Jamestown

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Jamestown's population is around 4730 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 134 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4596 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4724 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 118 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1.5 persons per square kilometer. Jamestown's growth rate of 2.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.4%. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods. Considering projected demographic shifts, Jamestown's population is expected to decline by 56 persons by 2041. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, notably the 85 and over age group, which is projected to grow by 156 people.

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

Jamestown has received approximately 9 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 49 homes. As of FY-26, 9 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.2 new residents per year per dwelling were added between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand with stable market conditions. This figure has decreased to 0.1 people per dwelling over the past two financial years due to improved supply availability. New properties are constructed at an average cost of $272,000.

In FY-26, there have been $7.0 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Jamestown's construction rates are similar to those of Rest of SA, maintaining market balance with the broader area but lower than national averages, reflecting market maturity and potential development constraints. All recent developments consist of detached dwellings, preserving Jamestown's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. With an estimated 395 people per dwelling approval, the area has a quiet, low-activity development environment.

Given expected stable or declining population, housing pressure in Jamestown is likely to remain low, potentially presenting buying opportunities.

Jamestown has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects that may impact the area: Silver to Sea Way, Mid North South Australia REZ Expansion, Wapma Thura-Southern Flinders Ranges National Park, and Barrier Highway Safety Upgrades. 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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AreaSearch analysis reveals Jamestown recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Jamestown has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Over the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 1.6%. As of December 2025, 2,199 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is below Regional SA's rate of 5.7%.

Workforce participation in Jamestown is similar to Regional SA's at 58.3%. According to Census responses, 16.4% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training sectors. Notably, employment in agriculture, forestry & fishing is 1.9 times the regional average, while accommodation & food services have a limited presence at 3.1%, compared to 7.0% regionally.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. In the 12-month period ending May-25, employment increased by 1.6% while labour force grew by 3.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 1.4 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional SA where employment grew by 0.7%, labour force expanded by 3.1%, and unemployment rose by 2.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Jamestown's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.2% over five years and 11.7% over ten years, though these are illustrative extrapolations and do not account for localised population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Jamestown SA2's median income among taxpayers was $49,549 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $61,412 during the same period. These figures are below those of Regional SA's, which were $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest Jamestown's median income is approximately $54,588 and average income is around $67,658 as of March 2026. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Jamestown fall between the 9th and 17th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis reveals that the majority of residents (28.3%, or 1,338 people) earn within the $800 - 1,499 bracket, contrasting with the regional leading bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 at 27.5%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 92.2% income retention, Jamestown's total disposable income ranks at just the 18th percentile nationally.

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

Jamestown's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.7% houses and 3.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Jamestown was at 52.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.4% and rented ones at 18.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $802, lower than Regional SA's average of $1,153. The median weekly rent figure in Jamestown was recorded at $192, compared to Regional SA's $220. Nationally, Jamestown's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households compose 64.2% of all households, including 22.8% couples with children, 33.4% couples without children, and 7.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for 35.8%, with lone person households at 32.8% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Jamestown fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 14.6%, 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 the most common at 10.9%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 9.2% and certificates for 29.5%.

A total of 24.3% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 11.5% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 1.6% in tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Jamestown is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Jamestown faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial among both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately half of Jamestown's total population (~2,355 people) has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.8%) and mental health issues (8.8%). Conversely, 61.7% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, slightly lower than the Regional SA average of 62.5%. Working-age residents in Jamestown face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over (28.9%, or 1,366 people) compared to Regional SA (27.1%), with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Jamestown's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 92.6% of its population being citizens, 93.0% born in Australia, and 97.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Jamestown, comprising 54.2% of the population, compared to 45.2% across Regional SA. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (35.3%), English (32.7%), and German (7.9%).

Notably, Welsh (0.7%) was overrepresented in Jamestown compared to regionally (0.5%), as were Australian Aboriginal (2.3%) and Polish (0.6%).

Jamestown hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Jamestown's median age is 49, which is higher than the Regional SA figure of 47 and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Compared to Regional SA, Jamestown has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (13.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.5%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 8.3% to 10.4% of Jamestown's population. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 11.8% to 10.5%, and the 25-34 group has dropped from 8.6% to 7.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Jamestown's age structure. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 108%, reaching 281 people from the current 134. This growth will be predominantly driven by an aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 94% of the projected growth. Conversely, both the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are expected to decrease in number.