Payneham South

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

The population of Payneham South is estimated at around 1,791 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 60 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,731. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,724 in June 2024 and validation of six new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,087 persons per square kilometer, placing Payneham South in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration 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 are adopted with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for Payneham South, expected to expand by 377 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 23.2% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Payneham South averaged approximately 6 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 32 homes. As of FY-26, 1 approval has been recorded. This averages to around 4 new residents per home built annually between FY-21 and FY-25, suggesting demand outpaces supply, which can exert upward pressure on prices and increase buyer competition. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $505,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

In FY-26, $72,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting Payneham South's residential nature. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Payneham South has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 37th percentile nationally, offering more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. New building activity shows 67.0% detached dwellings and 33.0% attached dwellings, providing a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets from traditional family housing to compact alternatives.

Payneham South indicates a mature market with around 452 people per approval. Population forecasts suggest Payneham South will gain approximately 416 residents by 2041 (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates persist, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects likely to impact the area. Key projects are Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre Redevelopment, Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade, Felixstow Intergenerational Community project, and Adelaide Level Crossings Congestion and Safety initiative. Relevant details of these projects follow.

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.

AreaSearch analysis places Payneham South well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Payneham South has an educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 3.0% in the past year, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%. Employment growth was estimated at 3.1%.

As of September 2025, 1,048 residents were employed and the unemployment rate was 1.0% below Greater Adelaide's rate. Workforce participation was higher at 74.0%. About 14.0% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

The area has a notable concentration in professional & technical jobs, with levels at 1.6 times the regional average. However, health care & social assistance representation was lower at 13.9%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the working population to resident population ratio. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.1% while labour force grew by 3.0%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. Greater Adelaide saw similar trends with employment growth of 3.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest overall employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Payneham South's employment mix, local employment is expected to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

Payneham South suburb's median income among taxpayers was $55,021 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $75,902 during the same period. These figures are higher than Greater Adelaide's median of $54,808 and average of $66,852 respectively. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $59,863 (median) and $82,581 (average), based on an 8.8% growth since financial year 2023. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Payneham South rank modestly, between the 38th and 47th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 32.2% of the population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to the surrounding region where 31.8% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Payneham South, with only 84.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 40th percentile. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Payneham South, as per the most recent Census evaluation, 56.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 43.1% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. In contrast, Adelaide metropolitan area had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Payneham South stood at 34.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.7% and rented ones at 38.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,789, exceeding Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent in Payneham South was $331, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Payneham South's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 64.5% of all households, including 29.8% couples with children, 21.4% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.5%, with lone person households at 31.8% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Payneham South shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Payneham South is notably higher than broader averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 37.8% have university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in Greater Adelaide. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 24.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 10.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.7%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 26.1% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (16.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.3% in tertiary education, 8.6% in primary education, and 5.6% pursuing secondary education.

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

Payneham South has eight operational public transport stops, all serving buses. Seventeen different routes operate through these stops, facilitating 930 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents living an average of 169 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars are the primary mode of transport, used by 81% of residents, while 14% opt for buses. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.0% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 132 trips per day, equating to about 116 weekly trips per individual stop.

Payneham South's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Payneham South's health metrics are close to national benchmarks. The prevalence of common health conditions among its general population is somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts.

Approximately 57% (~1,020 people) of Payneham South residents have private health cover, compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 8.1 and 6.9% of residents respectively. 71.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Payneham South has 18.3% (327 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Payneham South 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 South has a high level of cultural diversity, with 34.0% of its population born overseas and 33.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Payneham South, accounting for 53.0% of the population. The most notable overrepresentation is in the 'Other' category, which comprises 3.2% of Payneham South's population compared to 1.8% across Greater Adelaide.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are English (20.9%), Italian (19.1%), and Australian (15.7%). These figures differ from regional averages: English is lower than the regional average of 27.8%, Italian is substantially higher than the regional average of 5.2%, and Australian is lower than the regional average of 22.8%. There are also notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups, including Polish (1.2% vs 1.0%), Spanish (0.7% vs 0.3%), and Russian (0.5% vs 0.3%).

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

Payneham South has a median age of 38, closely matching Greater Adelaide's figure of 39 and Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 cohort is over-represented in Payneham South at 16.7%, compared to the Greater Adelaide average. Conversely, the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented locally at 7.8%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 13.1% to 14.8% of Payneham South's population. During this period, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 14.2% to 12.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Payneham South's age profile. The 45-54 age group is projected to expand by 61 people (27%), growing from 231 to 293 individuals.