Payneham

Population growth drivers in Payneham are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Payneham's population is estimated at around 2,603 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 165 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,438 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population being 2,475 in Jun 2024 and the validation of 8 new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 3,253 persons per square kilometer, placing Payneham in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Payneham's growth rate of 6.8% since census is within 2.2 percentage points of the state's growth rate of 9.0%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods in Payneham.

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, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023. Future population dynamics project an above median growth for Payneham, with an expected increase of 560 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 21.2% over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Payneham when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Payneham recorded approximately 12 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, totalling an estimated 63 homes. So far in FY-26, two approvals have been recorded. On average, around 2.9 people moved to the area per new home constructed during this period, reflecting strong demand which supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $505,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

In FY-26, there have been $713,000 in commercial approvals, suggesting minimal commercial development activity compared to Greater Adelaide. Payneham records about three-quarters the building activity per person and places among the 79th percentile of areas assessed nationally, though recent periods show increased development activity. Recent construction comprises 67.0% detached houses and 33.0% medium and high-density housing, offering a mix of opportunities across price brackets.

Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (42.0% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes amid densification trends. The location has approximately 143 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Payneham is projected to add 551 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Payneham has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can be significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. A single project has been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting this area. Notable projects include Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade, Felixstow Intergenerational Community initiative, Adelaide Level Crossings Congestion and Safety project, and SA Public Housing Maintenance and Services Contracts. The following list details those projects likely to have the most relevance.

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Employment conditions in Payneham demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Payneham has a highly educated workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.3%, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%. Over the past year, estimated employment growth was 3.5%.

As of September 2025, 1,508 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.7% below Greater Adelaide's. Workforce participation in Payneham is higher at 74.8%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. According to Census responses, 9.9% of residents work from home.

Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Construction shows lower representation at 6.4% versus the regional average of 8.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.5%, labour force by 3.4%, reducing unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. Greater Adelaide recorded similar trends with employment growth of 3.0% and unemployment falling by 0.1 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Payneham's employment mix, local employment is estimated to grow by 7.1% over five years and 14.7% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Payneham has a median taxpayer income of $60,949 and an average income of $84,079 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is among the highest in Australia, contrasting with Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $66,313 (median) and $91,478 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals personal income ranks at the 63rd percentile ($874 weekly), while household income sits at the 30th percentile. Income analysis shows that the largest segment comprises 30.7% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (799 residents). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 28th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Payneham displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Payneham's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 41.5% houses and 58.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Payneham was at 29.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.1% and rented ones at 41.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,700, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. Weekly rent median stood at $300 compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Payneham's mortgage repayments were lower ($1,700 vs $1,863), and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Payneham features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 54.9% of all households, including 20.3% couples with children, 24.0% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 45.1%, with lone person households at 40.7% and group households making up 4.6%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Payneham demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Payneham's educational attainment is notably high, with 42.9% of residents aged 15+ having university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in Greater Adelaide. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 27.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 11.0% and graduate diplomas at 4.4%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 25.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 14.9%. Educational participation is high, with 25.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 7.8% in primary, 7.1% in tertiary, and 4.3% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 25.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.8% in primary education, 7.1% in tertiary education, and 4.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Payneham has seven active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 17 different routes that together facilitate 985 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 222 meters from the nearest stop. Most Payneham residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 82%, while bus usage stands at 12% and cycling at 2%. On average, there are 0.9 vehicles per dwelling in Payneham, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 9.9% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 140 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 140 weekly trips per individual stop.

Payneham's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Payneham's health data shows positive results, with mortality rates and health conditions largely aligning with national averages. Common health conditions are relatively low among Payneham residents but higher among older, at-risk cohorts compared to national figures.

Private health cover is high in Payneham, with approximately 60% of the total population (1,566 people) having it, compared to Greater Adelaide's 52.7%. The most prevalent conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 8.2 and 7.4% respectively. A majority, 70.2%, report being free from medical ailments, compared to Greater Adelaide's 67.9%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Payneham has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (18.0%, or 468 people) than Greater Adelaide (19.3%). Senior health outcomes present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Payneham 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

Payneham has a high level of cultural diversity, with 36.1% of its population born overseas and 32.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Payneham, accounting for 49.7% of the population. However, there is an overrepresentation of Other religions, comprising 3.0% of Payneham's population compared to 1.8% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Payneham are English (21.9%), Australian (17.9%), and Italian (14.2%). Notably, English ancestry is lower than the regional average of 27.8%, while Italian ancestry is substantially higher than the regional average of 5.2%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: German at 4.9% compared to the regional average of 5.1%, Korean at 0.6% compared to 0.3%, and Croatian at 0.8% compared to 0.5%.

Payneham's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Payneham is 37 years, which is lower than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and close to the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented in Payneham at 20.8%, compared to Greater Adelaide's average of around 16%. Conversely, the 15-24 age group is under-represented at 9.6% locally. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35-44 age group grew from 14.7% to 16.2%, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 19.5% to 20.8%. However, the 45-54 age group declined from 10.8% to 9.3%. Population forecasts for Payneham indicate significant demographic changes by 2041. Notably, the 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 19%, reaching 642 people from 541.