Salisbury Downs

Salisbury Downs has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the population of Salisbury Downs was estimated at 6,398 as of Feb 2026. This reflected an increase of 102 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,296. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,365 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in Jun 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 2,285 persons per square kilometer, higher than average national levels assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Salisbury Downs showed resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outperforming its SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted 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, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category were used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends anticipate lower quartile growth, with the suburb expected to expand by 266 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 4.6% in total over the 17 years.

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

Salisbury Downs averaged approximately 14 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY21 and FY25, an estimated 73 homes were approved, with a further 22 approved in FY26 so far. On average, around 2 people moved to the area per new home constructed over these five financial years.

The average construction cost of new homes was $265,000. This year, $6.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating a primarily residential area. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Salisbury Downs has about two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks around the 35th percentile nationally, suggesting limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. The area's new building activity comprises 79% detached dwellings and 21% townhouses or apartments, maintaining its suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space.

With approximately 474 people per approval, Salisbury Downs indicates a mature market. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by around 292 residents based on current development patterns and AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Given these trends, new housing supply should meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Salisbury Downs has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified ten projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Salisbury Park Estate, Salisbury City Centre Redevelopment - Salisbury Square Precinct, Mawson Lakes Road Management Plan, and Public Housing Builds in Parafield Gardens. The following list details those most relevant:.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment drivers in Salisbury Downs are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Salisbury Downs has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 8.5% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.9%.

Compared to Greater Adelaide's unemployment rate of 3.9%, Salisbury Downs has a higher rate at 4.6%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation in Salisbury Downs is lower at 56.6% compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. A low 5.5% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade.

Manufacturing has a notably high concentration with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Professional & technical services have limited presence at 3.2% compared to 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. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 1.9%, labour force increased by 1.4%, and unemployment fell by 0.5 percentage points in Salisbury Downs. In contrast, Greater Adelaide experienced employment growth of 3.0% and a 0.1 percentage point drop in unemployment over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Salisbury Downs' employment mix, local employment is expected to increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The suburb of Salisbury Downs had an income level below the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year ended June 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Salisbury Downs was $47,703 and the average income stood at $50,758. For Greater Adelaide, these figures were $54,808 and $66,852 respectively. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% would be approximately $51,901 (median) and $55,225 (average). According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family and personal incomes in Salisbury Downs all fell between the 5th and 9th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort in Salisbury Downs spanned 29.5% of locals (1,887 people) with incomes between $800 - 1,499, differing from the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominated at 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Salisbury Downs, with only 81.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

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

The latest Census evaluated dwelling structures in Salisbury Downs with 79.6% houses and 20.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Salisbury Downs was at 28.3%, with the remainder mortgaged (35.8%) or rented (35.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. Median weekly rent in Salisbury Downs was $273, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,863 and rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

Salisbury Downs has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 68.1% of all households, including 29.9% couples with children, 20.1% couples without children, and 16.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.9%, with lone person households at 28.5% and group households making up 3.3%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.4%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 32.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas account for 7.3% while certificates make up 24.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.8% in primary education, 7.8% in secondary education, and 4.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 23 active transport stops operating within Salisbury Downs. These include a mix of train and bus services. They are serviced by 17 individual routes, collectively providing 1085 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 241 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to the area's primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 91%, while bus accounts for 5%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 5.5% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 155 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 47 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Salisbury Downs is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Salisbury Downs faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% of the total population (~3,014 people), compared to 52.7% in Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues affect 9.0% of residents, while arthritis impacts 8.7%. Meanwhile, 66.3% claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 17.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,106 people), lower than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, aligning broadly with national rankings for the general population.

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

Salisbury Downs has a high level of cultural diversity, with 40.3% of its population born overseas and 40.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Salisbury Downs, making up 40.7% of the population. Buddhism is significantly overrepresented compared to the Greater Adelaide average, comprising 8.1% of Salisbury Downs' population versus 2.4%.

The top three represented ancestry groups are English (23.3%), Other (20.2%), and Australian (19.2%). Notably, Vietnamese (5.5%) and Polish (1.2%) populations are higher than the regional averages of 1.2% and 1.0%, respectively, while Serbian is slightly overrepresented at 0.7%.

Salisbury Downs's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Salisbury Downs is 37 years, which is lower than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years, and very close to Australia's national average of 38 years. The 5-14 age group comprises 12.9% of Salisbury Downs' population, notably higher than the Greater Adelaide average, while the 75-84 year-olds make up only 5.6%, indicating an under-representation compared to Greater Adelaide. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has increased from 13.3% to 14.2% of Salisbury Downs' population, while the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 11.6% to 10.8%. By 2041, significant demographic changes are forecast for Salisbury Downs. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 25%, adding 90 people and reaching a total of 449. This growth will be led by residents aged 65 and older, who represent 64% of the anticipated population increase. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are expected to experience population declines.