Salisbury North

Population growth drivers in Salisbury North are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Salisbury North's population is around 18,990 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 503 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,487 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,931 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 179 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 606 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Salisbury North has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 67.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as 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, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Looking at population projections moving forward, a population increase just below the median is expected, with the area expected to expand by 1,978 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 10.1% in total over the 16 years.

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

Salisbury North has seen approximately 34 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 174 homes. As of FY26, 29 approvals have been recorded. On average, about four people move to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating significant demand exceeding supply. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $204,000, which is below regional levels, offering more affordable housing choices for buyers.

This financial year has seen $410.6 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Salisbury North shows roughly half the construction activity per person and ranks among the 38th percentile of areas assessed nationally, reflecting its mature status and possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 87% detached houses and 13% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 596 people, indicating a quiet development environment.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Salisbury North is projected to grow by 1,919 residents by 2041. Construction pace is maintaining with projected growth, but increasing competition among buyers may be expected as population grows.

Salisbury North has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 16thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Riverlea Estate, Strategic Growth Framework - Waterloo Corner and Bolivar Corridor, Edinburgh Defence Precinct Mid-Term Refresh, and Delorean Anaerobic Digestion Energy Facility. 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 drivers in Salisbury North are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Salisbury North has a balanced workforce consisting of white and blue collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. The unemployment rate in December 2025 was 8.0%. Over the past year, employment grew by an estimated 1.0%.

As of that date, 8,450 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 4.2% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was somewhat lower at 61.0%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. According to Census responses, only 4.5% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade.

Manufacturing has particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 2.7%, compared to the regional average of 7.3%. The ratio of workers to residents is 0.8, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. In the year up to December 2025, employment increased by 1.0% while labour force also increased by 1.0%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide where employment grew by 4.2%, labour force expanded by 3.9%, and unemployment fell by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Salisbury North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.3% over ten years.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on 30 June 2023 for financial year 2023, Salisbury North SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $49,767 and an average level of $53,831. This is lower than the national average of $54,808 and compares to levels of $54,808 and $66,852 across Greater Adelaide respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $54,828 (median) and $59,306 (average) as of March 2026. From the Census conducted on 10 August 2021, household, family and personal incomes in Salisbury North fall between the 13th and 17th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 32.0% of the population (6,076 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 31.8% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Salisbury North, with only 82.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 16th percentile nationally.

Salisbury North is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Salisbury North's dwellings, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 81.5% houses and 18.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Salisbury North was at 21.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.3% and rented ones at 35.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,275, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent in Salisbury North was $280, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 72.0% of all households, including 32.3% couples with children, 18.8% couples without children, and 19.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.0%, with lone person households at 25.0% and group households making up 3.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 10.1%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 7.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (0.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 34.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 6.9% and certificates at 27.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.3% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 78 active transport stops operating within Salisbury North. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 12 individual routes collectively providing 1,180 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 228 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode at 91%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 4.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 168 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Salisbury North is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Salisbury North faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A variety of health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low, at approximately 47% of the total population (~8,849 people), compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, affecting 9.5% and 9.4% of residents respectively. Conversely, 67.0% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Salisbury North has 13.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,540 people), lower than the 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Salisbury North 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 North's population showed high cultural diversity, with 30.3% born overseas and 30.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 35.2%. Buddhism was notably overrepresented at 8.1%, compared to Greater Adelaide's average of 2.4%.

In terms of ancestry, English (25.6%), Australian (24.3%), and Other (17.5%) were the top groups, with 'Other' being substantially higher than the regional average of 9.7%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Vietnamese at 3.3% vs regional 1.2%, Serbian at 0.6% vs 0.4%, and Polish at 1.0% vs 1.0%.

Salisbury North hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Salisbury North's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and under the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Salisbury North has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14, at 13.8%, but fewer residents aged 75-84, at 3.9%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 13.7% to 14.7%, while the 25-34 age group has decreased from 15.7% to 14.4% and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 15.0% to 13.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Salisbury North's age profile. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 27%, adding 595 residents to reach 2,774. Meanwhile, the 35-44 cohort is expected to grow by a modest 1% (24 people).