Golden Grove
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Golden Grove's population was approximately 10,576 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 170 people from the 2021 Census count of 10,406. The growth is inferred from ABS data indicating an estimated resident population of 10,444 in June 2024 and the validation of 51 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 397 persons per square kilometer. Golden Grove's 1.6% growth rate since the census is within 2.6 percentage points of the SA3 area's 4.2%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver for 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 post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, adjusted using a weighted aggregation method from LGA to SA2 levels. According to demographic trends, Golden Grove is expected to grow by approximately 645 persons by 2041, representing an increase of about 4.8% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Golden Grove, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Golden Grove has recorded approximately 22 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 113 approvals across the past five financial years from FY-20 to FY-25, with no approvals so far in FY-26. The population has declined recently, suggesting new supply has likely met demand, offering good choice for buyers. New homes are being built at an average construction cost of $343,000, aligning with regional trends.

In the current financial year, $31.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Golden Grove records significantly lower building activity, 75.0% below the regional average per person, which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. However, development activity has increased recently. This is also lower than the national level, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. All new construction in the area consists of detached houses, maintaining its traditional low-density character focused on family homes.

The estimated population per dwelling approval is 2728 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Golden Grove will gain 513 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Golden Grove has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly impact local performance. AreaSearch identified 12 projects likely affecting the area. Key initiatives include Golden Grove Master Planned Stage 2, Golden Grove Neighbourhood Code Amendment (Stage 1), Golden Grove Park & Ride Facility, and Golden Grove Road Upgrade.

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

Employment performance in Golden Grove ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Golden Grove has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 1.7% as of June 2025. This is below Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Golden Grove is similar to Greater Adelaide's at 61.7%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Public administration & safety shows notable concentration with levels at 1.4 times the regional average. Health care & social assistance has lower representation at 15.3% compared to the regional average of 17.7%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the past year, employment increased by 1.7%, labour force grew by 1.3%, and unemployment fell by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows SA employment grew by 1.06% year-on-year with an unemployment rate of 4.5%. National forecasts suggest employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.4% over ten years in Golden Grove, based on industry-specific projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Golden Grove had a median income among taxpayers of $56,940 during the financial year ending June 2022. The average income level stood at $67,464 in the same period. Both figures were higher than national averages of $52,532 and $64,886 respectively across Greater Adelaide. By March 2025, estimated median and average incomes would be approximately $63,107 and $74,770 based on a 10.83% growth in wages since the financial year ending June 2022. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, Golden Grove's household, family, and personal incomes ranked modestly, between the 46th and 48th percentiles. Income distribution data showed that 29.5% of the population (3,119 individuals) had incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, a pattern similar to regional levels where 31.8% fell within this range. After housing expenses, 85.9% of income remained for other expenditures. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 6th decile.

Golden Grove is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Golden Grove's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Adelaide metro's 88.6% houses and 11.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Golden Grove stood at 35.9%, similar to Adelaide metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 44.6% and rented dwellings at 19.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,688, higher than the Adelaide metro average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in Golden Grove was $320, compared to Adelaide metro's $330. Nationally, Golden Grove's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Golden Grove has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 74.5% of all households, including 34.0% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 25.5%, with lone person households at 24.6% and group households comprising 1.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Greater Adelaide average.

Golden Grove performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Golden Grove has 22.0% of its residents aged 15+ with university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are held by 37.0% of residents, including advanced diplomas (12.1%) and certificates (24.9%). Current educational participation is high at 27.7%.

This includes 9.9% in primary education, 7.8% in secondary education, and 5.4% pursuing tertiary education. Golden Grove's five schools have a combined enrollment of 4,107 students, serving typical Australian conditions (ICSEA: 1046) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes one primary school, two secondary schools, and two K-12 schools. As an education hub, Golden Grove has 39.3 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 16.7, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Golden Grove has 76 active public transport stops, served by a mix of bus routes. There are 28 different routes operating in total, facilitating 2,652 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents on average living just 204 meters away from their nearest stop.

Daily service frequency averages at 378 trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 34 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Golden Grove faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 53%, or about 5,647 people, which is higher than Greater Adelaide's 50.0%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (9.4%) and mental health issues (8.3%). About 65.4% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 66.3% in Greater Adelaide. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 22.4%, or about 2,366 people, higher than Greater Adelaide's 21.2%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Golden Grove's cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 10.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 24.6% born overseas. The predominant religion in Golden Grove is Christianity, accounting for 47.3%. However, the most noticeable overrepresentation was in Other religions, comprising 1.0%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 2.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are English (34.7%), Australian (26.1%), and Scottish (6.8%). Notably, Polish is overrepresented at 1.5% (vs regional 1.2%), German at 5.2% (vs 5.8%), and Welsh at 0.7% (vs 0.7%).

Golden Grove hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Golden Grove is 44 years, which is higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and also exceeds the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, the 55-64 age cohort is notably over-represented in Golden Grove at 14.9%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 9.6%. Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 7.3% to 8.3% of Golden Grove's population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age cohort has decreased from 13.7% to 12.0%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Golden Grove. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 282 people (an increase of 80%), from 353 to 636. This growth reflects an aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 71% of the projected population growth. Conversely, the 15-24 and 5-14 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.