Payneham - Felixstow
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Payneham-Felixstow's population is approximately 13,932 as of Aug 2025. This shows an increase of 810 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 13,122. The change is inferred from ABS estimates: 13,870 in June 2024 and 40 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,663 persons per square kilometer, placing Payneham-Felixstow in the upper quartile nationally. The area's growth rate of 6.2% since the Census is within 0.5 percentage points of the state's (6.7%), indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth recently.

AreaSearch uses 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, South Australian Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Based on these projections, Payneham-Felixstow is expected to grow above the median for statistical areas nationally, with a projected increase of 3,123 persons to 2041, representing a total growth of 22.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Payneham - Felixstow among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Payneham - Felixstow has recorded approximately 117 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, showing 585 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26, nine residential properties have been approved so far. On average, 1.5 new residents per year are associated with each dwelling constructed during these five financial years.

This indicates a balanced supply and demand market, supporting stable conditions for property development. The average construction cost value of new dwellings in the area is $505,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. In FY-26, $6.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting the area's residential character.

Compared to Greater Adelaide, Payneham - Felixstow has slightly more development activity, with 32.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period from FY-21 to FY-25. This balance between supply and demand supports buyer choice while maintaining current property values. Recent construction comprises 63.0% standalone homes and 37.0% attached dwellings, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments providing options across different price points. With around 106 people per approval, Payneham - Felixstow reflects a developing area. According to projections, the area is expected to grow by 3,061 residents through to 2041. Current development activity appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Payneham - Felixstow has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Five projects identified by AreaSearch are likely to impact the area, significantly influencing its performance. Key projects include East Marden Primary School Major Upgrades, Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre Redevelopment, Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade, and Norwood Green. Details about these projects can be found in the following list, which focuses on those most relevant.

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

The employment environment in Payneham - Felixstow shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Payneham - Felixstow has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 3.2% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Adelaide's 4.0%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.2%. As of June 2025, 7,520 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate 0.8% below Greater Adelaide's and workforce participation on par with Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. The dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical, with a particularly strong specialization in the latter at 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, manufacturing shows lower representation at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 7.0%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.2%, labour force increased by 1.7%, causing a fall in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 2.1% with marginal unemployment increase. State-level data to Sep-25 shows SA employment grew by 1.06% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.5%, broadly in line with the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest Payneham - Felixstow's employment could increase by approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to its employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Payneham - Felixstow has a high national median income of $53,697 and an average income of $74,075. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide's median income of $52,592 and average income of $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.83% from financial year 2022 to March 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $59,512 (median) and $82,097 (average). The 2021 Census ranks Payneham - Felixstow's household, family, and personal incomes modestly, between the 34th and 43rd percentiles. Income brackets show that 29.5% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (4,109 people), consistent with metropolitan trends at 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 34th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Payneham - Felixstow displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Payneham - Felixstow's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 59.4% houses and 40.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Adelaide metro had 51.7% houses and 48.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Payneham - Felixstow was 34.2%, similar to Adelaide metro's level. Dwellings were either mortgaged (30.0%) or rented (35.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,870, below the Adelaide metro average of $2,000. The median weekly rent was $330, compared to Adelaide metro's $340. Nationally, Payneham - Felixstow's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Payneham - Felixstow features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 61.3% of all households, including 26.1% couples with children, 24.4% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.7%, with lone person households at 34.1% and group households comprising 4.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.2.

The educational profile of Payneham - Felixstow exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Payneham - Felixstow significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. As of 2021, 39.3% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in the Greater Adelaide area. This high level of educational attainment is led by bachelor degrees at 25.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 10.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.6%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 25.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (15.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of 2021. This includes 8.5% in primary education, 7.7% in tertiary education, and 5.6% pursuing secondary education. As of the latest data, Payneham - Felixstow's three schools have a combined enrollment reaching 1,268 students. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA value of 1087. All three schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Limited local school capacity (9.1 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 32.8) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Payneham-Felixstow has 67 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These are served by 37 different routes that together facilitate 2,589 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is considered good, with residents on average being located 202 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, there are an average of 369 daily trips, which equates to approximately 38 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Payneham - Felixstow 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

Payneham - Felixstow shows below-average health indicators, with common conditions typical but higher than national averages for older cohorts. Approximately 56% (~7,871 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.4%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (8.8%) and mental health issues (7.3%). Overall, 69.3% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Adelaide's 70.4%. The area has 21.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,956 people). Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to specific challenges.

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

Payneham-Felixstow has a significant cultural diversity, with 35.1% of its population born overseas and 33.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Payneham-Felixstow, comprising 51.4% of people. However, the population shows an overrepresentation in the 'Other' religious category, which accounts for 2.2%, compared to Greater Adelaide's average of 1.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.7%), Australian (17.1%), and Italian (16.5%), with Italians being notably more represented than the regional average of 11.1%. Some other ethnic groups also show notable divergences: Greeks at 2.9% compared to 2.9% regionally, Koreans at 0.7% compared to 0.5%, and Chinese at 7.9% compared to 6.3%.

Payneham - Felixstow's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Payneham-Felixstow is 40 years, similar to Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years, and somewhat older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The percentage of the population aged 85 and over is 5.1%, higher than in Greater Adelaide, while those aged 5-14 make up 10.0% of the population, lower than the national average. According to data from the 2021 Census, the proportion of the population aged 35-44 has increased from 13.3% to 14.8%, and the 25-34 age group has grown from 15.1% to 16.3%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 45-54 has decreased from 12.1% to 11.0%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Payneham-Felixstow, with the number of people aged 85 and over expected to grow by 72%, reaching 1,227 from a base of 713.