Goyder
Statistical Area - sa2

Goyder has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Goyder's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 4,409 people. This figure represents an increase of 330 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,079. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,152 in June 2024 and an additional 280 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 0.70 persons per square kilometer. Goyder's growth rate of 8.1% since the 2021 census exceeded that of both the SA3 area (5.7%) and the non-metro area, indicating it as a region with notable growth. Overseas migration was identified as the primary driver for this population increase.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by these data and years beyond 2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted. These projections indicate an overall population decline of 62 persons by 2041 in Goyder. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow during this period, notably the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to increase by 181 people.

The level of residential development activity in Goyder is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Goyder has averaged approximately 8 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years ending June 2021, totalling 42 homes. As of July 2026, 6 approvals have been recorded in this financial year. The population decline in recent years has kept housing supply adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $202,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options for purchasers.

This financial year has seen $3.8 million in commercial development approvals, indicating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of SA, Goyder has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 26th percentile nationally, leading to relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing properties. This activity is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent building activity comprises entirely detached houses, preserving Goyder's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated population per dwelling approval stands at 898 people, indicating a quiet, low-activity development environment. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Goyder may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Goyder has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Goyder Renewables Zone, Burra Township Master Plan, Barrier Highway Safety Upgrades, and Bundey BESS and Solar Project. The following list details those most 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.

Employment conditions in Goyder face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Goyder has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 6.6% as of June 2025. There are 1,800 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 2.0% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%.

Workforce participation is lower at 51.6%, compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly specialized with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 9.8% compared to Rest of SA's 13.9%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by Census data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.1%, but employment declined by 2.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 2.0 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of SA where employment contracted by 1.2% and unemployment rose by 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Goyder. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ between sectors. Applying these projections to Goyder's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 4.7%% over five years and 10.8% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Goyder is below the national average. The median assessed income is $40,900 and the average income stands at $52,837. This contrasts with Rest of SA's figures where the median income is $46,889 and the average income is $56,582. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Goyder would be approximately $46,147 (median) and $59,616 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes in Goyder fall between the 2nd and 4th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that the $400 - 799 earnings band captures 34.6% of the community (1,525 individuals), while regional levels have the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leading at 27.5%. The prevalence of lower-income residents (44.1% under $800/week) suggests constrained household budgets across much of Goyder. Despite modest housing costs with 89.8% of income retained, total disposable income ranks at just the 5th percentile nationally.

Goyder is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Goyder, as per the latest Census evaluation, 96.3% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 3.7% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. This compares to Non-Metro SA's figures of 94.2% houses and 5.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Goyder stood at 52.5%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 28.5% and rented dwellings making up 19.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $867, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,081. The median weekly rent figure in Goyder was recorded at $190, compared to $220 in Non-Metro SA. Nationally, Goyder's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 64.0% of all households, including 22.8% couples with children, 32.6% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.0%, with lone person households at 34.2% and group households comprising 1.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

Goyder faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 12.0%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 8.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (30.7%). Educational participation is high at 25.0%, comprising primary education (10.6%), secondary education (8.4%), and tertiary education (1.7%).

Goyder's five schools have a combined enrollment of 502 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions with an ICSEA score of 981. The educational mix includes three primary schools and two K-12 schools. There are 11.7 school places per 100 residents, below the regional average of 15.0, indicating some students may attend schools in neighboring areas.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Goyder is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Critical health challenges are evident across Goyder. A range of health conditions impact both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~2,059 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 12.3% and 9.4% of residents respectively. Sixty point three percent of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 60.9% across Rest of SA. Thirty point nine percent of residents are aged 65 and over (1,362 people), which is higher than the 27.7% in Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors in Goyder are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

The latest Census data sees Goyder placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Goyder's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.1% of its population being citizens, 89.0% born in Australia, and 97.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Goyder, comprising 54.7% of people, compared to 51.3% across Rest of SA. The top three represented ancestry groups were English (31.9%), Australian (31.7%), and German (13.6%).

Notably, Dutch was overrepresented at 1.2%, while Australian Aboriginal remained at 1.7%.

Goyder ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Goyder's median age is 51 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of SA average of 47 years and the national norm of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prevalent, making up 18.4% of the population, compared to the national average of 9.4%. This is a notable increase from 16.3% in 2021. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age group comprises only 7.6%, which is smaller than the Rest of SA average. Since 2021, the 75-84 cohort has grown from 8.2% to 10.2%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 18.2% to 16.5%, and the 45-54 group has dropped from 12.2% to 11.0%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate that the 75-84 age cohort is expected to increase by 130 people (29%), from 449 to 580. This growth will be driven entirely by residents aged 65 and older. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts.