North Haven

An assessment of population growth drivers in North Haven reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, North Haven's population is around 15,681 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 881 people (6.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,800 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,435 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 235 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,056 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 47.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including interstate migration and natural growth, were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is expected, with the area expected to expand by 1,681 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 9.2% in total over the 17 years.

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

North Haven has seen around 98 new homes approved annually, totalling 493 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 59 approvals have been recorded. Given an average of 1.5 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand appear well-balanced, creating stable market conditions, while new homes are being built at an average value of $315,000. Additionally, $138.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity.

Relative to Greater Adelaide, North Haven records about three-quarters of the building activity per person and ranks in the 82nd percentile of areas assessed nationally, though construction activity has intensified recently. New building activity consists of 82.0% detached houses and 18.0% attached dwellings, sustaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space. With around 129 people per dwelling approval, North Haven shows characteristics of a low density area.

Looking ahead, North Haven is expected to grow by 1,435 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

North Haven has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 3rdth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects and planning initiatives. In total 6 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Fort Largs Redevelopment, Largs Reserve Clubrooms Redevelopment, Largs Bay Playspace and Facilities Upgrade, and Osborne Submarine Construction Yard, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

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.

The employment landscape in North Haven shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

North Haven possesses a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 5.0%, and 7.0% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 8,049 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.2% above Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (64.2% compared to Greater Adelaide's 67.2%). Based on Census responses, a low 8.1% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. The area shows particularly strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level. In contrast, health care & social assistance employs just 15.2% of local workers, below Greater Adelaide's 17.7%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 7.0% and labour force increased by 5.6%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 1.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide, where employment rose by 4.2%, the labour force grew by 3.9%, and unemployment fell 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within North Haven. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to North Haven's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The North Haven SA2's income level is slightly lower than average on a national basis according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The North Haven SA2's median income among taxpayers is $57,306 and the average income stands at $65,744, which compares to figures for Greater Adelaide's of $54,808 and $66,852 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $62,349 (median) and $71,529 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in North Haven, between the 29th and 32nd percentiles. Income analysis reveals the largest segment comprises 30.7% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (4,814 residents), consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 31.8% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 30th percentile.

North Haven is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within North Haven, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 73.5% houses and 26.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within North Haven was higher than that of Adelaide metro, at 34.6%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (37.6%) or rented (27.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was above the Adelaide metro average at $1,564, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, compared to Adelaide metro's $1,562 and $320. Nationally, North Haven's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

North Haven has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 68.0% of all households, comprising 24.7% couples with children, 28.1% couples without children, and 14.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.0%, with lone person households at 29.3% and group households comprising 2.7% of the total. The median household size of 2.3 people is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in North Haven fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (16.1%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 11.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (29.9%).

A substantial 23.8% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 6.3% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 91 active transport stops operating within North Haven comprising a mix of train and buses. These stops are serviced by 13 individual routes, collectively providing 692 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 196 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward - the car remains the dominant mode at 89%, with 6% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. A relatively low 8.1% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 98 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 7 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in North Haven is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing North Haven, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover slightly lags that of the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~8,138 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.8 and 9.4% of residents, respectively, while 60.8% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 23.5% of residents aged 65 and over (3,678 people), which is higher than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

North Haven ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

North Haven is below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 81.8% of its population born in Australia, 91.9% being citizens, and 92.4% speaking English only at home. The main religion in North Haven is Christianity, which makes up 43.6% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 0.1% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in North Haven are English, comprising 31.9% of the population, Australian, comprising 26.8% of the population, and Scottish, comprising 7.7% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Polish is notably overrepresented at 1.5% of North Haven (vs 1.0% regionally), German at 5.4% (vs 5.1%), and Russian at 0.5% (vs 0.3%).

North Haven hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The 44-year median age in North Haven is notably higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and similarly well above the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Greater Adelaide average, the 65 - 74 cohort is notably over-represented (13.2% locally), while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented (12.2%). Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.5% to 7.9% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 15.3% to 13.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for North Haven. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to see notable expansion, increasing by 444 people (36%) from 1,234 to 1,679. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those 65+ comprising 53% of projected growth. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort is projected to decline by 7 people.