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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.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Mallala has an estimated 3,573 residents, up from 3,335 at the 2021 Census — a change of 238 people, or 7.1%. Growth has averaged 1.1% a year over five years. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 56.3% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. 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 conducted by AreaSearch, the resident population of Mallala reaches approximately 3,573 by Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 238 people (7.1%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 3,335 people. This updated figure builds upon the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population of 3,561 alongside 47 validated new addresses registered following the Census. Consequently, population density sits at 4.2 persons per square kilometer, providing residents with considerable personal space. Expanding by 7.1% post-2021 Census, Mallala outpaced both the Rest of SA (6.2%) and its broader SA4 region to emerge as a local pace-setter for demographic growth.
While net overseas arrivals and natural increase both made positive contributions, inward interstate migration served as the foremost growth catalyst, accounting for roughly 56.3% of total gains over recent intervals. Projections developed by ABS/Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 using 2022 baseline figures, are utilized by AreaSearch across SA2 locations. In areas lacking these metrics or for periods extending beyond post-2032, figures from the 2023 SA State Government Regional/LGA age cohort series (relying on 2021 numbers) are incorporated via weighted aggregation converting LGA growth patterns to the SA2 level. Looking toward future horizons, the locality is projected to outpace the median rate of population expansion for regional non-metropolitan settings, gaining an extra 654 persons by 2041 relative to latest annual ERP metrics, which represents a cumulative 16-year gain of 18.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
97 new dwellings have been approved in Mallala over the past five years, an average of 19 a year. That places the area in the 53rd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Dwelling approvals in Mallala have tracked at roughly 19 residences annually, culminating in 97 homes over the last 5 financial years. Between FY-22 and FY-26, the area added approximately 2 people annually per residential completion across the past 5 financial years, signaling healthy demand that underpins local real estate values, with construction costs averaging $296,000 per dwelling in alignment with regional benchmarks. Non-residential building activity has also seen $10.9 million approved within this financial year, reflecting a steady commercial pipeline. On a per-capita basis, building activity in Mallala closely mirrors the Rest of SA, sustaining an equilibrium in supply that matches wider regional patterns.
Furthermore, residential development has been exclusively dedicated to standalone houses, reinforcing the low-density character of the township and appealing to purchasers seeking generous land parcels. Recording approximately 178 people per dwelling approval, the locality displays typical growth-corridor dynamics. Projections indicate that Mallala will welcome an additional 642 residents heading toward 2041, measured against the newest AreaSearch quarterly figures. While local building volume currently aligns with long-term expansion estimates, prospective property buyers could encounter tighter market conditions as the population expands.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Mallala
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Mallala, worth an estimated $130 million. A further 106 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $34.5 billion. 56 are already under construction and 51 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, residential development and transport & logistics. 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
Local growth and property dynamics are significantly influenced by urban planning initiatives and capital works programs. AreaSearch has pinpointed 15 projects anticipated to shape the surrounding district, featuring prominent developments such as Gracewood Estate, Eden Two Wells, Liberty Two Wells, and Grevillea Grove among the primary undertakings highlighted below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Gracewood Estate
Gracewood Estate is a master-planned residential community comprising approximately 513 allotments delivered across multiple stages over a 5 to 10 year timeline. Master planned by Leinad Land Developments in the Adelaide Plains Council region, the development incorporates dedicated open space, walking trails, and stormwater infrastructure to support regional population growth.
Eden Two Wells
A residential community with larger allotments, now sold out. It was developed by Land Australia.
Liberty Two Wells
Liberty is a masterplanned residential community delivered by Hickinbotham Group in the Adelaide Plains growth corridor. The project encompasses over 500 residential allotments alongside more than 6 hectares of parks, community reserves, and walking trails. Active staged civil construction and home building works remain underway.
Grevillea Grove
A small residential development with only 30 homes on generously proportioned blocks.
Two Wells Town Centre
The Two Wells Town Centre is a $150 million master-planned retail and community development delivered via a public-private partnership between Adelaide Plains Council and Leyton Property. Spanning an 8-hectare site at the intersection of Port Wakefield Highway and Old Port Wakefield Road, the project features a full-line Drakes Supermarket, over 6,000 sqm of specialty retail, childcare, medical services, and civic public plazas. The development is progressing through planning code amendments to facilitate construction.
Two Wells Primary School Infrastructure Upgrade
A $10 million investment to upgrade facilities and replace outdated buildings at Two Wells Primary School.
Two Wells Main Street Masterplan
A project to revitalise the main street of Two Wells through urban design projects, including renewing the public realm, improving accessibility, and undergrounding powerlines.
Riverlea Estate (Buckland Park Township)
South Australia's largest master-planned community, covering 1,340ha and planned to deliver 12,000 homes for over 40,000 residents. The Palms Shopping Village features a Coles supermarket and 25 specialty stores, while Xavier College construction tracks for a Term 1 2027 opening. Civil works and precinct settlements continue actively across multiple stages.
1,804 residents of Mallala are employed, from a labour force of 1,890. Unemployment sits at 4.6%, with participation at 63.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,173, about 89% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Mallala features a balanced labour market incorporating both professional and vocational occupations across varied industries, accompanied by an unemployment rate of 4.6% and a 3.7% increase in jobs over the past year. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,804, keeping the jobless rate 0.9% beneath the 5.5% recorded across Regional SA, while local labour force participation reached 63.3% compared to 58.3% across Regional SA. Just 11.0% of workers reported working remotely during the Census, although pandemic-era restrictions during Covid-19 may have influenced these findings. The primary employment sectors for local residents include agriculture, forestry & fishing, construction, and health care & social assistance.
Transport, postal & warehousing exhibits significant local concentration, generating an employment proportion 2.3 times the regional standard. Conversely, health care & social assistance remains comparatively low, engaging 9.7% of local workers versus 13.9% across Regional SA. Comparing the local resident workforce against the Census working population suggests a limited volume of jobs situated directly within the district. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM figures indicates that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, local employment grew by 3.7% while the labour pool expanded by 3.3%, yielding a 0.4 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. This performance proved stronger than Regional SA, which recorded a 1.2% rise in employment, a 2.6% expansion in the labour force, and a 1.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Long-range projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future employment trajectory across Mallala. When national forecasts of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years are weighted against the local industry distribution, Mallala is estimated to see employment growth of 5.1% across five years and 11.2% across ten years, noting that these sector-adjusted estimates serve an illustrative purpose without factoring in localized population shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Mallala is $1,369 a week (about $71,000 a year), with median personal income at $682 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,474 a year against an average of $62,817. 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 2023 financial year ATO postcode data compiled by AreaSearch, the median taxpayer income in the Mallala SA2 was $52,474 alongside a mean of $62,817. While below broader Australian averages, these amounts exceed the Regional SA median of $48,920 and mean of $58,933. Accounting for a 10.17% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 reach approximately $57,811 for median income and $69,205 for the average. Census records position personal, family, and household earnings modestly between the 25th and 25th percentiles.
The predominant income cohort encompasses 32.6% of wage earners (1,164 residents) taking home $1,500 - 2,999 per week, mirroring wider metropolitan patterns where 27.5% fall into this band. Mortgage and rent obligations remain manageable with residents retaining 88.4% of earnings, although disposable income places in the 32nd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Mallala had 1,201 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 1% apartments. 44% are owned with a mortgage, 16% rented and 40% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $265 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,150 a month. Rent absorbs 19.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate that standalone separate houses comprised 96.0% of the housing stock in Mallala, with 4.0% consisting of alternative formats such as semi-detached residences, flats, and other types, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings across Regional SA. Outright home ownership stood at 40.2%, matching regional levels, while mortgaged properties accounted for 44.2% and rental tenures comprised 15.6%. Typical monthly mortgage payments were $1,150, tracking lower than the Regional SA figure of $1,153 and well beneath the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent was $265, sitting above the Regional SA benchmark of $220 but considerably below the Australian median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Mallala counted 1,201 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,287 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 29% are couples with children, against 29% couples without children. 27% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 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 67.9%, consisting of couples without children (28.8%), couples with children (28.7%), and single parent arrangements (9.5%). The remaining 32.1% are non-family residences, where single-person dwellings account for 26.8% and group households represent 5.3%. The typical household comprises 2.5 people, exceeding the Regional SA figure of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
10.0% of adults in Mallala hold a university qualification, including 7.4% with a bachelor degree and 1.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 81% of areas nationally. A further 32.5% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 127 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 976 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
Tertiary attainment levels in the district present opportunities for educational advancement, as 10.0% of residents hold university qualifications compared to 30.4% across the country. Bachelor degrees represent 7.4% of qualifications, with postgraduate credentials at 1.4% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Vocational education is strongly represented, with 39.9% of persons aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including 32.5% holding certificates and 7.4% with advanced diplomas. Formal study engagement is substantial across the district, with 29.1% of the population attending an educational institution. Among enrolled residents, 13.4% attend primary school, 8.2% are in secondary school, and 2.1% are undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Mallala means driving: households keep an average of 1.9 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Within Mallala, public transit infrastructure comprises 4 active transport stops across 2 routes, providing a combined total of 8 weekly passenger trips. Public transit access remains constrained, with the typical resident residing 5250 meters from their nearest transit node. Given the area's residential profile, outward commuting prevails, with 89% traveling by car, 5% by bus, and 5% walking. Household vehicle availability averages 1.9 per dwelling, surpassing regional figures, while 11.0% of workers conducted their duties from home during the 2021 Census amidst possible COVID-19 influences. Transit services run at an average frequency of 1 trips per day across all routes, which corresponds to roughly 2 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
63.4% of residents in Mallala report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 80% of areas nationally. 6.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic illnesses and mortality indicate notable health considerations for Mallala across both older and younger demographics, while private health insurance coverage remains comparatively subdued at approximately 50% of the community (~1,800 people) against the national benchmark of 55.7%. Asthma and arthritis constitute the leading chronic conditions within the area, each diagnosed in 9.5 and 9.5% of the community, while 63.4% of residents reported having no medical ailments, compared with 62.5% in Regional SA. Working-age residents experience elevated chronic health issues, while individuals aged 65 and over make up 20.8% of the populace (742 people), below the Regional SA proportion of 27.1%, though older residents face health challenges that rank above nationwide levels.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Mallala is largely Australian-born, at 85.0% of residents, with 6.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (34.8%) and English (34.2%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Demographic indicators reflect a relatively homogeneous community, with Australian citizens making up 83.8% of residents, 85.0% born in Australia, and 93.5% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity stands as the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 41.4% of locals. Buddhism represents 1.4% of the population, registering an overrepresentation compared to 0.6% across Regional SA. Looking at ancestral backgrounds based on parents' birthplace, the leading ancestries comprise Australian (34.8%), English (34.2%), and Scottish (6.5%). Other distinct ethnic groups include German at 4.4% (compared to 8.2% across the region), Welsh at 0.7% (compared to 0.5%), and Maltese at 0.4% (compared to 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Mallala is 43. 22.9% 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
Mallala maintains a younger demographic profile relative to Regional SA. Individuals aged 0 - 24 represent 29.6% of the population as at August 2026, exceeding the 26.4% seen throughout Regional SA, while seniors aged 65+ account for 20.8% compared to 27.1% across the wider region. The estimated median age sits at 43 as at August 2026, identical to the 2021 Census result, placing it 4 years below the Regional SA median of 47 at that Census, while the Australian Census median was 38. The middle-aged and mature adult bracket (45 - 64) decreased from 30.1% at the Census to an estimated 26.9%.
Senior cohorts aged 65+ are projected to experience the highest numeric expansion by 2041, increasing by 273 (37%) to reach 1,015.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Mallala
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 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) | Aug 2026 2 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Sep 2026 last month all 1 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 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 — 47 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,335 at the 2021 Census → 3,573 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 Aug 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 (405011113). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.