St Agnes (SA)

An assessment of population growth drivers in St Agnes 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, the population of St Agnes as of Feb 2026 is estimated at around 4,463. This reflects an increase of 230 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,233. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,283 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 12 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,716 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, St Agnes has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 86.0% 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 areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Anticipating future population dynamics, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed is expected for St Agnes, with the suburb expected to grow by 478 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 7.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees St Agnes recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis indicates St Agnes averaged approximately 22 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 113 homes were approved, with an additional 11 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 1.1 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years, suggesting balanced supply and demand dynamics.

The average new dwelling development cost was $320,000. This year, St Agnes registered $675,000 in commercial approvals, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Adelaide, St Agnes had 11.0% higher construction activity per person over the past five years, maintaining good buyer choice and supporting property values.

New development primarily consisted of detached houses (87.0%) and townhouses or apartments (13.0%), preserving the area's suburban character. St Agnes has approximately 169 people per dwelling approval, reflecting a low-density market. AreaSearch forecasts estimate an increase of 330 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

St Agnes has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

Three projects identified by AreaSearch are likely to impact the area: Grove Way and Golden Way Intersection Upgrade, Luminaire Estate - Residential Development, Tea Tree Gully Sustainable Sewers Program, and Golden Grove Neighbourhood Code Amendment.

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The labour market strength in St Agnes positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

St Agnes has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.7%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.5% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 2,255 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 2.2% lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in St Agnes is somewhat below standard at 64.1%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. Based on Census responses, only 11.2% of residents work from home, but Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries employing residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Accommodation & food services have limited presence with 4.9% employment compared to the regional average of 6.8%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.5%, and labour force increased by 1.5%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In contrast, Greater Adelaide experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a slight drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to St Agnes' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch data for financial year 2023 shows median income in St Agnes was $52,742 and average income was $59,222. This is below Greater Adelaide's median of $54,808 and average of $66,852. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $57,383 (median) and $64,434 (average), based on an 8.8% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census data ranks St Agnes household, family, and personal incomes modestly, between the 38th and 38th percentiles. Income analysis shows that 35.6% of residents earn $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,588 residents), similar to regional levels at 31.8%. Housing costs are manageable with 86.7% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 42nd percentile. St Agnes' SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

St Agnes is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

St Agnes' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.8% houses and 14.3% other types such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings, compared to Adelaide metro's 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Agnes stood at 39.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.1% and rented ones at 17.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,862. Median weekly rent in St Agnes was $340, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, St Agnes' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,500 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were lower at $340 than the national figure of $375.

St Agnes has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.8% of all households, including 29.1% couples with children, 29.9% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.2%, with lone person households at 26.6% and group households making up 2.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in St Agnes aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

St Agnes's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks; 22.2% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to Australia's 30.4%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificates (25.6%).

Notably, 24.3% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.8% in primary education, 5.8% in secondary education, and 4.0% in tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transportation in St Agnes indicates that there are currently 28 operational transport stops within the area. These stops facilitate a variety of bus routes, with a total of 14 individual routes serving the community. The combined weekly passenger trips across these routes amount to 1,143. The accessibility of transport in St Agnes is considered good, with residents typically residing approximately 223 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most inhabitants commute outward for work or other purposes. The car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 86% of residents, while only 10% opt for public buses.

On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling in St Agnes. According to the 2021 Census data, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions, a relatively low 11.2% of residents work from home. The service frequency across all routes averages 163 trips per day, translating to roughly 40 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in St Agnes is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

St Agnes faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across all age groups but more so among older cohorts. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~2,250 people), compared to 52.7% in Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, impacting 10.0% and 9.9% of residents respectively. However, 61.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 22.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,013 people), higher than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

St Agnes had a cultural diversity level above average, with 24.7% of its population born overseas and 16.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in St Agnes as of 2016 Census data, comprising 45.1%. However, the group labeled 'Other' was slightly overrepresented in St Agnes at 1.9%, compared to 1.8% across Greater Adelaide.

Regarding ancestry (country of birth of parents), English was the top group in St Agnes with 30.4%, followed by Australian at 24.6%. The 'Other' category comprised 7.2%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: German was overrepresented at 7.0% compared to 5.1% regionally, Polish at 1.1% versus 1.0%, and Welsh at 0.8% against 0.6%.

St Agnes hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in St Agnes is 44 years, which exceeds Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and is also higher than the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Greater Adelaide average, the 55-64 age cohort is notably over-represented in St Agnes at 13.6%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.7%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 12.4% to 13.6% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.0% to 11.6%, and the 65 to 74 age group has dropped from 11.9% to 10.6%. Population forecasts for St Agnes indicate significant demographic changes by 2041, with the 85+ age cohort projected to grow substantially, increasing by 145 people (78%) from 187 to 333. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 62% of the projected growth. Conversely, the 5-14 and 55-64 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.