Bowden (SA)

Detail

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by Districts since the Census Bowden's population is estimated at around 2,314 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 506 people (28.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,808 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,309, estimated by Districts following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and an additional 205 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 6,254 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by Districts, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. Bowden's 28.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the state (7.5%), along with the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately of overall population gains during recent periods.

Detail

Bowden boasts a workforce with high educational credentials, a prominent concentration of professional service workers, a minimal unemployment rate of 2.3%, and an estimated 11.6% rise in total employment over the prior year, according to aggregated district data. In March 2026, 1,803 local citizens were employed, the unemployment rate sat 1.6% below the 3.8% recorded for Greater Adelaide, and labor force participation stood exceptionally high at 85.3% compared with Greater Adelaide's 66.6%. Census figures indicate a modest 14.1% of working locals operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 containment measures.

Detail

According to the most recent ATO postcode records compiled by Districts for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the suburb of Bowden reported a median income of $70,535 and an average income of $82,522. These figures are very high on a national scale, especially when contrasted against Greater Adelaide's median of $54,808 and average of $66,852. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.17% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median income of approximately $77,708 and an average of $90,914 as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census highlights that individual earnings are high, placing at the 83rd percentile nationally with a weekly figure of $1,056, whereas household incomes reside at the lower 43rd percentile. Looking at income distributions, the largest segment comprises 38.0% of the local population ( people) who earn between and mirroring the metropolitan pattern where fall into this bracket. Housing costs present a heavy burden, with residents retaining only of their income, which sits at the th percentile, while the SEIFA index for income ranks the area in the th decile.

Detail

The mix of housing in the suburb of Bowden at the time of the latest Census consisted of 14.2% detached houses and 85.7% other structures such as townhouses, apartments, or alternative dwellings, differing from the wider Adelaide metro footprint which had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. The level of home ownership stood at 13.2%, which is lower than the metropolitan Adelaide average, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (28.0%) or renting (58.8%). The median monthly home loan payment was $1,560, slightly lower than the Adelaide metro average of $1,562, while the median weekly rental cost was $390 compared to the Adelaide metro benchmark of $320. Nationally, mortgage costs are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents exceed the national average of $375.

Detail

Families represent 44.5% of all households, consisting of 10.1% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 6.1% single parents. The remaining 55.5% are non-family households, with single-person households representing 45.0% and shared group households making up 10.4% of the total. At 1.8 people, the median size of a household is smaller than the Greater Adelaide median of 2.5.

Detail

The standard of education in the suburb of Bowden is significantly higher than regional averages, with 52.6% of residents aged 15 and older possessing a university qualification, compared to 25.7% in SA and 28.8% in the SA3 area. This pronounced education gap positions local residents well for professional and knowledge-based career paths. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 35.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 13.9% and graduate diplomas at 3.7%. Technical and vocational streams represent 24.5% of qualifications for those aged 15 and over, split between advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificate level studies at 13.5%.

Detail

Public transport options include 3 active stops within the suburb of Bowden, offering a combination of train and bus connections. These stops are served by 8 separate routes that combine to deliver 973 passenger journeys each week. Local transport links are highly rated, with residents living an average of 182 meters from the closest stop. Given the residential nature of the area, most workers commute out of the neighborhood, with cars being the primary mode of travel at 64%, followed by buses at 6% and bicycles at 5%. Registered vehicles average 0.5 per dwelling, which is below the wider metropolitan average. Additionally, 14.1% of workers worked from home, based on 2021 Census data collected during pandemic conditions.

Detail

Based on Districts' evaluation of mortality and the occurrence of long-term conditions, the suburb of Bowden exhibits positive health profiles, with low rates of common illnesses across both younger and older generations. The rate of private health insurance is high, covering approximately 60% of the local population (1,378 people), compared to the 52.7% average recorded across Greater Adelaide.

Detail

The suburb of Bowden exhibits higher cultural diversity than most property markets, with 24.2% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 34.2% born outside Australia. Christianity is the largest religious group, representing 27.0% of the population. The most pronounced religious divergence is in Islam, which represents 3.2% of the local population, compared to 3.0% across Greater Adelaide.

Detail

The median age of 32 years makes the suburb of Bowden considerably younger than the Greater Adelaide average of 39, and younger than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, there is a high proportion of residents aged 25 - 34 (33.2%) and a low proportion aged 5 - 14 (3.8%). This concentration of 25 - 34 year-olds is well above the national benchmark of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 cohort has increased from 14.4% to 15.5% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort decreased from 16.2% to 14.3%. Projections for point to shifts in local age profiles, with the to group projected to expand by , adding residents to reach .

Detail

Bowden currently has an estimated 64 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 68 children aged 0-2 and 44 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 28% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 34% by 2041 (to approximately 86 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 155. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 11.1 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.