Port Adelaide

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

Port Adelaide's population was around 12,970 as of November 2025. This showed an increase of 1,381 people (11.9%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,589. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,583 in June 2024 and an additional 380 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 1,000 persons per square kilometer, roughly inline with averages across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Port Adelaide's growth of 11.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 7.1%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 55.5% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts 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, 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. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for the area, with an expected expansion of 2,339 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 14.9% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Port Adelaide among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Port Adelaide averaged approximately 138 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY2021 and FY2025693 homes were approved, with an additional 40 approved in FY2026 so far. Over these five years, an average of 1.9 people moved to the area per dwelling built, indicating balanced supply and demand. However, this ratio has increased to 4.5 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply.

The average expected construction cost value for new homes was $199,000, below regional levels. In FY2026, $52.6 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Port Adelaide showed moderately higher construction activity, with 40.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This preserved reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand, though recent activity has eased slightly. This activity is significantly above the national average, indicating strong developer interest in the area. New building activity comprised 44.0% standalone homes and 56.0% medium to high-density housing, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

This represents a significant shift from the current housing mix of 65.0% houses, reflecting reduced development site availability and evolving lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With around 211 people per dwelling approval, Port Adelaide exhibits a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Port Adelaide is projected to add 1,929 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Port Adelaide has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 10thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that may affect this region. Notable projects include Dock One, Our Port, Rosewater Loop Project, Quest Hotel Port Adelaide (Second Quest), and Large Retail Precinct. The following list details those likely 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 Port Adelaide has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Port Adelaide has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 7.8% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.6%.

As of September 2025, there are 6,473 residents employed, while the unemployment rate is 3.9%, which is 0.0% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Port Adelaide is similar to Greater Adelaide's at 61.7%. The leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Manufacturing is particularly specialized with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services are under-represented, with only 4.4% of Port Adelaide's workforce compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.3%. The worker-to-resident ratio at the Census indicates substantial local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.6%, labour force grew by 4.4%, resulting in a fall of unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 3.0% with a corresponding increase in labour force by 2.9%, and a decrease in unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov shows SA employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year adding 10,710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.0%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%, with the state's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.14%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Port Adelaide's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The median taxpayer income in Port Adelaide SA2 was $51,984 and the average was $56,987 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. This is lower than the national averages of $52,592 median income and $64,886 average income in Greater Adelaide. By September 2025, these figures are estimated to be approximately $58,654 median and $64,298 average based on a 12.83% growth since financial year 2022. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Port Adelaide fall between the 16th and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that 29.9% of locals (3,878 people) predominantly earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per year, similar to broader trends across the surrounding region where 31.8% fall into this category. Housing affordability is severe in Port Adelaide with only 81.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 15th percentile nationally.

Port Adelaide displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Port Adelaide's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 64.9% houses and 35.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 69.1% houses and 30.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Port Adelaide stood at 27.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (36.8%) or rented (35.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,495, lower than Adelaide metro's $1,517. Median weekly rent was $275 in Port Adelaide, compared to Adelaide metro's $295. Nationally, Port Adelaide's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,495 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $275 compared to the national figure of $375.

Port Adelaide features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 59.7% of all households, including 23.0% couples with children, 21.1% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 40.3%, with lone person households at 36.4% and group households making up 4.0%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 20.3%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 34.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (25.2%). Educational participation is high, with 25.7% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.5% in primary, 6.1% in secondary, and 5.0% in tertiary education.

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

Port Adelaide has 96 active public transport stops. These are served by 28 different routes, offering a total of 2,309 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 189 meters.

On average, there are 329 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to about 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Port Adelaide faces significant health challenges. Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (6,264 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 10.0% and 9.1% of residents respectively. However, 64.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.1% across Greater Adelaide. As of June 2021, the area has 19.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,494 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Port Adelaide was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Port Adelaide's population showed high cultural diversity, with 28.8% born overseas and 27.1% using a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 42.3%. Buddhism had a higher representation in Port Adelaide at 5.5%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 6.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.8%), Australian (20.9%), and Other (8.8%). Notable differences existed for Polish (1.8% vs regional 1.4%), Russian (1.8% vs 0.6%), and Vietnamese (5.2% vs 5.9%) groups.

Port Adelaide's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Port Adelaide as of 2021 is 41 years, which is higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 11.2%, while those aged 5-14 are comparatively smaller at 9.5% compared to Greater Adelaide. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 13.5% to 15.1%. Conversely, the age group of 55-64 has declined from 14.7% to 12.9%, and those aged 45-54 have dropped from 13.3% to 12.2%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Port Adelaide's age structure. The cohort aged 75-84 is projected to rise substantially by 69%, from 745 people to 1,258. Meanwhile, the age group of 5-14 is projected to grow modestly by 2%, adding 23 people.