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

Smithfield - Elizabeth North's population is approximately 12,972 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 526 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,446. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,872 in June 2024 and validated new addresses added since the Census date. This results in a population density of 1,623 persons per square kilometer, higher than the national average assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 4.2% growth since the census is close to the state's 7.1%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 55.2% of overall population gains during 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, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is projected to grow by 2,667 persons to 2041, reflecting a 19.8% increase over 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 approximately 101 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 509 homes. As of FY26, 63 approvals have been recorded. On average, between FY21 and FY25, each dwelling constructed has attracted around 0.7 new residents per year. This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially enabling population growth beyond current expectations.

The average expected construction cost of new properties in the area is $221,000, which is below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing choices. In FY26, there have been $2.1 million worth of commercial approvals, reflecting the residential nature of the area. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Smithfield - Elizabeth North has seen substantially reduced construction, with 55.0% fewer approvals per person. This typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes.

The new development in the area consists predominantly of standalone homes (93.0%) and a smaller proportion of medium and high-density housing (7.0%). This maintains the area's traditional suburban character, focusing on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. The preference for detached housing is more pronounced than current patterns suggest (70.0% at Census), indicating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. With around 139 people per approval, Smithfield - Elizabeth North reflects a low-density area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by approximately 2,564 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Smithfield - Elizabeth North has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 8thth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified 24 projects that could impact the area, with key ones including Riverbanks College Angle Vale, Playford Health and Wellbeing Precinct, Tudor Vale Shopping Centre at Munno Para West, and Blakes Crossing Master Planned Community. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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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 with white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 17.0% as of September 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.6%. There are 4,266 residents employed, but the unemployment rate is 13.0% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation lags significantly at 44.9%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing, with notable concentration in manufacturing (1.7 times the regional average).

Education & training is under-represented, with only 4.3% of residents employed compared to Greater Adelaide's 9.3%. Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by Census data. Between September 2024 and 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6%, labour force grew by 1.3%, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide saw employment grow by 3.0% and unemployment fall by 0.1%. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows SA employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, with a state unemployment rate of 4.0%, outpacing the national average of 0.14%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Smithfield - Elizabeth North's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 5.7% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

The median taxpayer income in Smithfield - Elizabeth North SA2 was $43,496 and the average was $46,794 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is lower than the national average of $52,592 median income and $64,886 average income in Greater Adelaide. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $49,077 and an average of $52,798 based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that incomes in Smithfield - Elizabeth North fall between the 1st and 3rd percentiles nationally for household, family, and personal incomes. Income analysis shows that 32.4% of the population (4,202 individuals) have incomes ranging from $800 to $1,499, unlike broader area patterns where incomes between $1,500 and $2,999 dominate at 31.8%. Economic conditions reveal widespread financial pressure with 42.0% of households operating on weekly budgets below $800. Housing affordability is severely strained, with only 79.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 3rd percentile nationally.

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

Smithfield - Elizabeth North had 69.7% houses and 30.3% other dwellings in the latest Census, compared to Adelaide metro's 83.7% houses and 16.2% other dwellings. Home ownership was at 19.7%, with mortgages at 31.0% and rentals at 49.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $975, below Adelaide metro's $1,300 and the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent was $245, lower than Adelaide metro's $265 and 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 account for 61.1% of all households, including 19.5% that are couples with children, 17.3% that are couples without children, and 22.4% that are 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 is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 7.0%, 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 common at 5.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (0.9%) and graduate diplomas (0.7%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas comprise 6.6% and certificates make up 31.5%.

Educational participation is 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

The analysis of public transportation in Smithfield - Elizabeth North indicates that there are 106 active transport stops currently operating. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services, with a total of 24 individual routes running through the area. The combined weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 2,947.

The accessibility of public transportation in this region is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing approximately 198 meters away from the nearest transport stop. On average, across all routes, service frequency stands at 421 trips per day, which translates to roughly 27 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Smithfield - Elizabeth North faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Approximately 46% of the total population (~5,967 people) has private health cover, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, impacting 13.2% and 11.0% of residents respectively. However, 56.1% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.4% across Greater Adelaide. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 16.1% (2,083 people) than the 13.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors generally align with those of the broader 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 had a cultural diversity index above average, with 22.2% of its population born overseas and 12.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Smithfield - Elizabeth North as of 2021, comprising 34.3% of its population. However, Islam showed an overrepresentation with 3.9%, compared to the Greater Adelaide average of 4.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English at 33.3%, Australian at 28.1%, and Other at 9.4%. There were notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: German was overrepresented at 4.6% compared to the regional average of 4.4%, Australian Aboriginal at 4.3% versus 3.0%, and Welsh remained consistent at 0.5%.

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

Smithfield - Elizabeth North has a median age of 35, which is younger than Greater Adelaide's figure of 39 and slightly below Australia's median age of 38. The 5-14 age group makes up 14.2% of the population in Smithfield - Elizabeth North, compared to Greater Adelaide. However, the 75-84 cohort is less prevalent at 4.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 13.1% to 14.8% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 11.7% to 10.6%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Smithfield - Elizabeth North's age structure. The 45 to 54 group is projected to grow by 35%, adding 483 people and reaching a total of 1,860 from the previous figure of 1,376.