SA 5034 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Clarence Park

At 3,184 residents per square kilometre squeezed into 0.83 km2, Clarence Park is one of Adelaide's more compact inner-south suburbs, yet its median house price hit $1,561,000 in 1Q 2026, up 23.9% from $1,260,000 a year earlier. That price growth far outpaces the state median trend. The suburb carries SEIFA decile 4 on IRSAD and IRSAD, placing it below average in relative advantage nationally, a gap explained partly by 31.4% of dwellings being renter-occupied and a vacancy rate of 6.5%. University qualifications reach 54.5% of the working-age population, which is 24.4 points above the national average, a signal of a workforce that earns well despite the modest SEIFA ranking.

Clarence Park urban fabric map

Population

2,658

Median Age

39.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,799/wk

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

28

Median House

$1.6M

Median 1Q 2026

0.83 km²· 3,184.4 people/km²· Family income $2,475/wk

The $1,561,000 median house price in 1Q 2026 represents a 23.9% rise from $1,260,000 just one year prior, making Clarence Park one of Adelaide's sharper capital-growth stories recently. Separate houses make up 65.8% of the housing stock, with apartments at 29.6% and semi-detached at just 4.6%. Three-bedroom dwellings are the most common at 40.2%, followed by two-bedroom at 34.9%, and 4-plus bedroom homes at 20.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,900, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold and is lower than comparable inner-ring premium suburbs. Outright ownership sits at 36.0%, roughly equal to the 32.6% still carrying a mortgage, suggesting a reasonable mix of established owners and recent buyers.

For Buyers

The $1,561,000 median house price in 1Q 2026 represents a 23.9% rise from $1,260,000 just one year prior, making Clarence Park one of Adelaide's sharper capital-growth stories recently. Separate houses make up 65.8% of the housing stock, with apartments at 29.6% and semi-detached at just 4.6%. Three-bedroom dwellings are the most common at 40.2%, followed by two-bedroom at 34.9%, and 4-plus bedroom homes at 20.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,900, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold and is lower than comparable inner-ring premium suburbs. Outright ownership sits at 36.0%, roughly equal to the 32.6% still carrying a mortgage, suggesting a reasonable mix of established owners and recent buyers.

For Investors

Renters occupy 31.4% of Clarence Park dwellings, providing a broad tenant pool, but weekly rent of $310 against a $1,561,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.1%, which is very thin compared to typical Australian rental markets. The vacancy rate of 6.5% is elevated, suggesting more rental supply than immediate demand can absorb. Development activity recorded 26 applications in the past 12 months, above the threshold that signals active local planning. Net overseas migration averages 17 arrivals per year while net internal migration runs at minus 14, creating modest net positive demand. Rent growth reached 31.6% over the decade, well above income growth of 12.0%, meaning rents have tightened significantly in real terms even if current yields look lean against the inflated purchase price.

Development Activity

Total DAs

134

Last 12 Months

28

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+47.4%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
13
Deck / Pergola / Patio
7
Garage / Carport / Shed
6
Tree Removal
5
Fencing
4
Swimming Pool / Spa
3
New Dwelling
3
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
2

Demographics

The median age of 39 is 1.0 year below the national figure, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.8 points while the working-age share fell 1.4 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 22.1%, which is 0.5 points above national. Ancestry is primarily Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,050 residents), then Scottish (286), Irish (251) and German (243). Non-English languages are limited: Greek has 47 speakers, Nepali 28 and Mandarin 18. University qualifications at 54.5% run 24.4 points above the national average, the clearest demographic signal of a professional-leaning population. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national figure of 2.5. Volunteering runs at 21.1% of residents, above typical suburban rates.

Age Distribution

0-14
16.7%
15-24
12.9%
25-44
28.1%
45-64
25.1%
65+
17.3%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
4.3%
2 bed
34.9%
3 bed
40.2%
4+ bed
20.6%

Dwelling Structure

65.8%

Houses

4.6%

Townhouse

29.6%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 36.0% Mortgage 32.6% Rent 31.4%

Tenure is spread across three roughly equal groups: 36.0% own outright, 32.6% carry a mortgage and 31.4% rent. Outright owners slightly outnumbering mortgage holders points to a base of established, longer-term residents rather than heavy first-home-buyer activity. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 40.2%, with two-bedroom at 34.9% and 4-plus bedroom at 20.6%. The median house price moved from $1,260,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,561,000 in 1Q 2026, a one-year gain of 23.9%, which stands as a notably fast appreciation cycle compared to broader Adelaide trends. Rent-to-income sits at 17.2% and mortgage-to-income at 24.4%, both below their respective stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are absorbed without acute financial strain by current residents at current incomes.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,900

Rent / wk

$310

HH Size

2.3

Personal Income / wk

$921

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

6.5%

Unoccupied

76

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

17.2%

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

24.4%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Greek
47
Nepali
28
Mandarin
18
Italian
11

Ancestry

English
1,050
Other
337
Scottish
286
Irish
251
German
243
Italian
161

Household Composition

26.7%

Couples, no children

2,025

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare leads the local industry mix at 23.0% (250 workers), followed by Education at 15.5% (169 workers) and Professional/Technical services at 11.5% (125 workers). Public Administration accounts for 7.8% and Construction 5.7%. By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 509 workers, with Managers at 196. Full-time employment reaches 59.2% of those employed. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, below the national average, and the participation rate is 65.9%. SEIFA tells a more complex story: the IRSD sits at decile 5 (near average for relative disadvantage) while IEO, IER and IRSAD each score decile 4, all below the national median, because the renter-heavy segment and older dwelling stock suppress aggregate resource scores despite the high education and professional profile.

Unemployment

2.9%

Labour Force

2,157

Unemployed

62

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

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

Overall advantage
4
Disadvantage
5
Economic resources
4
Education & occupation
4

Full-time

59.2%

Part-time

37.1%

Participation

65.9%

Employed

1,403

Occupations

Professionals 509
Managers 196
Community/Personal 179
Clerical/Admin 152
Sales 124
Labourers 102
Machinery/Drivers 38

Top Industries

Healthcare 23.0%
Education 15.5%
Professional/Tech 11.5%
Public Admin 7.8%
Construction 5.7%

University

54.5%

Postgraduate

16.4%

Born Overseas

22.1%

Dwellings

1,095

Transport to Work

Car dependency is high: 76.7% of residents drive to work, while 9.5% use public transport and 7.8% walk or cycle. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 4, placing it below the national median on relative advantage, though this underweights the high-education and low-stress housing cost profile. The crime rate is 44.4 incidents per 1,000 residents based on 118 total recorded crimes, a figure that provides a rough baseline but no category breakdown is available in this dataset. Need-for-assistance sits at 4.6% (119 residents), in line with the median age of 39. No schools are recorded inside the Clarence Park boundary, so families depend on institutions in adjacent suburbs, a practical consideration for households with children who represent 42.1% of families with children.

Drive

76.7%

Public Transport

9.5%

Walk / Cycle

7.8%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.48%/yr

(+20 people/yr)

Established

Population growth is slow: the trend adds about 20 persons per year (0.48% annually), and the 10-year rise is just 4.3%. Historical counts show 4,223 in 2023 falling to 4,185 by 2025, a slight contraction in the near term that partly reflects household-size changes rather than resident flight. Medium forecasts project a gradual rise to 4,367 by 2031. Internal migration runs at minus 14 net per year, offset by 17 net overseas arrivals, leaving growth balanced but thin. The gentrification score is 0 and classified as not gentrifying, consistent with a suburb already carrying a professional demographic profile and a $1.56 million median, meaning price appreciation is driven by scarcity and demand rather than neighbourhood transition. Affordability held broadly stable, moving from 34.9% to 33.3% of income between 2011 and 2021.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Balanced

Net Overseas / yr

+17

Net Internal / yr

-14

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

118

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

44.4

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Clarence Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 19%
Household Income
Top 36%
Rent Level
Top 36%
Apartments
Top 12%
Renters
Top 26%
Uni Educated
Top 7%
Public Transport
Top 14%
Born Overseas
Top 25%
Density
Top 3%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clarence Park a good suburb to live in?

Clarence Park has several appealing attributes: university qualifications at 54.5% run 24.4 points above the national average, mortgage-to-income sits at a manageable 24.4%, and the 2025-2026 house price appreciated 23.9%. The trade-offs include a vacancy rate of 6.5% and SEIFA IRSAD decile 4, placing it below the national median on composite advantage.

What is the median house price in Clarence Park?

The median house price in Clarence Park was $1,561,000 in 1Q 2026, rising from $1,260,000 in 1Q 2025, a gain of 23.9% in one year. Weekly rent averages $310 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,900, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4%, below the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Clarence Park?

No schools are recorded inside the Clarence Park boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Despite this, Clarence Park has a highly educated resident population: 54.5% hold university qualifications, which is 24.4 percentage points above the national average.

Is Clarence Park safe?

The recorded crime rate is 44.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 118 total crimes. No category breakdown is available to identify predominant crime types. As a secondary indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 5, near the national average for relative disadvantage, and only 4.6% of residents (119 people) need daily assistance.

Is Clarence Park good for property investment?

The 23.9% house price gain from $1,260,000 to $1,561,000 over one year is a strong capital growth signal, but weekly rent of $310 against that median implies a gross yield below 1.1%, very low compared to national averages. A vacancy rate of 6.5% suggests some rental oversupply. The 26 development applications in 12 months shows ongoing local activity.

How is Clarence Park's population changing?

Population growth is slow at 0.48% per year (about 20 persons annually). The 10-year rise was 4.3%. Recent counts show a slight contraction from 4,223 in 2023 to 4,185 in 2025. Medium forecasts project a gradual increase to 4,367 by 2031. The profile is aging: the senior share rose 5.8 points over the decade.

How much development activity is there in Clarence Park?

There were 26 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, above average for a suburb of 0.83 km2. Recent samples include a two-storey residential flat building with 3 dwellings, a verandah, and an outbuilding extension, suggesting a mix of infill residential and renovation activity rather than large-scale development.

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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