Pennington

An assessment of population growth drivers in Pennington reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Pennington's population is estimated at around 3,959 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 186 people (4.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,773 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,941, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, and an additional 23 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,868 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Pennington's 4.9% growth since census positions it within 2.6 percentage points of the state (7.5%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Anticipating future population dynamics, an above median population growth of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is projected, with the suburb expected to grow by 758 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 18.7% in total over the 16 years.

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

Pennington averaged approximately 31 new dwelling approvals annually between FY-21 and FY-25. Over these five financial years, a total of 158 homes were approved, with an additional 37 approved in FY-26 to date. This translates to an average of 1.7 people moving to the area for each dwelling built during this period.

The average construction value of new dwellings was $320,000. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $10.4 million, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Pennington's construction rates per person are similar to Greater Adelaide's, suggesting market stability aligned with regional patterns. Recent construction comprised 29.0% standalone homes and 71.0% medium and high-density housing, marking a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 70.0% houses. This low density market has approximately 108 people per dwelling approval.

Pennington is projected to grow by 740 residents by 2041, with current development patterns indicating that new housing supply should meet demand, potentially facilitating further population growth.

Pennington has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 3 projects that are expected to impact this particular area. Notable projects include St James, Kidman Park, St Clair, Rosewater Loop Project, and Findon Road Upgrade, with the following list focusing on those most likely to be relevant:.

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.

Employment performance in Pennington has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Pennington has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 6.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 5.9%. As of December 2025, 1,891 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.7% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation lagged significantly at 60.7%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. A low 7.3% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing showed notable concentration with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services had lower representation at 4.4% versus the regional average of 7.3%. The area offered limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 5.9% alongside labour force growth of 4.6%, causing unemployment to fall by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 4.2%, labour force grow by 3.9%, and unemployment fall by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment expansion at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Pennington's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Pennington's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $40,262. The average income stood at $44,806 during the same period. In comparison, Greater Adelaide had a median income of $54,808 and an average income of $66,852. By March 2026, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17%, Pennington's estimated median income would be approximately $44,357, and the average income would be around $49,363. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Pennington all fall between the 8th and 18th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 31.7% of locals (1,255 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, which mirrors the regional trend where 31.8% of residents fall within this income bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Pennington, with only 82.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 18th percentile nationally.

Pennington is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Pennington's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 70.4% houses and 29.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Adelaide metro's 70.4% houses and 29.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Pennington was at 25.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.7% and rented dwellings at 39.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Pennington was $1,517, lower than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The median weekly rent figure for Pennington was $250, significantly lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, Pennington's mortgage repayments were substantially below the Australian average of $1,863.

Pennington features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 63.4% of all households, including 27.7% couples with children, 18.3% couples without children, and 15.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 36.6%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households making up 4.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which matches the Greater Adelaide average.

Pennington faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 18.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are held by 31.5% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 8.4% and certificates at 23.1%. Educational participation is high, with 28.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.9% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 6.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis shows that Pennington has 15 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by 9 individual routes, providing a total of 896 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as good, with residents typically located 215 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward using private vehicles, which remain the dominant mode of transport at 86%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in Pennington. According to the 2021 Census, only 7.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 128 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 59 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Pennington is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Pennington. AreaSearch's assessment shows considerably higher prevalence of common health conditions compared to average, with an even greater disparity among older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 45% of the total population (~1,772 people), compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 9.2 and 9.1% of residents respectively. However, 65.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 20.2% of residents aged 65 and over (799 people), with health outcomes among seniors presenting some challenges but ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Pennington has a high cultural diversity, with 37.5% of its population born overseas and 41.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The dominant religion in Pennington is Christianity, comprising 43.8% of the population. However, Buddhism is overrepresented, making up 10.5%, compared to the Greater Adelaide average of 2.4%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (19.7%), Australian (19.1%), and Vietnamese (10.8%). Notably, Polish (1.8%) and Serbian (1.7%) populations are overrepresented in Pennington compared to regional averages of 1.0% and 0.4%, respectively. Additionally, the Russian population is slightly higher at 0.9%.

Pennington's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Pennington is 41 years, which is higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and modestly exceeds the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent at 14.2%, while the 35-44 group is smaller at 12.5% compared to Greater Adelaide. Between 2021 and now, the 65-74 age group has grown from 9.2% to 10.3% of the population. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.9% to 11.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the 75-84 age cohort is expected to rise substantially, increasing by 171 people (69%) from 249 to 421.