Nairne

Population growth drivers in Nairne are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Nairne's population is approximately 5,923 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 596 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 5,327. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,697 in June 2024 and an additional 99 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 238 persons per square kilometer. Nairne's growth rate of 11.2% since the 2021 census exceeds both the state average (9.0%) and Greater Adelaide, indicating significant growth in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 45.8% to overall population gains during recent periods, with interstate migration and overseas migration also being positive factors.

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 by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. According to demographic trends, Nairne is projected to have above median population growth, with an expected increase of 1,013 persons by 2041, reflecting a gain of 13.3% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Nairne has seen approximately 30 new home approvals each year over the past five financial years, totalling 154 homes. As of FY26, 28 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.1 new residents per year have been attributed to every home built between FY21 and FY25. This supply lagging demand suggests heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures, with new homes being constructed at an average cost of $296,000.

In FY26, there have been $4.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited focus on commercial development. Comparing Nairne to Greater Adelaide, it shows roughly half the construction activity per person but ranks among the 79th percentile nationally. Recent years have seen accelerating building activity, with all developments being detached houses, maintaining the area's low-density character and appealing to families seeking space.

The location has around 160 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. By 2041, Nairne is projected to add 787 residents (AreaSearch Q2 estimate). Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Nairne has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified five projects that are likely to impact this particular area. Notable among these are Larkview Mount Barker, Springlake Communities, Amblemead Estate, and Onkaparinga Valley Road Intersection Upgrade. The following list provides details on those projects deemed most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Nairne exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Nairne has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 4.0% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.6%. The unemployment rate is in line with Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%, while workforce participation is higher at 76.4% compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%.

According to Census responses, 12.9% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented in Nairne with only 15.2% of the workforce compared to Greater Adelaide's 17.7%.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6% while labour force increased by 3.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 3.0% with a slight decrease in unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May-25, project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Nairne's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Nairne SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $54,374 and an average income of $62,529. These figures are below the national averages of $54,808 (median) and $66,852 (average) for Greater Adelaide. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% from financial year ended June 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income in Nairne SA2 would be approximately $59,159 and average income would be around $68,032 as of that date. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Nairne cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that the largest segment comprises 40.6% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (2,404 residents), which aligns with regional levels where this cohort represents 31.8%. After housing expenses, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Nairne is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Nairne, as per the latest Census evaluation, 98.5% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 1.5% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Adelaide metro's figures of 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Nairne stood at 25.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 54.1% and rented ones at 20.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, lower than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent in Nairne was $350, slightly higher than Adelaide metro's figure of $320. Nationally, Nairne's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Nairne features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 77.4% of all households, including 36.3% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.6%, with lone person households at 20.7% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Nairne performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 23.6%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 42.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 17.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 40.8% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.8% and certificates at 29.0%. Educational participation is high, with 29.8% currently enrolled in formal education, including 12.4% in primary, 6.9% in secondary, and 4.3% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.4% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 4.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Nairne has 18 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by six different routes that collectively facilitate 230 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents on average located approximately 303 meters from the nearest stop. In this predominantly residential area, most commuting occurs outward, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at a rate of 92%. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling in Nairne, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 12.9% of residents work from home, which might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 32 trips per day, equating to roughly 12 weekly trips per stop.

Health outcomes in Nairne are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Nairne's health indicators show below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover was relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~2,985 people), compared to Greater Adelaide's 52.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were mental health issues (10.2%) and asthma (9.2%), while 68.8% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Adelaide's 67.9%. Working-age residents had an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area had 14.7% of residents aged 65 and over (870 people), lower than Greater Adelaide's 19.3%. Health outcomes among seniors were above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Nairne is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Nairne's population, as per the Australian Census 2016, showed below average cultural diversity with 87.0% born in Australia and 92.5% being citizens. English was spoken exclusively at home by 96.3%. Christianity dominated religiously at 34.7%, while Judaism was slightly overrepresented at 0.1% compared to Greater Adelaide's 0.1%.

Ancestry-wise, the top three groups were English (32.6%), Australian (31.7%), and German (7.7%). Notably, Dutch ancestry was higher in Nairne at 2.6% than regionally at 1.2%, Hungarian was 0.4% compared to 0.3%, and Welsh remained consistent at 0.6%.

Nairne's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Nairne is 36, which is slightly lower than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Nairne has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (14.3%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (4.7%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 increased from 3.2% to 4.7%, while those aged 55-64 rose from 11.7% to 13.1%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 decreased from 14.0% to 11.6%. By 2041, Nairne's age composition is projected to change significantly. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow by 33%, adding 181 people and reaching 725 from 543. The 0-4 age group is projected to grow at a slower pace, with an increase of 5% adding only 18 residents.