Parafield Gardens
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Parafield Gardens are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Parafield Gardens' population was approximately 18,631 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 164 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,467. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population figures: 18,614 in June 2024 and an additional 81 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,650 persons per square kilometer, placing Parafield Gardens in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Parafield Gardens has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.3%, outpacing its SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 65.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023 with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated for national statistical areas, with Parafield Gardens expected to expand by 846 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 4.5% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Parafield Gardens according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Parafield Gardens has averaged approximately 65 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25325 homes were approved, with an additional 17 approved so far in FY26. The average population increase per year for each dwelling built over these five years was 0.5 people.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choices and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new properties is $155,000, which is under regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In the current financial year, commercial development approvals totaling $13.6 million have been recorded, indicating balanced commercial development activity in Parafield Gardens. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Parafield Gardens has similar development levels per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area.

This level is also below the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. The property development activity in Parafield Gardens shows 85% detached dwellings and 15% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's suburban character and attracting space-seeking buyers. The location has approximately 478 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area with a projected resident increase of 829 by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Parafield Gardens has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 29thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include The Glades, Parafield Gardens (Stage 8+), Mawson Lakes Road Management Plan, Saab Australia Sovereign Combat Systems Collaboration Centre, and Public Housing Builds in Parafield Gardens. Most relevant projects are listed below.

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

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Parafield Gardens shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Parafield Gardens has a skilled workforce with prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.4%.

As of June 2025, 8,555 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.5%, which is 2.5 percentage points higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Parafield Gardens is lower at 57.1% compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Manufacturing stands out with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 3.6% versus the regional average of 7.3%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 1.4%, while the labour force grew by 1.3%, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 2.1% and the labour force grow by 2.1%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parafield Gardens' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Parafield Gardens is below the national average. The median income is $46,236 and the average income stands at $50,323. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide's figures of a median income of $52,592 and an average income of $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $52,168 (median) and $56,779 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household income ranks at the 27th percentile ($1,384 weekly), while personal income sits at the 10th percentile. The earnings profile shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 34.4% of the community (6,409 individuals). This reflects patterns seen at regional levels where 31.8% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 28th percentile.

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

In Parafield Gardens, as per the latest Census, 89.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 10.5% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types. This compares to Adelaide metro's figures of 83.9% houses and 16.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parafield Gardens stood at 28.8%, similar to Adelaide metro's level. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 41.9%, while rented properties made up 29.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,382, higher than the Adelaide metro average of $1,300. Median weekly rent in Parafield Gardens was $300, matching Adelaide metro's figure. Nationally, Parafield Gardens' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,382 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $300 versus the national average of $375.

Parafield Gardens has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 76.8% of all households, including 38.1% couples with children, 21.9% couples without children, and 15.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 23.2%, with lone person households at 20.4% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.7.

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

The area faces educational challenges with university qualification rates at 18.9%, significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 29.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 7.5% and certificates at 22.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 5.3% pursuing tertiary education. A robust network of 6 schools operates within Parafield Gardens, educating approximately 3,594 students as of the latest data available. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions with an ICSEA score of 976, indicating balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 4 primary, 1 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs at 19.3 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.9, suggesting the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Parafield Gardens has 70 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 18 different routes, facilitating 1,100 weekly passenger trips in total. The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents on average located 206 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, there are an average of 157 trips per day, which equates to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Parafield Gardens are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Health indicators in Parafield Gardens suggest below-average health outcomes compared to national averages. Common health conditions are somewhat typical among the general population but higher than average among older cohorts.

Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (8,607 people), while the national average is 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, impacting 8.0 and 7.8% of residents respectively. A total of 70.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across Greater Adelaide. As of the latest data (2021), 15.8% of residents are aged 65 and over (2,943 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges and require more attention than the broader population.

Parafield Gardens is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Parafield Gardens has a high level of cultural diversity, with 42.5% of its population born overseas and 46.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Parafield Gardens is Christianity, accounting for 36.4% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented, comprising 7.6% compared to the regional average of 5.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (22.4%), English (20.2%), and Australian (19.3%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Vietnamese at 5.9% vs 3.1% regionally, Polish at 1.3% vs 1.1%, and Indian at 6.1% vs 3.2%.

Parafield Gardens's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Parafield Gardens is 36 years, which is slightly lower than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Parafield Gardens has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 years (13.3%), but fewer residents aged 75-84 years (5.3%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 years has increased from 4.7% to 5.3%, while the proportion of residents aged 5-14 years has decreased from 14.0% to 13.3%. By the year 2041, Parafield Gardens is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition, with the 85+ group expected to grow by 84%, reaching 644 people from a current total of 350. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 69% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25-34 years and 0-4 years age groups.