Pooraka - Cavan
Statistical Area - sa2

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

As of November 2025, Pooraka - Cavan's population is approximately 8,376, indicating a rise of 296 individuals (3.7%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,080. This increase is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 8,371 as of June 2024 and an additional 36 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,118 persons per square kilometer, aligning with averages observed across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed roughly 67.6% to the overall population growth during recent periods. AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted with adjustments made via weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. By 2041, based on current demographic trends, Pooraka - Cavan is projected to expand by 636 persons, representing a total gain of 7.5% over the 17-year period.

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 approximately 31 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 155 homes. As of FY26, 15 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.8 new residents arrive per year for each new home built between FY21 and FY25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. The average construction cost of new properties is $190,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options.

This financial year has seen $20.1 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Pooraka - Cavan maintains similar construction rates per person, supporting market stability aligned with regional patterns. Recent construction consists of 73% detached dwellings and 27% attached dwellings, preserving the area's suburban character focused on family homes.

The location has approximately 348 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. Population forecasts project Pooraka - Cavan to gain 631 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Pooraka - Cavan has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 19 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Pooraka Enterprise Park Expansion - Stage 2 (Various Sites), Montague Farm Estate, Pooraka Triangle Masterplan Redevelopment, and Mawson Lakes Technology Precinct Expansion. The following list details those projects 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.

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

Pooraka - Cavan has a skilled workforce with 4,010 residents employed as of June 2025. The unemployment rate is 6.1%, which is 2.1% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is lower at 57.7% compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Manufacturing is particularly strong with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. Education & training employs only 7.0%, below Greater Adelaide's 9.3%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.9, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 1.1% while the labour force grew by 1.3%, resulting in a slight unemployment rise of 0.1 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Pooraka - Cavan's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.1% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Pooraka - Cavan's median income among taxpayers is $52,047. The average income is $59,831. Nationally, this is lower than the average. In Greater Adelaide, the median income is $52,592 and the average is $64,886. As of September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% suggest the median income will be approximately $58,725 and the average will be around $67,507. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Pooraka - Cavan fall between the 11th and 18th percentiles nationally. In terms of income distribution, 31.2% of individuals in Pooraka - Cavan earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to regional levels where 31.8% fall into this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 18th percentile.

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

In Pooraka - Cavan, as per the latest Census evaluation, 85.9% of dwellings were houses, with 14.0% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, or 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Adelaide metro's figures of 83.9% houses and 16.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Pooraka - Cavan was higher at 33.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 36.3% and rented ones at 30.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,335, above Adelaide metro's average of $1,300. The median weekly rent in Pooraka - Cavan was $300, the same as Adelaide metro's figure. Nationally, Pooraka - Cavan's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Pooraka - Cavan has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 67.9% of all households, including 30.4% couples with children, 22.3% couples without children, and 13.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.1%, with lone person households at 28.4% and group households making up 3.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.7.

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

In Pooraka-Cavan, 20.5% of residents aged 15+ have university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (13.4%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 31.1% of residents holding them - advanced diplomas at 8.4% and certificates at 22.7%. Educational participation is high, with 29.1% currently enrolled in formal education: 9.6% in primary, 7.0% in secondary, and 5.7% in tertiary.

The area has three schools with a combined enrolment of 202 students, demonstrating typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 972) with balanced educational opportunities. It includes one primary and two K-12 schools. Local school capacity is limited (2.4 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 13.9), leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

The analysis of public transport in the area comprising Pooraka - Cavan shows that there are currently 71 active transport stops operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 39 individual routes providing service to the area. The combined weekly passenger trips across all these routes amount to 2,352.

Residents in this area enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 149 meters to the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 336 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 33 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Pooraka - Cavan is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Pooraka-Cavan faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~4,146 people), compared to 47.1% across Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues impact 8.1% of residents and arthritis impacts 7.9%, while 69.0% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across Greater Adelaide.

The area has 18.4% of residents aged 65 and over (1,539 people), higher than the 16.1% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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 has a significant cultural diversity, with 39.8% of its population born overseas and 41.6% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Pooraka-Cavan, accounting for 43.1% of its residents. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 4.0% of the population, compared to 2.8% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (20.5%), Australian (19.0%), and Other (17.9%). There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Vietnamese (6.7% vs regional 3.1%), Polish (1.4% vs 1.1%), and Serbian (0.8% vs 0.5%) are overrepresented in Pooraka-Cavan compared to Greater Adelaide figures.

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

The median age in Pooraka - Cavan is 38 years, closely matching both Greater Adelaide's figure of 39 and Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group comprises 15.2% of the population in Pooraka - Cavan, which is notably higher than the Greater Adelaide average. Conversely, the 75-84 year-olds make up only 5.8% of the population, indicating an under-representation compared to the city's average. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of individuals aged 25-34 has increased from 14.3% to 15.2%, while the 45-54 age group has decreased from 12.1% to 11.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant changes in Pooraka - Cavan's age profile. The 75-84 age cohort is expected to grow by 202 people (42%), increasing from 485 to 688 individuals. Notably, the combined total of those aged 65 and above will account for 61% of the population growth in the area. Meanwhile, the 5-14 age group is projected to decline by 16 people.