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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Kadina has an estimated 5,851 residents, up from 5,414 at the 2021 Census — a change of 437 people, or 8.1%. Growth has averaged 1.0% a year over five years. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 87.9% of that increase. Density is about 15 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to research by AreaSearch, the population of Kadina is estimated at 5,851 in May 2026. This represents a gain of 437 residents (8.1%) from the 2021 Census, when the population stood at 5,414 people. This calculation is derived from the ABS estimated resident population of 5,776 in June 2025 combined with 56 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. With these numbers, the population density stands at 14.8 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious living environment. Kadina's 8.1% growth rate since the 2021 census was higher than the Rest of SA (5.9%) and the broader SA4 region, positioning the town as a regional growth leader.
The primary driver of this demographic expansion was interstate migration, which accounted for approximately 87.9% of the overall population growth during recent times. AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia population projections for each SA2 region, which use 2022 as their baseline. In cases where SA2 areas lack this specific data, or for projections extending past 2032, figures are drawn from the 2023 SA State Government Regional/LGA age category projections (based on 2021 data) and adapted using a weighted aggregation method to translate growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on these projected demographic trends, the area is anticipated to experience population growth slightly below the national median for non-metropolitan locations, with an expected increase of 537 residents by 2041 compared to the latest annual ERP statistics, representing a total expansion of 7.9% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
129 new dwellings have been approved in Kadina over the past five years, an average of 25 a year. That places the area in the 53rd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 4 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 20 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 95% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 16, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Kadina has seen approximately 25 home approvals annually, resulting in 129 new residential approvals over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26, 15 approvals have been registered to date. An average of 2.2 individuals moved to the area for every new dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demonstrating solid demand that supports local property values. The average construction value of these new houses is $253,000. Additionally, commercial development approvals total $3.1 million for the current financial year, representing a quiet period for local business construction.
Compared to the Rest of SA, Kadina displays significantly lower levels of residential construction, running 57.0% below the regional per capita average. This low volume of new completions generally supports demand and values for pre-existing houses. New residential construction consists of 95.0% separate houses and 5.0% semi-detached or attached dwellings, preserving the established low-density layout of the area with a focus on spacious family residences. There are approximately 257 residents for every new dwelling approval, suggesting substantial capacity for future expansion. Future forecasts indicate Kadina will add 462 residents by 2041, based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimations. Under current construction trends, the supply of new housing is expected to easily accommodate this demand, creating favorable market conditions for prospective home buyers and potentially enabling population growth to exceed current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Kadina
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 10 current infrastructure and development projects inside Kadina, worth an estimated $99 million. A further 76 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $24.4 billion. 34 are already under construction and 21 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and retail. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Regional development is heavily influenced by updates to local infrastructure, major construction projects, and planning changes. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 12 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Principal projects include the Kadina Central Expansion, residential development at Daddow Court and Abbott Drive, the restoration of the Kadina Town Hall, and the Kadina Town Centre Redevelopment (Kadina Hub), with key details on these projects listed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Kadina Central Expansion
Major mixed-use masterplanned community on the eastern side of Kadina comprising more than 115 residential allotments, a 14-home retirement village, supported disability housing, a 1000sqm medical centre, a 112-place childcare centre, commercial land and a smart park with public Wi-Fi and smart city infrastructure. Construction is progressing in stages with residential land actively being marketed.
Kadina Town Hall Restoration
Restoration of the heritage-listed Kadina Town Hall to address structural and safety issues, including roof and interior works. The hall officially reopened to the public in June 2019 and is now back in regular community use and hosts Council meetings.
Kadina Northeastern Fringe Rezoning (Daddow Court / Abbott Drive)
Rezoning of approximately 28 hectares of farming land at Lot 300 Daddow Court and Abbott Drive on Kadina's north eastern fringe from Deferred Urban to Neighbourhood (General Neighbourhood Zone) to enable around 227 low density residential allotments with associated internal roads, open space and infrastructure. Minimum allotment size is 450 square metres. The code amendment has been adopted by Minister for Planning Nick Champion, allowing proponent Lasopail Pty Ltd to progress the next stage of planning and prepare a development application.The rezoning extends existing residential streets on the site and has support from the local member and Copper Coast Council.
Kadina Wastewater Lagoons Relining
Copper Coast Council project to reline two wastewater treatment lagoons (Lagoons 2 and 3) at Kadina to meet EPA compliance requirements. Works included dewatering, shaping and compacting, adding a sand layer, installing HDPE plastic liners, pressure testing, and installation of pipe penetration sealing bands. Both lagoons were fully lined and pressure tested by 16 June 2025, with backfilling of anchor trenches and commissioning anticipated in July 2025, finalising the project.
Walter Road Swale Drain
Creation of a new swale drain to capture stormwater runoff from the road and improve the intersection of Walter and Downer Road. The project involved the installation of rocks and delineator posts.
Gawler Street Flood Mitigation
A flood mitigation project to address stormwater issues in the Gawler Street area of Kadina. The project is scheduled to begin in early 2024.
Lawrence Street Footpath & STEDs Program
Ongoing program to install new footpaths and a new sewer line along Lawrence Street, connecting to the Newtown Playground toilet upgrade. The project also includes a new sewer line to collect sewer from 19 allotments along Lawrence Street and 6 on Drain Road.
Daddow Court and Abbott Drive Residential Development
Rezoning of 28 hectares of land to accommodate at least 227 new low-density residential allotments. This privately-led rezoning aims to support the growing population and demand for housing in the Yorke Peninsula.
2,493 residents of Kadina are employed, from a labour force of 2,683. Unemployment sits at 7.1%, with participation at 55.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Kadina has a balanced workforce distributed between white and blue collar occupations across a range of industries, with an unemployment rate of 7.1% and a 4.2% growth in estimated employment over the previous year. As of March 2026, there are 2,493 employed residents, while the unemployment rate is 1.6% higher than the Regional SA average of 5.5%, and labor force participation is slightly lower at 55.6% compared to the regional benchmark of 58.4%. Census records show a low proportion of residents working from home at 7.2%, though this may reflect the influence of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Resident employment is heavily concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The retail sector shows a particularly high concentration, employing workers at 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, the agriculture, forestry & fishing industry is under-represented, accounting for only 8.1% of local employment compared to 14.5% across Regional SA. Although local jobs are available, the ratio of the Census working population to the resident population suggests a significant number of workers commute outside the area for employment. According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, employment rose by 4.2% and the labor force expanded by 3.5% over the 12-month period, leading to a 0.6 percentage point decline in the unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional SA recorded employment growth of 1.2% and labor force growth of 2.6%, resulting in a 1.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future labor demand for Kadina. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sector growth rates vary. Applying these industry projections to the local employment profile suggests Kadina's employment could increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation for comparison that does not incorporate local population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Kadina is $1,155 a week (about $60,000 a year), with median personal income at $599 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $48,709 a year against an average of $58,812. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to the most recent postcode level ATO data published for financial year 2023, the median income for taxpayers in the Kadina SA2 is $48,709, while the average stands at $58,812. These figures are below the national averages and compare to a median of $48,920 and an average of $58,933 for Regional SA. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be roughly $53,663 (median) and $64,793 (average). Census data from 2021 indicates household, family, and individual incomes in the area rank between the 10th and 11th percentiles nationally.
In terms of earnings distribution, 29.3% of the population (1,714 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which is similar to the wider region where this group makes up 27.5% of taxpayers. Although housing is relatively affordable, with residents retaining 87.2% of their income, total disposable income sits in the 14th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Kadina had 2,161 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 0% apartments. 33% are owned with a mortgage, 25% rented and 42% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $250 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,127 a month. Rent absorbs 21.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The housing profile of Kadina at the time of the last Census consisted of 93.9% separate houses and 6.1% other dwelling styles, such as townhouses, apartments, or alternative accommodation, compared to Regional SA which had 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. The rate of home ownership was identical to the Regional SA average at 42.2%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (32.8%) or rented (25.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment was lower than the regional average at $1,127, while the median weekly rent was $250, compared to Regional SA figures of $1,153 and $220 respectively.
On a national level, Kadina's mortgage costs are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent is also significantly below the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Kadina counted 2,161 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,335 today, averaging 2.3 people each. 23% are couples with children, fewer than in 77% of areas nationally, against 32% couples without children. 30% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 68.0%, consisting of couples with children at 23.0%, couples without children at 32.0%, and single parents at 12.1%. Non-family households represent the remaining 32.0% of properties, with single person households accounting for 29.6% and group households making up 2.6%. The median household occupancy is 2.3 individuals, which is equal to the Regional SA average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
10.9% of adults in Kadina hold a university qualification, including 8.2% with a bachelor degree and 0.9% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 91% of areas nationally. A further 31.6% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 1,616 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 943 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The region records relatively low levels of formal education, with university graduation rates at 10.9% compared to the national average of 30.4%. This highlights an area of focus for future educational programs. Among those with university degrees, bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.2%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.8% and postgraduate qualifications at 0.9%. Vocational and technical skills are highly represented, with 39.8% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 31.6%. A high level of educational enrollment is observed in the area, with 26.2% of residents participating in formal study.
This student population includes 11.2% in primary schools, 8.6% in high schools, and 1.5% undertaking university or tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Kadina means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
59.4% of residents in Kadina report no long-term health condition. 8.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analysis of chronic illness rates and mortality figures by AreaSearch points to significant health issues within Kadina, with chronic conditions common across both young and old demographics, while private health insurance rates are very low at around 48% of the population, representing approximately 2,831 individuals. This is below the Australian national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent diagnosed medical conditions, affecting 10.5 and 10.0% of the population, respectively, while 59.4% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. Significant health problems and high rates of chronic conditions are evident among the working-age population.
Residents aged 65 and older make up 27.4% of the community, totaling 1,603 people. Health trends among this senior group show some difficulties, with national performance metrics generally matching those of the broader local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Kadina is largely Australian-born, at 92.6% of residents, with 1.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (37.5%) and English (34.2%). 3.2% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Kadina has low levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 92.5% of the population, 92.6% of residents born in Australia, and 98.1% of households speaking only English. The primary religious affiliation is Christianity, practiced by 41.7% of the population, which compares to 45.2% in Regional SA. Regarding parental ancestry, the three largest groups in Kadina are Australian at 37.5% of the population, which is notably higher than the regional average of 31.3%, English at 34.2%, and German at 6.5%. Some distinct demographic differences are visible in other ancestries, with Australian Aboriginal heritage represented at 3.2% of Kadina (compared to 3.3% across the region) and Dutch heritage at 1.4% (compared to 1.3% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Kadina is 45, older than 78% of areas nationally. 20.9% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in Kadina is 45, which is slightly younger than the Regional SA average of 47 but much older than the national median of 38 years. Compared to Regional SA, the area has an over-representation of people aged 85 and over at 4.3%, while the 25 - 34 age bracket is under-represented at 9.6%. Since 2021, the 65 to 74 demographic has increased from 12.9% to 14.0% of the total population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.1% to 10.5%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic models project major changes in Kadina's age profile.
The number of residents aged 85 and older is expected to grow by 224 people (89%), increasing from 251 to 476. Seniors aged 65 and over are projected to account for 65% of all population growth, highlighting the aging trend in the area. Conversely, the population of children in the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age ranges is projected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Kadina
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 10 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 56 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (5,414 at the 2021 Census → 5,851 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (405041124). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.