The Parks
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in The Parks are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

AreaSearch's analysis indicates The Parks' population is approximately 21,229 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,584 people (8.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,645. This growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,102 in June 2024 and an additional 458 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 1,162 persons per square kilometer, relatively inline with averages across locations assessed by AreaSearch. The Parks' growth of 8.1% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state's (6.7%) and metropolitan area's growth rate, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration drove population growth, contributing approximately 89.5% of overall 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 by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023. Considering projected demographic shifts, above median population growth is expected for Australian statistical areas. The area is projected to increase by 4,457 persons to reach a total of 25,686 by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 20.3% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions The Parks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

The Parks has received approximately 201 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides data on a financial year basis, totalling 1,005 approvals between FY-21 and FY-25, with 4 so far in FY-26. On average, 1.4 new residents are associated with each dwelling constructed over the past five financial years. This results in balanced supply and demand, stable market conditions, and an average construction value of $335,000 per dwelling, aligning with regional trends.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals amount to $38.7 million, indicating strong commercial growth momentum. Compared to Greater Adelaide, The Parks exhibits 17.0% higher construction activity per person over the past five years, offering good buyer choice and supporting property values. Recent construction comprises 65.0% standalone homes and 35.0% medium and high-density housing, expanding affordable options.

With around 134 people per dwelling approval, The Parks displays growth area characteristics. By 2041, the population is expected to grow by 4,300 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond projections.

The Parks has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 35thth percentile nationally

A total of twenty-two infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Among these key projects are Woodville Place, Northern Adelaide Road Upgrades Program, 110 Hawker Street, Ridleyton, and 414-418 Prospect Road, Kilburn Development. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

The labour market performance in The Parks lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

The Parks has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 8.3% as of June 2025. In the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 2.5%.

There are 10,085 residents in work, but the unemployment rate is higher than Greater Adelaide's by 4.3%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation is lower at 56.9% compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. The dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Manufacturing particularly stands out with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level.

However, education & training is under-represented at 5.6%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 9.3%. There is a ratio of 1.1 workers for every resident, indicating that The Parks functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 2.5% while labour force increased by 3.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide experienced employment growth of 2.1% with a marginal rise in unemployment rate. 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%, broadly in line with the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that 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 projections to The Parks's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.1% over five years and 13.1% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that The Parks' median income is $47,781 and average income is $53,619. This is lower than Greater Adelaide's figures of a median income of $52,592 and an average income of $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates for The Parks would be approximately $52,956 (median) and $59,426 (average) as of March 2025. Census data indicates that household, family and personal incomes in The Parks fall between the 8th and 20th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that the predominant cohort spans 31.5% of locals (6,687 people) with an income range of $1,500 - 2,999, which is similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in The Parks, with only 82.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 19th percentile nationally.

The Parks displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The Parks dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.5% houses and 32.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Adelaide metro's 69.1% houses and 30.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in The Parks stood at 23.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.6% and rented ones at 45.1%. In the area, median monthly mortgage repayments were $1,517, aligning with Adelaide metro's average. Median weekly rent was $270, compared to Adelaide metro's $295. Nationally, The Parks' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

The Parks features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 66.3% of all households, consisting of 30.7% couples with children, 18.9% couples without children, and 14.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.7%, with lone person households at 28.4% and group households comprising 5.3%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.3 people.

Educational outcomes in The Parks fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

University qualification levels in The Parks stand at 26.3%, slightly below the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (18.3%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (8.3%) and certificates (17.4%), are held by 25.7% of residents aged 15+.

Educational participation is high, with 30.3% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary, 7.2% in tertiary, and 6.6% in secondary education. The Parks has four schools with a combined enrollment of 972 students, serving typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1006). It offers balanced educational opportunities with three primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents are lower than the regional average at 4.6, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas. Note: if school enrollments show 'n/a', please refer to the parent campus.

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

The Parks has 105 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services, totaling 22 individual routes that collectively facilitate 2,105 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 185 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 300 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 20 weekly trips per individual stop.

The Parks's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Parks's health metrics are near national benchmarks, with common health conditions among its residents somewhat typical of the general population but higher than the national average for older cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~9,977 people), compared to 49.8% across Greater Adelaide and the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (7.5%) and arthritis (6.7%), with 72.6% of residents reporting no medical ailments, compared to 66.1% in Greater Adelaide.

There are 15.4% of residents aged 65 and over (3,269 people), lower than the 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those for the broader population.

The Parks is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

The Parks area is one of the most culturally diverse regions in Australia, with 50.8% of its population born overseas and 59.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in The Parks, comprising 38.7% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 14.5% compared to the Greater Adelaide average of 6.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Other (17.9%, higher than the regional average of 9.4%), Vietnamese (16.6%, higher than the regional average of 5.9%), and English (14.0%, lower than the regional average of 25.0%). There are also notable differences in the representation of Serbian, Polish, and Greek ethnic groups compared to regional averages.

The Parks's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in The Parks is 36 years, which is slightly below Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and also lower than the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, The Parks has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (18.4%), but fewer individuals aged 75-84 (4.8%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 has increased from 17.2% to 18.4%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 45-54 has decreased from 12.6% to 11.5%. By the year 2041, The Parks is projected to experience significant changes in its age structure. Notably, the 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 31%, reaching a total of 3,195 individuals from the current figure of 2,441.