Highbury (SA)

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

As of Nov 2025, the estimated population for the Highbury (SA) statistical area (Lv2) is around 7,628, reflecting a 9.7% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,956 people. This increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 7,228 residents as of Jun 2024, along with validation of 20 new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio stands at 1,757 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Highbury (SA) (SA2)'s growth rate of 9.7% since the 2021 census surpassed both the state's 8.7% and metropolitan area's growth, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 48.0% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration being positive factors. AreaSearch projects above median population growth for statistical areas, forecasting an increase of 1,054 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 9.3% over the 17 years based on aggregated SA2-level projections.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. As we examine future population trends, an above median population growth of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is projected, with the area expected to grow by 1,054 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting recording a gain of 9.3% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Highbury shows approximately 25 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 128 homes. As of FY-26, 31 approvals have been recorded. On average, each home built between FY-21 and FY-25 accommodates about 3.4 new residents per year. This suggests demand exceeds supply, potentially leading to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

The average construction cost value for new homes is around $412,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY-26, commercial approvals amounting to $380,000 have been registered, reflecting Highbury's residential nature.

Building activity comprises 94.0% detached dwellings and 6.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's suburban character focused on family homes. With approximately 219 people per dwelling approval, Highbury exhibits a developing market. Future projections estimate an increase of around 709 residents by 2041, aligning with current development trends that support steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Highbury has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

Ten projects identified by AreaSearch may impact the area significantly. These include Modbury Hospital Redevelopment, Tea Tree Gully Township North East Road Streetscape Upgrade, Highbury Aqueduct Reserve Master Plan Implementation, and Modbury Sporting Club Redevelopment. 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.

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.

The exceptional employment performance in Highbury places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Highbury has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 1.4%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.4% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, there are 4,057 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 2.5% lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is at 66.1%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. The leading employment industries among Highbury residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Notably, there is a strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 16.1% of Highbury's workforce compared to 17.7% in Greater Adelaide. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 1.4%, while labour force grew by 1.3%, resulting in a decrease in unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 2.9%. State-level data to 25-Nov shows SA employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 10,710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.0%, outperforming the national average of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Highbury. These projections estimate national employment growth to be 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Highbury's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 30, 2023 shows that median income in Highbury is $53,602 and average income is $65,110. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852 for the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% from July 1, 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $58,319 (median) and $70,840 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Highbury cluster around the 63rd percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprises 34.6% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 2,639 residents falling into this bracket. After housing costs, residents retain 88.9% of their income. Highbury's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Highbury is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with strong rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Highbury, as per the latest Census, consisted of 97.4% houses and 2.6% other dwellings. Home ownership stood at 42.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.4% and rented ones at 12.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $369. Nationally, Highbury's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Highbury features high concentrations of family households, with a median household size of 2.7 people

Family households account for 81.7% of all households, consisting of 38.8% couples with children, 32.5% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 18.3%, with lone person households at 16.7% and group households comprising 1.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.7 people.

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

Highbury residents aged 15 and above have a university qualification rate of 30.1%, slightly higher than the South Australian average of 25.7%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 33.5% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificates (22.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 6.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 28 active public transport stops in Highbury. These are served by buses along seven different routes, offering a total of 480 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 289 meters.

Service frequency averages 68 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 17 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Highbury has above-average health outcomes for both young and old age groups, with low prevalence of common health conditions.

It has a private health cover rate of approximately 53%, which is higher than the average SA2 area, covering around 4,023 people. The most prevalent medical conditions in Highbury are arthritis (7.8% of residents) and asthma (7.3%). Around 70.4% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 0% across Greater Adelaide. Approximately 20.1% of residents are aged 65 and over, totaling around 1,533 people. Health outcomes among seniors in Highbury are notably strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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

Highbury's cultural diversity was above average, with 23.4% of its population born overseas and 16.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the main religion in Highbury, making up 53.2% of its population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprised 1.9% of Highbury's population, compared to None% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups were English (27.1%), Australian (23.3%), and Italian (10.9%). Some ethnic groups showed notable divergences: Polish was overrepresented at 1.6% in Highbury (vs None% regionally), Russian at 0.6% (vs None%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (vs None%).

Highbury's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Highbury is 40 years, comparable to Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years but slightly older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The percentage of residents aged 15-24 in Highbury is 14.4%, higher than that of Greater Adelaide, while the 25-34 age group represents 11.0% of the population, lower than Greater Adelaide's figure. According to data from the 2021 Census, the percentage of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 12.8% to 14.4%, while those aged 75-84 have risen from 6.4% to 8.0%. Conversely, the 65-74 age group has decreased from 11.8% to 10.0%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 14.1% to 13.0%. Population forecasts for Highbury indicate significant demographic changes by 2041, with the 85+ age group projected to grow by 162% (an increase of 259 people), reaching a total of 420 from an initial figure of 160. Conversely, the 65-74 age group is expected to decline by 26 people.