Tanunda
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Tanunda's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 4,938. This figure represents an increase of 272 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,666. This growth can be inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,743 in June 2024 and the addition of 117 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 284 persons per square kilometer, indicating ample space per person and potential for further development. Tanunda's growth rate of 5.8% since the census is comparable to the non-metro area's growth of 6.0%, demonstrating strong fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed around 65.8% of 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 and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 using 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made through weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. According to demographic trends, Australia's regional areas are projected to have above median population growth, with Tanunda expected to grow by 745 persons to 2041, representing a total gain of 11.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Tanunda recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Tanunda has averaged approximately 31 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, totaling 159 approvals from FY2021 to FY2025, with 9 approved so far in FY2026. The area has experienced population decline, suggesting that new supply has likely been meeting demand, offering buyers good choice while new homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $427,000. There have also been $8.5 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating the area's primarily residential nature.

Compared to the Rest of SA, Tanunda has similar development levels per capita, supporting market stability aligned with regional patterns. Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space, with approximately 166 people per dwelling approval indicating a low density market. Population forecasts project Tanunda will gain 550 residents by 2041.

With current construction levels, housing supply is expected to adequately meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Tanunda has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include the Barossa Growth and Infrastructure Investment Strategy, La Vida Homes - Gembrook Estate Tanunda, New Water Infrastructure to Barossa (Barossa New Water), and Sovereign Estate. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Tanunda ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Tanunda, as of June 2025, has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominently represented. The unemployment rate is 1.7%.

Over the past year, employment stability has been relatively high. There are 2,314 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.9% below Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%, and a workforce participation rate of 57.6%. Key industries for employment include manufacturing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Manufacturing stands out with employment levels at 2.5 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 5.3% versus the regional average of 14.5%. Some residents commute outside Tanunda for work. In the 12 months prior to June 2025, labour force increased by 0.2%, while employment declined by 0.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. Rest of SA experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and unemployment rise of 1.2 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May 2025, project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tanunda's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 4.9% over five years and 11.5% over ten years.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Tanunda's median income among taxpayers is $53,007, with an average of $64,241. These figures align with national averages. Rest of SA has a median income of $46,889 and an average of $56,582. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Tanunda would be approximately $58,748 (median) and $71,198 (average) as of March 2025. The 2021 Census indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Tanunda rank modestly between the 32nd and 43rd percentiles. Income brackets show 30.1% of Tanunda's population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, reflecting broader area patterns where 27.5% occupy this range. Housing costs are manageable with 87.3% retained, but disposable income ranks below average at the 37th percentile. Tanunda's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Tanunda's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.2% houses and 9.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Non-Metro SA's 94.6% houses and 5.4% other dwellings. Tanunda's home ownership stood at 42.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.5% and rented ones at 21.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,452, exceeding Non-Metro SA's average of $1,400. The median weekly rent in Tanunda was recorded at $300, compared to Non-Metro SA's $285. Nationally, Tanunda's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Tanunda has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.6% of all households, including 25.9% couples with children, 34.9% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.4%, with lone person households at 28.9% and group households making up 1.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of South Africa average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Tanunda aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Tanunda's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks with 21.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 36.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 24.9%. A substantial 23.7% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.9% in primary, 6.1% in secondary, and 2.9% in tertiary education.

Tanunda's three schools have a combined enrollment of 1,233 students as of 2021, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1044) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes two primary and one K-12 school. As an education hub, Tanunda provides 25.0 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 13.1, attracting students from surrounding communities as of the latest data available. Note: for schools with 'n/a' enrolments, please refer to their parent campus.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Tanunda is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Tanunda faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 52% (about 2,562 people), slightly higher than the Rest of SA's 49.8%.

The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (10.8%) and mental health problems (8.2%). Around 63.0% report no medical ailments, compared to 64.6% in Rest of SA. Tanunda has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29.9% (1,476 people), compared to Rest of SA's 22.8%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are above average and better than the general population.

Tanunda is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Tanunda's population showed lower cultural diversity, with 88.3% born in Australia, 93.1% being citizens, and 96.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 56.6%, compared to 47.1% across Rest of SA. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (28.9%), English (28.1%), and German (20.9%), which was higher than the regional average of 14.2%.

Notably, Welsh (0.6%) and Dutch (1.4%) were slightly overrepresented compared to the region's averages of 0.5% and 1.3%, respectively. Serbian ancestry at 0.2% was also notably higher than the regional average of 0.1%.

Tanunda hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Tanunda is 48 years, similar to the Rest of South Australia's average of 47 years, which is well above the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of SA average, the 35-44 cohort is notably over-represented in Tanunda at 12.8%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 6.7%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 8.7% to 10.5% of Tanunda's population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 8.1% to 9.3%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group has declined from 9.3% to 6.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Tanunda. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow by 49%, adding 252 residents to reach 772. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 83% of population growth, underscoring trends towards demographic aging. Conversely, both the 25 to 34 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.