Hawthorn (SA)

Hawthorn 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 Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Hawthorn is around 2,247. This figure represents an increase from the 2021 Census count of 2,221 people, reflecting a rise of 26 individuals (1.2%). The change was inferred from AreaSearch's examination of ERP data released by the ABS in June 2024 and validation of two new addresses since the Census date. This population density equates to approximately 2,119 persons per square kilometer, surpassing the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver behind this growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered or years post-2032, projections by age category from the SA State Government's Regional/LGA data (released in 2023 and based on 2021 figures) are used, adjusted via weighted aggregation at SA2 levels. Based on these projections, lower quartile growth is anticipated nationally. The suburb of Hawthorn is expected to increase by approximately 68 persons by the year 2041, reflecting a total gain of around 4.8% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Hawthorn, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Hawthorn shows approximately 2 residential properties granted approval per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling around 14 homes. As of FY-26, 1 approval has been recorded. On average, each dwelling is expected to accommodate around 2.9 new residents annually between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating strong demand for housing in the area. The average construction cost value of new homes being built is approximately $736,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals have reached $1.8 million, reflecting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Hawthorn has significantly less development activity, at 64.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. Nationally, this figure is also below average, indicating the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. All new construction in Hawthorn consists of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (72.0% at Census), pointing to continued strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. The location has approximately 1513 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Hawthorn is expected to grow by 108 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Hawthorn has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region. Key projects are Belair Road Retaining Walls Maintenance, Carmelite Retirement Living, SA Health - Building a Bigger Health System in the South (Daw Park Urgent Care Hub & other upgrades), and Unley Cultural Hub. The following details 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.

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

Hawthorn has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate was 1.3% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 3.2%. As of September 2025, 1,301 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.6%, below Greater Adelaide's 3.9%.

Workforce participation was 70.6%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. According to Census responses, 16.2% worked from home. Key industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. Professional & technical employment is high at 1.8 times the regional level, while construction employs just 5.7%, below Greater Adelaide's 8.7%.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.2% while labour force grew by 3.1%, with unemployment remaining unchanged. 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. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hawthorn's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.6% over five years and 15.4% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Hawthorn has an exceptionally high income level nationally, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Hawthorn is $62,805, while the average income stands at $99,276. These figures compare to those of Greater Adelaide, which are $54,808 and $66,852 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $68,332 (median) and $108,012 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Hawthorn rank highly nationally, between the 81st and 86th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that the $4000+ bracket dominates with 29.0% of residents (651 people), differing from the metropolitan region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 31.8%. Economic strength is evident through 40.9% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 88.1% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Hawthorn is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Hawthorn's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 72.0% houses and 28.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hawthorn stood at 40.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.4% and rented ones at 23.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent in Hawthorn was $295, lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, Hawthorn's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,600 compared to Australia's average of $1,863.

Hawthorn has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.9% of all households, including 38.5% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 7.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.1%, with lone person households at 23.0% and group households comprising 2.3%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

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

Hawthorn's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 51.4% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.1% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage positions Hawthorn favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 33.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.4% and graduate diplomas at 4.8%.

Vocational pathways account for 20.0% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.0% and certificates at 11.0%. Educational participation is high, with 31.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 8.8% in tertiary education, and 7.8% pursuing secondary education.

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

Hawthorn has 19 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 30 individual routes, collectively facilitating 1,973 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, typically residing just 181 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Hawthorn's primarily residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 85%, with buses accounting for 6% and cycling at 3%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 16.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 281 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 103 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hawthorn's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Hawthorn's health outcomes, as assessed by AreaSearch, show low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low. Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 66% of Hawthorn's total population (1,485 people), compared to Greater Adelaide's 52.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.5% and 7.2% of residents respectively. 70.1% of residents reported no medical ailments, higher than Greater Adelaide's 67.9%. Under-65s had better health outcomes than average. Hawthorn has 23.1% of residents aged 65 and over (519 people), higher than Greater Adelaide's 19.3%. Seniors' health outcomes align with national rankings, similar to the general population.

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

Hawthorn's population shows above-average cultural diversity, with 21.1% born overseas and 15.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Hawthorn, accounting for 44.9%. Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Adelaide, making up 0.3% of Hawthorn's population versus 0.1% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups are English (30.1%), Australian (23.4%), and Other (8.5%). Notably, Welsh (0.9%) is more prevalent in Hawthorn than the regional average (0.6%), as are Hungarian (0.4%) and German (5.8%).

Hawthorn hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Hawthorn is 43 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Hawthorn has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (13.5%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.2%). According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 6.0% to 8.0%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 13.1% to 15.0%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort declined from 11.5% to 10.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Hawthorn's age structure. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 27%, reaching 229 people from 179. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 65% of total population growth, reflecting Hawthorn's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 65 to 74 and 35 to 44 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.