,860 persons, reflecting a total increase of 9.2% over the 17 years.

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

Glenelg has recorded approximately 137 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 688 homes. As of FY26, 56 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.1 new residents arrive per year for each new home approved between FY21 and FY25, indicating balanced supply and demand dynamics. The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $432,000, reflecting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

In FY26, $19.7 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, showing moderate levels of commercial development. Glenelg maintains similar construction rates per person compared to Greater Adelaide, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. New developments consist of 41% standalone homes and 59% townhouses or apartments, promoting denser development options suitable for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The area has approximately 230 people per dwelling approval, suggesting room for growth.

By 2041, Glenelg is projected to add 2,051 residents based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development patterns indicate that new housing supply should readily meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current 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 potentially affecting 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 details those most relevant.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in Glenelg places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Glenelg's workforce is well-educated with a low unemployment rate of 1.7% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.9%. The area has 12,193 residents in work and an unemployment rate of 2.3%, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%.

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Adelaide's 66.5%. According to Census responses, 15.4% of residents work from home. Key industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Glenelg has a high specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Manufacturing is under-represented at 4.9%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.0%. Employment opportunities seem limited locally based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.9% and labour force grew by 3.5%, reducing unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 2.9%, and a reduction in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Glenelg's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 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 2023 indicates that Glenelg SA2 has a high national median income of $58,668 and an average income of $82,767. This contrasts with 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 2023, current estimates project the median income to be approximately $63,831 and the average income to be around $90,050 by September 2025. The 2021 Census data shows Glenelg SA2's personal income ranks at the 70th percentile ($925 weekly) and household income at the 39th percentile. The predominant income cohort spans 27.3% of locals (6,110 people), falling within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, which aligns with the broader area's 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). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glenelg was 37.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.1% and rented ones at 35.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Glenelg was $1,950, higher than Adelaide metro's $1,562. The median weekly rent in Glenelg was $330, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Glenelg's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $330 compared to 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%, with lone person households at 38.1% and group households comprising 3.5%. 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

Educational attainment in Glenelg is notably higher than broader averages. Specifically, 35.8% of residents aged 15 years or older hold university qualifications, compared to the state average of 25.7%. In the SA4 region, this figure stands at 28.1%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 30.7% of residents aged 15 years or older holding such qualifications. This includes advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (18.3%). Notably, 23.5% of the population is actively engaged in formal education. This comprises 6.8% in primary education, 6.3% in tertiary education, 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 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. The accompanying map displays 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 shows better-than-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups have low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (13,607 people), compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in Glenelg are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.3% and 7.7% of residents respectively. Sixty-six point two percent 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 28.5% of residents aged 65 and over (6,383 people), higher than the 19.0% 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 had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 12.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 24.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 48.5%. The most notable overrepresentation was in 'Other', comprising 0.9% compared to Greater Adelaide's 1.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.2%), Australian (22.7%), and Irish (8.5%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: German at 5.8% vs regional 5.1%, Polish at 0.9% vs 1.0%, and Welsh at 0.7% vs 0.6%.

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 65-74 (14.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.0%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 8.4% to 10.5% of Glenelg's population. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 14.4% to 13.3%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 12.5% to 11.4%. By 2041, Glenelg's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 105% (953 people), reaching 1,864 from 910. Demographic aging will continue as residents aged 65 and older represent 79% of the anticipated growth. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 65-74 age groups are expected to decrease in number.