Fastest growing Adelaide suburbs (2016-2021)
Seaford Heights grew fastest in percentage terms, at +1,936%. Mount Barker added the most residents, 4,487. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 345 eligible Adelaide suburbs.
This ranking shows which Adelaide suburbs grew fastest between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — once by percent change, and once by the sheer number of residents added, because those two questions have very different answers.
Percent growth and headcount growth are both real and they rarely agree. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 has grown 4,900%, and a suburb going from 35,000 to 56,000 has grown 63% — but the second one added four times as many people. The first list finds the greenfield estates, the second finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Both are ranked within Adelaide's own pool. Note the period: the 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count available in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here.
Adelaide suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021
Ranked on percent population change between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses. Percent growth favours suburbs starting from a small base, so greenfield estates built on former farmland dominate the top.
Seaford Heights
SA 5169 · 1,079 residents1,026 residents added · +1936% · 1,079 residents in 2021
Bowden
SA 5007 · 1,808 residents896 residents added · +98% · 1,808 residents in 2021
Woodforde
SA 5072 · 1,024 residents406 residents added · +66% · 1,024 residents in 2021
St Clair
SA 5011 · 2,634 residents922 residents added · +54% · 2,634 residents in 2021
Virginia
SA 5120 · 2,759 residents955 residents added · +53% · 2,759 residents in 2021
Angle Vale
SA 5117 · 4,051 residents1,127 residents added · +39% · 4,051 residents in 2021
Devon Park
SA 5008 · 1,185 residents297 residents added · +34% · 1,185 residents in 2021
Seaford Meadows
SA 5169 · 5,102 residents1,251 residents added · +32% · 5,102 residents in 2021
Mount Barker
SA 5251 · 18,330 residents4,487 residents added · +32% · 18,330 residents in 2021
Direk
SA 5110 · 913 residents213 residents added · +30% · 913 residents in 2021
Craigburn Farm
SA 5051 · 3,099 residents705 residents added · +29% · 3,099 residents in 2021
Moana
SA 5169 · 3,316 residents677 residents added · +26% · 3,316 residents in 2021
Woodville West
SA 5011 · 3,854 residents760 residents added · +25% · 3,854 residents in 2021
Blakeview
SA 5114 · 8,979 residents1,750 residents added · +24% · 8,979 residents in 2021
Ashford
SA 5035 · 1,157 residents198 residents added · +21% · 1,157 residents in 2021
Ranked from 345 qualifying suburbs.
Adelaide suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021
Ranked on the NUMBER of residents added between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses rather than the percentage, which surfaces the established growth corridors instead of small suburbs multiplying from near zero.
Mount Barker
SA 5251 · 18,330 residents4,487 residents added · +32% · 18,330 residents in 2021
Adelaide
SA 5000 · 18,202 residents3,086 residents added · +20% · 18,202 residents in 2021
Blakeview
SA 5114 · 8,979 residents1,750 residents added · +24% · 8,979 residents in 2021
Parafield Gardens
SA 5107 · 18,467 residents1,521 residents added · +9% · 18,467 residents in 2021
Prospect
SA 5082 · 14,584 residents1,304 residents added · +10% · 14,584 residents in 2021
Seaford Meadows
SA 5169 · 5,102 residents1,251 residents added · +32% · 5,102 residents in 2021
Angle Vale
SA 5117 · 4,051 residents1,127 residents added · +39% · 4,051 residents in 2021
Campbelltown
SA 5074 · 9,263 residents1,106 residents added · +14% · 9,263 residents in 2021
Seaford Heights
SA 5169 · 1,079 residents1,026 residents added · +1936% · 1,079 residents in 2021
West Lakes
SA 5021 · 6,768 residents980 residents added · +17% · 6,768 residents in 2021
Paralowie
SA 5108 · 17,504 residents973 residents added · +6% · 17,504 residents in 2021
Virginia
SA 5120 · 2,759 residents955 residents added · +53% · 2,759 residents in 2021
St Clair
SA 5011 · 2,634 residents922 residents added · +54% · 2,634 residents in 2021
Bowden
SA 5007 · 1,808 residents896 residents added · +98% · 1,808 residents in 2021
Enfield
SA 5085 · 6,204 residents873 residents added · +16% · 6,204 residents in 2021
Ranked from 345 qualifying suburbs.
100% population growth, ranked within Adelaide's candidate pool — once by percent change and once by residents added, because those two questions have different answers. Nothing else is blended in: a suburb that grew is not thereby better or worse to live in. The figures are the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb population counts published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than today. Suburbs missing either count are excluded rather than ranked as no-growth. See how we calculate for the full methodology.
Common questions about this ranking
What are the fastest growing Adelaide suburbs (2016-2021)?
Seaford Heights grew fastest in percentage terms, at +1,936%. Mount Barker added the most residents, 4,487. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 345 eligible Adelaide suburbs.
What period does this cover?
The 2016-2021 Censuses. The 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here, and one that took off after 2021 will not.
Why are there two different lists?
Because percent growth and headcount growth rarely agree, and both are real. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 grew 4,900%; one going from 35,000 to 56,000 grew 63% but added four times as many people. The percent list finds greenfield estates built on former farmland; the headcount list finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Presenting only one would hide half the answer.
Does fast growth make a suburb a good place to live?
This ranking does not say so, and deliberately blends nothing else in. Rapid growth can mean new housing, new schools and rising demand, or it can mean construction, strained roads and services that have not caught up — often both at once in the same suburb. Check the walkability, transport, schools and risk figures on each suburb's own page.
Which suburbs are eligible?
Suburbs in Adelaide with at least 500 residents and a population figure in both Censuses. A suburb missing either count is left out rather than ranked as no-growth, and the top 15 are shown in each list.
Same list in other cities
- Fastest growing Sydney suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Melbourne suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Brisbane suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Perth suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Hobart suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Darwin suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Canberra suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Newcastle suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Central Coast suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Sunshine Coast suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Gold Coast suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Wollongong suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Geelong suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Townsville suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Toowoomba suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Busselton suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Ballarat suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Cairns suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Albany suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Ballina suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Geraldton suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Warragul suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Bundaberg suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Launceston suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Bendigo suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Rockhampton suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Mackay suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Albury – Wodonga suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Camden Haven suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Burnie suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Wagga Wagga suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Coffs Harbour suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Alice Springs suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Mount Isa suburbs (2016-2021)
Related
Rankings last computed 12 October 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.
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