Adelaide North

The population of Adelaide - North in 2021 was 461,302. The population is forecast to grow by 146,184 persons to reach a population of 607,486 in 2046. This accounts for 39% of South Australia's population growth over the next 25 years.

• The number of dwellings in Adelaide - North is forecast to grow from 182,768 in 2021 to 249,804 in 2046, an additional 67,037 dwellings.
• Adelaide - North's population growth is dominated by 3 SA2s; Munno Para West - Angle Vale, Virginia - Waterloo Corner, and Gawler - South. Collectively, these SA2s contribute 69% of Adelaide - North's population growth over the forecast period, accounting for nearly 46% of Greater Adelaide's total population growth over the next 25 years. That's a lot. 
• Munno Para West - Angle Vale SA2 is forecast to grow 45,541 persons, the largest share of population growth within the region (31%) by 2046. Contributing to such strong population growth is the additional 18,328 dwellings forecast to be complete by 2046, the largest share of any SA2, and accounting for 27% of Adelaide - North's dwelling growth over the forecast period.
• 8 SA2s are forecast to decline slightly in population over the 25-year forecast period, the largest of which being Mawson Lakes - Globe Derby Park (-4%), Redwood Park, (-2.8) and Salisbury - North (-2.2%).
• Virginia - Waterloo Corner is the fastest growing SA2 in both dwellings built and population growth, dominated by its flagship Riverlea Estate. However, our forecasters have sequenced Dry Creek - North to begin development in the early 2030's, attributed to land re-zoning on the salt pans, becoming the fastest growing SA2 once it begins.
• In comparison to Greater Adelaide, Adelaide - North has a diversity of household types, catering mostly for young families in growing suburbs. Northgate - Oakden - Gilles Plains SA2 is the figurehead of this diversity, characterised by showing the most dynamic age structure over the forecast period.
• Although Adelaide - North is forecast to grow more than any other South Australian SA4, it has operated at a net loss in intrastate migration over the last 5 years, losing its largest proportion of emigrants to Barossa - York - Mid North, Adelaide - Central and Hills, and South Australia - South East  SA4s. 

Read on below for charts, maps and tables sharing the forecast results at SA2 geography. 

Adelaide North SA4 is comprised of 33 SA2s ranging from mature, satellite cities like Elizabeth SA2 an historic employment hub attracting early migrant communities in the 50s. To Riverlea Park, a new suburb spearheaded by its very own 12,000 dwelling estate, attracting young and growing families as well as new migrants within Virginia - Waterloo Corner SA2.

The SA4 is serviced by the Gawler Central passenger railway line and the Adelaide - Port Augusta freight railway line. The Central and North East regions are serviced by the Gawler Line, whereas the South and South East quadrant is serviced by the O-Bahn busway. The west is not serviced by public transport and instead relies on the North - South Motorway to access the CBD.

Adelaide – North has a younger population compared to Greater Adelaide as a whole. Given its nature of urban growth, young families looking for a cheaper first home tend to relocate to areas with greater housing supply like Adelaide - North. Although no SA2 in Adelaide - North is considered 'inner-city', the SA4 still boasts a large university-age service group attributed to the University of South Australia in Mawson Lakes - Globe Derby Park SA2.

Adelaide - North is the growth engine of Adelaide, and South Australia as a whole. Playing a similar function to the historic Southern growth expansion, Adelaide - North boasts an expanding housing supply, without the topographic constraints. Consisting mostly of large estates, the expansion into Northern Adelaide will require adequate staging processes to ensure infrastructure keeps up with demand.

Read our forecast results and analysis for Western Australia to learn more about how the different drivers of population change affect the distribution of growth throughout the state.

The population forecast for South Australia

The following forecast information presents the numbers for Adelaide - North

Learn more about the different options to access these forecasts for Local Government Areas (LGAs), suburbs, custom catchments or the entire state or nation here.