Salisbury East

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Salisbury East's population is around 19,264 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 810 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,454 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,082 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 159 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,297 persons per square kilometer. Salisbury East's growth rate of 4.4% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area average of 4.0%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 59.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends indicate an increase just below the median of national areas, with the area expected to expand by 2,424 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 11.6% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Salisbury East when compared nationally

Salisbury East has averaged approximately 62 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 314 homes were approved, with an additional 68 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 2.6 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these five years, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $235,000, aligning with regional trends. This financial year has seen $5.2 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Salisbury East maintains similar development levels per person, consistent with the broader market balance. However, these levels are lower than national averages, suggesting market maturity and potential development constraints.

The new building activity shows 98.0% detached dwellings and 2.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's suburban identity dominated by family homes suited to buyers seeking space. With around 446 people per approval, Salisbury East indicates a mature market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is projected to grow by 2,242 residents by 2041, with building activity keeping pace with these growth projections. However, increased competition among buyers is expected as the population grows.

Salisbury East has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 5thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 20 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones are Salisbury Park Estate, Salisbury East Urban Renewal Precinct, Coomurra Rise Land Division, and Advanced Manufacturing and Retail Hub. The following list details those 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 Salisbury East has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Salisbury East has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. Over the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 1.4%. As of September 2025, 9,042 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is 1.2% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%.

The workforce participation rate in Salisbury East is 60.6%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. According to Census data, only 6.5% of residents work from home. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Manufacturing has a particularly high concentration with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence, with only 4.1% of employment compared to the regional average of 7.3%. Over the year ending September 2025, employment in Salisbury East increased by 1.4%, while the labour force also grew by 1.4%, keeping unemployment essentially unchanged. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a slight drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Salisbury East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider local population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The median income among taxpayers in Salisbury East SA2 was $51,621 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $56,694 during the same period. These figures compare to $54,808 and $66,852 respectively for Greater Adelaide. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest approximately $56,164 (median) and $61,683 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Salisbury East all fall between the 20th and 23rd percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort in Salisbury East spans 31.4% of locals (6,048 people) with incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999. This pattern is similar to the surrounding region where 31.8% fall within this income range. After housing costs, 85.2% of income remains, ranking at the 25th percentile nationally.

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

The latest Census evaluation of Salisbury East's dwelling structure showed 87.2% houses and 12.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Adelaide metro's 77.2% houses and 22.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Salisbury East was 33.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 44.5% and rented dwellings at 21.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent figure in Salisbury East was $295, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Salisbury East's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Salisbury East has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.4% of all households, including 30.4% couples with children, 25.8% couples without children, and 14.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.6%, composed of lone person households at 26.5% and group households at 2.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Salisbury East faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has educational challenges with university qualification rates at 12.7%, significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 9.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.2% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 28.6%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.0% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis indicates 113 active transport stops operating within Salisbury East, consisting of a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 32 individual routes, collectively providing 2015 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 203 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 90%, with 7% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 6.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 287 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 17 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Salisbury East's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Salisbury East's health metrics are close to national benchmarks. The prevalence of common health conditions among its general population is somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 48% of the total population (around 9,150 people), compared to Greater Adelaide's 52.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.8 and 9.1% of residents respectively. Around 64.3% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Adelaide's 67.9%. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Salisbury East has a higher proportion of seniors (20.6%, around 3,960 people) than Greater Adelaide (19.3%). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than those for the broader population.

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

Salisbury East has a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 28.5% of its population born overseas and 19.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Salisbury East, making up 44.2% of people. However, Islam is more prevalent here compared to Greater Adelaide, comprising 5.1% versus 3.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (30.9%), Australian (24.8%), and Other (11.1%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Polish is slightly overrepresented at 1.1%, Italian is underrepresented at 4.9% compared to the regional figure of 5.2%, and German is also underrepresented at 4.8% versus 5.1%.

Salisbury East's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Salisbury East is 40 years, similar to Greater Adelaide's average of 39. It is somewhat older than Australia's median age of 38. The 15-24 age group makes up 13.8% of the population in Salisbury East, compared to Greater Adelaide. The 25-34 cohort represents 12.3%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15-24 age group has grown from 12.0% to 13.8%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 6.2% to 7.3%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 12.6% to 11.3%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Salisbury East. The 85+ group is expected to grow by 83%, reaching 1,071 people from 583. In contrast, the 5-14 cohort shows minimal growth of just 0% (6 people).