Smithfield (SA)

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

Smithfield's population is estimated at around 2,743 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 261 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,482 people in the suburb of Smithfield (SA). The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 2,729 following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2025 and an additional 86 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,306 persons per square kilometer, which is above average national levels assessed by AreaSearch. Smithfield's growth rate of 10.5% since the 2021 census exceeded both state (7.5%) and Greater Adelaide figures, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 50.0% of overall population gains 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 by this data 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. Population projections indicate significant growth for Smithfield, with an expected increase of 673 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 24.0% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Smithfield among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Smithfield shows around 51 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 259 homes. In FY26, 39 approvals have been recorded so far. On average, 1.4 new residents are associated with each dwelling constructed annually between FY21 and FY25.

The average construction value of new dwellings is $278,000. This year, $1 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Smithfield has shown moderately higher construction activity, around 15.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. It currently comprises 90.0% standalone homes and 10.0% medium and high-density housing.

With approximately 65 people per dwelling approval, Smithfield exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Smithfield is projected to add around 659 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Smithfield has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 35thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely to impact the area: Tudor Vale Shopping Centre, Munno Para West, Riverbanks College Angle Vale, Playford Alive, and Playford North Urban Renewal Project. The following details those most relevant:.

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Employment conditions in Smithfield face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Smithfield has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The unemployment rate was 12.2% in the past year. There was an estimated employment growth of 2.7%.

As of December 2025, 1,061 residents were employed, but the unemployment rate was higher than Greater Adelaide's at 8.4%. Workforce participation was lower at 55.3%. Only 6.1% of residents worked from home according to Census data. The leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing.

Manufacturing had particularly high representation with levels at 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, education & training showed lower representation at 4.4%. There was a ratio of 0.9 workers for each resident indicating substantial local employment opportunities. In the past year, employment increased by 2.7% and labour force grew by 2.5%, reducing unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasted with Greater Adelaide where employment rose by 4.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Smithfield's employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections.

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

The suburb of Smithfield has a lower income level compared to national averages, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Smithfield is $45,691, with an average income of $49,247. These figures contrast with those for Greater Adelaide, which are $54,808 and $66,852 respectively. Considering a 10.17% growth in wages since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $50,338 (median) and $54,255 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Smithfield all fall between the 5th and 5th percentiles nationally. Income distribution reveals that 31.4% of locals (861 people) earn between $800 and $1,499, contrasting with the regional leading bracket of $1,500 to $2,999 at 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Smithfield, with only 79.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 5th percentile.

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

Smithfield's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 79.9% houses and 20.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Smithfield stood at 16.9%, with the remaining dwellings being mortgaged (33.0%) or rented (50.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,100, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,562 and the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Smithfield was $260, lower than Adelaide metro's $320 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 65.7% of all households, including 22.2% couples with children, 19.2% couples without children, and 22.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.3%, with lone person households at 30.3% and group households comprising 4.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Greater Adelaide average.

The educational profile of Smithfield exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 9.1%, 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 (7.0%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (0.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (7.1%) and certificates (29.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.7% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Smithfield has 18 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 22 routes, collectively facilitating 2,783 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good with residents typically located 233 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most residents commute outward using cars at 90%, with buses accounting for 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 6.1% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 397 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 154 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Smithfield is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Smithfield faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% of the total population (around 1,276 people), compared to 52.7% in Greater Adelaide and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, affecting 12.2% and 10.0% of residents respectively. However, 60.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents face notable health challenges with higher chronic condition rates. The area has 16.4% of residents aged 65 and over (449 people), lower than the 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Smithfield was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Smithfield's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 28.4% born overseas and 20.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Smithfield, comprising 36.1% of its population. Islam was notably overrepresented, making up 8.6%, which is significantly higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 3.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.4%), Australian (25.8%), and Other (15.2%), with Other being substantially higher than the regional average of 9.7%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences in representation: Hungarian was overrepresented at 0.4% compared to the regional average of 0.3%, German was slightly underrepresented at 4.3% versus 5.1%, and Welsh showed no significant difference at 0.6%.

Smithfield's population is younger than the national pattern

Smithfield's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Smithfield has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (15.8%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (5.1%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 13.5% to 15.8%, while those aged 35-44 have risen from 11.6% to 12.7%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 55-64 has declined from 11.4% to 10.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Smithfield's age profile will change significantly. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 42%, adding 122 residents to reach a total of 416.