Unley

Unley is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, as of Nov 2025, Unley's estimated population is around 4,349. This reflects an increase of 352 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,997. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 4,208 residents following examination of ABS ERP data (June 2024) and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,899 persons per square kilometer, placing Unley in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Unley's growth of 8.8% since the 2021 census exceeded both its SA3 area (6.5%) and the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Moving forward with demographic trends, Unley is expected to grow by 423 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 6.2% in total over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, Unley averaged around 10 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 50 homes were approved, with another 6 approved so far in FY-26. Each year, an average of 2.8 new residents was gained for each dwelling built during this period, indicating healthy demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $879,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This financial year has seen $5.2 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Unley records about three-quarters the building activity per person, placing it among the 53rd percentile nationally for building activity, though recent years have shown acceleration. The area's maturity and possible planning constraints contribute to its below-average national level of building activity.

New development consists of approximately 54.0% detached dwellings and 46.0% townhouses or apartments, offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to more compact options. Unley has about 298 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Unley is expected to grow by approximately 270 residents through to 2041. Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Unley has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 31stth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include Unley Central, 12-16 Glen Osmond Road Mixed-Use Development, Unley 108 Apartments, and Unley Road Public Realm Streetscape Upgrade. Below is a list of projects most relevant to the area.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The exceptional employment performance in Unley places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Unley has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 1.9% as of September 2025, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.8%. Workforce participation in Unley was 66.9%, higher than Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Residents' employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area shows particular strength in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level.

Manufacturing has limited presence, with 3.7% employment compared to the regional average of 7.0%. Unley hosts more jobs than residents, with 1.1 workers per resident as at the Census, functioning as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.8% while unemployment remained broadly flat. By comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 3.0%. State-level data to 25-November shows South Australia's employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.0%, outperforming the national average of 0.14%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Unley's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Unley has one of the highest income levels nationally according to AreaSearch data based on Australian Taxation Office figures for the financial year ending June 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Unley is $67,378 and the average income stands at $106,299. This compares to Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852. Based on an 8.8% increase since June 2023 as per the Wage Price Index, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $73,307 (median) and $115,653 (average). Census data shows individual earnings in Unley stand at the 84th percentile nationally, with a weekly income of $1,066. Income distribution reveals that 27.3% of locals (1,187 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, mirroring regional levels where 31.8% fall into this bracket. A substantial 34.0% of residents earn more than $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. Housing expenses account for 13.5% of income, with residents ranking in the 72nd percentile nationally for disposable income. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Unley displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Unley, as per the latest Census evaluation, 52.4% of dwellings were houses while 47.6% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Adelaide metro had 59.2% houses and 40.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Unley stood at 35.8%, with mortgaged properties at 27.9% and rented dwellings at 36.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, aligning with Adelaide metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $372 compared to Adelaide metro's $350. Nationally, Unley's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were lower at $372 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 60.9% of all households, including 25.0% couples with children, 26.6% couples without children, and 7.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 39.1%, with lone person households at 32.8% and group households comprising 6.1%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.3.

Unley shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Unley's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 53.0% possess university qualifications compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in the Greater Adelaide area. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 32.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 15.7% and graduate diplomas at 5.1%. Vocational pathways account for 19.2% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.2% and certificates at 10.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.6% in primary education, 8.1% in tertiary education, and 6.0% pursuing secondary education.

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

Transport analysis shows 20 active stops operating within Unley. These are served by buses on 19 routes, offering 2,076 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents' access to transport is rated excellent, with an average distance of 194 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 296 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 103 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Unley is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Unley shows above-average health outcomes, with both young and elderly age groups experiencing low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 69% of Unley's total population of 2,996 has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are mental health issues (affecting 7.8% of residents) and arthritis (6.9%). A total of 71.4% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 69.9% across Greater Adelaide. Unley has 19.5% of its population aged 65 and over (848 people), which is lower than the 22.6% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, largely aligning with the overall health profile of the general population.

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

Unley's population showed higher cultural diversity compared to most local markets, with 28.2% born overseas and 22.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Unley, accounting for 41.3% of its residents. Notably, Judaism was more prevalent in Unley (0.3%) compared to Greater Adelaide (0.2%).

The top three ancestry groups were English (26.1%), Australian (19.8%), and Other (7.7%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: Welsh at 1.0% versus regional 0.6%, Greek at 5.2% versus 4.0%, and Polish at 1.1% compared to the region's 1.0%.

Unley's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Unley is 41 years, which is higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that the 45-54 year-old group makes up 13.7% of the population, while the 85+ group comprises 0.9%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 10.8% to 12.6%, and the 75 to 84 cohort has grown from 6.5% to 7.8%. Conversely, the 85+ cohort has decreased from 1.9% to 0.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the 75 to 84 age group will increase by 115 people (34%), from 339 to 455. Meanwhile, both the 35 to 44 and 65 to 74 age groups are projected to decrease in number.