Hove

Population growth drivers in Hove are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Nov 2025, the estimated population of the suburb of Hove is around 3,208 people. This figure reflects an increase of 19 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,189 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,190 following examination of the latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2024 and an additional 13 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 2,718 persons per square kilometer, placing Hove in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Hove has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.1%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch. The suburb is expected to increase by 527 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 19.9% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Hove has recorded approximately 18 residential properties granted approval each year. Around 93 homes were approved in the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with an additional four approved so far in FY-26. On average, about 1.9 new residents per year have arrived for every new home over these five years, suggesting a balance between supply and demand.

The average construction value of new homes is $713,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. This financial year has seen $17.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Hove maintains similar construction rates per person, contributing to market stability aligned with regional trends.

New developments consist of 75% standalone homes and 25% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's suburban character and appealing to families seeking space. The population density is approximately 287 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Hove is projected to grow by 640 residents by 2041, with development keeping pace with this growth. However, increased competition among buyers may arise as the population expands.

Hove has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region: Tram Grade Separation at Morphett Road, Morphettville (scheduled for completion in 2025). Other notable projects include the River Torrens to Darlington Project (commencing 2021), Adelaide Public Transport Capacity and Access initiative (planned for 2023), and improvements to Adelaide's Inner And Outer Ring Route capacity (ongoing since 2019).

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The labour market strength in Hove positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Hove has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.4% and it experienced an estimated employment growth of 2.7% over the past year, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, there are 1,583 residents employed with an unemployment rate of 2.6%, which is below Greater Adelaide's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Hove lags at 53.5% compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Notably, employment levels in professional & technical services are at 1.4 times the regional average, while manufacturing shows lower representation at 4.9%, compared to the regional average of 7.0%.

Many Hove residents commute elsewhere for work, as indicated by the count of Census working population to local population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.7% and labour force increased by 2.9%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points in Hove. In comparison, Greater Adelaide saw employment grow by 2.1%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer insights into potential future demand within Hove. These projections suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Hove's employment mix indicates that local employment could increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Hove's median income among taxpayers was $51,207, with an average of $68,110. This is above the national average and compares to Greater Adelaide's median of $52,592 and average of $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates as of September 2025 would be approximately $57,777 (median) and $76,849 (average). Census data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Hove, between the 34th and 44th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 26.1% of residents (837 people), aligning with the region where this cohort likewise represents 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 35th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Hove displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Hove, as per the latest Census, consisted of 60.1% houses and 40.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Adelaide metro had 52.9% houses and 47.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hove stood at 42.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.4% and rented ones at 24.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,991, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent figure in Hove was recorded at $328, lower than Adelaide metro's $340. Nationally, Hove's mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 60.8% of all households, including 25.2% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 39.2%, with lone person households at 36.5% and group households comprising 2.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, aligning with the Greater Adelaide average.

Hove shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 34.1% of residents aged 15+, exceeding the South Australian (SA) average of 25.7% and the SA4 region's rate of 28.1%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.7% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 31.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 13.1% and certificates at 18.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 25.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.8% in primary, 6.7% in secondary, and 5.8% pursuing tertiary education. McAuley Community School provides local educational services within Hove, enrolling 417 students as of a certain date. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement (ICSEA: 1103). There is one school focusing exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School places per 100 residents are at 13.0, falling below the regional average of 20.1, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

The analysis of public transport in Hove indicates that there are currently 16 active transport stops in operation. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services, with a total of 14 individual routes serving the area. The collective passenger trips made weekly through these routes amount to 972.

Residents' accessibility to transport is rated as good, with an average distance of 231 meters to the nearest stop. Across all routes, service frequency averages at 138 trips per day, which equates to approximately 60 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Hove faces significant health challenges, as indicated by its health data. Both younger and older age groups have high prevalence rates for common health conditions.

Private health cover is relatively widespread, with approximately 54% of Hove's total population (~1,729 people) having it, compared to 58.8% across Greater Adelaide. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 12.8 and 7.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 60.9% of Hove's residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 65.9% across Greater Adelaide. The proportion of seniors aged 65 and over in Hove is higher than the state average, at 34.7% (1,113 people) versus 28.3%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly reflecting those of the general population.

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

Hove's cultural diversity aligns with the broader area, with 77.3% born in Australia, 92.2% being citizens, and 91.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity is dominant at 47.8%. Other religions are slightly overrepresented at 1.0%, compared to 0.8% regionally.

Top ancestral groups are English (34.3%), Australian (26.8%), and Irish (8.4%). German, Polish, and Serbian ancestry are notably higher in Hove than the regional average: German at 4.8% vs 5.5%, Polish at 0.8% vs 0.9%, and Serbian at 0.3% vs 0.2%.

Hove ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Hove's median age at 51 years is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and exceeds the national average of 38 by a substantial margin. The age profile reveals that those aged 75-84 are particularly prominent, making up 12.4% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 6.0%. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age group comprises only 7.0%, smaller than in Greater Adelaide. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 10.6% to 12.4%, while the 15-24 cohort has risen from 10.5% to 12.1%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has declined from 12.2% to 11.0%. By 2041, Hove is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 99%, adding 267 people and reaching a total of 537. This growth is part of a broader aging population trend, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 69% of the projected growth. In contrast, the 0-4 age group shows minimal growth, increasing by just 6 people to a total of 102.