West Hindmarsh

An assessment of population growth drivers in West Hindmarsh 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, West Hindmarsh's population is estimated at around 1,623 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 63 people (4.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,560 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,592, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 3 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,705 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, West Hindmarsh has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a 1.2% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the state. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 91.0% 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 any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering the projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth of national areas is projected, with West Hindmarsh expected to expand by 398 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 27.3% in total over the 17 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, West Hindmarsh averaged around 2 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years ending FY-25. This totals an estimated 12 homes. So far in FY-26, 4 approvals have been recorded. Between FY-21 and FY-25, there was an average of 9.3 new residents per year for every home built.

Demand significantly outpaced supply during this period, typically putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. New properties were constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $404,000, indicating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, $202,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Adelaide, West Hindmarsh has significantly less development activity, 83.0% below regional average per person as of recent data. This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Building activity has accelerated in recent years but remains below national averages, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent building activity consists entirely of townhouses or apartments, a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition which is currently 69.0% houses.

This skew toward compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 416 people per dwelling approval, West Hindmarsh shows a developed market. Population forecasts indicate West Hindmarsh will gain 443 residents through to 2041 based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

West Hindmarsh has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

No changes can affect a region's performance more than alterations to local infrastructure, significant projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are expected to impact this area. Key projects include Third Street Bowden, Southwark Grounds (Thebarton Technology Hub), New Women's and Children's Hospital, and Henley Beach Road Visioning Project. 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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Employment performance in West Hindmarsh exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

West Hindmarsh has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.6% as of September 2025, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.9%. As of that date, 998 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate 0.4% below Greater Adelaide's and workforce participation at 69.1%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. The area has a strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

However, manufacturing is under-represented, at 4.7% of West Hindmarsh's workforce compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.0%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels in West Hindmarsh increased by 3.9% and labour force increased by 3.5%, causing a 0.3 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Adelaide experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a 0.1 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows SA employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 10,710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.0%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%, with SA's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.14%. 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. Applying these industry-specific projections to West Hindmarsh's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, West Hindmarsh's median income among taxpayers is $56,842. The average income is $66,502. Nationally, the median income is higher at $71,955 and the average is $95,273. In Greater Adelaide, the median income is $54,808 and the average is $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest West Hindmarsh's median income would be approximately $61,844 by September 2025, with an average of around $72,354. Census data indicates that incomes in West Hindmarsh cluster around the 51st percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 31.9% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to the broader area where this cohort also represents 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in West Hindmarsh, with only 83.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 44th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

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

West Hindmarsh's dwelling structure at the latest Census showed 68.7% houses and 31.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Adelaide metro had 66.1% houses and 33.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Hindmarsh was at 26.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.9% and rented ones at 41.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Adelaide metro's figure, while the median weekly rent was $320 compared to Adelaide metro's $325. Nationally, West Hindmarsh's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

West Hindmarsh features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 66.5 percent of all households, including 23.1 percent couples with children, 28.5 percent couples without children, and 11.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.5 percent, with lone person households at 27.6 percent and group households comprising 6.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.4.

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

In West Hindmarsh, residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. 37.3% hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.8% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.9%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 26.6% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.3%) and certificates (17.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.8% in tertiary education, 7.3% in primary education, and 5.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in West Hindmarsh indicates five active transport stops currently operating. These stops offer a variety of bus services, with eleven individual routes running through the area. The combined weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes total 1,175.

Residents enjoy excellent accessibility to public transport, with an average distance of 197 meters to the nearest stop. Service frequency across all routes averages 167 trips per day, translating to approximately 235 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in West Hindmarsh is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

West Hindmarsh exhibits above-average health outcomes with a low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population compared to national averages.

However, older and at-risk cohorts have higher rates of these conditions than the average South Australian Statistical Division (SA2) area. Approximately 53% (~864 people) of West Hindmarsh's total population has private health cover, slightly higher than the SA2 average. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 10.1 and 8.3% of residents respectively. Conversely, 70.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 68.9% across Greater Adelaide. West Hindmarsh has a lower proportion of residents aged 65 and over (14.8%, or 240 people) than Greater Adelaide's average of 20%.

West Hindmarsh was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

West Hindmarsh's population showed high cultural diversity, with 30.9% born overseas and 30.2% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, at 42.7%. The "Other" religious category had a higher representation in West Hindmarsh (2.5%) compared to Greater Adelaide (1.8%).

In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (21.7%), Australian (17.3%), and Other (11.2%). Notable differences existed for Serbian (1.5% vs 1.3%), Polish (1.4% vs 1.4%), and Greek (6.3% vs 4.7%) populations.

West Hindmarsh's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in West Hindmarsh is 36 years, which is slightly lower than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and also lower than Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide, West Hindmarsh has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (20.4%), but fewer residents aged 65-74 (7.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, West Hindmarsh's population aged 35 to 44 has grown from 15.9% to 17.0%, while the proportion of those aged 25 to 34 has increased from 19.3% to 20.4%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 13.8% to 11.6%. By 2041, West Hindmarsh's age composition is expected to change significantly. Notably, the 35 to 44 age group is projected to grow by 26%, increasing from 275 to 348 people.