Lockleys
Statistical Area - sa2

Lockleys has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Lockleys's population is around 14,260 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 808 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,452 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,210 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 85 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,501 persons per square kilometer. Lockleys's growth rate of 6.0% since census positions it within 0.7 percentage points of the state (6.7%). Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 89.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, 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 by age category are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for Lockleys, expected to expand by 2,237 persons to 2041 based on the latest numbers, reflecting a total increase of 15.3% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Lockleys among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Lockleys has averaged approximately 80 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicates a total of 404 homes approved over the past five financial years, specifically between Financial Year 2021 (FY-21) and Financial Year 2025 (FY-25). As of FY-26, there have been 15 new dwelling approvals. On average, around two people move to the area annually for each dwelling built during these five financial years.

This suggests a balanced supply and demand market, supporting stable conditions. The average construction cost value for new properties is $465,000, which is moderately above regional levels, indicating an emphasis on quality construction. This financial year has seen $34.7 million in commercial approvals, reflecting robust local business investment.

Compared to Greater Adelaide, Lockleys exhibits 10.0% lower construction activity per person while ranking among the 73rd percentile of areas assessed nationally. In terms of new building activity, approximately 67.0% are standalone homes and 33.0% medium to high-density housing, demonstrating an expanding range of medium-density options that cater to various price brackets. With around 182 people moving in per approval, Lockleys reflects a developing area. Future projections indicate the addition of 2,187 residents by the year 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Lockleys has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified two projects that may affect this region: Adelaide Airport Project Flight Upgrades, Henley Beach Road Visioning Project. Key initiatives include North South Corridor and Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project, both part of the North-South Corridor.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

AreaSearch analysis places Lockleys well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Lockleys has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.8%, below Greater Adelaide's 4.0%.

Over the past year, employment grew by 2.9%. As of June 2025, 8,071 residents are employed, with a participation rate of 64.7% compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. The leading industries for Lockleys' residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Manufacturing is under-represented at 5.8%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.0%. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 2.9% while labour force grew by 3.3%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Adelaide had employment growth of 2.1% over the same period. State-level data to Sep-25 shows SA's employment grew by 1.06% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, matching the national average. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lockleys' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7%% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Lockleys' median taxpayer income was $53,468 and average was $66,786 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. This is slightly above national averages, contrasting with Greater Adelaide's median income of $52,592 and average income of $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.83% since FY2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $59,259 (median) and $74,019 (average). Census 2021 data shows Lockleys' household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly, between the 44th and 54th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 31.5% of locals (4,491 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, consistent with surrounding regions at 31.8%. After housing costs, 85.7% of income remains for other expenses. Lockleys' SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Lockleys displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Lockleys' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 68.1% houses and 31.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Adelaide metro's 63.9% houses and 36.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lockleys was at 35.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.7% and rented ones at 32.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,800, higher than Adelaide metro's $1,745. The median weekly rent was $300, compared to Adelaide metro's $310. Nationally, Lockleys' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Lockleys features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.8% of all households, consisting of 29.8% couples with children, 24.8% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 35.2%, with lone person households at 30.9% and group households comprising 4.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.3.

The educational profile of Lockleys exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 33.6% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the South Australian average of 25.7% and that of Greater Adelaide (28.9%). Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 29.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (18.9%).

Educational participation is high at 26.2%, including primary education (8.4%), tertiary education (6.3%), and secondary education (5.7%). Seven schools operate within Lockleys, educating approximately 1,869 students. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1053. Educational mix includes four primary, two secondary, and one K-12 school. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

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

Transport analysis shows 58 active stops operating in Lockleys, serving mixed bus routes. These stops are covered by 34 unique routes offering 2,530 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents located typically 187 meters from nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 361 daily trips across all routes, equating to approximately 43 weekly trips per individual stop.

Lockleys's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Lockleys residents.

The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover rate is approximately 52%, slightly higher than the average SA2 area (~7,472 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 7.6% and 6.7% of residents respectively. Seventy-one point seven percent of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.9% across Greater Adelaide. Twenty point four percent of residents are aged 65 and over (2,904 people), higher than the 17.6% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Lockleys was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Lockleys was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 31.6% of its population born overseas and 32.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Lockleys, comprising 53.1% of people there. However, the category 'Other' is more prevalent in Lockleys at 3.8%, compared to 3.1% across Greater Adelaide.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.5%), Australian (19.1%), and Other (12.2%). Notably, Greeks are overrepresented at 6.5% in Lockleys versus 6.1% regionally, Italians at 10.9% versus 6.7%, and Serbians at 0.7% versus 0.5%.

Lockleys's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Lockleys is 40 years, similar to Greater Adelaide's average of 39 but somewhat older than Australia's average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 15.6%, higher than Greater Adelaide's percentage, while the 15-24 cohort comprises 10.8%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 65-74 age group has increased from 9.4% to 10.1% of Lockleys' population. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 12.3% to 11.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 predict substantial demographic changes in Lockleys, with the 75-84 age group expected to grow by 55%, reaching 1,488 people from 959. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 53% of total population growth, reflecting Lockleys' aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0-4 age cohort is projected to show minimal growth of just 0%, with an increase of only one person.