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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 by AreaSearch, the population of Mallala stands at approximately 3,573 in May 2026. This indicates an expansion of 238 residents (7.1%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 3,335 individuals. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 3,561 alongside 47 validated new addresses identified after the Census. The resulting population density is 4.2 persons per square kilometer, suggesting a spacious environment for residents. Mallala's growth rate of 7.1% since the 2021 census outpaced both the Rest of SA (5.9%) and the broader SA4 region, positioning it as a regional leader in population growth.
This upward trend was chiefly propelled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 56.3% of the total population increase, though other factors like natural increase and overseas migration also made positive contributions. Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized by AreaSearch for SA2 areas. For locations lacking this coverage, and for the period beyond 2032, regional and LGA projections by age bracket published by the SA State Government in 2023 (using 2021 baseline data) are applied, utilizing weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 boundaries. Looking to future demographic trends, population growth in this area is expected to exceed the national median for non-metropolitan zones, with an anticipated gain of 627 residents by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP statistics, representing a 17.2% overall increase over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
118 new dwellings have been approved in Mallala over the past five years, an average of 23 a year. That places the area in the 53rd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 6 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. 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
Mallala averages approximately 23 new dwelling approvals annually, with 118 home approvals registered over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 15 recorded so far during FY-26. Stable market conditions are indicated by a balanced relationship between supply and demand, with an average of 1.7 individuals moving to the locality for each new home constructed over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25). Furthermore, new residences are built with a mean value of $190,000, which falls below regional averages and points to relatively affordable purchasing opportunities.
In terms of commercial activity, $10.9 million in commercial project approvals have been logged in the current financial year, pointing to moderate growth. Development activity in Mallala is slightly elevated compared to Rest of SA, running 14.0% above the regional per capita average over the 5 year timeframe, which helps preserve buyer options while anchoring current home values. Building works lately have focused entirely on standalone houses, which preserves the historically low-density layout of the area and caters to families desiring space. There are roughly 192 individuals for each residential approval, pointing to a growing market. Based on the most recent quarterly calculations from AreaSearch, the population of Mallala is projected to rise by 615 citizens by 2041. The pace of current construction appears aligned with these future demographic requirements, which supports balanced market conditions and helps avoid sharp escalation in prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Mallala
Loading development applications…
| 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 one current infrastructure or development project inside Mallala. A further 106 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $34.2 billion. 57 are already under construction and 49 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 infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development initiatives are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 15 projects expected to influence the locality. Significant developments include Gracewood Estate, Eden Two Wells, Liberty Two Wells, and Grevillea Grove, with the key projects of interest detailed in the following list.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Gracewood Estate
A residential development with around 513 lots, expected to be fully developed over 5 to 10 years.
Eden Two Wells
A residential community with larger allotments, now sold out. It was developed by Land Australia.
Liberty Two Wells
A residential development offering house and land packages in a rural setting with over 6 hectares of parks and reserves.
Grevillea Grove
A small residential development with only 30 homes on generously proportioned blocks.
Two Wells Town Centre
Leyton Property, with Adelaide Plains Council, is delivering a new mixed-use retail and community town centre on an 8 hectare site in Two Wells. The precinct is planned to include a full-line 3500 sqm Drakes supermarket, specialty retail, healthcare, hospitality, convenience retail, community services, landscaped open space, pedestrian links and a town square. Stage 1 has planning consent, while construction is now indicatively targeted to begin in late 2026, subject to infrastructure arrangements. Completion is planned in stages from 2027 to 2030.
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 63.8%. 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
The local workforce displays a balanced mix of white and blue collar occupations across a range of industries, accompanied by an unemployment rate of 4.6% and a 3.7% rise in estimated employment over the previous year. Working residents numbered 1,804 as of March 2026, with local unemployment sitting 0.9% lower than the 5.5% rate seen in Regional SA, and labor force participation reaching a high 63.8% compared to the regional figure of 58.4%. Census records show that a modest 11.0% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may be colored by pandemic lockdown conditions.
Key employment sectors for local citizens are agriculture, forestry & fishing, construction, and health care & social assistance. Transport, postal & warehousing shows a particularly strong local concentration, employing residents at 2.3 times the regional rate. Conversely, health care & social assistance is less prominent, employing 9.7% of the workforce compared to 13.9% across the region. A comparison of the Census working population against the resident population suggests that local employment opportunities are somewhat limited. An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that over the 12-month span, employment rose by 3.7% while the overall labor force expanded by 3.3%, yielding a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment. This stands in contrast to Regional SA, where employment ticked up by 1.2%, the labor force increased by 2.6%, and unemployment grew by 1.4 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective workforce requirements in Mallala. These projections, spanning five and ten years, have been aligned with the local industry breakdown to project growth. Nationally, employment is anticipated to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories differ by sector. Applying these industry projections to the local employment structure suggests Mallala's employment could rise by 5.1% over five years and 11.2% over ten years, noting this represents a simple weighted extrapolation based on industry mix rather than localized demographic modeling.
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
Postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 shows a median taxpayer income of $52,474 and an average of $62,817 in the Mallala SA2. These figures are below the national benchmarks, though they exceed Regional SA's median of $48,920 and average of $58,933. Factoring in a 10.17% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated projections point to a median income of approximately $57,811 and an average of $69,205 as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Mallala were modest, placing at the 25th percentile.
Income distribution details reveal the largest bracket comprises 32.6% of residents (1,164 individuals) earning between $1,500 and $2,999, which is comparable to the wider region where 27.5% fall into this range. Housing costs consume a moderate share of income, leaving 88.4% retained, though overall disposable income is positioned below average at 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
At the time of the last Census, the local housing mix consisted of 96.0% separate houses and 4.0% alternative housing types like semi-detached properties, apartments, or other dwellings, compared to Regional SA where separate houses made up 88.5% and alternative types accounted for 11.5%. Home ownership rates in Mallala matched the Regional SA level of 40.2%, with remaining households holding a mortgage (44.2%) or renting (15.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,150, which sits below the regional average of $1,153, while the median weekly rent stood at $265, compared to the regional median of $220.
On a national level, mortgage repayments in Mallala are notably below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are significantly lower than the national figure 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
Family households represent the main household type at 67.9%, which includes couples with children at 28.7%, couples without children at 28.8%, and single parent families at 9.5%. Non-family households account for 32.1% of the total, with single person households representing 26.8% and group households making up 5.3%. The median household size is 2.5 individuals, which is slightly larger than the Regional SA average 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
Educational profiles in the area show that tertiary attainment is lower than average, with university graduation rates at 10.0% compared to the national level of 30.4%, pointing to opportunities for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees account for the largest share at 7.4%, with postgraduate qualifications at 1.4% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Vocational and technical qualifications are common, with 39.9% of citizens aged 15 and older holding a qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (7.4%) and certificates (32.5%). Enrolment rates in education are high, with 29.1% of local residents participating in study.
This includes 13.4% attending primary school, 8.2% in secondary education, and 2.1% enrolled in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Mallala means driving: households keep an average of 1.9 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
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
Data on mortality and the prevalence of chronic illnesses suggests notable health challenges in Mallala across multiple age brackets, while the rate of private health insurance coverage is relatively low, matching approximately 50% of the community (~1,800 people) compared to the national average of 55.7%. The primary medical conditions reported among residents are arthritis and asthma, each affecting 9.5% of the population, whereas 63.4% of citizens reported no chronic medical conditions, compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. Chronic conditions are elevated within the working-age bracket. Residents aged 65 and older make up 20.4% of the population (727 people), which is lower than the Regional SA proportion of 27.1%.
Senior health profiles present challenges, with national relative positions for this group being higher than those of the broader local population.
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
Mallala shows lower levels of cultural diversity relative to broader benchmarks, with citizens making up 83.8% of the population, 85.0% of residents born in Australia, and 93.5% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 41.4% of the population. Buddhism represents a notable local divergence, accounting for 1.4% of the population compared to 0.6% across Regional SA. Regarding ancestral backgrounds, the three largest groups in Mallala are Australian (34.8%), English (34.2%), and Scottish (6.5%). There are also specific deviations in other groups, with Welsh heritage recorded at 0.7% of the population (compared to 0.5% regionally), German heritage at 4.4% (compared to 8.2% regionally), and Maltese heritage at 0.4% (compared to 0.2% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Mallala is 42. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 22.7% 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 Mallala is 42, which is younger than the Regional SA figure of 47 but older than the national median of 38. The 15 - 24 age bracket is well represented at 13.2% compared to Regional SA, while the 75 - 84 age group is less common at 6.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 grew from 10.1% to 13.2%. In contrast, the 25 to 34 group fell from 11.7% to 9.6% and the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 13.4% to 11.4%.
By 2041, demographic shifts are expected to alter the age structure, with the 45 to 54 bracket projected to grow by 30% (120 individuals) to reach 527 from 406, while the 5 to 14 cohort is expected to increase by 2% (10 individuals).
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Mallala
8 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 8 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. | ||
| 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 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago 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 Jul 2025. | ||
| 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 May 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 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 (405011113). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.