Pasadena

Pasadena has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Pasadena's estimated population is around 3,334. This reflects an increase of 261 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,073. The current resident population estimate by AreaSearch is 3,298, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2024 and additional validation of 26 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,536 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Pasadena's growth of 8.5% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its surrounding SA3 area (4.4%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.0% 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 by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels based on 2021 data released in 2023. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for the suburb until 2041, with an expected increase of 749 persons and a total increase of 20.7% over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Pasadena averaged approximately 19 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 99 homes were approved, with an additional 3 in FY-26 to date. Each dwelling has added about 2.1 new residents annually over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value of these dwellings was $420,000. This year, there have been $2.6 million in commercial approvals, reflecting Pasadena's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Pasadena has had 85.0% more new home approvals per person. Building activity has slowed recently but shows a mix of standalone homes (69.0%) and townhouses or apartments (31.0%).

With around 232 people per dwelling approval, the market is developing. By 2041, Pasadena is projected to grow by 691 residents, keeping pace with development activity. However, increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

Pasadena has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three major projects likely to influence this region. Notable projects are Hotel Panorama, Panorama Place Estate, Springbank Secondary College upgrade, and Tram Grade Separation Projects. The following details these key initiatives:.

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

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Employment conditions in Pasadena demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Pasadena has a highly educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.8%, lower than Greater Adelaide's 4.0%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.8%. As of June 2025, 1,527 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.2% below Greater Adelaide's rate. Workforce participation in Pasadena is lower at 50.5%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training, with construction employing only 6.9% of local workers, below Greater Adelaide's 8.7%. 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 ending in June 2025, employment increased by 2.8%, labour force grew by 2.7%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 2.1%, labour force grow by 2.1%, and a marginal increase in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in September 2022, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Pasadena's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Pasadena's median income among taxpayers is $47,298. The average income in Pasadena during this period was $57,892. Nationally, the median income was higher at $63,091 with an average of $75,189. In Greater Adelaide, the median income was $52,592 and the average was $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Pasadena would be approximately $53,366 (median) and $65,320 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census data ranks household, family, and personal incomes in Pasadena between the 27th and 28th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 27.2% of residents, which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 31.8% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Pasadena, with only 84.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 27th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Pasadena's dwelling structure, as assessed in the latest Census, consisted of 67.0% houses and 33.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Adelaide metro's 78.8% houses and 21.2% other dwellings. Home ownership levels in Pasadena matched those of Adelaide metro at 42.0%, with remaining dwellings either mortgaged (35.3%) or rented (22.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below the Adelaide metro average of $1,992. Weekly rent median figure was $333, close to Adelaide metro's $335. Nationally, Pasadena's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Pasadena has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 68.8% of all households, including 26.3% couples with children, 32.3% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.2%, with lone person households at 29.0% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Pasadena aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Pasadena is notably higher than broader averages, with 35.8% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.1% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 8.7% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also common, with 27.4% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 17.2%. A significant 24.3% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 7.4% in primary education, 6.6% in tertiary education, and 6.2% in secondary education.

Springbank Secondary College provides local educational services within Pasadena, with an enrollment of 229 students as of a specific date. The area has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1016) and balanced educational opportunities. Secondary education dominates with one school, while primary students typically attend schools in nearby areas due to limited local school capacity (6.9 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 21.2).

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

Pasadena has 16 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 20 different routes that together facilitate 1,452 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 193 meters to the nearest stop.

The service frequency is 207 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 90 weekly trips per stop.

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

Pasadena faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 50% of the total population (~1,663 people), lower than Greater Adelaide's 58.5% and the national average of 55.3%. The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (12.3%) and mental health issues (6.8%), while 64.3% report being free from ailments, compared to 69.3% in Greater Adelaide.

Residents aged 65 and over comprise 32.7% of the population (1,090 people), higher than Greater Adelaide's 21.2%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are challenging but better than those of the general population.

Pasadena 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

Pasadena's cultural diversity was found to be higher than most local markets, with 30.9% of its population born overseas and 28.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Pasadena, making up 53.6% of the population. The category 'Other' religion showed an overrepresentation in Pasadena at 1.4%, compared to 0.8% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (25.6%), Australian (22.4%), and Other (10.2%). Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Greek was overrepresented at 6.2% in Pasadena versus 2.5% regionally, German at 6.5% versus 5.9%, and Hungarian at 0.4% versus 0.3%.

Pasadena hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Pasadena's median age is 49 years, which is notably higher than Greater Adelaide's median age of 39 years and older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide's average, Pasadena has a notable over-representation of the 75-84 age cohort (12.3% locally), while the 25-34 age group is under-represented (11.0%). This 75-84 concentration is well above the national average of 6.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 11.1% to 12.1% of Pasadena's population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age cohort has decreased from 10.4% to 9.1%. Demographic modeling suggests that Pasadena's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow significantly, increasing by 218 people (80%) from 273 to 492. In contrast, the 0 to 4 age cohort shows minimal growth of just 8% (11 people).