Black Forest (SA)

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Drawing on ABS demographic updates for the surrounding region alongside new addresses verified by Districts since the Census, Black Forest is calculated to house approximately 2,014 people as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 32 residents (1.6%) from the 1,982 individuals documented in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is calculated from an estimated resident population of 2,012, which Districts determined from the June 2025 ABS ERP figures, supplemented by 8 validated new addresses established since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 2,918 residents per square kilometer, placing the locality in the top quartile of Australian settings analyzed by Districts. Recent population increases were overwhelmingly driven by international migration, which accounted for roughly 99.0% of all demographic gains.

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Black Forest features an exceptionally educated workforce with a heavy concentration of professionals, an unemployment rate of just 3.0%, and a 3.7% rise in estimated jobs over the past year, according to Districts aggregations of regional data. By March 2026, there were 1,155 employed inhabitants, with the local unemployment rate sitting 0.8% below the 3.8% recorded across Greater Adelaide, alongside a typical participation rate of 69.2% compared to the metropolitan average of 66.6%. Census figures showed that a moderate 13.5% of workers operated from home, though this period may have been influenced by pandemic lockdowns.

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According to Districts compilation of ATO postal data released for the financial year 2023, tax-paying residents in the suburb of Black Forest recorded a median income of $54,013 and an average income of $78,867. These figures represent strong positions nationally and compare to $54,808 and $66,852 respectively for Greater Adelaide. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since the financial year 2023, these metrics are estimated to have reached approximately $59,506 for the median and $86,888 for the average by March 2026. The 2021 Census placed personal earnings at the 66th percentile ($894 per week), with household earnings at the 45th percentile. Income brackets show 31.0% of the population (624 people) earning between $1,500 and mirroring the metropolitan trend where fall in this bracket. Home budgets are sustainable with of income retained, although disposable earnings are below average at the th percentile and the local SEIFA income rank is in the th decile.

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The housing landscape in Black Forest at the time of the latest Census consisted of 59.3% standalone houses and 40.7% other housing formats (including semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to the wider metropolitan split of 75.2% houses and 24.9% other formats. Home ownership rates in Black Forest exceeded metropolitan averages at 34.3%, with remaining homes occupied by mortgage holders (25.6%) or tenants (40.1%). The median monthly home loan payment of $1,733 was notably higher than the metropolitan average of $1,562, while the median weekly rent stood at $290, compared to the regional figure of $320. Across Australia, home loan payments in Black Forest are below the national median of $1,863, and rental rates are considerably lower than the national benchmark of $375.

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Families make up the majority of homes at 62.6%, consisting of 26.0% couples with children, 26.9% couples without children, and 8.5% single parents. Non-family households represent the remaining 37.4%, with single-person homes at 32.0% and shared households at 5.1%. The average household occupancy of 2.3 people is smaller than the wider regional average of 2.5.

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The level of academic qualification in Black Forest is significantly higher than regional averages, with 45.8% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 25.7% in SA and 28.9% across Greater Adelaide. This educational profile positions the community well for professional services roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 27.9%, followed by postgraduate study at 11.9% and graduate diplomas at 6.0%. Vocational training is held by 23.7% of the population aged 15+ years, consisting of advanced diplomas at 9.0% and certificates at 14.7%.

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Public transport analysis identifies 9 active stops within Black Forest, featuring a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. These stops are connected to 14 separate routes, providing a total of 1,229 passenger services weekly. Local transport access is classified as good, with residents living an average of 202 meters from their closest stop. As a predominantly residential neighborhood, most locals travel outward to work, with cars being the primary mode of travel at 75%, followed by trains at 6% and bicycles at 4%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per home, which is below the metropolitan standard. Roughly 13.5% of workers perform their duties from home (2021 Census; potentially reflecting pandemic restrictions).

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Black Forest features strong health profiles based on Districts analysis of mortality rates and chronic health conditions, with low rates of common illnesses observed in both younger and older cohorts, alongside a very high rate of private health insurance held by approximately 58% of the population (~1,170 people). This compares to 52.7% throughout Greater Adelaide.

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Black Forest shows a higher level of cultural diversity than most benchmarked locations, with 25.9% of the population born outside Australia and 21.6% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the main religious affiliation at 39.1% of residents. The most notable religious variance is in Hinduism, which represents 4.9% of the local population compared to 2.8% across Greater Adelaide.

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The median age in Black Forest is 39 years, matching the Greater Adelaide median of 39 and closely aligning with the national median of 38. Compared to metropolitan benchmarks, the 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 16.9%, while the 35 - 44 bracket is lower at 12.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort expanded from 5.1% to 7.4% of the population, and the 15 to 24 age bracket rose from 12.1% to 13.3%, whereas the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.4% to 10.9%. Future age projections indicate notable changes by with the to group set to grow the fastest at , adding people to reach . Demographic aging is evident as residents aged and over account for of the projected growth, while declines are expected in the to and to cohorts.

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Black Forest currently has an estimated 90 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 50 children aged 0-2 and 34 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 5% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 0% by 2041 (to approximately 90 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 164. Birth rates in the area have averaged 8.7 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a moderate rate (within the middle tier nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.