Firle

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

As of Feb 2026, the population of the suburb of Firle is estimated at around 1,588. This reflects an increase of 80 people from the 2021 Census figure of 1,508. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 1,533 in Jun 2024 and 20 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,561 persons per square kilometer, placing Firle in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

AreaSearch projections for Firle are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and for areas not covered or years post-2032, State Government projections by age category from 2023 using weighted aggregation methods. Future population growth projects an above median increase to 2041, with Firle expected to grow by 343 persons, reflecting a total increase of 22.5% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Firle averaged around 7 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 39 homes were approved, with another 3 so far in FY-26. This reflects robust demand, with approximately 2.9 people moving to the area per new home constructed over these years.

New homes are being built at an average construction cost of $505,000, indicating a focus on premium market segments. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaled $606,000, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Firle has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 77th percentile nationally.

However, building activity has accelerated in recent years, with an expanding range of medium-density options creating diverse housing opportunities. Currently, there are approximately 151 people per approval in Firle, reflecting a low density area. By 2041, population forecasts indicate Firle will gain around 358 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Firle has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are expected to impact this area. Notable projects include Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade, Magill Campus Renewal Project, Felixstow Intergenerational Community initiative, and Adelaide Level Crossings Congestion and Safety project, with the following list providing more details on those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Firle has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Firle has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.9% as of September 2025. This rate is 0.9% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%.

The area experienced employment growth of 3.1% over the past year, based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 863 residents in work and workforce participation is at 70.9%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 66.4%. According to Census responses, a low 11.8% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.

Education & training has particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average. However, manufacturing has limited presence with 4.5% employment compared to 7.0% regionally. The ratio of 0.8 workers per resident indicates substantial local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 3.1%, while labour force increased by 3.0%, resulting in unemployment falling by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Firle's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The suburb of Firle has a higher income level than the national average, based on the latest data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Firle is $51,256, and the average income stands at $70,707. These figures compare to those for Greater Adelaide, which are $54,808 (median) and $66,852 (average). Taking into account an 8.8% growth in wages since financial year 2023, as indicated by the Wage Price Index, current estimates suggest that the median income would be approximately $55,767 and the average income would be around $76,929 by September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Firle rank modestly, with household, family, and personal incomes all falling between the 35th and 35th percentiles. The data shows that the predominant income cohort spans 30.9% of locals (490 people), earning within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. This pattern is similar to that seen in the surrounding region, where 31.8% of residents fall into this income category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Firle, with only 81.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 32nd percentile. The suburb'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 contrast, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Firle was 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 the Adelaide metro average of $1,562 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Firle was $350, lower than both Adelaide metro's $320 and the national average of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 make up the remaining 34.7%, with lone person households at 30.3% and group households comprising 4.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is 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, residents aged 15 and above exhibit a notable educational advantage with 40.7% holding university qualifications, outpacing South Australia's (SA) state average of 25.7% and Greater Adelaide's 28.9%. The area's strong educational attainment is led by bachelor degrees at 25.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.4% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 25.1% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (15.5%). Educational participation is high in Firle, with 27.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.7% in primary education, 7.9% in tertiary education, and 5.4% pursuing 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 offering mixed bus services. These stops are served by 16 routes, facilitating 867 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically living 131 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, primarily using cars (82%), while 10% use buses. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, lower than the regional average. In 2021 Census data, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions, only 11.8% of residents worked from home.

Service frequency across all routes averages 123 trips per day, equating to around 66 weekly trips per 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 demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population, which is around 872 people. This compares to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 7.1 and 7.1% of residents respectively. 72.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents show notably healthy outcomes with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 17.2% of residents aged 65 and over, which is around 273 people, lower than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 40.9% of its population born overseas and 42.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Firle, comprising 49.8% of the population. Notably, the category 'Other' comprises 2.3% of Firle's population, compared to 1.8% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (18.3%), Italian (15.6%), and Australian (15.4%). These figures differ from regional averages: English is lower (27.8%), Italian is higher (5.2%), and Australian is lower (22.8%) than regional averages. Other ethnic groups with notable representation in Firle include Hungarian (0.6% vs 0.3%), Greek (4.4% vs 2.0%), and Chinese (11.1% vs 3.1%).

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

Firle has a median age of 38, closely matching 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 (16.8% locally) and an under-representation of those aged 65-74 (7.9%). Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 15.0% to 16.8%, while the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 11.9% to 10.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Firle's age profile, with the 35-44 age group expected to expand by 56 people (21%), growing from 266 to 323 individuals.