Smithfield - Elizabeth North

An assessment of population growth drivers in Smithfield - Elizabeth North reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Smithfield - Elizabeth North's population is around 13,157 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 711 people (5.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,446 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,869 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 204 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,646 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 55.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Anticipating future population dynamics, a significant population increase in the top quartile of statistical areas across the nation is forecast, with the area expected to grow by 2,667 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 18.1% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Smithfield - Elizabeth North among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Smithfield - Elizabeth North has seen around 101 new homes approved annually, totalling 509 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 91 approvals have been recorded. Given an average of only 0.7 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $221,000—under regional levels—indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. There have also been $2.1 million in commercial approvals this financial year, demonstrating the area's residential nature.

When measured against Greater Adelaide, Smithfield - Elizabeth North shows substantially reduced construction (55.0% below regional average per person). This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. New development consists of 93.0% standalone homes and 7.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. New construction favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (70.0% at Census), demonstrating ongoing robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. At around 139 people per approval, Smithfield - Elizabeth North reflects a low density area.

Looking ahead, Smithfield - Elizabeth North is expected to grow by 2,379 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Smithfield - Elizabeth North has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 24 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Playford Alive, Riverbanks College Angle Vale, Playford Health and Wellbeing Precinct, and Tudor Vale Shopping Centre, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 conditions in Smithfield - Elizabeth North face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Smithfield - Elizabeth North has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented, an unemployment rate of 17.4%, and 1.6% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 4,247 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 13.5% above Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation lags significantly (50.0% compared to Greater Adelaide's 67.2%). Based on Census responses, a low 4.4% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in manufacturing, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. On the other hand, education & training is under-represented, with only 4.3% of Smithfield - Elizabeth North's workforce compared to 9.3% in Greater Adelaide. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.6% and labour force increased by 1.0%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.5 percentage points. This compares to Greater Adelaide, where employment grew by 4.2%, labour force expanded by 3.9%, and unemployment fell 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Smithfield - Elizabeth North. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Smithfield - Elizabeth North's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.7% over five years and 12.5% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The Smithfield - Elizabeth North SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $46,492 and an average of $49,395 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is below the national average, contrasting with Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $50,583 (median) and $53,742 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in Smithfield - Elizabeth North all fall between the 1st and 3rd percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals 32.4% of the population (4,262 individuals) fall within the $800 - 1,499 income range, differing from patterns across the broader area where $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 31.8%. Economic circumstances reflect widespread financial pressure, with 42.0% of households operating within modest weekly budgets below $800. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 3rd percentile.

Smithfield - Elizabeth North displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure within Smithfield - Elizabeth North, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 69.7% houses and 30.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Smithfield - Elizabeth North lagged that of Adelaide metro, at 19.7%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (31.0%) or rented (49.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Adelaide metro average at $975, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $245, compared to Adelaide metro's $1,562 and $320. Nationally, Smithfield - Elizabeth North's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Smithfield - Elizabeth North features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 61.1% of all households, comprising 19.5% couples with children, 17.3% couples without children, and 22.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 38.9%, with lone person households at 34.6% and group households comprising 4.3% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Smithfield - Elizabeth North 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 (7.0%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 5.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (0.9%) and graduate diplomas (0.7%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (6.6%) and certificates (31.5%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.4% in primary education, 7.8% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 106 active transport stops operating within Smithfield - Elizabeth North, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 24 individual routes, collectively providing 2,947 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 198 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 89%, with 7% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 4.4% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 421 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 27 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Critical health challenges are evident across Smithfield - Elizabeth North, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions have marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~6,052 people). This compares to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 13.2% and 11.0% of residents, respectively, while 56.1% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 16.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,151 people), which is lower than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Smithfield - Elizabeth North records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Smithfield - Elizabeth North was found to be above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 22.2% of its population born overseas and 12.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Smithfield - Elizabeth North is Christianity, which makes up 34.3% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Islam, which comprises 3.9% of the population, compared to 3.0% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Smithfield - Elizabeth North are English, comprising 33.3% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 27.8%, Australian, comprising 28.1% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 22.8%, and Other, comprising 9.4% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: German is represented at 4.6% in Smithfield - Elizabeth North (vs 5.1% regionally), Australian Aboriginal at 4.3% (vs 1.2%) and Welsh at 0.5% (vs 0.6%).

Smithfield - Elizabeth North's population is younger than the national pattern

With a median age of 35, Smithfield - Elizabeth North is materially younger than the Greater Adelaide figure of 39 as well as slightly below Australia's 38 years. The 5 - 14 age group shows strong representation at 13.9% compared to Greater Adelaide, whereas the 75 - 84 cohort is less prevalent at 4.7%. In the period since 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 13.1% to 15.0% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.7% to 10.6%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Smithfield - Elizabeth North's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 45 to 54 group will grow by 34% (471 people), reaching 1,860 from 1,388. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 cohort grows by a modest 8% (66 people).