Strathalbyn (SA)

Strathalbyn lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The estimated population of Strathalbyn (SA) as of November 2025 is around 8,330 people. This figure reflects an increase of 1,084 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,246 people. The estimated resident population used for this calculation was 7,869, derived by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 395 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 71 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's growth rate of 15% since the 2021 census exceeded both the non-metro area (6.8%) and the state average, indicating significant growth compared to other regions. Interstate migration contributed roughly 80% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving Strathalbyn's population increase.

AreaSearch employs 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 by age category are adopted, using adjustments made via weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels based on 2021 data released in 2023. Looking ahead, Strathalbyn is projected to experience above median population growth for national non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, the suburb's population is expected to expand by 1,423 persons, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 11.1% over the 17-year period, according to aggregated SA2-level projections.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Strathalbyn among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Strathalbyn averaged approximately 105 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 527 homes. As of FY-26, 59 approvals have been recorded. This indicates around 1.5 new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, suggesting a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $342,000, aligning with regional patterns.

In FY-26, $21.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Relative to Rest of SA, Strathalbyn has similar development levels per person, supporting market stability in line with regional trends. This is notably higher than the national average, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. Recent building activity consists solely of detached dwellings, preserving Strathalbyn's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers with around 58 people per dwelling approval.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Strathalbyn is expected to grow by 927 residents through to 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

AreaSearch has identified seven projects that could impact the area, with key ones being Aurora Strathalbyn, Air at Strathalbyn, Lot 5 Hampden Way Local Activity Centre, and Aspen Lifestyle Strathalbyn. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Strathalbyn ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Strathalbyn has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well represented with an unemployment rate of 2.2% as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation in June 2025.

There were 3,534 residents employed at this time, with the unemployment rate being 2.3% lower than Rest of SA's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation was on par with Rest of SA's 54.1%. Key employment sectors for Strathalbyn residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Notably, health care & social assistance has a higher share of employment at 1.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented with only 6.6% of Strathalbyn's workforce compared to 14.5% in Rest of SA. The area may have limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Strathalbyn's labour force decreased by 2.1%, while employment declined by 2.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA saw employment fall by 1.2% with the labour force expanding by 0.1%, resulting in a 1.2 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Strathalbyn's employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not consider localised population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Strathalbyn had a median income of $45,688 and an average income of $57,044. This is lower than the national averages of $51,933 (median) and $60,167 (average). In Rest of SA, median income was $46,889 with an average of $56,582. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% from financial year 2022 to September 2025, estimated incomes in Strathalbyn would be approximately $51,550 (median) and $64,363 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Strathalbyn fall between the 17th and 17th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 29.2% of individuals earn between $1,500 - $2,999, reflecting regional patterns where 27.5% also occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Strathalbyn, with only 84.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 18th percentile nationally.

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

As of the latest Census, Strathalbyn's dwelling structure comprised 94.1% houses and 5.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 92.1% houses and 7.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Strathalbyn stood at 40.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.0% and rented ones at 20.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, higher than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,300. The median weekly rent in Strathalbyn was $300, compared to Non-Metro SA's $280. Nationally, Strathalbyn's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,500 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $300 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 71.9% of all households, including 25.4% couples with children, 34.0% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.1%, with lone person households at 26.5% and group households making up 1.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of SA average of 2.2.

Educational outcomes in Strathalbyn fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has university qualification rates of 15.9%, significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 11.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 42.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificates (31.3%).

Educational participation is high, at 26.1%, including primary education (9.7%), secondary education (8.4%), and tertiary education (2.8%). Strathalbyn's four schools have a combined enrollment of 1,713 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 995) and balanced educational opportunities. All four schools offer integrated K-12 education for academic continuity. The area functions as an education hub, with 20.6 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 11.1, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus.

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

Strathalbyn has four active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops are served by a mix of buses running along two individual routes. Together, these routes provide sixty weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of the transport system is rated as limited, with residents typically located 787 meters away from the nearest stop. On average, service frequency across all routes is eight trips per day, which equates to approximately fifteen weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Strathalbyn, with notable prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% (~4130 people), compared to 46.8% in Rest of SA and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.0%) and mental health issues (10.0%).

A total of 61.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 58.3% in Rest of SA. Strathalbyn has 27.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2282 people), lower than the 37.0% in Rest of SA. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

Strathalbyn is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Strathalbyn, as per data collected in June 2021, showed a lower than average cultural diversity level with 87.1% of its population born in Australia. Also, 92.2% were citizens and 97.5% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 42.4%.

However, Judaism's representation was negligible at 0.0%, similar to the Rest of SA region (0.0%). The top three ancestry groups based on parents' country of birth were English (36.3%), Australian (29.7%), and Scottish (8.8%). Notably, German ethnicity was overrepresented in Strathalbyn at 7.6% compared to the regional average of 6.7%. Dutch ethnicity also showed a slight overrepresentation at 1.9%, compared to 1.6% regionally. Welsh ethnicity stood out with an equal representation at 0.6%.

Strathalbyn hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Strathalbyn's median age is 47 years, aligning with the Rest of South Australia average but higher than the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Rest of SA average, Strathalbyn has a notably higher proportion of 75-84 year-olds (10.4% locally) and a lower proportion of 55-64 year-olds (13.0%). According to data from the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 9.3% to 10.4% of Strathalbyn's population, while the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 12.4% to 11.0%. By the year 2041, Strathalbyn is projected to experience significant changes in its age composition. The 85+ group is expected to grow by 113%, reaching 569 people from a starting point of 266. Meanwhile, population declines are forecast for the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups.