Bowden

Bowden lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of November 2025, the population of Bowden is estimated at around 2,305 people. This reflects an increase of 497 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,808 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,271 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 204 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 6,229 persons per square kilometer, placing Bowden in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 27.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the state's 7.1%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 91.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth for national areas, with Bowden expected to expand by 422 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 2.4% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Bowden among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Bowden has recorded around 56 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 281 homes. So far in FY-26, 30 approvals have been recorded. Over these five financial years, on average, only 0.6 people moved to the area for each dwelling built.

New construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations. The average construction value of new properties is $404,000. This year, $18.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Bowden records 247.0% more new home approvals per person, indicating robust developer interest in the area. New development consists of 16.0% detached dwellings and 84.0% medium and high-density housing, providing accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The location has approximately 21 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Looking ahead, Bowden is expected to grow by 56 residents through to 2041, according to 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.

Bowden has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified ten projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Bowden Final Development Parcels, Sentinel Build-to-Rent Project (Bowden), ARC Bowden, and Uniting on Hawker. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Bowden demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Bowden's workforce is highly educated with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate in the area was 3.1% as of an unspecified date.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.5%. As of June 2025, 1404 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 0.9% below Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Bowden was 69.6%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and professional & technical services.

Public administration & safety shows strong specialization with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level. Construction has limited presence in Bowden with 3.3% employment compared to the regional average of 8.7%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 3.5%, while labour force grew by 3.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment and labour force growth of 2.1% each, with marginal unemployment increase. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bowden's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localized population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Bowden has a median taxpayer income of $70,535 and an average income of $82,522 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is among the highest in Australia, compared with Greater Adelaide's median income of $52,592 and average income of $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $79,585 (median) and $93,110 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings rank at the 83rd percentile nationally ($1,056 weekly), while household income ranks lower at the 43rd percentile. Income brackets show that 38.0% of the population (875 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 31.8% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 39th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Bowden features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Bowden's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 14.2% houses and 85.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Adelaide metro's 66.1% houses and 33.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bowden was at 13.2%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (28.0%) or rented (58.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,560, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Bowden was recorded at $390, compared to Adelaide metro's $325. Nationally, Bowden's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 44.5% of all households, including 10.1% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 6.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 55.5%, with lone person households at 45.0% and group households comprising 10.4%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.4.

Bowden demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Bowden's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. 52.6% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.8% in the SA3 area. This high level of educational attainment positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 35.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.9% and graduate diplomas at 3.7%.

Vocational pathways account for 24.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 13.5%. Educational participation is notably high in Bowden, with 29.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 17.8% in tertiary education, 4.5% in primary education, and 2.6% pursuing secondary education. Educational facilities appear to be located outside the immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

The transport analysis indicates three operational stops in Bowden, offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by eight separate routes, facilitating 973 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents situated an average of 182 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 139 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 324 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Bowden is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Bowden demonstrates above-average health outcomes, with both young and old age cohorts experiencing low prevalence of common health conditions. As of 19th March 2023, approximately 60% of Bowden's total population of 1,373 people have private health cover, compared to 52.8% across Greater Adelaide.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 11.8% and 7.6% of residents respectively, as of this date. In Bowden, 72.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.9% across Greater Adelaide. As of the same date, 10.0% of Bowden's residents are aged 65 and over (230 people), which is lower than the 20.0% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors in Bowden are particularly strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Bowden was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Bowden's cultural diversity was evident as of 2016, with 24.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 34.2% born overseas. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 27.0%. Islam was overrepresented compared to Greater Adelaide, at 3.2% versus 2.8%.

Top ancestry groups were English (25.8%), Australian (18.8%), and Other (11.6%). Notable divergences included Korean (1.1% vs regional 0.2%), Spanish (0.7% vs 0.3%), and Croatian (0.8% vs 1.1%).

Bowden hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Bowden has a median age of 31, which is younger than Greater Adelaide's figure of 39 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Bowden has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (33.8%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 has increased from 32.3% to 33.8%, while the proportions of those aged 45-54 have decreased from 8.4% to 7.0% and those aged 15-24 have dropped from 16.2% to 15.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Bowden. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 44%, adding 22 residents to reach a total of 73. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent half of the anticipated growth, while the 25-34 and 55-64 age groups are forecasted to experience population declines.