Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills

Population growth drivers in Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills' population is approximately 7,331 as of February 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 456 people, representing a 6.6% increase since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6,875. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,314 in June 2024 and an additional 243 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 310 persons per square kilometer. Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills' growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area by 0.2%, making it a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 78.8% to the overall population gains 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, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using a weighted aggregation method from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends project an above median growth for Australian statistical areas, with Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills expected to expand by 1,622 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 21.9% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills has seen approximately 57 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 287 homes from FY-18 to FY-22. As of FY-26, there have been 28 approvals recorded. Each dwelling built has attracted an average of 2.9 new residents annually between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of new homes is $167,000, reflecting more affordable housing options compared to regional norms.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $1.2 million, demonstrating the area's residential focus. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills has recorded 73.0% more new home approvals per capita. Building activity has slowed in recent years, with all approved developments being standalone homes, maintaining the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The population density is around 228 people per approval.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills is projected to add 1,605 residents by 2041. Current development levels appear aligned with future requirements, suggesting stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 12thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Onkaparinga Heights, Noarlunga Hospital Expansion, Noarlunga Master Planning Housing Project, and Woodcroft College Campus Expansions. 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.

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills has a balanced workforce consisting of both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well represented in the area, with an unemployment rate of 5.2% as of September 2025. Over the past year, there has been an estimated employment growth of 3.8%.

As of this date, 3,736 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.2% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%. The workforce participation rate in Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills is somewhat lower at 64.4%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. According to Census responses, a low 8.5% of residents work from home. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction sectors.

The area shows strong specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services have limited presence, with only 4.2% of employment compared to the regional average of 7.3%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.8%, while the labour force grew by 3.4%. This resulted in a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide experienced an employment growth of 3.0% and a labour force expansion of 2.9% during the same period, leading to a fall in unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide insights into potential future demand within Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills. These projections suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to the local employment mix in Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills suggests that local employment should increase by approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years. It is important to note that these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only, and do not take into account localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023 indicates that Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $55,266 and an average income of $60,433. These figures are lower than the national averages of $54,808 for median and $66,852 for average across Greater Adelaide. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year ending June 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $60,129 (median) and $65,751 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills fall between the 22nd and 24th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 32.9% of the population (2,411 individuals) have incomes within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to the broader area where this cohort represents 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 25th percentile.

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure in Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.9% houses and 9.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills was at 31.4%, aligning with Adelaide metro's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (50.7%) or rented (18.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,400, lower than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills' mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 71.5% of all households, including 28.6% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 14.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.5%, with lone person households at 25.8% and group households comprising 2.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which matches the Greater Adelaide average.

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.0%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 9.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (33.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.1% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 25 active transport stops operating within Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totalling six individual routes that provide 283 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 245 metres from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 92%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 8.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 40 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across a range of health conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (~3,606 people), compared to 52.7% in Greater Adelaide and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, impacting 10.4% and 9.9% of residents respectively. However, 60.7% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 21.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,556 people), which is higher than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Hackham-Onkaparinga Hills, as per the 2016 Census, had a population with 80.9% born in Australia, 90.5% being citizens, and 94.9% speaking English only at home, indicating lower cultural diversity compared to the average. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 37.4%. The 'Other' religious category comprised 0.5%, notably lower than Greater Adelaide's 1.8%.

In terms of ancestry, English (35.8%) and Australian (29.1%) were significantly overrepresented compared to regional averages of 27.8% and 22.8% respectively. Scottish ancestry was also notable at 7.4%. Other ethnic groups with higher representation included German (5.6%), Dutch (1.7%), and Welsh (0.6%).

Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills is 40 years, similar to Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years but somewhat older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 75-84 age group comprises 8.3%, compared to Greater Adelaide's figure. Conversely, the 35-44 cohort stands at 12.8%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75-84 age group grew from 6.7% to 8.3%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 12.3% to 13.8%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.7% to 11.3%, and the 65-74 group dropped from 12.3% to 11.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills, with the 45-54 age group projected to grow by 31% (253 people), reaching 1,086 from 832. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort is expected to show minimal growth of just 6% (48 people).