State Electorate · Area profile
Adelaide
23 km²
Daily life in Adelaide is defined by a highly walkable, urban environment where almost every home is within a short stroll of parks, shops and health services. The area is a youthful hub, with a typical resident aged 35 and a population that has grown by 16% since 2011. It is a diverse and highly educated community, marked by a significant number of overseas-born residents and a high proportion of professionals. This mix of international backgrounds and academic achievement creates a distinctive, fast-paced city character.
Adelaide is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The community is noticeably younger than the state and national figures, with the typical resident aged 35. While children under 15 make up only 10.3% of the population, there is a much higher proportion of people in de facto relationships than in most other areas.
A strong international presence is evident here, with 37.8% of people born overseas—a figure far above the national average. The most common ancestries include English, Australian and Chinese.
Language diversity is high, with 31.3% of residents using a language other than English at home, which is well above the national figure. Mandarin is the most common non-English language spoken.
The area is much more secular than most, with 46.8% of people reporting no religion. This figure has risen by 18 points since 2011.
Adelaide is a highly qualified hub where 44.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far above the state average. This high level of education is reflected in the fact that 75.1% of residents completed Year 12.
Incomes are generally high, with the typical family earning $2,430 a week, which is well above the state figure. This is consistent with the high proportion of professionals living in the area, with 16.2% of people earning $2,000 or more weekly.
Residents here are generally healthier than the national average, with a lower rate of long-term health conditions (24.2%) and fewer people needing help with daily activities (4.3%).
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, though the proportion of people providing unpaid childcare or housework is among the lowest at this level.
The area is dominated by smaller living arrangements, with 38.7% of people living alone—far above the national average. Consequently, there are only 2.0 people per home on average.
Rental properties are very common, with 49% of households renting, far above the state average. The housing stock is mostly small, with flats or apartments making up 40.1% of all homes.
Public transport use is among the highest at this level, and 22% of homes have no motor vehicle. This is supported by an extensive network of 387 public transport stops.
The population is highly mobile, with 54.8% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 36.6% of the community, which is far above the national figure.
While adults working or looking for work are at a typical level, the unemployment rate of 7.0% is higher than the state and national figures. Many residents work in health care, professional services or the food and accommodation industry.
Adelaide is a walker's paradise with a score of 9.2, as 100% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park and public transport. Almost all residents can reach groceries and health services on foot within 15 minutes.