Burnside (SA)

Burnside has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Burnside (SA) is around 3,207, reflecting an increase of 147 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,060. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 3,164 in Jun 2024 and three validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is estimated at 1,897 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Burnside's 4.8% growth since census is comparable to its SA3 area (4.9%), indicating strong growth fundamentals. This growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. Population projections for Burnside are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections adjusted to SA2 levels using weighted aggregation for areas not covered or years post-2032.

According to these projections, Burnside is expected to increase by approximately 198 persons to reach around 3,405 by 2041, reflecting a gain of about 7.3% over the 17-year period.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Burnside, approximately 8 new homes were approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 42 homes. As of FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.8 people moved to the area per new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating healthy demand supporting property values. New homes were built at an average expected construction cost value of $838,000, reflecting a focus on premium properties.

In FY-26, $998,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting minimal commercial development activity compared to Greater Adelaide where Burnside records 55.0% lower building activity per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings, though recent periods show increased development activity. Nationally, Burnside's new building activity is also lower, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. The area sees 89.0% detached houses and 11.0% townhouses or apartments in new construction, sustaining its suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space. This contrasts with current patterns showing 71.0% detached housing at Census, indicating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures.

Burnside has approximately 215 people per dwelling approval, suggesting a low density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Burnside is expected to grow by 234 residents through to 2041, with present construction rates appearing balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Burnside has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

No changes can influence an area's performance more than modifications to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to impact the area. Key projects include UniSA Magill Campus Redevelopment (Magill Project), SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts, Adelaide Level Crossings Congestion and Safety, and SA Public Housing Maintenance and Services Contracts. 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 Burnside rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Burnside has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 1.7% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 3.4%. As of September 2025, 1,716 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.3%, below Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was similar to Greater Adelaide at 66.4%. A moderate 19.0% of residents worked from home as of the Census responses, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Key industries for employment among Burnside residents were health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area had a notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 2.2 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction was under-represented, with only 4.9% of Burnside's workforce compared to 8.7% in Greater Adelaide. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited, as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.4%, while labour force grew by 3.4%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 3.0%, labour force grow by 2.9%, and unemployment fall by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Burnside's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.5% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, using a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Burnside had a median taxpayer income of $63,323 and an average income of $97,845 in financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is notably higher than the national averages for median and average incomes. In Greater Adelaide, the median income was $54,808 and the average income was $66,852 during the same period. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income in Burnside could be approximately $68,895 and the average income around $106,455, accounting for an 8.8% growth since financial year 2023 based on Wage Price Index data. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Burnside ranked highly nationally, between the 81st and 81st percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income analysis showed that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominated with 30.5% of residents (978 people). This is similar to the surrounding region where 31.8% of residents fell into this income bracket. Economic strength was evident with 36.5% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, indicating robust consumer spending power. After accounting for housing costs, Burnside residents retained 87.7% of their income on average, reflecting strong purchasing power in the area. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 9th decile.

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

Burnside's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 70.9% houses and 29.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burnside was at 44.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.6% and rented ones at 16.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,400, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent in Burnside was $375, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Burnside's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,400 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were comparable at $375.

Burnside has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 74.9% of all households, including 39.1% couples with children, 27.0% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 25.1%, with lone person households at 24.0% and group households comprising 1.0%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

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

Burnside residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications (51.9%) compared to South Australia (25.7%) and Greater Adelaide (28.9%). Bachelor degrees are most common at 31.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational pathways account for 20.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 10.0%. Educational participation is high, with 31.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.8% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 7.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Burnside has 18 operational public transport stops, serving a mix of bus routes. These are covered by 8 distinct routes, collectively offering 496 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 203 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 88%, while buses account for 8%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 19% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 70 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 27 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Burnside's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Approximately 66% of Burnside's total population (2,102 people) has private health cover, compared to Greater Adelaide's 52.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in Burnside are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.0% and 5.8% of residents respectively. A total of 74.2% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Adelaide's 67.9%. Burnside has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 22.3% (715 people) than Greater Adelaide's 19.3%. Health outcomes among seniors in Burnside are strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

Burnside 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

Burnside's population was found to be culturally diverse, with 33.0% born overseas and 25.7% speaking a language other than English at home, as of the latest data from 2016. Christianity was the predominant religion in Burnside, making up 45.9% of its population. However, Judaism was notably overrepresented, comprising 0.4% compared to the regional average of 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (25.0%), Australian (21.1%), and Other (11.2%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Russian was overrepresented at 0.5%, Italian at 5.5%, and Chinese at 8.2%, compared to regional averages of 0.3%, 5.2%, and 3.1% respectively.

Burnside hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Burnside is 43 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Burnside has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (9.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (8.6%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 11.7% to 13.3%, while the population aged 55-64 has decreased from 11.5% to 10.7%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Burnside's age structure. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 76%, reaching 158 people from 89. The combined 65+ age groups will account for 51% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 5-14 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decrease in number.