Cowandilla

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

The population of Cowandilla, as estimated by AreaSearch based on ABS updates and new addresses validated since the 2021 Census, was around 1,521 in November 2025. This reflects an increase from the previous population count of 1,455 people recorded in the 2021 Census, marking a growth of 66 individuals or approximately 4.5%. The current resident population estimate is 1,508, as calculated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional validated new address since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,869 persons per square kilometer for Cowandilla, placing it among the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 4.5% since the census is within 2.6 percentage points of the state's growth rate of 7.1%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. The primary driver of population growth in Cowandilla was overseas migration, contributing approximately 89.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, to forecast demographic shifts. 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, with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering these projected demographic shifts, Cowandilla is expected to experience above median population growth among statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch. By 2041, the suburb's population is projected to expand by 319 persons, reflecting an increase of approximately 23.0% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Cowandilla according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Cowandilla has had minimal dwelling approvals in recent years. Over the past five financial years, ending June 2021, there were approximately four homes approved for construction. Up until now in fiscal year 2026, no new dwelling approvals have been recorded.

This lack of supply is significant considering that on average, nineteen people moved to Cowandilla each year for every dwelling built between financial years 2021 and 2025. The average expected construction cost value of these dwellings was $412,000. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Cowandilla has significantly less development activity. It is 92% below the regional average per person in terms of building approvals. This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties in the area. However, it should be noted that building activity has been accelerating in recent years. When considering national averages, Cowandilla's level of development activity is also lower, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations may be in place.

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

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 0 projects impacting the area. Notable projects are Thebarton Technology Hub, North South Corridor, Henley Beach Road Visioning Project, and New Women's and Children's Hospital. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

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The employment landscape in Cowandilla shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Cowandilla has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.9% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.1%. This is based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of June 2025793 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.1% below Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Cowandilla was 54.7%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%.

Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Health care & social assistance has a particularly strong presence with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level. Construction, however, has limited presence at 6.6% compared to the regional level of 8.7%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 3.1% while labour force increased by 3.0%, resulting in a fall in unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Cowandilla. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Cowandilla's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, although this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

Cowandilla's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $39,955. The average income stood at $47,661 during the same period. In Greater Adelaide, these figures were $52,592 and $64,886 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest Cowandilla's median income will be approximately $45,081 and average income around $53,776, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Cowandilla fall between the 10th and 20th percentiles nationally. Income distribution data shows that 28.0% of Cowandilla's population (425 individuals) have incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999. This aligns with the national figure for this income range, which is 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures in Cowandilla are severe, with only 81.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 18th percentile nationally.

Cowandilla is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Cowandilla's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 76.3% houses and 23.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 63.9% houses and 36.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cowandilla was at 26.9%, with the rest either mortgaged (29.7%) or rented (43.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,745. Median weekly rent was $300, compared to Adelaide metro's $310. Nationally, Cowandilla's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Cowandilla features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 58.3% of all households, including 24.5% couples with children, 20.8% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 41.7%, with lone person households at 32.8% and group households comprising 9.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the Greater Adelaide average.

Cowandilla performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 33.5% among residents aged 15+, surpassing South Australia's average of 25.7% and Greater Adelaide's rate of 28.9%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 23.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 25.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas comprise 9.0% while certificates account for 16.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.1% in tertiary education, 6.6% in primary education, and 3.6% pursuing secondary education. Cowandilla Primary School serves the local community with an enrollment of 376 students as of a recent report. The area exhibits above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1063). It functions as an educational hub with 24.7 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 13.8, attracting students from nearby communities. There is one primary school in the area, with secondary options available in surrounding regions.

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

Cowandilla has eight operational public transport stops, all of which offer bus services. These stops are served by fifteen distinct routes that collectively facilitate 1045 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents typically residing just 145 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, service frequency across all routes stands at 149 trips per day, translating to approximately 130 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Cowandilla is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Cowandilla faces significant health challenges, as indicated by data from various sources. The rate of private health cover in Cowandilla is notably low at approximately 46%, covering around 698 people. This figure is lower than both Greater Adelaide's average of 51.8% and the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in Cowandilla are arthritis, affecting 9.6% of residents, and mental health issues, impacting 8.2%. Conversely, 64.3% of residents report being free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Adelaide's figure of 70.9%. In terms of age distribution, Cowandilla has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 25.6% or 389 people, than Greater Adelaide's average of 17.6%. The health outcomes among seniors in Cowandilla largely align with the general population's health profile.

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

Cowandilla's cultural diversity is notable, with 37.4% of its population born overseas and 36.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Cowandilla, with 47.7% adherents. The 'Other' religious category shows slight overrepresentation at 3.4%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 3.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (19.0%), Australian (18.9%), and Other (13.8%). Some ethnic groups show notable variations: Greek is overrepresented at 9.3% (regional average 6.1%), Italian at 5.3% (regional average 6.7%), and Dutch at 1.7% (regional average 1.0%).

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

The median age in Cowandilla is 40 years, similar to Greater Adelaide's average of 39. It is somewhat older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The percentage of people aged 85 and above in Cowandilla is 8.3%, higher than Greater Adelaide's rate and significantly above the national average of 2.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the population aged 65 to 74 has increased from 8.5% to 9.8%, while the 25 to 34 age group has risen from 16.2% to 17.3%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 11.4% to 9.8%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 7.2% to 6.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Cowandilla, with the 75 to 84 age group expected to grow by 62%, reaching 185 people from an initial 114. Notably, combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 51% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile.