Athelstone

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Athelstone's population is estimated at around 9,959 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 358 people (3.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,601 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 9,876, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 91 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,608 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 that contributed approximately 69.0% 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 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. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national areas is expected, with the suburb of Athelstone expected to expand by 906 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 8.3% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Athelstone had around 56 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 280 homes were approved, with an additional 26 so far in FY-26. This results in about 1.3 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

The average construction value of these properties is $447,000, indicating a focus on premium segment development. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $1.9 million, suggesting minimal commercial activity in the area. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Athelstone has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks at the 74th percentile nationally for areas assessed.

New developments consist of 80% detached dwellings and 20% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes. The population density is approximately 168 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. Future projections estimate Athelstone will add 823 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Athelstone has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 29thth percentile nationally

Eleven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. These include Highbury Aqueduct Reserve Master Plan Implementation, Verde in Athelstone, Modbury Hospital Redevelopment, and Campbelltown Performing Arts Centre, among others listed below.

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

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

Athelstone has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.6%, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.0%.

As of September 2025, 5,709 residents are employed, with a local unemployment rate of 1.4% below Greater Adelaide's rate. Workforce participation is 70.8%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. Home-based work accounts for 12.0% of employment, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Notably, education & training has a high concentration with levels at 1.3 times the regional average, while health care & social assistance is relatively limited at 14.7%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on resident population comparison. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.0% while labour force grew by 3.0%, keeping unemployment stable. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 3.0%, labour force grow by 2.9%, and unemployment fall slightly. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Athelstone's industry mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Athelstone had an income level below the national average according to latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Athelstone was $52,830 and the average income stood at $64,519. In comparison, Greater Adelaide had figures of $54,808 and $66,852 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Athelstone would be approximately $57,479 (median) and $70,197 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that incomes in Athelstone cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 33.8% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with a total of 3,366 residents falling into this category. This is consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 31.8% in the same income category. After housing costs, residents retain 88.9% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

The latest Census evaluation showed that 84.7% of dwellings in Athelstone were houses, with the remaining 15.2% being other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This is compared to Adelaide metro's figures of 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Athelstone stood at 45.0%, with mortgaged properties making up 41.8% and rented dwellings accounting for 13.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent in Athelstone was $360, compared to Adelaide metro's figure of $320. Nationally, Athelstone's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Athelstone features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 79.7% of all households, consisting of 40.0% couples with children, 29.3% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 20.3%, with lone person households at 18.8% and group households comprising 1.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Athelstone exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 32.1%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 42.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 21.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are held by 30.0% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 19.6%. Educational participation is high, with 26.9% currently enrolled in formal education: 9.0% in primary, 6.9% in secondary, and 6.6% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.0% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 6.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Athelstone has 44 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 23 different routes that collectively facilitate 827 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 225 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 87%, while buses account for 11%. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 12.0% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 118 trips per day, equating to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Athelstone's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Athelstone's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence across all age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 53% of the total population (~5,229 people), leading the average SA2 area. The most common conditions are arthritis (7.7%) and mental health issues (6.9%), while 71.0% report being completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.9%, totaling 2,181 people, compared to 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Athelstone was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Athelstone's population showed high diversity, with 28.6% born overseas and 25.0% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 59.1%. The 'Other' religious category comprised 2.4%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 1.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (20.8%), Italian (20.8%), and Australian (19.0%). Notably, Polish (1.1% vs regional 1.0%), Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.3%), and Russian (0.5% vs 0.3%) were overrepresented.

Athelstone hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Athelstone is 43 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years. This figure is also considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Athelstone has a higher proportion of residents aged 45-54 (13.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.7%). According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group in Athelstone has increased from 6.5% to 8.1% of the population. Meanwhile, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 14.2% to 12.5%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Athelstone's age structure. Notably, the 85+ age group is projected to grow by 105%, reaching 531 people from 258. By 2041, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 51% of total population growth, reflecting Athelstone's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0-4 and 65-74 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.