Clapham
With a median house price of $1,319,000 and household income in the 88.5th percentile nationally, Clapham sits firmly in Adelaide's premium residential tier despite its small 0.77 km2 footprint. University qualifications reach 53%, which is 22.9 percentage points above the national average, and Professionals and Managers make up the two largest occupation groups. The suburb recorded 30% price growth over the year to 1Q 2026, well above typical SA market rates. At 82.8% resident retention, turnover is low, which reflects the settled, family-oriented character of a suburb where 88.1% of dwellings are separate houses and the average household size of 2.7 sits above the national figure.
Population
1,685
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,321/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$1.3M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $1,319,000 in 1Q 2026, up from $1,015,000 in 1Q 2025, a 30% gain in 12 months. That pace of appreciation is substantially higher than the broader Adelaide market and narrows the affordability window for new entrants. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold despite the high purchase price, because incomes track in the 88.5th percentile nationally. Separate houses dominate at 88.1% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 55.7% and four-plus-bedroom homes at 30.8%. Semi-detached options make up 10% and apartments just 1.8%, so buyers seeking a detached family home find a consistent but expensive market.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,319,000 in 1Q 2026, up from $1,015,000 in 1Q 2025, a 30% gain in 12 months. That pace of appreciation is substantially higher than the broader Adelaide market and narrows the affordability window for new entrants. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold despite the high purchase price, because incomes track in the 88.5th percentile nationally. Separate houses dominate at 88.1% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 55.7% and four-plus-bedroom homes at 30.8%. Semi-detached options make up 10% and apartments just 1.8%, so buyers seeking a detached family home find a consistent but expensive market.
For Investors
The rental market in Clapham is thin: only 16.1% of residents rent, well below state and national averages, and the vacancy rate sits at 5.5%. Weekly rent of $395 against a $1,319,000 median implies a gross yield under 1.6%, low by any standard, so income return is not the primary case here. Development activity is modest at 13 applications in the past 12 months, dominated by renovations and outbuilding works rather than new dwellings. The 30% price growth from 1Q 2025 to 1Q 2026 is the more compelling data point, though it compresses future upside. Owner-occupiers account for 83.9% of residents (39.0% outright, 44.9% with a mortgage), which limits rental stock and keeps yields compressed but also underpins capital stability.
Development Activity
Total DAs
103
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-26.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Clapham iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Clapham Primary School
U, R-6 · 243 students
Demographics
The median age is 42, which is 2 years above the national figure, and 82.8% of residents stayed in the same address over the prior five years, indicating a stable, long-established population. University qualifications reach 53%, a full 22.9 percentage points higher than the national average, reflecting the professional household base. Overseas-born residents account for 17.1% of the population, 4.5 percentage points below national, and the ancestry profile leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (734 residents), Scottish (200), German (161) and Irish (141). The average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, and couples with children (672 families) is the dominant household type, outnumbering couples without children (318). Volunteering sits at 25.9%, above most suburban benchmarks.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.1%
Houses
10.0%
Townhouse
1.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupancy is the defining tenure characteristic: 39.0% own outright and 44.9% carry a mortgage, leaving just 16.1% renting. The high proportion of outright owners reflects long tenure and accumulated equity rather than a market of recent buyers. Separate houses account for 88.1% of dwellings, above the SA state average, with semi-detached at 10.0% and apartments at just 1.8%. Three-bedroom homes are the plurality at 55.7%, followed by four-plus bedrooms at 30.8% and two-bedrooms at 13.5%. The median price moved from $1,015,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,319,000 in 1Q 2026, a 30.0% increase, reaching the current peak. Mortgage-to-income at 21.6% stays below stress levels, and rent-to-income at 17.0% is similarly comfortable for the renting minority.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$395
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,029
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
35
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.9%
Couples, no children
1,387
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer of Clapham residents at 20.1% (136 workers), followed by Education at 16.5% (112), Professional and Technical services at 13.4% (91) and Public Administration at 8.7% (59). By occupation, Professionals (351) and Managers (141) together represent a clear majority of the workforce, consistent with household income in the 88.5th percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 59.5%. Participation stands at 65.2%, with 387 residents not in the labour force, partly explained by the older median age of 42. The income profile, with weekly household income of $2,321 versus a national median well below this figure, reflects the concentration of knowledge-sector employment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.5%
Part-time
37.4%
Participation
65.2%
Employed
851
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.0%
Postgraduate
13.3%
Born Overseas
17.1%
Dwellings
607
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 82.2% of residents drive to work and only 5.4% use public transport, compared to higher public-transport uptake in inner-Adelaide suburbs. Walking and cycling account for 6.3%, moderate for a low-density suburb. No schools are recorded inside the Clapham boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. The crime rate of 26.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 44 total recorded offences, is low in absolute terms. Rent-to-income at 17.0% places renters well below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 21.6% does the same for buyers, which is better than many comparable suburbs in the 88th-percentile income range. The need-for-assistance rate is 5.5% (91 people), consistent with the older median age of 42.
Drive
82.2%
Public Transport
5.4%
Walk / Cycle
6.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
44
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
26.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Clapham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clapham a good suburb to live in?
Clapham has household income in the 88.5th percentile nationally and a university qualification rate of 53%, which is 22.9 points above the national average. Owner-occupancy reaches 83.9% and 82.8% of residents stayed in the same address over five years, indicating a settled, low-turnover community. The main trade-off is a $1,319,000 median house price requiring significant capital.
What is the median house price in Clapham?
The median house price in Clapham is $1,319,000 as of 1Q 2026, up 30% from $1,015,000 in 1Q 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and weekly rent averages $395. Despite the high purchase price, mortgage-to-income sits at 21.6%, below the stress threshold, because local household incomes average $2,321 per week.
What schools are in Clapham?
No schools are recorded inside the Clapham boundary in this dataset, so families depend on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local resident base is highly educated, with 53% holding university qualifications, which is 22.9 percentage points above the national figure, indicating strong academic values in the area.
Is Clapham safe?
Clapham recorded 44 total offences, giving a crime rate of 26.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is low in absolute terms. Owner-occupancy at 83.9% and an 82.8% residential retention rate are both associated with stable, low-crime neighbourhoods. SEIFA advantage scores are not available in this dataset, but income at the 88.5th percentile nationally provides a positive indirect signal.
Is Clapham good for property investment?
Clapham delivered 30% price growth from 1Q 2025 to 1Q 2026, reaching a $1,319,000 median. However, the rental yield is thin: $395 per week against that median implies a gross yield below 1.6%, and the vacancy rate is 5.5%. With 83.9% owner-occupancy limiting rental stock, the investment case rests on capital growth rather than income return.
How is Clapham's population changing?
Clapham has a population of 1,685 across a compact 0.77 km2 area, giving a density of 2,202 people per km2. The suburb shows very low turnover, with 82.8% of residents remaining at the same address. Development activity is limited to 13 applications in 12 months, mostly renovations, suggesting minimal new supply and a stable rather than rapidly growing population.
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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