Chart Color Schemes
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.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Nairne has an estimated 5,872 residents, up from 5,327 at the 2021 Census — a change of 545 people, or 10.2%. Growth has averaged 2.0% a year over five years. 101 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Natural increase accounts for 52.7% of that increase. That puts 236 residents on each square kilometre. 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 the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Nairne is approximately 5,872 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 545 people (10.2%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 5,327 people. This shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 5,787 as of June 2025 alongside an extra 101 validated new addresses recorded since the Census date. This headcount results in a density ratio of 236 persons per square kilometer, leaving ample room per individual and potential scope for subsequent expansion. The 10.2% growth rate in Nairne since the 2021 census outpaced the state (7.5%) and Greater Adelaide, establishing the locality as a regional leader in population expansion.
The upward population trend was mainly fueled by natural growth, which accounted for roughly 52.7% of total population increases recently, though other contributors such as interstate migration and overseas migration also registered positive trends. The projections used by AreaSearch incorporate ABS/Geoscience Australia data for SA2 locations published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. In cases where SA2 figures are missing, and for the period after 2032, SA State Government Regional/LGA projections classified by age cohort, distributed in 2023 and originating from 2021 data, are utilized alongside modifications utilizing a weighted aggregation model to scale growth from LGA to SA2 divisions. Looking ahead at changing demographics, the region is set to achieve population growth exceeding the national median, with predictions showing an increase of 974 persons by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP statistics, which translates to a total expansion of 15.1% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
154 new dwellings have been approved in Nairne over the past five years, an average of 30 a year. That places the area in the 80th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 27 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 100% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 43, running ahead of 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
In Nairne, approximately 30 residential building approvals are granted each year, summing up to 154 homes across the preceding 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 40 approvals have been documented. Because an average of 3.5 people moved to the locality annually for every home constructed during the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), local demand outstrips supply, a trend that typically triggers price appreciation and intensifies rivalry among purchasers, with newly built units averaging a construction cost of $296,000. Additionally, commercial approvals worth $4.5 million have been registered during this financial year, highlighting the predominantly residential makeup of the district.
Compared with Greater Adelaide, Nairne exhibits roughly half the volume of per capita building development, even though it ranks in the 79th percentile among all evaluated regions nationwide, with local construction accelerating of late. Furthermore, all recent construction projects have consisted exclusively of detached houses, maintaining the low-density landscape of the area and appealing to purchasers looking for larger properties. Averaging about 162 people for each approved residential dwelling, Nairne displays the typical features of an expanding market. Long-term forecasts indicate that Nairne will gain 889 residents by 2041 according to the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. The rate of construction is matching the anticipated population expansion relatively well, but home purchasers might experience higher competition as the resident base grows.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Nairne
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 54 current infrastructure and development projects close to Nairne, worth an estimated $7.06 billion. 29 are already under construction and 32 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 performance is highly sensitive to changes in infrastructure development, major engineering works, and planning updates. AreaSearch has identified a total of 5 projects expected to influence the community. Prominent initiatives include Larkview Mount Barker, Springlake Communities, Amblemead Estate, and the Onkaparinga Valley Road Intersection Upgrade, with details provided below on the most significant undertakings.
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
Aston Hills Masterplanned Community
An award-winning 2,000+ lot masterplanned residential community featuring multiple precincts (Maplewood, Pine Valley, The Range, The Pinnacle), an integrated village shopping centre, golf course, mountain bike park, and extensive linear parklands.
Eastern Sewer Trunk Main Project
Construction of a 2.1 km sewer trunk main pipeline connecting from the Laratinga Wastewater Treatment Plant site through reserve corridors near Bald Hills Road and Hartman Road to Emerald Way. The upgrade significantly enhances wastewater transport capacity to support continuing growth across Mount Barker.
Springs Road East Upgrade
An $11 million road infrastructure and safety upgrade extending along a 1-kilometre section of Springs Road East between Bald Hills Road and Heysen Boulevard. Jointly funded by the Australian Government and Mount Barker District Council, the project delivers pavement widening, bridge widening, barrier upgrades, and dedicated cycling facilities to cater for regional growth.
Littlehampton Greening & Open Space Renewal Program
Comprehensive township revitalisation project by Mount Barker District Council in partnership with State and Federal Governments to upgrade Miels Park, Main Street streetscapes, and open spaces at The Glebe.
Senses Living Mount Barker
Senses Living is a masterplanned residential estate delivering approximately 250 allotments in Mount Barker. The community development features elevated views across the Adelaide Hills, integrated landscaped sensory gardens, walking trails, and open green space with close access to town centre amenities.
Summit Precinct Hotel
A $50 million, 120-room, four-star hotel development by Accord Property as part of the Summit Precinct in Mount Barker. The hotel is designed to transform the area into a premier regional tourism and leisure destination, featuring dining facilities and conference spaces to meet the Adelaide Hills region's accommodation demand.
Cedar Woods Mount Barker Community
Cedar Woods Mount Barker is a masterplanned residential community developed by Cedar Woods Properties in the expanding Mount Barker growth precinct. The estate delivers approximately 450 residential homesites, linear parklands, central open space reserves, stormwater wetlands, and walking trail connections. Staged civil infrastructure and dwelling construction are underway.
Laratinga Water Recovery Plant
A $168M+ new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment and water recovery facility using advanced bio-reactor technology adjacent to Springs Road, replacing the legacy treatment plant to provide environmentally compliant recycled water and accommodate council growth.
3,385 residents of Nairne are employed, from a labour force of 3,507. Unemployment sits at 3.5%, with participation at 76.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 4,486, about 76% 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 labor pool in Nairne is highly skilled, showing strong representation in vital services, an unemployment figure of just 3.5%, and an estimated 5.4% expansion in job numbers over the prior year. By March 2026, there are 3,385 employed residents, and the local jobless rate sits 0.3% below the 3.8% registered for Greater Adelaide, while the participation rate is exceptionally high at 76.7% versus 66.6% in Greater Adelaide. Census statistics indicate that a modest 12.9% of the working population operated from home, though this data may reflect the temporary influence of Covid-19 containment measures.
The primary industries employing local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Nevertheless, the health care & social assistance sector is underrepresented, making up 15.2% of the workforce in Nairne compared to 17.7% across Greater Adelaide. There seems to be a shortage of local jobs within the community, as shown by comparing the count of Census working population against the resident population. Analyzing SALM and ABS statistics, AreaSearch found that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the count of employed persons rose by 5.4% while the overall labor force grew by 5.1%, which reduced the rate of unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment expand by 4.2% and the labor force increase by 4.0%, with its unemployment rate dropping by 0.2 percentage points. National forecasts released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide additional context regarding future occupational demand in Nairne. These projections for five and ten-year horizons are aligned with local work profiles to model employment paths. Although overall Australian jobs are projected to rise by 6.6% in five years and 13.7% in ten years, expansion rates vary widely across different fields. Overlaying these sectoral predictions onto the employment distribution in Nairne suggests local jobs could grow by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a basic weighted projection for visualization and excludes localized demographic forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Nairne is $1,776 a week (about $92,000 a year), with median personal income at $859 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $54,374 a year against an average of $62,529. 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
Based on ATO data compiled by postcode by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, taxpayers in the Nairne SA2 recorded a median income of $54,374 and an average of $62,529. These values are lower than the Australian average and compare with median and average figures of $54,808 and $66,852 for Greater Adelaide. Incorporating Wage Price Index gains of 10.17% since financial year 2023, updated projections point to roughly $59,904 for the median and $68,888 for the average as of March 2026. Census records indicate that household, family, and individual incomes in Nairne lie close to the 55th percentile across the country.
In terms of earnings brackets, the largest group contains 40.6% of taxpayers making $1,500 - 2,999 per week (2,384 residents), which matches the broader region where this bracket constitutes 31.8%. Following housing costs, 85.3% of earnings are available for alternative expenditures, and the community sits in the 5th decile for the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Nairne had 1,944 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 0% apartments. 54% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 25% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $350 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,500 a month. Rent absorbs 19.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records show the distribution of housing types in Nairne consists of 98.5% separate houses and 1.5% alternative options like semi-detached units, apartments, or other structures, while Adelaide metro reports 75.2% houses and 24.9% other styles. Home ownership rates in Nairne are lower than in metropolitan Adelaide at 25.0%, with the remaining dwellings holding mortgages (54.1%) or being occupied by renters (20.9%). The median monthly mortgage payment locally is $1,500, which is below the Adelaide metro median of $1,562, and the weekly rent median stands at $350 compared to the metropolitan median of $320.
Nationally, mortgage costs in Nairne are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and typical rents are below the national baseline of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Nairne counted 1,944 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,143 today, averaging 2.6 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units represent the majority of local households at 77.4%, which includes 36.3% couples raising children, 27.4% couples without dependents, and 12.9% one-parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the other 22.6%, consisting of single-person households at 20.7% and group housing making up 2.0% of all dwellings. The typical household contains 2.6 people, slightly higher than the Greater Adelaide median of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
23.6% of adults in Nairne hold a university qualification, including 17.2% with a bachelor degree and 3.9% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 29.0% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 407 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,018 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
The community has lower rates of higher education, with university graduation percentages (23.6%) sitting well below the SA4 regional average of 42.2%. This indicates a gap that could be addressed through specialized educational programs. Bachelor degrees constitute 17.2% of qualifications, ahead of postgraduate degrees at 3.9% and graduate diplomas at 2.5%. Practical and technical qualifications are common, with 40.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, including advanced diplomas at 11.8% and certificate qualifications at 29.0%. Enrollment in study is quite strong, with 29.8% of the population attending school or university.
This cohort includes 12.4% in primary schools, 6.9% in high schools, and 4.3% in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Nairne reaches 18 stops on 6 routes, timetabled for about 230 services a week. The typical home sits about 300 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Transit assessments indicate there are 18 active transport stops functioning in Nairne, which include various bus services. These stops are linked by 6 distinct routes that together deliver 230 weekly passenger trips. Accessibility is classified as good, with residents living an average of 303 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the locality, most workers commute out of the area, with cars serving as the primary choice for 92% of trips. Dwellings have an average of 1.7 vehicles, which exceeds the regional average. A relatively low proportion of 12.9% of residents worked from home (2021 Census; potentially reflecting COVID-19 circumstances).
Across all routes, the average frequency of services is 32 trips per day, which translates to roughly 12 weekly trips for each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.8% of residents in Nairne report no long-term health condition. 4.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analysis of mortality metrics and chronic disease frequency by AreaSearch suggests below-average health outcomes for Nairne, with typical medical issues slightly elevated in both youth and older groups, while private medical coverage is relatively low at around 50% of residents (~2,959 people). This rate compares with 52.7% in Greater Adelaide and the Australian baseline of 55.7%. The most frequent medical diagnoses reported in the district are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 10.2% and 9.2% of the population, respectively, while 68.8% of individuals reported no chronic medical issues, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide.
The working-age population exhibits higher-than-average rates of chronic conditions. Residents aged 65 and over make up 15.0% of the population (882 people), which is below the 19.2% rate for Greater Adelaide. Senior citizens enjoy above-average health profiles, with national rankings that exceed the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Nairne is largely Australian-born, at 87.0% of residents, with 3.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.6%) and Australian (31.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The community has lower levels of cultural diversity, with 87.0% of the population born in Australia, 92.5% holding citizenship, and 96.3% communicating solely in English at home. The dominant faith in the community is Christianity, adhered to by 34.7% of residents. However, the most visible relative concentration occurs in Judaism, which accounts for 0.1% of the population compared to 0.1% in Greater Adelaide. Regarding parental birthplaces (ancestry), the three largest heritages in Nairne are English at 32.6% of the population, Australian at 31.7% (which is higher than the regional rate of 22.8%), and German at 7.7%.
Furthermore, there are significant deviations in the share of other groups: Dutch heritage is highly represented at 2.6% of Nairne (compared to 1.2% in the region), Hungarian ancestry is at 0.4% (compared to 0.3%), and Welsh heritage is at 0.6% (compared to 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Nairne is 36. 25.5% 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 of 36 years in Nairne is slightly lower than Greater Adelaide's median of 39 and also slightly lower than the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, the local population shows a higher share of residents aged 5 - 14 (14.5%) but a lower share of people aged 75 - 84 (4.8%). Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort expanded from 3.2% to 4.8% of the population, while the group aged 35 to 44 rose from 13.0% to 14.0%. On the other hand, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 14.0% to 11.7% and the 0 to 4 age group decreased from 7.6% to 6.5%.
By 2041, the age structure of Nairne is projected to undergo significant changes. This demographic shift is led by the 65 to 74 group, which will expand by 35% (189 people) to reach 728 from 538. The 0 to 4 cohort is expected to grow more slowly by 6%, adding just 23 residents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Nairne
9 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 9 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. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 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 May 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 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 — 101 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (5,327 at the 2021 Census → 5,872 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 (401021009). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.