Glenelg East

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, as of Nov 2025, Glenelg East's estimated population is around 4,188. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 3,855 people, showing a growth of 333 individuals (8.6%). The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of resident population at 4,055 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of three new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 3,102 persons per square kilometer, placing Glenelg East in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's growth rate exceeded its SA4 region's (7.3%), marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver for this population increase.

For projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with 2022 as base year. Post-2032 and for areas not covered by this data, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on these projections, Glenelg East is expected to increase by 383 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 5.7% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Glenelg East recorded around 13 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 69 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved so far in FY-26. This results in an average of 1.4 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these five years.

The market shows good balance between supply and demand, supporting stable conditions. New properties are constructed at an average value of $631,000, indicating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, $3.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Glenelg East shows approximately 56% of the construction activity per person and places among the 55th percentile of areas assessed nationally. This activity is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

New development consists of 44.0% standalone homes and 56.0% attached dwellings, focusing on higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The location has approximately 287 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. Future projections show Glenelg East adding 237 residents by 2041 based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Glenelg East has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can be significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified six projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable among these are the Tram Grade Separation at Marion Road and Cross Road in Plympton, the River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project, a 12-storey residential tower planned for Glenelg, and the Morphettville/Glengowrie Horse Related Activities Code Amendment. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Glenelg East performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Glenelg East has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 1.8% as of September 2025, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.1%. The area had 2,433 residents employed by September 2025, with a workforce participation rate of 66.4%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Notably, the area has a high concentration in professional & technical jobs, at 1.4 times the regional average.

Retail trade is under-represented, with only 7.7% of Glenelg East's workforce compared to Greater Adelaide's 10.0%. Over the past year, employment increased by 4.1%, while labour force grew by 3.7%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a 0.1 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. State-level data from 25-Nov shows South Australia's employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 10,710 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%. National forecasts project employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Glenelg East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

The median income among taxpayers in Glenelg East, according to AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023, is $60,751. The average income for the suburb during this period is $85,676. Nationally, these figures are high, with Glenelg East's median being extremely so. In comparison, Greater Adelaide has a median income of $54,808 and an average of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since the end of financial year 2023, current estimates for Glenelg East's median income would be approximately $66,097 by September 2025, with an average of around $93,215 during this period. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data from 2021, personal income in Glenelg East ranks at the 76th percentile ($976 weekly), while household income sits at the 46th percentile. In terms of income distribution, 28.4% of individuals in Glenelg East earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (1,189 individuals), which is similar to the surrounding region where this earnings band represents 31.8%. After accounting for housing costs, 85.2% of income remains for other expenses in Glenelg East. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Glenelg East, as evaluated at the Census conducted in 2016, comprised 47.7% houses and 52.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 52.9% houses and 47.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glenelg East was at 35.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.9% and rented dwellings at 32.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, aligning with Adelaide metro's average. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $325, compared to Adelaide metro's $340. Nationally, Glenelg East's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Glenelg East features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 61.5% of all households, including 24.5% couples with children, 27.5% couples without children, and 8.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 38.5%, with lone person households at 35.3% and group households making up 3.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which aligns with the Greater Adelaide average.

The educational profile of Glenelg East exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Glenelg East is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 37.0% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.1% in the SA4 region. The most common university qualification is a bachelor degree at 25.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.1% and graduate diplomas at 4.2%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 30.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications.

This includes advanced diplomas held by 11.7% and certificates by 18.6%. Additionally, 24.9% of the population is actively pursuing formal education. This comprises 8.6% in primary education, 6.0% in tertiary education, and 5.6% in secondary education.

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

Glenelg East has 17 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 23 different routes that together facilitate 2,294 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 195 meters to the nearest stop.

On average, there are 327 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 134 weekly trips per individual stop.

Glenelg East's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data shows Glenelg East residents have relatively positive health outcomes. The prevalence of common health conditions is low across both younger and older age groups.

Approximately 61% of the total population (2,546 people) has private health cover, which is higher than the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.6 and 7.6% of residents respectively. Around 69.4% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.9% across Greater Adelaide. As of 2016, 21.7% of residents are aged 65 and over (908 people), which is lower than the 28.3% in Greater Adelaide. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Glenelg East are particularly strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

In terms of cultural diversity, Glenelg East records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Glenelg East had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 21.9% of its population born overseas and 12.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Glenelg East, comprising 45.6% of its population. Notably, Judaism was slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Adelaide, making up 0.1% of Glenelg East's population.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were English (31.0%), Australian (23.8%), and Scottish (8.7%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Welsh were more prevalent at 0.8%, German was equally represented at 5.5%, and Polish was also equally represented at 0.9%.

Glenelg East hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Glenelg East is 43 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and Australia's national median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Glenelg East has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (13.9%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.1%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 75-84 increased from 5.6% to 7.4%, while the proportion of those aged 55-64 decreased from 14.9% to 13.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Glenelg East's age structure. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 34%, reaching 415 people from 309. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 68% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, both the 25-34 and 65-74 age groups are projected to decrease in number.