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 approximately 19,282 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 828 people from the 2021 Census count of 18,454. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses since June 2024. This results in a population density of 1,298 persons per square kilometer, exceeding national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Salisbury East's 4.5% growth rate since the Census exceeded its SA3 area's 3.7%, indicating it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 59.1% of recent population gains.

For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia estimates 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 based on 2021 data are adopted after adjustments using weighted aggregation methods. Future trends suggest a population increase below the national median to 2041, with an expected expansion of 2,424 persons, representing an 11.5% total gain over the 17-year period.

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

Salisbury East averaged approximately 62 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 314 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26, there have been 37 approvals. On average, each dwelling accommodates around 2.6 new residents per year over these five years, indicating solid demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $374,000. In FY-26, $5.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Salisbury East has similar development levels per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. However, these levels are lower than national averages, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

New building activity shows 98.0% detached dwellings and 2.0% townhouses or apartments, sustaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space. With around 446 people per approval, Salisbury East indicates a mature market. By 2041, Salisbury East is projected to grow by 2,224 residents. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 17 projects likely impacting this region. Notable projects are Advanced Manufacturing and Retail Hub, Salisbury Park Estate, Salisbury East Urban Renewal Precinct, and Coomurra Rise Land Division. The following details projects expected to have the greatest relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment performance in Salisbury East has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Salisbury East has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, strongly represented by manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate is 4.9% and it has seen an estimated employment growth of 1.2% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 9,075 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.9% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Salisbury East is somewhat lower at 57.8%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. The leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Manufacturing stands out with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services have a limited presence with only 4.1% of employment compared to the regional average of 7.3%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 1.2% while labour force increased by 1.3%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In contrast, Greater Adelaide experienced employment growth of 2.1%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows SA employment grew by 1.06% year-on-year, adding 9,370 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.5%, in line with the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project 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, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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. Comparing these figures with Greater Adelaide's median of $52,592 and average of $64,886 respectively shows Salisbury East had lower incomes. As of March 2025, current estimates based on a 10.83% increase from financial year 2022 indicate the median income would be approximately $54,743 and the average would be around $60,809. 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 (6,054 people) with incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, similar to the surrounding region where 31.8% fall within this range. After 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 recorded in the latest Census, 87.2% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 12.8% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In comparison, Adelaide metro had 83.9% houses and 16.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Salisbury East was at 33.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 44.5% and rented ones at 21.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,300, matching Adelaide metro's average. The median weekly rent was $295, compared to Adelaide metro's $300. 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 lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 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 make up the remaining 28.6%, consisting of 26.5% lone person households and 2.0% group households. 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 educational qualification rate in the area is significantly lower than the Australian average, with only 12.7% of residents holding university qualifications compared to the national average of 30.4%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common form of higher education, held by 9.3% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent in the area, with 38.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.8%) and certificates (28.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (11.0%), secondary education (7.6%), and tertiary education (3.8%). There are six schools operating within Salisbury East, educating approximately 3,574 students. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities, indicated by an ICSEA score of 959. The schools include four primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 18.5 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.9, suggesting that Salisbury East 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

Transport analysis in Salisbury East indicates 113 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. 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 common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 47% of its total population (~9,101 people) has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 9.8% of residents) and mental health issues (9.1%), while 64.3% claim to be completely clear of medical ailments compared to 68.1% in Greater Adelaide. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 20.1% of the population (3,879 people), higher than Greater Adelaide's 16.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present 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 had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 28.5% of its residents born overseas and 19.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Salisbury East as of 2016, comprising 44.2% of its population. However, Islam was more prevalent in Salisbury East compared to Greater Adelaide, with 5.1% versus 8.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (30.9%), Australian (24.8%), and Other (11.1%). Notably, Polish, German, and Italian ethnicities were overrepresented in Salisbury East compared to the regional averages: Polish at 1.1%, German at 4.8%, and Italian at 4.9%.

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

The median age in Salisbury East as of 2021 Census data is 40 years, similar to Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and slightly older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 15-24 age group constitutes 13.5% of the population in Salisbury East, compared to Greater Adelaide. The 25-34 age cohort makes up 12.5% of the population in Salisbury East, which is less prevalent than in Greater Adelaide. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.0% to 13.5%, while the 55-64 age cohort has decreased from 12.6% to 11.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Salisbury East, with the 85+ age group projected to grow by 88 people (from 570 to 1,071), while the 5-14 age cohort is expected to decline by 9 people.