SA 5043 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Ascot Park

A compact, high-density suburb of 3,588 people occupies just 1.0 square kilometre, producing a density of 3,573.7 people per square kilometre. Its median age of 34 is 6 years below the national comparison, while 38.9% of residents were born overseas, 17.3 percentage points above the national figure. Housing is more mixed than a conventional detached-house suburb, with 42.4% separate houses, 34.4% apartments and 23.2% semi-detached dwellings. Compared with nearby Park Holme, Ascot Park has a notably compact urban profile. University attainment is also high at 46.1%, 16 points above the national comparison, although household size is smaller at 2.2 people.

Ascot Park urban fabric map

Population

3,588

Median Age

34.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,381/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

23

Median House

$1.1M

First quarter 2026

1.0 km²· 3,573.7 people/km²· Family income $1,894/wk

Ascot Park suits buyers seeking an established, compact setting with a broad mix of dwelling types. Two-bedroom homes account for 41.4% of dwellings and three-bedroom homes 45.9%, so the market is weighted towards practical medium-sized housing rather than four-bedroom stock, which represents 9.3%. The recorded monthly mortgage figure is $1,500, while mortgage costs equal 25.1% of household income, below the 44.4% renting share. Compared with the more detached-house feel of nearby Park Holme, Ascot Park provides greater apartment and semi-detached choice, which can help buyers prioritising access and lower-maintenance living.

For Buyers

Ascot Park suits buyers seeking an established, compact setting with a broad mix of dwelling types. Two-bedroom homes account for 41.4% of dwellings and three-bedroom homes 45.9%, so the market is weighted towards practical medium-sized housing rather than four-bedroom stock, which represents 9.3%. The recorded monthly mortgage figure is $1,500, while mortgage costs equal 25.1% of household income, below the 44.4% renting share. Compared with the more detached-house feel of nearby Park Holme, Ascot Park provides greater apartment and semi-detached choice, which can help buyers prioritising access and lower-maintenance living.

For Investors

The rental market has a substantial base, with 44.4% of households renting compared with 23.5% owning outright and 30.9% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $320 and the vacancy rate is 6.6%, making vacancy an important comparison point when assessing leasing risk rather than relying on renter share alone. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can support tenant demand because new arrivals often rent before buying. Development activity recorded 25 applications over 12 months, with examples including dwelling alterations, carports and storage sheds, pointing to ongoing property improvement rather than a clear count of new dwellings.

Development Activity

Total DAs

147

Last 12 Months

23

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+21.1%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Deck / Pergola / Patio
7
Subdivision
6
New Dwelling
6
Renovation / Extension
6
Garage / Carport / Shed
5
Swimming Pool / Spa
4
Tree Removal
4
Commercial / Industrial
3

Demographics

Ascot Park combines a younger-than-national age profile with a clear aging trajectory. The median age is 34, which is 6 years below the national comparison, but the senior share has increased by 3.3 percentage points while the young share has fallen by 0.5 points. Overseas-born residents make up 38.9%, 17.3 points above the national figure, with Nepali, Mandarin, Arabic, Punjabi and Urdu among the recorded languages. English ancestry is reported by 1,053 people, followed by Other at 809, Chinese at 248, Scottish at 241 and Irish at 240. No religion is the largest affiliation at 1,480, ahead of Christianity at 1,181 and Hinduism at 324. A turnover rate of 26.4% means 73.6% stayed at the same address, suggesting a mix of established households and international movement. Compared with nearby Park Holme, the overseas-born and multilingual profile is a distinctive feature of Ascot Park.

Age Distribution

0-14
14.3%
15-24
13.7%
25-44
37.5%
45-64
19.9%
65+
14.8%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.4%
2 bed
41.4%
3 bed
45.9%
4+ bed
9.3%

Dwelling Structure

42.4%

Houses

23.2%

Townhouse

34.4%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 23.5% Mortgage 30.9% Rent 44.4% Other 1.3%

Ascot Park's housing market combines moderate recent price growth with a highly mixed dwelling profile. Tenure is divided between 23.5% outright ownership, 30.9% mortgage ownership and 44.4% renting, so renting is higher than either owner category individually. Separate houses account for 42.4% of dwellings, apartments 34.4% and semi-detached homes 23.2%. The bedroom mix is concentrated in two-bedroom properties at 41.4% and three-bedroom properties at 45.9%, while four-bedroom-plus homes comprise 9.3%. This compact, mixed format aligns with an average household size of 2.2 people, below the national comparison of 0.3 people. Compared with nearby Park Holme, Ascot Park is better suited to buyers considering apartments and attached housing alongside detached homes.

Mortgage / mo

$1,500

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$320

Census 2021

HH Size

2.2

Personal Income / wk

$783

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

6.6%

Unoccupied

112

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.2%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

25.1%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Nepali
110
Mandarin
77
Arabic
66
Punjabi
38
Urdu
28
Hindi
27

Ancestry

English
1,053
Other
809
Chinese
248
Scottish
241
Irish
240
German
224

Household Composition

34.3%

Couples with children

42.4%

Couples, no children

19.7%

Single parent

913

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the leading industry, employing 417 people or 29.6% of the local industry count, followed by Education at 137 and 9.7%, Retail at 103 and 7.3%, Public Administration at 101 and 7.2%, and Professional and Technical services at 99 and 7.0%. The occupation mix is led by Professionals at 461, Community and Personal service workers at 345, Trades at 240, Clerical and Administrative workers at 239, and Labourers at 186. Labour-force participation is 66.1%, with 2,034 people in the labour force, 5.7% unemployment and 56.2% working full time. The three 9th-decile measures for education, disadvantage and advantage sit above the middle decile, while the economic resources index is 7th decile. That contrast with a household income percentile of 39.2 suggests economic advantage is not uniform, because strong professional and service employment sits alongside varied tenure and household circumstances.

Unemployment

5.7%

Labour Force

2,034

Unemployed

116

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
9
Disadvantage
9
Economic resources
7
Education & occupation
9

Full-time

56.2%

Part-time

37.4%

Participation

66.1%

Employed

1,918

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 461
Community/Personal 345
Trades 240
Clerical/Admin 239
Labourers 186
Sales 163
Managers 147
Machinery/Drivers 97

Top Industries

Healthcare 29.6%
Education 9.7%
Retail 7.3%
Public Admin 7.2%
Professional/Tech 7.0%

University

46.1%

Postgraduate

12.7%

Born Overseas

38.9%

Dwellings

1,588

Transport to Work

Ascot Park's 1.0 square kilometre footprint and density of 3,573.7 people per square kilometre create a compact daily environment, but travel remains strongly car-oriented. Car drivers account for 71.7% of commuting, higher than public transport use at 9.7%, walking and cycling at 2.9% and working from home at 9.0%. The recorded crime rate is 70.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 253 total incidents, so buyers should compare the rate with nearby suburbs and inspect the immediate street context. Social and economic conditions are comparatively strong, with the IRSAD and IRSD both in the 9th decile, IEO in the 9th decile and IER in the 7th decile. Families should check nearby school options and enrolment zones against the exact address, since catchments can cross suburb boundaries. Compared with a lower-density setting, Ascot Park trades private outdoor space for compact housing choice and proximity-oriented living.

Drive

71.7%

Public Transport

9.7%

Walk / Cycle

2.9%

Work from Home

9.0%

Population Forecast

+1.19%/yr

(+77 people/yr)

Established

Growth is positive but measured rather than explosive, with the forecast trend running at 1.19% annually, above zero, and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 11.6% over 10 years, indicating sustained momentum rather than a short spike. The trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 3.3 percentage points, while the young share has declined 0.5 points and the working share has fallen 1.4 points. Gentrification is still at the Early signs stage, with a score of 22, so price and demographic change have not yet reached a mature transformation phase. Rent growth of 14.7% adds pressure for tenants, although the affordability trend is labelled Improving, moving from 37.3 in 2011 to 33.1 in 2021. Overseas migration is likely to keep supporting demand, while aging may shape future housing preferences.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+94

Net Internal / yr

+34

22

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +20% since 2011, Accelerating: 0% → 19%

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

253

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

70.5

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Ascot Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 15%
Household Income
Bottom 39%
Rent Level
Top 34%
Apartments
Top 3%
Renters
Top 8%
Uni Educated
Top 12%
Public Transport
Top 7%
Born Overseas
Top 7%
Density
Top 2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ascot Park a good suburb to live in?

Ascot Park can suit residents who value compact housing and access to established Adelaide services. It has 3,588 residents, a median age of 34 and strong SEIFA results, including an IRSAD 9th decile. Car use is high at 71.7%, so lifestyle fit depends on transport preferences.

What schools are in Ascot Park?

School choices should be checked using the exact property address because enrolment zones can cross suburb boundaries. Ascot Park covers 1.0 square kilometre, so nearby options may be practical, but current school availability, sector and catchment rules should be confirmed before making a housing decision.

Is Ascot Park safe?

Ascot Park recorded 253 total crimes, equal to a rate of 70.5 incidents per 1,000 residents. That figure is best compared with nearby suburbs using the same measure, while also checking the exact street, lighting and activity levels. The suburb's IRSAD score sits in the 9th decile.

How is Ascot Park's population changing?

Population change across the wider area is forecast at 11.6% over 10 years, with annual growth of 1.19% and overseas migration as the primary driver. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 3.3 percentage points while the young share has fallen 0.5 points.

How to read these comparisons

Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.

Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.

Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.

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