SA 5012 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Athol Park

More than half of Athol Park's 2,023 residents were born overseas, a figure 32.6 percentage points above the national average, making it one of Adelaide's most internationally diverse suburbs within a compact 0.94 sq km footprint. The median age is 34, six years below the national figure, pointing to a younger, working-age population. Despite that youthful profile, household income sits at only the 39.2nd percentile nationally, because the workforce concentrates in community services, labouring, and manufacturing rather than high-income professions. House prices reached $862,000 in early 2026, rising 6.7% from $807,500 a year earlier, an above-average growth rate relative to many SA suburbs over the same period.

Athol Park urban fabric map

Population

2,023

Median Age

34.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,380/wk

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

22

Median House

$862K

Median 1Q 2026

0.94 km²· 2,146 people/km²· Family income $1,603/wk

The median house price hit $862,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 6.7% from $807,500 a year earlier. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 25.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, making carrying costs manageable compared to many markets at this price point. The stock is predominantly detached houses at 71.5%, with semi-detached dwellings making up another 27.4%, so genuine apartment supply is minimal at 1.1%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 58.5% and are the most competitive segment, while 4-plus bedroom properties account for 18.2%, offering room for larger households. The 24.2% outright ownership rate is lower than typical established suburbs, reflecting the relatively younger population who entered the market more recently.

For Buyers

The median house price hit $862,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 6.7% from $807,500 a year earlier. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 25.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, making carrying costs manageable compared to many markets at this price point. The stock is predominantly detached houses at 71.5%, with semi-detached dwellings making up another 27.4%, so genuine apartment supply is minimal at 1.1%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 58.5% and are the most competitive segment, while 4-plus bedroom properties account for 18.2%, offering room for larger households. The 24.2% outright ownership rate is lower than typical established suburbs, reflecting the relatively younger population who entered the market more recently.

For Investors

A 39.9% renter share provides landlords with a substantial tenant base, and weekly rent of $320 against a $862,000 median implies a gross yield around 1.9%, which is modest but supported by sustained price growth of 6.7% over the past year. The vacancy rate of 6.2% is elevated and warrants monitoring, as it indicates some absorption pressure in the rental stock. Development activity logged 20 applications over the past 12 months, mostly incremental works, with one Torrens Title land division suggesting slow but present subdivision interest. The suburb's below-national household income at the 39.2nd percentile means rent growth will be constrained by tenant affordability, though the rent-to-income ratio of 23.2% remains below the 30% stress level, keeping tenant retention stable.

Development Activity

Total DAs

109

Last 12 Months

22

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+100.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Commercial / Industrial
7
Deck / Pergola / Patio
6
Subdivision
4
Change of Use
4
New Dwelling
3
Garage / Carport / Shed
2
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
2
Tree Removal
2

Demographics

Athol Park's 54.2% overseas-born share is 32.6 percentage points above the national figure, the strongest demographic signal in the brief. Vietnamese ancestry leads at 507 residents, followed by English (270), Chinese (163), and Filipino (100), which is consistent with the suburb's postcode 5012 location in Adelaide's north-west corridor. The median age of 34 is 6 years younger than national, and average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, reflecting more multi-generational and family-oriented households. University qualifications reach 36.6%, which is 6.5 percentage points above the national figure, a notable result given the below-average household income, suggesting qualifications in fields with modest local wages such as healthcare and community services.

Age Distribution

0-14
19.3%
15-24
14.1%
25-44
33.7%
45-64
21.2%
65+
11.7%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.8%
2 bed
21.5%
3 bed
58.5%
4+ bed
18.2%

Dwelling Structure

71.5%

Houses

27.4%

Townhouse

1.1%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 24.2% Mortgage 35.9% Rent 39.9%

Housing tenure divides into 35.9% mortgage holders, 39.9% renters, and 24.2% outright owners, so renters represent the single largest tenure group, unusual for a suburb where most dwellings are separate houses (71.5%). The median house price of $862,000 in 1Q 2026 compares to $807,500 a year earlier, a 6.7% annual gain. Monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,500 sit well below state and national medians in dollar terms, though the 25.1% mortgage-to-income ratio still reflects meaningful household commitment given incomes at the 39.2nd percentile nationally. Semi-detached dwellings at 27.4% are well above the national share, giving buyers a lower-entry-cost option than the detached stock. Three-bedroom homes make up 58.5% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 18.2%.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,500

Rent / wk

$320

HH Size

2.7

Personal Income / wk

$650

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

6.2%

Unoccupied

48

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

Punjabi
32
Serbian
29
Arabic
26
Malayalam
23
Mandarin
19
Canton
17

Ancestry

Vietnamese
507
Other
467
English
270
Chinese
163
Filipino
100
Indian
90

Household Composition

17.6%

Couples, no children

1,622

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.8% (128 workers), well above its typical share nationally, followed by Manufacturing at 11.6% (65 workers) and Hospitality at 8.9% (50 workers), a mix that reflects a blue-collar and service-sector orientation. Community and personal service workers (176) and labourers (167) are the two largest occupation groups, ahead of professionals (134), which explains why university qualifications at 36.6% exceed national levels but household incomes remain at the 39.2nd percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is 7.3%, higher than the national average, and the participation rate of 58.6% is below typical, partly because 566 residents are not in the labour force at all. Full-time employment accounts for 59.1% of employed residents, which is close to national norms.

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

Full-time

59.1%

Part-time

33.6%

Participation

58.6%

Employed

887

Occupations

Community/Personal 176
Labourers 167
Professionals 134
Clerical/Admin 89
Machinery/Drivers 86
Sales 82
Managers 66

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.8%
Manufacturing 11.6%
Hospitality 8.9%
Retail 6.8%
Construction 6.0%

University

36.6%

Postgraduate

7.8%

Born Overseas

54.2%

Dwellings

722

Transport to Work

Car dependency is high at 84.2% of commuters driving, compared to 5.9% using public transport and 2.0% walking or cycling, a pattern typical for Adelaide's suburban fringe rather than inner-city areas. No schools are recorded inside the 0.94 sq km boundary, so families depend on schools in adjacent suburbs. The crime rate is 69.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, which provides a reference point but no state or national benchmark comparison is available in this data. Housing stress indicators are reassuring: rent-to-income at 23.2% and mortgage-to-income at 25.1% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the cost burden on residents is manageable relative to their incomes, even though incomes rank at the 39.2nd percentile nationally. The 9.5% volunteering rate suggests moderate community engagement.

Drive

84.2%

Public Transport

5.9%

Walk / Cycle

2.0%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

141

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

69.7

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Athol Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 22%
Household Income
Bottom 39%
Rent Level
Top 34%
Apartments
Bottom 23%
Renters
Top 16%
Uni Educated
Top 23%
Public Transport
Top 28%
Born Overseas
Top 2%
Density
Top 7%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athol Park a good suburb to live in?

Athol Park offers detached housing at a median of $862,000, with mortgage repayments at 25.1% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb has a young median age of 34, six years below national, and a high overseas-born share of 54.2%. Car dependency is high at 84.2%, and no schools are recorded within the suburb, so families rely on nearby options.

What is the median house price in Athol Park?

The median house price reached $862,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 6.7% from $807,500 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent averages $320 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,500. Separate houses make up 71.5% of the dwelling stock.

What schools are in Athol Park?

No schools are recorded within the 0.94 sq km Athol Park boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within postcode 5012 and surrounds. Despite this, 36.6% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 6.5 percentage points above the national figure.

Is Athol Park safe?

Athol Park recorded 141 criminal incidents over the measured period, giving a crime rate of 69.7 per 1,000 residents. Detailed crime category breakdowns are not available in this data. As a broader context indicator, housing stress is low, with rent-to-income at 23.2% and mortgage-to-income at 25.1%, both below the 30% stress threshold.

Is Athol Park good for property investment?

The renter share is 39.9%, providing a large tenant pool, and weekly rent of $320 against the $862,000 median implies a gross yield around 1.9%. Prices grew 6.7% over the past year. The 6.2% vacancy rate is elevated, and household incomes at the 39.2nd national percentile cap rent growth, so investors should model conservatively on yield.

How is Athol Park's population changing?

Athol Park has a population of 2,023, with a relatively young median age of 34, six years below national. The annual residential turnover rate is 21%, meaning about 1 in 5 residents moved in the prior year, while 79% stayed. The 54.2% overseas-born share, 32.6 points above national, suggests ongoing migration continues to shape household formation.

What languages are spoken in Athol Park?

With 54.2% of residents born overseas, 32.6 percentage points above the national figure, Athol Park is highly multicultural. Vietnamese ancestry is the largest group at 507 residents. Non-English languages spoken include Punjabi (32 speakers), Serbian (29), Arabic (26), and Malayalam (23), reflecting the suburb's diverse migration origins.

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), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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