Largs Bay - Semaphore

Largs Bay - Semaphore is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Largs Bay - Semaphore's population is approximately 15,752, reflecting a growth of 945 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 6.4% rise from the previous population count of 14,807. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,627 in June 2024 and an additional 217 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,344 persons per square kilometer, placing Largs Bay - Semaphore in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 6.4% since the census is within 2.3 percentage points of the state's growth rate of 8.7%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 69.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts 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, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is expected for Largs Bay - Semaphore. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is projected to grow by 1,185 persons to reach approximately 17,069 by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 6.7% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Largs Bay - Semaphore when compared nationally

Largs Bay - Semaphore averaged approximately 89 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 446 homes approved during this period. An additional 121 dwellings have been approved in FY26 as of now. On average, 1.6 new residents per year were associated with each new home over the past five financial years.

The average construction value for new properties was $271,000. This year, $14.9 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Largs Bay - Semaphore has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 65th percentile nationally when assessed against other areas. The new building activity shows a composition of 34.0% detached dwellings and 66.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift towards compact living that offers affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This change is notable compared to the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (70.0%).

Largs Bay - Semaphore has approximately 283 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to gain around 1,060 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand readily, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Largs Bay - Semaphore has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 13thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include Fletcher's Slip, Dock One, Centre St, Largs Bay, and Our Port. The following details those likely to be 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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Largs Bay - Semaphore ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Largs Bay - Semaphore has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.7% as of September 2025, which is 0.2% lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.3%.

There were 9,074 residents in work while workforce participation was 70.3%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.5%. According to Census responses, 10.8% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. The area shows strong specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance has limited presence with 16.4% employment compared to 17.7% regionally. Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 4.3% while labour force increased by 4.2%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 3.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Largs Bay - Semaphore. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to the local employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Largs Bay - Semaphore SA2 had a median income of $60,427 and an average of $70,072 among taxpayers. This is slightly above the national average. Comparing to Greater Adelaide, Largs Bay - Semaphore's median was higher at $54,808 with an average of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $65,745 (median) and $76,238 (average). Census data indicates personal income ranks at the 60th percentile ($858 weekly), while household income is at the 40th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 32.4% of residents (5,103 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to regional levels where 31.8% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 84.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 41st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Largs Bay - Semaphore displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Largs Bay-Semaphore, as per the latest Census, consisted of 69.8% houses and 30.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Largs Bay-Semaphore was at 30.5%, with the rest either mortgaged (39.7%) or rented (29.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,625, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. Median weekly rent was recorded at $320, similar to Adelaide metro's figure. Nationally, Largs Bay-Semaphore's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 62.4% of all households, including 23.1% couples with children, 26.6% couples without children, and 11.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 37.6%, with lone person households at 34.6% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Largs Bay - Semaphore shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

University qualification levels in Largs Bay - Semaphore stood at 26.3%, slightly below the Australian average of 30.4% as of the latest data point. Bachelor degrees were the most prevalent, with 17.2%. Postgraduate qualifications and graduate diplomas followed, at 5.8% and 3.3% respectively.

Vocational credentials were held by 35.8% of residents aged 15 and above, including advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (24.7%). A total of 23.8% of the population was actively engaged in formal education, with 7.9% in primary, 5.8% in secondary, and 5.2% in tertiary education.

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

Largs Bay - Semaphore has 71 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are covered by 34 individual routes, offering 2,832 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 171 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most residents commuting outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 85% of residents, while 8% use trains. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes is 404 trips per day on average, equating to approximately 39 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Largs Bay - Semaphore, South Australia, as assessed by AreaSearch.

The area has a total population of approximately 8,490 people, with about 54% having private health cover, slightly higher than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues and arthritis were found to be the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.0% and 9.3% of residents respectively. About 64.0% of residents reported being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to higher chronic condition rates. The area has a larger proportion of seniors, with 20.4% of residents aged 65 and over (3,208 people), compared to 19.0% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Largs Bay - Semaphore ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Largs Bay-Semaphore, as per the 2016 Census, had a cultural diversity score below average with 80.9% of its population born in Australia, 91.4% being citizens, and 91.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 40.5% of the population. Islam, however, was overrepresented at 0.6%, compared to the Greater Adelaide average of 3.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.3%), Australian (24.0%), and Irish (8.7%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Polish was slightly overrepresented at 1.1% versus 1.0%, German at 5.4% compared to 5.1%, and Welsh at 0.7% against the regional average of 0.6%.

Largs Bay - Semaphore hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Largs Bay - Semaphore's median age is 45 years, which is higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and also exceeds the national average of 38 years. The 55-64 age group constitutes 17.2% of the population in Largs Bay - Semaphore, compared to Greater Adelaide's percentage, while the 15-24 cohort makes up 9.6%. This 55-64 concentration is higher than the national average of 11.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has increased from 4.7% to 6.0% of the population. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 14.9% to 12.8%. Demographic modeling indicates that Largs Bay - Semaphore's age profile will significantly change by 2041. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 56%, adding 530 residents and reaching a total of 1,477. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 83% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 25-34 and 0-4 age cohorts.