Salisbury East
Statistical Area - sa2

Salisbury East has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Salisbury East's population was 19,284 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 830 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 18,454. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses between June 2024 and the Census date. Salisbury East's population density was 1,298 persons per square kilometer in November 2025, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Salisbury East's growth of 4.5% since the 2021 census surpassed the SA3 area's growth rate of 3.7%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 59.1% to the overall 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, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the median of national areas, with Salisbury East expected to expand by 2,424 persons to reach a total of 21,708 by 2041, marking an 11.5% gain over the 17-year period.

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

Salisbury East has averaged approximately 62 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 314 homes were approved, with an additional 49 approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 2.6 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these five years, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

The average expected construction cost value for new homes is around $235,000, which aligns with regional trends. This financial year has seen $5.2 million in commercial approvals registered, indicating the area's predominantly 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 a mature market and possible development constraints.

The majority of new building activity consists of detached dwellings (98.0%), with townhouses or apartments making up the remaining 2.0%, preserving the area's suburban identity focused on family homes. With approximately 446 people per approval, Salisbury East demonstrates a mature market. By 2041, the population is projected to grow by 2,222 residents. Building activity is expected to keep pace with these growth projections, though increased competition among buyers may be anticipated as the population expands.

Salisbury East has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Advanced Manufacturing and Retail Hub, Salisbury Park Estate, Salisbury East Urban Renewal Precinct, and Coomurra Rise Land Division. 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 balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, unemployment is 4.9%, and employment grew by 1.2% in the past year.

As of June 2025, 9,075 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.9%, 0.9% higher than Greater Adelaide's 4.0%. Workforce participation is 57.8%, below Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Manufacturing employment is at 1.4 times the regional average.

Professional & technical jobs are limited at 4.1% compared to 7.3% regionally. The area offers limited local employment opportunities. Over June 2024 to June 2025, employment increased by 1.2%, labour force by 1.3%, while unemployment remained unchanged. Greater Adelaide had employment growth of 2.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national 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 growth of approximately 6.0%% over five years and 12.8% over ten years.".

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Salisbury East's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $49,394. The average income stood at $54,867 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Adelaide's median and average incomes of $52,592 and $64,886 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 12.83% since financial year 2022, estimated median and average incomes for Salisbury East as of September 2025 are approximately $55,731 and $61,906 respectively. 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 spans 31.4% of locals (6,055 people), with incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999. This pattern is similar to that seen in the surrounding region, where 31.8% of residents occupy this income range. After accounting for housing costs, 85.2% of income remains, placing Salisbury East at the 25th percentile nationally for disposable income.

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

In Salisbury East, as per the latest Census evaluation, 87.2% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 12.8% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is compared to Adelaide metro's 83.9% houses and 16.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Salisbury East stood at 33.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 44.5% and rented ones at 21.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, aligning with the Adelaide metro average, while the median weekly rent was $295, compared to Adelaide metro's $1,300 and $300 respectively. Nationally, Salisbury East's mortgage repayments were significantly 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 lower-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 28.6%, with lone person households at 26.5% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.7.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 12.7%, substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents 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 feature prominently, 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. A robust network of six schools operates within Salisbury East, educating approximately 3,574 students while the area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 959) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes four primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (18.5 places per 100 residents vs 13.9 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Public transport analysis conducted in Salisbury East shows 113 active transport stops operating within the area, offering a mix of bus services. These stops are serviced by 30 individual routes, collectively providing 2,011 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 203 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 287 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 17 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Salisbury East is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Salisbury East faces significant health challenges, with notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47%, covering around 9,102 people (~47% of the total population).

This is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.8% and 9.1% of residents respectively. Conversely, 64.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across Greater Adelaide. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 20.1% (3,879 people) compared to the 16.1% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Salisbury East 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

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, accounting for 44.2% of its population. However, Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Adelaide, making up 5.1% versus 8.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (30.9%), Australian (24.8%), and Other (11.1%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences in representation: Polish at 1.1% versus the regional average of 1.1%, German at 4.8% versus 4.0%, and Italian at 4.9% versus 3.8%.

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 years but somewhat older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The percentage of the population aged 15-24 in Salisbury East is 13.5%, higher than that of Greater Adelaide, while the percentage of those aged 25-34 is 12.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the proportion of the population aged 15-24 has increased from 12.0% to 13.5%, whereas the proportion of those aged 55-64 has decreased from 12.6% to 11.5%. By 2041, the population forecast indicates significant demographic changes in Salisbury East. Notably, the number of people aged 85 and above is projected to grow by 88%, reaching 1,071 from 570. Conversely, the number of those aged 5-14 is expected to decline by 9 people.