Nairne

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Nairne is around 5,898. This figure represents a growth of 571 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,327. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 5,813 in June 2025, following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 101 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 222 persons per square kilometer. Nairne's population growth rate of 10.7% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state average of 7.5% and Greater Adelaide's growth. Natural growth contributed approximately 45.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase its population by 980 persons to reach 6,878 by 2041, reflecting a gain of 15.2% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Nairne among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Nairne had around 30 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 154 homes were approved, with another 37 in FY-26 so far. Each new dwelling brought an average of 3.1 people to the area over these years.

This supply lagging demand suggests heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. Developers target the premium market segment, with new properties costing around $382,000 on average. There were $4.5 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating Nairne's residential character.

Compared to Greater Adelaide, Nairne has about half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person but ranks among the 79th percentile nationally. Building activity consists solely of standalone homes, maintaining low-density character and appealing to families seeking space. There are approximately 140 people per dwelling approval in Nairne. AreaSearch projects Nairne's population to grow by 895 residents by 2041, with building activity keeping pace but potential buyer competition increasing as the population grows.

Nairne has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 13thth percentile nationally

Five projects, as identified by AreaSearch, may significantly impact the local area. These key projects are: Larkview Mount Barker, Springlake Communities, Amblemead Estate, and Onkaparinga Valley Road Intersection Upgrade. Details regarding these projects can be found in the subsequent list.

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 labour market in Nairne shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Nairne has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.8% in December 2025, matching Greater Adelaide's rate. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.1%.

There were 3,378 residents employed in December 2025, with a workforce participation rate of 76.4%, higher than Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. Only 12.9% of residents worked from home according to Census responses. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Health care & social assistance employed 15.2% of local workers, lower than Greater Adelaide's 17.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the working population vs resident population ratio. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 5.1%, while labour force grew by 5.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 4.2%, labour force grow by 3.9%, and unemployment fall by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Nairne's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Nairne's median income among taxpayers is $52,407. The average income in the suburb is $60,528. This is lower than national averages. In Greater Adelaide, the median income is $54,808 with an average of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Nairne would be approximately $57,737 (median) and $66,684 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Nairne cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. Income analysis shows that 40.6% of residents (2,394 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region where 31.8% are in the same category. After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Nairne is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Nairne's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 98.5% houses and 1.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Nairne stood at 25.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 54.1% and rented ones at 20.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, lower than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent in Nairne was $350, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Nairne's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Nairne features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 77.4% of all households, including 36.3% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.6%, with lone person households at 20.7% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Nairne performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 23.6%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 42.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 17.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (29.0%). Educational participation is high, with 29.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 12.4% in primary, 6.9% in secondary, and 4.3% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.4% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 4.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Nairne has 18 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These are served by six different routes that collectively facilitate 230 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average being located 303 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuting in Nairne is outward-bound and cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 92%. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling, which exceeds the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 12.9% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 32 trips per day, equating to roughly 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Nairne are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Nairne's health indicators show below-average outcomes, according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Common health conditions were found to be slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover was relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~3,004 people). Mental health issues impacted 10.2% of residents, while asthma affected 9.2%. A total of 68.8% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents showed above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area had 15.2% of residents aged 65 and over (896 people), which was lower than the 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors were above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Nairne is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Nairne, as per the census conducted on 9 August 2016, showed a cultural diversity below average. The population born in Australia was 87.0%, with 92.5% being citizens and 96.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 34.7%.

Judaism, however, was overrepresented, making up 0.1% of Nairne's population compared to the same percentage across Greater Adelaide. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.6%), Australian (31.7%), and German (7.7%). Notably, Dutch (2.6%) and Hungarian (0.4%) were overrepresented in Nairne compared to regional averages of 1.2% and 0.3%, respectively. Welsh was also present at 0.6%.

Nairne's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Nairne is 36, which is slightly below Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Nairne has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (14.5%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (4.9%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 increased from 3.2% to 4.9%, while the percentage of those aged 45-54 decreased from 14.0% to 11.7%. By 2041, Nairne's age composition is projected to change significantly. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow by 35%, adding 188 people and reaching a total of 731. The 0-4 age group is projected to grow by 6%, with an increase of 23 residents.