📈 Suburbs With the Fastest-Growing Incomes in South Australia
Incomes across Australia rose sharply between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 financial years, driven by wage growth, inflation and a tight labour market. But the gains were far from even — some postcodes saw median taxable incomes climb by more than 40%, while others barely moved. This ranking lists the 25 postcodes in South Australia where median taxable income grew the fastest, using the ATO's Taxation Statistics 2023-24 (Individuals — Table 8).
Cowell leads with median taxable income rising 37.9% — from $38,157 in 2019-20 to $52,614 in 2023-24. Across the top 25, the midpoint suburb still grew 29.8%. Fast growth tends to cluster in sea-change and tree-change areas that attracted higher earners over the period, resource-town postcodes riding a commodities cycle, and outer-metro suburbs where new higher-income households moved in.
ATO figures are reported by postcode and cover every individual who lodged a tax return, so they describe the whole postcode rather than a single suburb. Only postcodes with a representative suburb of at least 200 residents are included, and the ATO suppresses any postcode with fewer than 200 lodgments. Taxable income differs from ABS Census household and personal income, which can rank areas differently.
Cowell SA 5602
Cowell is a small coastal town situated on Franklin Harbour on the eastern Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, approximately 494 kilometres from Adelaide and 111 kilometres south of Whyalla. Home to a population of around 1,130 people (2016 Census), Cowell serves as the administrative centre of the District Council of Franklin Harbour. The town is distinctly known as the jade capital of Australia, with nearby deposits of nephrite jade and Cowell Marble attracting collectors and visitors from across the country.
Angle Vale SA 5117
Angle Vale is a rapidly growing rural locality on the northern fringe of greater Adelaide, situated approximately 35 kilometres north of the Adelaide CBD within the City of Playford local government area. With a population of 4,051 in 2021 — up significantly from 2,923 in 2016 — it is one of Adelaide's fastest-developing outer growth corridors, attracting young families with relatively affordable land and new housing estates. The median age of just 35 and an average household size of 3.1 people reflect its strong appeal to families at the life stage of buying their first home.
Riverton SA 5412
Riverton is a small rural town in the Clare and Gilbert Valleys District Council area of South Australia, located approximately 120 kilometres north of Adelaide on the Main North Road. Covering 152 square kilometres at an elevation of 272 metres in the Mid North region, the town has a population of 1,029 as of the 2021 Census and serves as a service centre for the surrounding agricultural community. With a median age of 57 — one of the highest in the region — Riverton has a distinctly mature demographic, with a strong proportion of retirees and long-established farming families.
Maitland SA 5573
Maitland is the main service town of the Yorke Peninsula, situated approximately 160 kilometres north-west of Adelaide in the Yorke Peninsula District Council area. With a population of 1,312, the community has a median age of 51, reflecting its appeal to older residents and retirees drawn to the peaceful rural lifestyle. The suburb covers a large area of 373 square kilometres, encompassing farmland and small townships, with housing predominantly consisting of detached homes on generous blocks.
Crystal Brook SA 5523
Crystal Brook is a rural town in South Australia's Mid North region, located approximately 40 kilometres south of Port Pirie and around 180 kilometres north of Adelaide, within the Port Pirie City and Districts council area. With a population of 1,537, it is a quiet agricultural service town spread across a substantial 192 square kilometres of farming land at the southern edge of the Flinders Ranges foothills. The median age of 49 and predominantly Australian and English ancestry reflect an established, older community with strong agricultural roots.
Jamestown SA 5491
Jamestown is a historic rural town in the Mid North region of South Australia, situated on the banks of Belalie Creek approximately 207 kilometres north of Adelaide, within the Northern Areas Council district. Established in 1871, the town sits at an elevation of 477 metres on the pastoral plains south of the Flinders Ranges, serving as the administrative and service hub for the surrounding agricultural district. With a 2021 Census population of 1,549 and a median age of 49, Jamestown has a mature, settled community with deep connections to the land and farming heritage.
Paringa SA 5340
Paringa is a small Riverland town in South Australia, situated on the south bank of the River Murray about 17 kilometres from the Victorian border. With a population of around 1,030, it forms part of the Renmark Paringa Council area. The town is known for its iconic six-span bridge crossing the Murray, one span of which can be raised to allow river traffic through.
Mount Pleasant SA 5235
Mount Pleasant is a charming rural town in the Barossa Region of South Australia, situated approximately 55 kilometres north-east of Adelaide in the Adelaide Hills foothills. The 2021 census recorded a population of 1,058 residents, reflecting modest but steady growth since 2016. The town serves as a service centre for surrounding farming and viticultural communities, with the area known for its scenic rolling hills and proximity to the famous Barossa Valley wine region. It falls under the Adelaide Plains and Barossa local government area.
Virginia SA 5120
Virginia is a suburb on the rural northern outskirts of Adelaide in South Australia, located about 35 km north of the Adelaide CBD within the City of Playford. With a population of approximately 2,759 (2021 Census), it sits along Port Wakefield Road, the main highway corridor heading north from Adelaide. The area has a strong agricultural heritage, particularly known as one of South Australia's premier market gardening districts.
Christie Downs SA 5164
Christie Downs is an established residential suburb in Adelaide's southern corridor, located approximately 30 kilometres south of the CBD within the City of Onkaparinga. The suburb covers around 3.2 square kilometres and is home to a population of approximately 5,239 residents, with a median age of 41. Household incomes sit below the metropolitan average, reflecting a working-class community character typical of this part of the Onkaparinga region.
Roseworthy SA 5371
Roseworthy is a township in South Australia's northern Adelaide plains, around 10 km north of Gawler in the Light Regional Council area. Census 2021 records a population of 1,041, reflecting gradual growth in a traditionally agricultural setting. The town is known for grain handling facilities and the University of Adelaide's Roseworthy campus with major animal and veterinary programs. Its character combines rural service-town functions with emerging residential expansion.
North Plympton SA 5037
North Plympton is a compact inner-western suburb of Adelaide, located just 7 km from the CBD within the City of West Torrens. With a population of approximately 3,610, it's a well-established residential area characterised by a mix of post-war homes and newer infill developments. The suburb sits between Marion Road and the former Holdfast Bay railway corridor, offering convenient access to major arterial routes.
Novar Gardens SA 5040
Novar Gardens is an established residential suburb in the City of West Torrens, located approximately 9 kilometres south-west of Adelaide CBD in Greater Adelaide. With a population of 2,508 and a median age of 45 as of the 2021 Census, Novar Gardens has a slightly older demographic profile reflecting its long-established residential character. The suburb covers 1.77 square kilometres at low coastal elevation and features predominantly detached family homes with a settled, well-maintained streetscape.
Moonta Bay SA 5558
Moonta Bay is a charming coastal township on the southern shores of the Spencer Gulf, located approximately 160 kilometres northwest of Adelaide within the Copper Coast District Council on the Yorke Peninsula. With a population of 2,633, the suburb has deep Anglo-Celtic and Cornish heritage rooted in the copper mining era of the mid-1800s, when mass migration from Cornwall, England transformed the region. The median age of 59 is among the highest in regional South Australia, reflecting the suburb's strong appeal as a retirement and sea-change destination. Low median household income of $1,033 per week is characteristic of coastal retirement communities in regional areas.
Clovelly Park SA 5042
Clovelly Park is a diverse inner-southern suburb of Adelaide, located approximately 7 kilometres south of the CBD within the City of Marion. With a population of 3,126 and a median age of 35, the suburb has a notably multicultural character — nearly half of all residents were born overseas, with particularly strong communities from India, Nepal, China, and South-East Asia. The median household income of $1,600 per week reflects a broad cross-section of income levels across a compact 2 square kilometre footprint bordered by South Road.
Kilburn SA 5084
Kilburn is a diverse inner-northern suburb of Adelaide, located approximately 8 kilometres north of the CBD within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. With a population of 5,633 at the 2021 census and a median age of 34, it is one of Adelaide's most multicultural suburbs, with significant Afghan, Indian, Vietnamese, Pakistani and Cambodian communities. Historically known as 'Little Chicago' due to its rough reputation in the mid-20th century, Kilburn has undergone significant transformation and gentrification in recent years. The suburb offers some of Adelaide's most affordable inner-city housing.
Fulham Gardens SA 5024
Fulham Gardens is a well-established suburb in Adelaide's inner west, situated within the City of Charles Sturt local government area approximately 9 kilometres west of the Adelaide CBD. With a population of 6,573 and a median age of 45, it is a mature residential community characterised by detached homes on generous blocks. Median household incomes of around $1,595 per week reflect a comfortable, predominantly owner-occupier demographic with strong English, Australian, and Italian heritage.
Ardrossan SA 5571
Ardrossan is a small coastal town on the eastern shore of Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, situated approximately 150 kilometres north-west of Adelaide within the Yorke Peninsula District Council area. With a population of 1,269, Ardrossan sits at a low elevation of 30 metres above Gulf St Vincent and covers 24.3 square kilometres of coastal terrain. The community has a very high median age of 61 — one of the older demographics on the Yorke Peninsula — reflecting its significant appeal to retirees and long-term residents who have made this coastal town their home.
Warradale SA 5046
Warradale is a well-established residential suburb located 11 kilometres southwest of Adelaide's CBD within the City of Marion. Home to approximately 5,800 residents across 2 square kilometres, it developed primarily in the post-war era and features a mix of original cottages and modern infill housing. The suburb enjoys convenient proximity to both the beach and the city, sitting at a comfortable 21 metres elevation.
Eden Hills SA 5050
Eden Hills is a leafy, elevated suburb nestled in the Adelaide Hills, approximately 12 kilometres south of the Adelaide CBD in the City of Mitcham. With a population of around 3,020 (2021 Census), it is a quiet, established residential area characterised by tree-lined streets and generous block sizes. The predominant age group is 50–59 years, and the suburb has a high rate of owner-occupancy at 87%, reflecting its appeal to settled families and professionals.
Birkenhead SA 5015
Birkenhead is a compact coastal suburb in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, located approximately 14 kilometres north-west of the Adelaide CBD on the shores of Gulf St Vincent. With a population of 1,798 at the 2021 Census and a land area of just 0.9 square kilometres, it is a tightly settled, predominantly residential community. The suburb's median household income of around $1,598 per week and a median age of 39 reflect a predominantly working-to-middle-class demographic with long community ties to the Port Adelaide area.
Tumby Bay SA 5605
Tumby Bay is a small coastal town on the eastern shore of the Eyre Peninsula, situated approximately 50 kilometres south of Port Lincoln and around 650 kilometres north-west of Adelaide within the Lower Eyre Peninsula District Council. The town covers an expansive 312 square kilometres of rural hinterland and coastline, with a population of 1,781 residents as of the 2021 Census. The median age of 57 reflects the town's significant retiree population, and household incomes are modest at around $1,058 per week, typical of a self-contained regional community. The town sits on Spencer Gulf and is known for its calm, sheltered waters and unhurried lifestyle.
Mitchell Park SA 5043
Mitchell Park is a suburb located approximately 10 kilometres south of the Adelaide CBD in the City of Marion, South Australia. With a population of around 5,750, it is a well-established residential area that has undergone significant urban renewal in recent years. Former South Australian Housing Trust properties have been renovated and redeveloped, transforming the suburb's streetscape. The area borders Marion, Bedford Park, Clovelly Park, and Ascot Park.
Port Elliot SA 5212
Port Elliot is a charming historic coastal town on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, situated within the Alexandrina District Council area approximately 80 kilometres south of the Adelaide CBD. With a population of 2,251 and a striking median age of 61, it is a beloved destination for retirees and sea-changers drawn to its relaxed beachside lifestyle and rich colonial heritage. The median household income of around $1,073 per week reflects a predominantly retired community, while the housing stock spans historic bluestone cottages, heritage-listed buildings, and modern coastal homes.
Edwardstown SA 5039
Edwardstown is an established suburban locality in Adelaide's southern middle ring, situated approximately 8 kilometres south of the CBD within the City of Marion. With a population of 4,514 and a median age of 37, the suburb has experienced steady growth since 2016 and attracts a diverse mix of households. Median household income of around $1,360 per week sits close to the Adelaide average, and the suburb's blend of older brick homes and newer dwellings reflects its evolution over several decades.
📊 Methodology
Rankings use the growth in median taxable income between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 financial years, from the ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24 (Individuals — Table 8, median and average taxable income by postcode). ATO income is reported by postcode, so figures are de-duplicated to one entry per postcode, using the highest-population suburb in South Australia as the representative (linked above). Only postcodes with a representative suburb of at least 200 residents are included, and the ATO suppresses any postcode with fewer than 200 lodgments. Ties are broken by population (larger first). Taxable income differs from ABS Census household and personal income.