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 22,015 as of November 2025. This is an increase of 1,493 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 20,522. The change was inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 21,593 in June 2024 and an additional 116 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,049 persons per square kilometer, placing Glenelg in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. Glenelg's growth rate of 7.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (5.4%) and the SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods.

For future projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made using a weighted aggregation method from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, Glenelg is expected to increase by approximately 2,860 persons to reach 24,875 by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of about 11.0% over the 17-year period.

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 FY-26, 46 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.1 new residents arrive per year for each new home approved between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand dynamics. The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $432,000, reflecting a focus on the premium segment.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $19.7 million, suggesting moderate levels of commercial activity. Glenelg's construction rates per person are similar to Greater Adelaide's, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. New developments consist of 41.0% standalone homes and 59.0% townhouses or apartments, showing a trend towards denser development. There are approximately 230 people per dwelling approval in Glenelg, indicating capacity for growth.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Glenelg is projected to add 2,417 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

Glenelg has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 6thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 18 projects likely 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 highly educated with a low unemployment rate of 1.7%. Over the past year, ending September 2025, employment grew by an estimated 3.9%.

As of that date, 12,193 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.3%, below Greater Adelaide's 3.9%. Workforce participation was similar to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Key industries for Glenelg residents included health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services, with a specialization in the latter at 1.3 times the regional level. Manufacturing, however, was under-represented at 4.9% compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.0%.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.9%, labour force grew by 3.5%, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point decrease in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 3.0% and a 0.1 percentage point decrease in unemployment. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 showed SA's employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, outperforming the national average of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's projections from May-25 forecast national employment growth of 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, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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 ended June 2022 shows median income in Glenelg SA2 was $57,577 and average income was $81,200. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide's figures of a median income of $52,592 and an average income of $64,886 for the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% from financial year ended June 2022 to September 2025, estimated current median income is approximately $64,964 and average income is around $91,618. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 70th percentile ($925 weekly) and household income sits at the 39th percentile in Glenelg SA2. The predominant income cohort spans 27.3% of locals (6,010 people), earning between $1,500 - 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 a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Glenelg, houses made up 43.2% and other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other') made up 56.9% of the dwelling structure in the latest Census. In comparison, Adelaide metro had 52.9% houses and 47.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glenelg was 37.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.1% and rented dwellings at 35.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Glenelg was $1,950, aligning with Adelaide metro's average. The median weekly rent in Glenelg was $330, compared to Adelaide metro's $340. Nationally, Glenelg's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 against the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly 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 constitute 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, smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.2.

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 averages. Among residents aged 15+, 35.8% have university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.1% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.4% and graduate diplomas at 3.5%. Vocational credentials are also common, with 30.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (18.3%).

Furthermore, 23.5% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, with 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

Analysis of Glenelg's public transport shows 113 active stops operating within the area, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 39 different routes, together offering 3,824 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility in Glenelg is rated excellent, with residents typically located 154 meters from their nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 546 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 33 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Glenelg is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Glenelg faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 61% of Glenelg's total population of 13,385 have private health cover, compared to 58.8% across Greater Adelaide and the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in Glenelg are arthritis (9.3%) and mental health issues (7.7%).

A total of 66.2% of residents reported being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.9% across Greater Adelaide. Glenelg has 28.5% of residents aged 65 and over, comprising 6,278 people. Health outcomes among seniors in Glenelg are strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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, surveyed in 2016, showed cultural diversity with 12.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 24.7% born overseas. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 48.5%. The 'Other' religious category had 0.9%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 0.8%.

Ancestry-wise, Glenelg's top groups were English (31.2%), Australian (22.7%), and Irish (8.5%). Notably, German ancestry was at 5.8% compared to the regional average of 5.5%, while Polish and Welsh showed no significant difference at 0.9% and 0.7% respectively.

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 day, the percentage of Glenelg's population aged 75 to 84 has increased from 8.4% to 10.5%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 55 to 64 has decreased from 14.4% to 13.3%, and the proportion of those aged 45 to 54 has dropped from 12.5% to 11.4%. By the year 2041, Glenelg's age composition is expected to undergo notable shifts. The demographic shift will be led by the 85+ age group, which is projected to grow by 108%, reaching 1,864 people from 896. This growth continues the trend of demographic aging, with residents aged 65 and older representing 74% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.