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 ABS population updates, as of Nov 2025, Pennington's estimated population is around 4,304. This reflects a 14.1% increase since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,773 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 4,101 residents following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 20 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 3,118 persons per square kilometer, placing Pennington in the upper quartile nationally. The area's growth exceeded both state (8.7%) and metropolitan averages, driven primarily by overseas migration contributing approximately 87.0% of overall population gains. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered or years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are used, based on 2021 data and released in 2023. Future projections indicate an above median population growth for the area, with Pennington expected to grow by 903 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 13.7% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, shows Pennington averaged approximately 31 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 158 homes were approved, with an additional 21 approved so far in FY-26. This results in about 1.6 people moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past five financial years, indicating balanced supply and demand dynamics.

The average development value of new dwellings is approximately $320,000. In terms of commercial development, around $10.4 million in approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting steady activity. Comparatively, Pennington maintains similar construction rates per person to Greater Adelaide, supporting market stability aligned with regional trends. Recent construction comprises 29% standalone homes and 71% medium to high-density housing, representing a shift from the area's existing housing composition of 70% houses. This trend indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects evolving lifestyles preferring more diverse and affordable housing options.

Pennington has approximately 105 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the location is expected to grow by around 589 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, presenting good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Pennington has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely affecting this region. Notable projects are St. James, Kidman Park, St Clair, Rosewater Loop Project, and Findon Road Upgrade. The following details projects expected to have the most relevance:.

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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 6.8% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.3%.

As of September 2025, 1,939 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.8% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation lags at 54.4%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing shows notable concentration with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 4.4% versus the regional average of 7.3%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 4.3% alongside labour force increasing by 4.1%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Adelaide where employment rose by 3.0%, the labour force grew by 2.9%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows SA employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 10,710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.0%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%, with the state's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.14%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Pennington. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Pennington's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.

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

Pennington's median income among taxpayers was $40,262 in financial year 2023. The suburb's average income stood at $44,806 during the same period. These figures are lower than Greater Adelaide's median and average incomes of $54,808 and $66,852 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest Pennington's median income will be approximately $43,805 and the average income around $48,749, accounting for an 8.8% increase since financial year 2023. 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 (1,364 people) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to the regional proportion of 31.8%. 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 structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 70.4% houses and 29.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 66.1% houses and 33.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Pennington stood at 25.7%, with the rest either mortgaged (34.7%) or rented (39.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent was $250, compared to Adelaide metro's $325. Nationally, Pennington's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 36.6%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households comprising 4.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.4.

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%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 31.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas comprise 8.4% and certificates 23.1%.

Educational participation is high at 28.4%, including primary education (8.9%), secondary education (6.9%), and tertiary education (6.4%).

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

Pennington has 15 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with 9 individual routes in total providing 896 weekly passenger trips combined. The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents located an average of 215 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 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

Pennington faces significant health challenges with a notably higher prevalence of common health conditions compared to average figures. This is particularly true for older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover in Pennington stands at approximately 45% (around 1,927 people), which is lower than the Greater Adelaide average of 53.3%, and also below the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions in the area, affecting 9.2% and 9.1% of residents respectively. Conversely, 65.4% of Pennington residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 68.9% across Greater Adelaide. The area has a higher proportion of seniors, with 19.3% (830 people) aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among this age group require particular attention due to the specific challenges they face.

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 level of 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. Notably, Buddhism is overrepresented in Pennington, making up 10.5% of the population compared to the Greater Adelaide average of 2.8%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (19.7%), Australian (19.1%), and Vietnamese (10.8%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 2.2%. Other ethnic groups with notable divergences include Polish at 1.8% (vs regional 1.4%), Serbian at 1.7% (vs regional 1.3%), and Russian at 0.9% (vs regional 0.6%).

Pennington's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Pennington is 41 years, higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and slightly above the national average of 38. The age distribution shows a prominent percentage (13.9%) of individuals aged 55-64, while those aged 5-14 make up a smaller proportion (9.8%) compared to Greater Adelaide. Between 2021 and present, the population share of individuals aged 35-44 has increased from 12.5% to 13.8%, and the 25-34 age group has risen from 14.0% to 15.1%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 45-54 has decreased from 12.9% to 11.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Pennington's age structure. The number of individuals aged 75-84 is projected to rise by 179 people (71%), from 253 to 433. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 59% of total population growth, reflecting Pennington's aging demographic profile. The 55-64 age group is projected to grow by 0%, adding only 1 resident.