Glenelg South

Glenelg South is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Glenelg South is around 2,542. This reflects an increase of 358 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,184. The current resident population estimate of 2,498 by AreaSearch is based on examination of the latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 3,794 persons per square kilometer, placing Glenelg South in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth of 16.4% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (5.4%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this population increase.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. According to these projections, Glenelg South is expected to experience above median population growth, with an increase of 433 persons to reach a total of 2,975 by 2041, reflecting an 8.3% gain over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Glenelg South averaged around 15 new dwelling approvals each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 77 homes. As of FY-26, 6 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years (FY-21 to FY-25), approximately 1.1 people moved to the area for each dwelling built, suggesting balanced supply and demand, stable market conditions, and new homes being constructed at an average value of $631,000, targeting the premium market with high-end developments.

Glenelg South maintains similar construction rates per person compared to Greater Adelaide, supporting regional market stability patterns. Recent construction comprises 42.0% standalone homes and 58.0% attached dwellings, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. The location has approximately 128 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Population forecasts estimate Glenelg South will gain 210 residents by 2041, with current development patterns suggesting new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Population forecasts indicate Glenelg South will gain 210 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Glenelg South has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

No changes can significantly impact an area's performance like modifications to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are expected to affect this area. Notable projects include Tram Grade Separation at Marion Road and Cross Road in Plympton, River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project, 12-Storey Residential Tower In Glenelg, and Solana Glenelg. The following list outlines those most likely to be relevant.

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

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The labour market in Glenelg South shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Glenelg South has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors being well represented. The unemployment rate in the area is 2.5%.

Over the past year, ending June 2025, there was an estimated employment growth of 3.2% based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of June 2025, 1,250 residents are employed while the unemployment rate in Glenelg South is 1.5% lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Glenelg South is somewhat below standard at 57.7%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Notably, employment levels in rental, hiring & real estate are at 2.4 times the regional average. Conversely, manufacturing is under-represented with only 4.6% of Glenelg South's workforce compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.0%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.2% and labour force increased by 2.9%, resulting in a decrease in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded an employment growth of 2.1%, with labour force growth also at 2.1%, but unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer insight into potential future demand within Glenelg South. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Glenelg South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Glenelg South's median income among taxpayers was $55,336 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $78,039 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Adelaide's median and average incomes of $52,592 and $64,886 respectively. By September 2025, current estimates suggest Glenelg South's median income would be approximately $62,436, with an average income of around $88,051, based on a 12.83% growth in wages since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 65th percentile ($889 weekly), while household income sits at the 39th percentile. In Glenelg South, 29.7% of residents (754 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which is similar to the metropolitan region's 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Glenelg South, with only 84.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 40th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Glenelg South's dwelling structure in 2016 comprised 38.5% houses and 61.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Adelaide metro had 52.9% houses and 47.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glenelg South was 37.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.3% and rented ones at 38.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, while the median weekly rent was $340. Nationally, mortgage repayments averaged $1,863 and rents were $375.

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

Family households account for 56.3% of all households, including 18.5% couples with children, 30.2% couples without children, and 6.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 43.7%, with lone person households at 39.9% and group households comprising 3.8%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.2.

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

Educational attainment in Glenelg South is notably higher than broader averages. 38% of residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in SA and 28.1% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 26%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 29.4% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 13% and certificates at 16.4%.

A significant 22.9% of the population is currently engaged in formal education, including 6.9% in tertiary education, 6.3% in primary education, and 5.8% pursuing secondary education. Educational facilities may be located outside Glenelg South's immediate boundaries, necessitating residents to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

Glenelg South has nine operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by twelve different routes, together facilitating 853 weekly passenger journeys. The area's transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents situated an average of 178 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 121 trips per day across all routes, translating to about 94 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Glenelg South is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Glenelg South, with high prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is notably high at approximately 58%, covering 1,469 people. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 10.6% of residents) and mental health issues (7.7%). 62.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 65.9% in Greater Adelaide. Glenelg South has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 33.4% (849 people), compared to Greater Adelaide's 28.3%. Senior health outcomes present challenges broadly aligned with the general population's health profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Glenelg South was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Glenelg South had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 10.6% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 24.4% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Glenelg South, accounting for 48.3% of the population. Notably, the category 'Other' comprised 1.1%, slightly higher than the Greater Adelaide average of 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.8%), Australian (23.0%), and Irish (9.4%). Some ethnic groups had notable differences in representation: Welsh at 0.9% compared to 0.7% regionally, Russian at 0.7% versus 0.3%, and German at 6.2% compared to 5.5%.

Glenelg South ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Glenelg South's median age is 52 years, which is significantly older than Greater Adelaide's 39 years and the Australian median of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 are particularly prominent, making up 12.1% of the population, compared to 6.0% nationally. This group has grown from 10.0% to 12.1% since the 2021 Census. Conversely, the 5-14 age group is smaller at 6.6%, and the 55-64 cohort has declined from 15.2% to 13.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Glenelg South's age profile will evolve significantly. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand by 96%, from 167 to 329 people. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 93% of population growth. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are expected to decrease in number.