Payneham - Felixstow

Population growth drivers in Payneham - Felixstow are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Payneham - Felixstow's population was approximately 14,212 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,090 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 13,122. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 14,111 in June 2025 and an additional 100 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,717 persons per square kilometer, placing Payneham - Felixstow in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 8.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state average (7.5%) and Greater Adelaide's growth, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains in recent periods.

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, it adopts the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category released in 2023 based on 2021 data, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on projected demographic shifts, Payneham - Felixstow is expected to have an above median population growth nationally, with projections indicating a growth of 2,772 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 18.8% over the 16-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. Over the past five financial years, from FY-2021 to FY-2025, around 585 homes were approved, with an additional 72 approved so far in FY-2026. On average, each dwelling constructed over these five years accommodated about 1.5 new residents annually.

This suggests a balance between supply and demand, contributing to stable market conditions. The average construction cost of new properties was $345,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, indicating quality-focused development. In FY-2026, there have been approximately $6.8 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development compared to residential.

Compared to Greater Adelaide, Payneham-Felixstow has shown moderately higher development activity, with a 32.0% increase per person over the five-year period, offering good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. New developments consist of 63.0% standalone homes and 37.0% attached dwellings, providing choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to more affordable compact options. With around 106 people per dwelling approval, Payneham-Felixstow exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is projected to gain approximately 2,671 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Payneham - Felixstow has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 32ndth percentile nationally

Five projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to influence the local area's performance. These key projects include East Marden Primary School Major Upgrades, Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre Redevelopment, Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade, and Norwood Green. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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 labour market in Payneham - Felixstow shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Payneham-Felixstow has a highly educated workforce with professional services showing strong representation. The unemployment rate was 3.1% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.5%.

As of that date, 7,718 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.7% below Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. According to Census responses, 12.3% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical.

The area shows strong specialization in professional & technical, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, manufacturing showed lower representation at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 7.0%. Many residents appear to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 5.5% and labour force increased by 5.4%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Payneham-Felixstow's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that Payneham - Felixstow SA2 has a high national median income of $55,383 and an average income of $75,364. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852 for the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% from June 2023 to March 2026, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $61,015 and an average income of around $83,029 in Payneham - Felixstow SA2 by March 2026. The 2021 Census data ranks household, family, and personal incomes in Payneham - Felixstow SA2 between the 34th and 42nd percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 29.5% of residents (4,192 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, which is consistent with broader metropolitan trends showing 31.8% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.2% of income remaining after housing costs, 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, had 59.4% houses and 40.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Payneham-Felixstow was higher at 34.2%, with the rest being mortgaged (30.0%) or rented (35.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,870, above Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. Median weekly rent was $330, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Payneham-Felixstow's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $375.

Payneham - Felixstow features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-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%, comprising 34.1% lone person households and 4.6% group households. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

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

Educational attainment in Payneham-Felixstow is notably higher than broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 39.3% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia and 28.9% in Greater Adelaide. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 25.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (15.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.5% in primary education, 7.7% in tertiary education, and 5.6% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 67 active stops operating in Payneham - Felixstow, serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 39 individual routes, offering 2598 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 202 meters from the nearest stop. The area being primarily residential sees most commuters traveling outward. Car remains dominant at 82%, with bus at 11%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below regional average.

Only 12.3% of residents work from home (2021 Census). Service frequency averages 371 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 38 weekly trips per stop.

Payneham - Felixstow's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Payneham - Felixstow residents show positive health outcomes, according to AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts compared to national averages.

Approximately 57% (~8,043 people) have private health cover, higher than Greater Adelaide's 52.7%. Common medical conditions include arthritis (8.8%) and mental health issues (7.3%), with 69.3% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 21.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,993 people), higher than Greater Adelaide's 19.2%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Payneham - Felixstow was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Payneham-Felixstow has high cultural diversity, with 35.1% of its population born overseas and 33.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 51.4%. The 'Other' category is overrepresented at 2.2%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 1.8%.

Top ancestry groups are English (20.7%), Australian (17.1%), and Italian (16.5%). Notably, Greek (2.9%) and Korean (0.7%) are overrepresented, while Chinese is substantially higher at 7.9% compared to regional averages.

Payneham - Felixstow's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Payneham-Felixstow is 40 years, similar to Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years but somewhat older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 85+ age group comprises 5.1% of the population compared to Greater Adelaide, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 10.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group has increased from 13.3% to 15.2%, whereas the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 12.1% to 10.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Payneham-Felixstow, with the 85+ group expected to grow by 67%, reaching 1,214 people from its current figure of 726.