Glenelg (SA)
Statistical Area - sa2

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, as per AreaSearch's analysis, stood at around 22,015 by November 2025. This figure indicates a rise of 1,493 individuals (7.3%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 20,522. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,593 in June 2024 and an additional 116 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 3,049 persons per square kilometer, placing Glenelg in the upper quartile compared to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Glenelg's growth rate of 7.3% since the 2021 Census surpassed both the SA4 region (5.4%) and the SA3 area, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver behind this population growth.

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 beyond 2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the national median by 2041, with Glenelg expected to gain approximately 2,860 persons over this period, representing an overall increase of 11.0%.

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

Glenelg granted approval for approximately 137 residential properties annually over the past five financial years. This totals 688 homes from FY20-FY25. As of FY26, 37 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.1 new residents arrive per year for each new home approved between FY21 and FY25.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $432,000. In FY26, Glenelg has seen $19.7 million in commercial development approvals. Glenelg's construction rates are similar to Greater Adelaide's, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. New development consists of 41% standalone homes and 59% townhouses or apartments.

Glenelg has around 230 people per dwelling approval, indicating potential for growth. Projections suggest Glenelg will add 2,417 residents by 2041. Current development patterns indicate new housing supply should meet demand, benefiting buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Glenelg has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that could 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 21 Adelphi Terrace Carbon-Neutral Development. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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The labour market strength in Glenelg positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Glenelg in South Australia has a highly educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate as of June 2025 was 1.8%, lower than Greater Adelaide's 4.0%.

Over the past year, employment growth was estimated at 2.9%. In June 2025, 11,977 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate similar to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Key industries of employment among Glenelg residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Notably, the area has a high specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, manufacturing is under-represented at 4.9% compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.0%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.9%, labour force grew by 2.7%, resulting in a slight decrease in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 2.1% with marginal unemployment increase. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Glenelg. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Glenelg's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 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 data for financial year 2022 shows Glenelg's median income at $57,577 and average income at $81,200. This is higher than Greater Adelaide's median of $52,592 and average of $64,886. By September 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $64,964 (median) and $91,618 (average), based on a 12.83% Wage Price Index growth since 2022. According to the 2021 Census, Glenelg's personal income ranks at the 71st percentile ($925 weekly) and household income at the 39th percentile. The predominant income cohort in Glenelg is 27.3% (6,010 people), earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 41st 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

Glenelg's dwelling structure, 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 52.9% houses and 47.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glenelg was at 37.7%, similar to Adelaide metro, with the rest being mortgaged (27.1%) or rented (35.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Glenelg was $1,950, aligning with Adelaide metro's average. The median weekly rent figure was $330, compared to Adelaide metro's $340. Nationally, Glenelg's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 than the Australian 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 constitute 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 account for 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 residents aged 15 and above have a higher proportion of university qualifications than the broader benchmarks. Specifically, 35.8% of Glenelg residents hold such qualifications compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) as a whole and 28.1% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage is due largely to bachelor degrees, held by 23.9% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.4%, and graduate diplomas at 3.5%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 30.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (18.3%).

Glenelg has a substantial number of residents actively pursuing formal education, with 23.5% of the population engaged in such activities. This includes 6.8% in primary education, 6.3% in tertiary education, and 5.9% pursuing secondary education. The area's five schools have a combined enrollment of 3,886 students. Glenelg demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1093. Its educational mix includes four primary schools and one K-12 school.

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

Glenelg has 113 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 39 different routes that collectively facilitate 3,824 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 154 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 546 trips per day across all routes, which translates 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 somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (13,385 people), compared to 58.8% across Greater Adelaide, which is higher than the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.3 and 7.7% of residents respectively.

However, 66.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.9% across Greater Adelaide. As of 2016 data, Glenelg has 28.5% of residents aged 65 and over (6,278 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Glenelg's cultural diversity was above average, with 12.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 24.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 48.5%. Notably, 'Other' religions were slightly overrepresented at 0.9%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, English (31.2%), Australian (22.7%), and Irish (8.5%) were the top groups. Some ethnicities showed notable divergences: German was slightly overrepresented at 5.8% versus 5.5%, Welsh remained steady at 0.7%, and Polish also stayed consistent at 0.9%.

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 percentage of residents aged 65-74 (14.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.0%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 75-84 has increased from 8.4% to 10.5%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 55-64 has decreased from 14.4% to 13.3%, and the percentage of those aged 45-54 has dropped from 12.5% to 11.4%. By 2041, Glenelg's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 85 and above is projected to grow by 108%, reaching 1,864 from 896. This demographic aging trend continues as residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 74% of the population growth. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.