Parafield Gardens

Population growth drivers in Parafield Gardens are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The estimated population of the suburb of Parafield Gardens is around 18,634 as of February 2026, reflecting an increase of 167 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 18,467. This increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 18,614 based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 81 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,650 persons per square kilometer, placing Parafield Gardens in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, from 2016 to 2026, Parafield Gardens has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.3%, outpacing its SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

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 using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated for Australian statistical areas, with Parafield Gardens expected to expand by 846 persons to the year 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 4.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Parafield Gardens according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Parafield Gardens recorded around 65 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years ending FY25. This totals approximately 325 homes. As of FY26, 28 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 0.5 people moved to the area per dwelling built.

Commercial approvals registered in FY26 totalled $13.6 million. Parafield Gardens maintains similar construction rates per person compared to Greater Adelaide, indicating balanced development activity and preserving market equilibrium with surrounding areas. The national average is higher, suggesting established nature and potential planning limitations. New building activity comprises 85% standalone homes and 15% medium-high density housing, maintaining the area's suburban character focused on family homes.

With around 384 people per dwelling approval, Parafield Gardens shows a developed market. Future projections estimate an increase of 826 residents by 2041, with current construction levels expected to meet demand and create favourable buying conditions while potentially enabling growth beyond forecasts.

Parafield Gardens has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 31stth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 15 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include The Glades, Parafield Gardens (Stage 8+), Mawson Lakes Road Management Plan, Public Housing Builds in Parafield Gardens, and Gardenia Drive Aged Care Expansion. Below is a list of those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Parafield Gardens shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Parafield Gardens has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 5.6% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.6%.

The area's unemployment rate is 1.6% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%, while workforce participation lags at 59.4% compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. Only 5.4% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Manufacturing is particularly strong with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 3.6% compared to the regional average of 7.3%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.6%, labour force grew by 1.2%, and unemployment fell by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 3.0% and unemployment fall by 0.1 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Parafield Gardens. Over five years, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6%, and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Parafield Gardens' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Parafield Gardens had a median income among taxpayers of $46,236. The average income stood at $50,323. This was below the national average of $54,808 and compared to levels in Greater Adelaide of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $50,305 for median income and $54,751 for average income as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household income ranked at the 27th percentile with a weekly income of $1,384. Personal income was at the 10th percentile. Income analysis showed that the largest segment comprised 34.4% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 6,410 residents in this range. This pattern was also seen in the broader area where 31.8% occupied this income range. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 84.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 27th percentile.

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

The dwelling structure in Parafield Gardens, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.5% houses and 10.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parafield Gardens was at 28.8%, with the rest being mortgaged (41.9%) or rented (29.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,382, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent figure was $300, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Parafield Gardens' mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 76.8% of all households, including 38.1% couples with children, 21.9% couples without children, and 15.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 23.2%, with lone person households at 20.4% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 18.9%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 29.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.5%) and certificates (22.1%). Educational participation is high at 31.1%, with 11.8% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 5.3% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 5.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Parafield Gardens has 71 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 18 different routes, serving 1,098 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated good with residents located an average of 206 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, with most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 91%, while buses account for 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 5.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 156 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Parafield Gardens faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 47% of the total population (~8,746 people), which is lower than Greater Adelaide's 52.7% and the national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 8.0 and 7.8% of residents respectively. However, 70.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents show a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. The area has 16.4% of residents aged 65 and over (3,055 people), lower than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Parafield Gardens is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Parafield Gardens has a high level of cultural diversity, with 42.5% of its population born overseas and 46.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Parafield Gardens, comprising 36.4% of the population. However, Buddhism is significantly overrepresented, making up 7.6% compared to the Greater Adelaide average of 2.4%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (22.4%), English (20.2%), and Australian (19.3%). Notably, Vietnamese (5.9%) and Indian (6.1%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Parafield Gardens compared to regional averages of 1.2% and 2.3%, respectively. Polish ethnicity is also slightly overrepresented at 1.3%.

Parafield Gardens's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Parafield Gardens 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, Parafield Gardens has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (13.0%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (5.5%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population share of those aged 75 to 84 has increased from 4.7% to 5.5%, while the proportion of those aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 14.0% to 13.0%. By the year 2041, Parafield Gardens is projected to experience significant changes in its age distribution. Notably, the 45 to 54 age group is expected to grow by 14%, increasing from 2,068 to 2,366 people. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 67% of projected population growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25 to 34 age group and the 0 to 4 age cohort.