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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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Sales Activity
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Sales Detail
Population
Population growth drivers in Murray Bridge are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends
Murray Bridge's population is approximately 20,299 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 2,056 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,243. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates showing an ERP of 19,938 in June 2025 and an additional 673 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 208 persons per square kilometer. Murray Bridge's population grew by 11.3% between the 2021 Census and May 2026, exceeding the SA3 area's growth rate of 5.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 76.8% to recent population gains in Murray Bridge.
AreaSearch uses 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 are adopted, using adjustments made via weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. By 2041, Murray Bridge is forecasted to have a population of 25,016, reflecting an increase of 4,717 persons and 21.5% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Murray Bridge among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide
Murray Bridge has received approximately 134 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 674 homes. As of FY26185 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.6 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were noted between FY21 and FY25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. The average construction cost value for new dwellings was $265,000 during this period.
In FY26, commercial approvals reached $361.8 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of South Australia, Murray Bridge exhibited moderately higher development activity, 21.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. Detached dwellings accounted for 93.0%, and attached dwellings for 7.0%, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers with an average of around 150 people per dwelling approval.
According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Murray Bridge is projected to grow by 4,356 residents by 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with growth projections, though increased competition among buyers may arise as the population expands.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Murray Bridge
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Murray Bridge has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 7thth percentile nationally
Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 12 potential impact projects. Key initiatives include Sturt Reserve Master Plan, Murray Bridge Residential Growth Areas, Pathways Estate in Murray Bridge, and Murray Bridge South Primary School Infrastructure Upgrade. The following details projects likely most relevant:.
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
Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital Emergency Department Redevelopment
A comprehensive 5-stage redevelopment of the Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital. The project delivered a state-of-the-art Emergency Department featuring two resuscitation bays, seven treatment and paediatric bays, specialized procedure and consulting rooms, triage areas, and quiet rooms. Significant infrastructure upgrades were also made to the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), operating theatres, medical imaging, and administration wings, complemented by new drive-through ambulance access and a community plaza acknowledging traditional owners.
Gifford Hill
Gifford Hill is South Australia's largest masterplanned community, planned across 1,860 hectares at Murray Bridge. The precinct is intended to become a second city for South Australia, with about 17,100 dwellings for more than 44,000 residents over a 30 to 40 year buildout. Key elements include a major town centre, mixed-use high street, six neighbourhood activity centres, seven schools, a sports and entertainment precinct around the Murray Bridge Racing Club, digital infrastructure, and about 21 percent of the precinct dedicated to active and passive open space. The official project site states commencement in Q4 2025, while a related Gifford Hill North-East Code Amendment is progressing through PlanSA.
SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts 2024-28
SA Water's record $3.3 billion capital delivery program for the 2024-28 regulatory period, covering water and wastewater infrastructure across South Australia. The program targets water main replacements, sewerage network upgrades, dam upgrades, water tank refurbishments, and treatment process upgrades across metropolitan and regional areas. A central $1.5 billion component supports the South Australian Premier's Housing Roadmap, expanding network capacity to unlock up to 40,000 new allotments, with major focus on Adelaide's northern growth corridors including Angle Vale, Riverlea, and Roseworthy. Six major framework partners (Fulton Hogan Utilities, John Holland and Guidera O'Connor JV, McConnell Dowell and Diona JV, BMD, Diona, and Leed Engineering and Construction) are delivering works across approximately 120 projects. In Year 1 (to June 2025), $681.6 million in capital was invested. The program runs to June 2028.
Sturt Reserve Master Plan
A long term riverfront transformation of Sturt Reserve in Murray Bridge into a premier regional destination on Ngarrindjeri Country. The master plan, prepared by ASPECT Studios with TERROIR and Mulloway Studio, divides the reserve into four precincts: Recreation, History and Tourism, Play, and Accommodation. Completed stages include the Murray Bridge Regional Rowing Centre, war memorial relocation, wharf shelter, trail head, and the Lower Timber Wharf replacement. The 4.85 million dollar Ngarrindjeri inspired Pondi Play Space, funded by the federal government with a 1.4 million dollar council contribution, will replace the flood damaged playground and feature a sensory Pondi the Murray Cod sculpture, outdoor classroom, water and sand play areas. A new BMX and dirt jump park, approved by council in December 2025 with a 230,000 dollar budget and contractor Spry Civil Construction, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. Future stages include a visitor information centre with cafe, river swimming pool, dog park, and accommodation precinct on the former landfill site.
Murray Bridge Community Dental Clinic
Public dental clinic providing services to eligible children and adults in the Murray Bridge region, funded through a federal health infrastructure agreement to enhance regional healthcare access.
SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program
Statewide maintenance and service contracts for SA Housing Trust public housing properties, covering reactive maintenance, vacancy restoration and minor works across metropolitan and regional South Australia. The program is delivered by Spotless Facility Services, RTC Facilities Maintenance and Torrens Facility Management. A 2024 SA Government review examined payment, timeliness, dispute resolution and contract performance issues, and the government provided additional funding to accelerate maintenance and upgrades on vacant public housing homes.
Old Murray Bridge Refurbishment Project
The $46 million refurbishment of the historic 1879 Old Murray Bridge includes repainting for corrosion protection, stone abutment repairs, LED lighting upgrades, structural strengthening of piers, heritage preservation, and improved pedestrian access. The project extends the bridge's lifespan by 30 years and was completed with two-way traffic reinstated in September 2023, with minor finishing works in early 2024.
Regional North-South Freight Route Upgrade
$12 million upgrade of the freight route between Sedan and Murray Bridge, including 39km of shoulder sealing, bridge widening and strengthening at three locations (Reedy Creek Bridge, Marne River Bridge, Saunders Creek Bridge), barrier upgrades at additional sites, improved road safety, and enhanced heavy vehicle access for agricultural and industrial transport.
Employment
The labour market performance in Murray Bridge lags significantly behind most other regions nationally
Murray Bridge has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The unemployment rate is 6.4% and there has been an estimated 1.2% employment growth in the past year. As of December 2025, 8,449 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.7% higher than Regional SA's rate of 5.7%.
Workforce participation is lower at 53.7%, compared to Regional SA's 58.3%. According to Census responses, only 5.1% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing has a particularly high concentration with levels at 1.3 times the regional average.
Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is lower at 8.4%, compared to the regional average of 14.5%. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 1.2% while labour force grew by 3.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 2.4 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional SA where employment rose by 0.7% and unemployment rose by 2.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Murray Bridge's employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
The Murray Bridge SA2's median income among taxpayers was $46,070 and average income was $51,630 in financial year 2023. These figures were below the national averages of $48,920 (median) and $58,933 (average) for Regional SA. By March 2026, estimated median income would be approximately $50,755 and average income $56,881 based on a 10.17% increase from the financial year 2023 Wage Price Index growth. Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Murray Bridge all fall between the 6th and 11th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 29.5% of locals (5,988 people) with incomes between $800 - 1,499, differing from metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - 2,999 category is most prevalent at 27.5%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Murray Bridge, with only 84.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 8th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Murray Bridge is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
Murray Bridge's dwellings were 87.6% houses and 12.4% other types (semi-detached, apartments, others) in the latest Census, compared to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% others. Home ownership in Murray Bridge was 32.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.9% and rented ones at 36.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,100, below Regional SA's average of $1,153. Median weekly rent was $240, compared to Regional SA's $220. Nationally, Murray Bridge's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Murray Bridge features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size
Family households account for 64.2% of all households, including 22.1% couples with children, 28.0% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.8%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the Regional SA average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Murray Bridge faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally
The area's university qualification rate is 10.2%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 7.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 37.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding them.
This includes advanced diplomas (7.4%) and certificates (30.0%). Educational participation is high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This comprises 12.0% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is very low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Murray Bridge has two operational public transport stops. These are served by three different routes that together offer 27 passenger trips weekly. Transport accessibility is deemed limited, with residents typically situated 2027 meters away from the nearest stop. Most residents in this predominantly residential area commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 94% of residents. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.
According to the 2021 Census, only 5.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages three trips daily across all routes, resulting in approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Murray Bridge is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
Murray Bridge faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age cohorts exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is extremely low, at approximately 46% of the total population (around 9,357 people), compared to 48.9% in Regional SA and the national average of 55.7%.
The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 10.5 and 10.1% of residents respectively. Conversely, 60.4% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 62.5% in Regional SA. Working-age population health is notably challenging due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 24.2% of residents aged 65 and over (4,910 people), lower than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, aligning broadly with national rankings for the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Murray Bridge ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Murray Bridge had a low cultural diversity, with 86.1% citizens, 85.6% born in Australia, and 90.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, accounting for 44.1%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to 0% regionally.
Top ancestry groups were English (31.2%), Australian (29.1%), and German (9.9%). Filipino (2.3%) and Aboriginal Australian (4.2%) were notably more represented than the regional averages of 0.7% and 3.3%, respectively, while Maori was slightly higher at 0.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Murray Bridge's median age exceeds the national pattern
Murray Bridge has a median age of 42, which is younger than Regional SA's figure of 47 and higher than Australia's national norm of 38. The percentage of residents aged 25-34 stands at 14.2%, outpacing Regional SA figures, while those aged 65-74 make up 12.0% of the population. According to post-2021 Census data, Murray Bridge's 25-34 age group has increased from 12.7% to 14.2%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 12.0% to 10.2%. By 2041, significant changes in Murray Bridge's age composition are projected. Notably, the 75-84 group is expected to grow by 44%, adding 780 people and reaching a total of 2,557 from its previous figure of 1,776. The 15-24 cohort is also set to increase by 6%, with an addition of 135 people.