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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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Sales Detail
Population
Population growth drivers in Payneham South are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends
Payneham South's population was estimated at 1,819 as of May 2026, reflecting an increase of 88 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 1,731. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population based on ERP data released by the ABS in June 2025 and six new addresses validated since the Census date. The suburb's population density was calculated at 3,136 persons per square kilometer as of May 2026, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Payneham South's growth rate of 5.1% since the Census positions it within 2.4 percentage points of the state's growth rate of 7.5%. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods for the suburb. 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 are adopted with adjustments made using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 335 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 18.0% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Payneham South, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates Payneham South averaged approximately 6 new dwelling approvals per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling an estimated 33 homes. As of FY-26, 4 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.2 new residents are added annually per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 in Payneham South. New properties are constructed at an average value of $505,000, reflecting a focus on the premium segment.
This financial year, $72,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Payneham South has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 39th percentile nationally, offering more limited choices for buyers. New building activity shows 67.0% detached dwellings and 33.0% attached dwellings, providing a mix of opportunities across price brackets.
Payneham South indicates a mature market with around 431 people per approval. Population forecasts estimate Payneham South will gain 327 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Payneham South
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Payneham South has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally
Two projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area: Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre Redevelopment and Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade. Other notable projects include Felixstow Intergenerational Community and O-Bahn City Access Project.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
New Women's and Children's Hospital
A $3.2 billion state-of-the-art facility being developed as Australia's first all-electric public hospital. As of April 2026, the 1,300-space multi-storey car park is nearing completion, and main hospital construction has commenced with inground and structural works. The project features 414 overnight beds, a larger emergency department with 43 treatment spaces, a dedicated helipad, and co-location of all critical care services on a single floor. Early enabling works by SA Water for utility upgrades are currently underway through Bonython Park and Park 25, with utility installations expected to continue until late March 2027.
SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts 2024-28
SA Water's record $3.3 billion capital delivery program for the 2024-28 regulatory period, covering water and wastewater infrastructure across South Australia. The program targets water main replacements, sewerage network upgrades, dam upgrades, water tank refurbishments, and treatment process upgrades across metropolitan and regional areas. A central $1.5 billion component supports the South Australian Premier's Housing Roadmap, expanding network capacity to unlock up to 40,000 new allotments, with major focus on Adelaide's northern growth corridors including Angle Vale, Riverlea, and Roseworthy. Six major framework partners (Fulton Hogan Utilities, John Holland and Guidera O'Connor JV, McConnell Dowell and Diona JV, BMD, Diona, and Leed Engineering and Construction) are delivering works across approximately 120 projects. In Year 1 (to June 2025), $681.6 million in capital was invested. The program runs to June 2028.
Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme
The Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme (NAIS) is a recycled water scheme delivering high-quality treated water from the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant to agribusinesses across the Northern Adelaide Plains. Stage 1 infrastructure was built to provide up to 12 gigalitres per year of climate-independent recycled water for horticulture, floriculture, fruit and nut orchards, table and wine grapes, and high-value broad-acre crops, with the network designed to enable future expansion to 20 gigalitres. Key infrastructure includes an advanced water recycling plant at Bolivar, a transfer pipeline, pump stations, an above-ground earth-banked storage at Korunye, managed aquifer recharge, and a distribution network with farm-gate connection points. Construction began in 2018 and the scheme is operational. As of 2025 around 35 per cent of the contracted volume has been sold, and SA Water has been undertaking a review to assess current and forecast demand and identify potential opportunities for the scheme.
O-Bahn City Access Project
Completed SA Government public transport project extending the O-Bahn from Gilberton into Adelaide city via centrally aligned priority bus lanes on Hackney Road and a dedicated 670 m bus-only tunnel to Grenfell Street. The works improved bus travel time reliability, reduced Inner Ring Route congestion, reconfigured Rundle Road and East Terrace, and added pedestrian and cycling improvements including a shared path and bridge over the River Torrens.
SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program
Statewide maintenance and service contracts for SA Housing Trust public housing properties, covering reactive maintenance, vacancy restoration and minor works across metropolitan and regional South Australia. The program is delivered by Spotless Facility Services, RTC Facilities Maintenance and Torrens Facility Management. A 2024 SA Government review examined payment, timeliness, dispute resolution and contract performance issues, and the government provided additional funding to accelerate maintenance and upgrades on vacant public housing homes.
Gawler Line Electrification & Level Crossing Removals
State and federal government project to electrify the 42km Gawler rail line from Adelaide CBD to Gawler, with 25kV AC overhead wiring, new signalling systems, upgrade of 14 stations, and activation of 13 pedestrian crossings. Electrified passenger services commenced June 2022. The complementary Ovingham Level Crossing Removal ($231M) replaced the high-risk Torrens Road crossing with a new overpass, public plaza and upgraded Ovingham Railway Station, completing in late 2023.
Adelaide Public Transport Capacity and Access
State-led program work to increase public transport capacity and access to, through and within central Adelaide. Current work is focused on the City Access Strategy (20-year movement plan for the CBD and North Adelaide) and the State Transport Strategy program, which together will shape options such as bus priority, interchange upgrades, tram and rail enhancements, and better first/last mile access.
Adelaide Level Crossing Removal Planning Program
A joint Australian and South Australian Government program to conduct planning studies at priority at-grade level crossing locations across metropolitan Adelaide, and establish a ten-year Level Crossing Removal Program. Adelaide has 126 at-grade level crossings where boom gates can be closed for up to 25% of peak traffic periods. Priority sites under active planning include Cormack Road (Wingfield), Kings Road (Parafield), and Park Terrace (Salisbury). The program commenced in early 2022 and is expected to be completed by late 2026, with the first major removal project - Curtis Road, Munno Para - announced in May 2025 with a $250 million joint funding commitment and construction starting by 2027.
Employment
AreaSearch analysis places Payneham South well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators
Payneham South has a well-educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate was 2.9% as of December 2025, which is below Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.4%.
Workforce participation in Payneham South was 68.9%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. According to Census responses, 14.0% of residents worked from home. The leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services. Professional & technical services had a notable concentration with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.
However, health care & social assistance showed lower representation at 13.9% compared to the regional average of 17.7%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 4.4%, while labour force increased by 4.2%, causing a slight decrease in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 4.2% with unemployment falling by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Payneham South's local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis
Payneham South suburb's income level is above average nationally. According to AreaSearch aggregated ATO data for financial year 2023, Payneham South's median income among taxpayers is $55,021 and the average income is $75,902. Greater Adelaide's figures are $54,808 (median) and $66,852 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $60,617 (median) and $83,621 (average). Census data shows household, family and personal incomes rank modestly in Payneham South, between the 38th and 47th percentiles. Income distribution data reveals 32.2% of the population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to surrounding regions at 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 84.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 40th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Payneham South displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Payneham South's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 56.9% houses and 43.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Adelaide metro's 76.2% houses and 23.8% 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 was $1,789, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Payneham South features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households comprise 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 account for 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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
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 significantly higher than broader benchmarks. 37.8% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia and 28.9% in Greater Adelaide. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 24.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Trade and technical skills are also prominent, with 26.1% of residents aged 15 years and over holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (16.6%).
Educational participation is notably high in the area, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Payneham South has eight active public transport stops, all offering bus services. These stops are served by 17 different routes that collectively facilitate 930 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 169 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 81% of residents, while buses are employed by 14%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional norm.
According to the 2021 Census, 14.0% of residents work from home, a figure that might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 132 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly 116 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
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.
Private health cover rate is very high at approximately 57% of the total population (around 1,036 people), compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 8.1 and 6.9% of residents respectively. About 71.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 18.2% of residents aged 65 and over (331 people), lower than the 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking lower nationally compared to the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
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, comprising 53.0% of the population. However, there is an overrepresentation of Other religions, which makes up 3.2% of the population compared to 1.8% across Greater Adelaide.
The top three ancestry groups in Payneham South are English (20.9%), Italian (19.1%), and Australian (15.7%). These percentages differ from the regional averages: English is lower at 20.9% vs 27.8%, Italian is higher at 19.1% vs 5.2%, and Australian is lower at 15.7% vs 22.8%. Some other ethnic groups are also notably divergent in their representation, including Polish (1.2% vs 1.0%), Spanish (0.7% vs 0.3%), and Russian (0.5% vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
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 age cohort is over-represented in Payneham South at 16.7%, compared to the Greater Adelaide average. Conversely, the 65-74 age group is under-represented at 8.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 13.1% to 14.9% of Payneham South's population. During this period, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 14.2% to 13.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Payneham South's age profile, with the 45-54 age group expected to grow by 50 people (21%) from 236 to 287.