Para Hills

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Para Hills' population is estimated at around 7,133 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 340 people (5.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,793 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 6,970, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 53 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,222 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Para Hills' 5.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's (4.0%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains 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 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. Moving forward with demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of Australian statistical areas is expected, with the suburb expected to increase by 352 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 2.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Para Hills when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Para Hills has experienced around 40 dwellings receiving development approval per year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 204 homes between FY-17 and FY-21. So far in FY-26, 26 approvals have been recorded. The average number of people moving to the area for each dwelling built is approximately 0.9 per year over these past five financial years.

This indicates that supply is meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice while supporting potential population growth above projections. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $329,000. There have also been $3.3 million in commercial approvals this financial year, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to residential development. Para Hills records 63.0% more new home approvals per person than Greater Adelaide, offering buyers greater choice.

Recent construction comprises 91.0% standalone homes and 9.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. Para Hills reflects a low density area, with around 131 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate Para Hills will gain 172 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Para Hills has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects that could impact the region. Notable ones are Springbank Waters Residential Estate, Keswick Gardens Retirement Village Expansion, The Heights Estate Para Hills, and Para Hills West Urban Renewal Precinct. Relevant projects are listed below.

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 employment landscape in Para Hills shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Para Hills has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.2% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.8%.

The area had 3,508 residents in work while its unemployment rate was 0.2% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was similar to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. Only 6.9% of residents worked from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Dominant employment sectors included health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Construction had notably high concentration with levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services showed lower representation at 4.1%. The area offered limited local employment opportunities. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 1.8% while labour force grew by 1.3%, reducing unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide had 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 May-25 suggest Para Hills' employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that in Para Hills, median income is $48,438 and average income is $54,925. This is below Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852. By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $52,701 and average income $59,758, based on an 8.8% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Para Hills rank modestly, between the 25th and 30th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The earnings profile indicates that 36.9% of the population (2,632 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the region where 31.8% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains for other expenses.

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

Dwelling structure in Para Hills, as per the latest Census, was 97.5% houses and 2.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Para Hills was 32.3%, similar to Adelaide metro's figure. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (45.8%) or rented (21.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Para Hills was $1,300, lower than the Adelaide metro average of $1,562 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Para Hills was $325, higher than the Adelaide metro figure of $320 but still below the national average of $375.

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

Family households account for 73.3 percent of all households, including 29.7 percent couples with children, 25.3 percent couples without children, and 16.2 percent single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.7 percent, with lone person households at 23.0 percent and group households comprising 3.6 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Para Hills fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 16.9%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 38.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (28.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.0% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 4.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Para Hills has 58 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 25 different routes that collectively facilitate 1,853 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average located 155 meters from the nearest transport stop. Most residents commute outward due to Para Hills being primarily residential. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 89%, while bus use accounts for 8%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in the area.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 6.9% of residents work from home, which may be reflective of COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 264 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 31 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Para Hills 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 Para Hills. AreaSearch's assessment shows notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 49% of the total population (~3,477 people), compared to 52.7% in Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 8.8% of residents) and mental health issues (8.5%). Conversely, 67.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents show a higher-than-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 15.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,127 people), lower than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Para Hills was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Para Hills, surveyed between July 2016 and June 2021, had a higher proportion of overseas-born residents at 32.9% compared to most local markets. During this period, 27.8% spoke a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion (38.1%), but Islam was notably overrepresented at 9.6%, surpassing Greater Adelaide's average of 3.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (27.3%), Australian (22.0%), and Other (15.3%), which exceeded the regional average of 9.7%. Specifically, Hungarian (0.5% vs 0.3%), Serbian (0.5% vs 0.4%), and Lebanese (1.0% vs 0.3%) groups were notably more prevalent in Para Hills than regionally.

Para Hills's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Para Hills is 36 years, which is slightly below Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and also slightly below Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Para Hills has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (15.9%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (7.6%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 35-44 has increased from 14.0% to 15.2%, while the population aged 45-54 has decreased from 11.8% to 10.9%. By 2041, Para Hills is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The number of residents aged 85 and above is expected to grow by 82%, reaching 273 from 149. This growth is part of a broader aging population trend, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 70% of the projected population increase. Conversely, population declines are projected for residents aged 15-24 and 55-64.