Firle

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Firle is around 1,644. This figure reflects a growth of 136 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 1,508. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,632 in June 2025, based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 26 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,651 persons per square kilometer, placing Firle in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth of 9.0% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state average of 7.5% and the Greater Adelaide region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this growth during recent periods.

Population projections for Firle are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and for areas not covered by this data or years post-2032, they use SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. By 2041, Firle is projected to expand by 311 persons, reflecting an increase of 18.2% over the 16-year period.

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

Firle has seen approximately seven dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 38 homes were approved, with an additional five approved in FY26 so far. On average, 0.8 people have moved to Firle for each dwelling built over these five years, indicating that supply has been meeting or exceeding demand.

The average construction cost of new properties is $505,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment. This year, commercial approvals totaled $606,000, reflecting minimal commercial development activity in Firle compared to Greater Adelaide. Despite having about three-quarters the building activity per person as Adelaide, Firle ranks at the 77th percentile nationally for development activity.

Recent periods have seen an increase in development activity. New developments consist of 62% detached houses and 38% townhouses or apartments, offering a range of housing types from spacious family homes to more affordable compact options. With around 153 people per dwelling approval, Firle exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Firle is projected to grow by 299 residents by 2041. If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Firle has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

No infrastructure changes identified by AreaSearch will affect the area's performance. No major projects or planning initiatives are currently planned. Key projects previously considered include Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade, Magill Campus Renewal Project, Felixstow Intergenerational Community project, and O-Bahn City Access Project.

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The labour market in Firle demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Firle has a highly educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.8% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 5.2%. As of December 2025885 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.0% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Firle is similar to Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. According to Census responses, only 11.8% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Notably, education & training has a higher representation in Firle at 1.4 times the regional level compared to manufacturing which is lower at 4.5%.

There are approximately 0.8 workers for each resident, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over the past year, employment increased by 5.2% alongside labour force growth of 5.2%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. In contrast, Greater Adelaide experienced employment growth of 4.2% and labour force growth of 3.9%, with a slight drop in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Firle's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The median taxpayer income in Firle is $51,256, with an average of $70,707, based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is higher than the national average, which stands at a median income of $54,808 and an average income of $66,852 in Greater Adelaide. By March 2026, these figures are estimated to reach approximately $56,469 (median) and $77,898 (average), accounting for a 10.17% growth rate since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Firle rank modestly, between the 35th and 35th percentiles. The largest income segment comprises 30.9% of residents earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (507 individuals), which aligns with the regional trend where this cohort also represents 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Firle, with only 81.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 32nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Firle's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 65.2% houses and 34.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Firle was at 31.9%, similar to Adelaide metro's level. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (30.7%) or rented (37.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Firle was $2,000, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Firle was recorded at $350, lower than Adelaide metro's $320 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.3% of all households, including 27.6% couples with children, 24.7% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.7%, with lone person households at 30.3% and group households making up 4.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Firle shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

In Firle, 40.7% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, exceeding the South Australian average of 25.7% and Greater Adelaide's 28.9%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 25.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (15.5%). Educational participation is high, with 27.1% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.7% in primary, 7.9% in tertiary, and 5.4% in secondary education.

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

Firle has 13 active public transport stops, all offering bus services. These stops are served by 16 different routes, together facilitating 867 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents on average situated 131 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, Firle sees most commuters traveling outward. Cars dominate as the primary mode of transport at 82%, while bus usage stands at 10%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional norm.

Only 11.8% of residents work from home (2021 Census). Service frequency averages 123 trips daily across all routes, equating to around 66 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Firle shows better-than-average health outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age groups have low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is high in Firle, at approximately 55% of the total population (around 903 people), compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.1% and 7.1% of residents respectively. 72.9% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 17.2% of residents aged 65 and over (282 people), lower than the 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking higher nationally than those of the general population.

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

Firle's cultural diversity is notable, with 40.9% of its residents born overseas and 42.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Firle, comprising 49.8% of the population. However, the category 'Other' appears overrepresented in Firle, making up 2.3% compared to Greater Adelaide's 1.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (18.3%, notably lower than the regional average of 27.8%), Italian (15.6%, substantially higher than the regional average of 5.2%), and Australian (15.4%, notably lower than the regional average of 22.8%). There are also notable differences in the representation of Hungarian (0.6% vs 0.3%), Greek (4.4% vs 2.0%), and Chinese (11.1% vs 3.1%) populations.

Firle's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Firle has a median age of 38, closely aligning with Greater Adelaide's figure of 39 and Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Greater Adelaide average, Firle has an over-representation of the 35-44 age cohort at 16.8%, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 7.9%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 15.0% to 16.8% of Firle's population. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 11.9% to 10.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Firle's age profile. The 35-44 age group is projected to expand by 51 people (19%) from 276 to 328.