Pooraka - Cavan

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Pooraka - Cavan's population is around 8,383 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 303 people (3.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,080 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,371 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 38 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,119 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Pooraka - Cavan's 3.8% growth since the census positions it within 0.2 percentage points of the SA3 area (4.0%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 67.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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. Regarding demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected, with the area expected to expand by 636 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 7.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Pooraka - Cavan recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Pooraka - Cavan has seen around 31 new homes approved annually, totalling 155 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 24 approvals have been recorded. At an average of 1.8 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the market shows a good balance between supply and demand, supporting stable conditions, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $190,000—below the regional average—suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. Additionally, $20.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity.

When measured against Greater Adelaide, Pooraka - Cavan maintains similar construction rates (per person), supporting market stability in line with regional patterns. Recent construction comprises 73.0% detached dwellings and 27.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 348 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area.

Population forecasts indicate Pooraka - Cavan will gain 624 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Pooraka - Cavan has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 10thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 19 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Pooraka Enterprise Park Expansion - Stage 2 (Various Sites), Montague Farm Estate, Pooraka Triangle Masterplan Redevelopment, and Mawson Lakes Technology Precinct Expansion, 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.

Employment performance in Pooraka - Cavan has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Pooraka - Cavan possesses a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 5.1%, and 1.2% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 3,989 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 1.3% above Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%, and workforce participation lags significantly (60.5% compared to Greater Adelaide's 67.2%). Based on Census responses, a low 6.7% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. The area shows particularly strong specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. In contrast, education & training employs just 7.0% of local workers, below Greater Adelaide's 9.3%. The ratio of 0.9 workers for each resident, as at the Census, indicates substantial local employment opportunities.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.2% and the labour force increased by 1.1%, resulting in unemployment falling by 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 4.2%, labour force growth of 3.9%, with unemployment falling 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Pooraka - Cavan. 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 Pooraka - Cavan's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.2% 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 sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Pooraka - Cavan SA2's median income among taxpayers is $53,854, with an average of $61,117. This is lower than average on a national basis, and compares to Greater Adelaide's median of $54,808 and average of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $58,593 (median) and $66,495 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Pooraka - Cavan all fall between the 11th and 17th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 31.2% of the community (2,615 individuals), reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 31.8% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 18th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure within Pooraka - Cavan, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 85.9% houses and 14.0% 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 Pooraka - Cavan was in line with that of Adelaide metro, at 33.1%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (36.3%) or rented (30.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Adelaide metro average at $1,335, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, compared to Adelaide metro's $1,562 and $320. Nationally, Pooraka - Cavan's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Pooraka - Cavan has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households dominate at 67.9% of all households, comprising 30.4% couples with children, 22.3% couples without children, and 13.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.1%, with lone person households at 28.4% and group households comprising 3.6% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people matches the Greater Adelaide average.

Educational outcomes in Pooraka - Cavan fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational qualifications in Pooraka - Cavan trail regional benchmarks, with 20.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 30.4% in Australia. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 13.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 31.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (22.7%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 72 active transport stops operating within Pooraka - Cavan, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 43 individual routes, collectively providing 2,358 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 148 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 88%, with 8% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. A relatively low 6.7% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 336 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 32 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Pooraka - Cavan is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Pooraka - Cavan demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population, though higher than the national average across older, at-risk cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (~4,124 people), compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 8.1% and 7.9% of residents, respectively, while 69.0% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 18.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,575 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, though they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Pooraka - Cavan scores highly on cultural diversity, with 39.8% of its population born overseas and 41.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Pooraka - Cavan is Christianity, which makes up 43.1% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Islam, which comprises 10.5% of the population, substantially higher than the Greater Adelaide average of 3.0%.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Pooraka - Cavan are English, comprising 20.5% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 27.8%, Australian, comprising 19.0% of the population, and Other, comprising 17.9% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 9.7%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Vietnamese is notably overrepresented at 6.7% of Pooraka - Cavan (vs 1.2% regionally), Polish at 1.4% (vs 1.0%) and Serbian at 0.8% (vs 0.4%).

Pooraka - Cavan's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

With a median age of 38, Pooraka - Cavan nearly matches the Greater Adelaide figure of 39 and Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to the Greater Adelaide average, the 25 - 34 cohort is notably over-represented (15.0% locally), while 75 - 84 year-olds are under-represented (6.0%). Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 14.3% to 15.0% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 12.1% to 11.0%. Demographic modeling suggests Pooraka - Cavan's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to see notable expansion, increasing by 182 people (36%) from 505 to 688. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 58% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 cohort is projected to decline by 1 person.