Ethelton
At 0.52 km2 and 1,487 residents, Ethelton packs a density of 2,837 people per km2 into Port Adelaide's inner corridor, yet household income sits at only the 34.5th percentile nationally, well below the national median. The suburb leans heavily toward detached housing at 71.5% of dwellings, with a resident base that is strongly Anglo-Celtic in ancestry and broadly stable, with 82.5% of residents having lived here five years prior.
Local council: Port Adelaide Enfield
Population
1,487
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,345/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
25
Median House
$815K
First quarter 2026
Separate houses dominate at 71.5% of stock, semi-detached properties add 22.1%, and apartments are only 6.5%, which means detached-house choices are plentiful compared to many inner-Adelaide suburbs. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 52.8% of all homes, with two-bedroom at 27.8% and four-plus at 14.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.8% stays below the 30% stress threshold despite household income sitting at the 34.5th percentile nationally. That combination makes purchase feasible, but the price correction signals ongoing softness buyers should factor into their timeline.
For Buyers
Separate houses dominate at 71.5% of stock, semi-detached properties add 22.1%, and apartments are only 6.5%, which means detached-house choices are plentiful compared to many inner-Adelaide suburbs. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 52.8% of all homes, with two-bedroom at 27.8% and four-plus at 14.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.8% stays below the 30% stress threshold despite household income sitting at the 34.5th percentile nationally. That combination makes purchase feasible, but the price correction signals ongoing softness buyers should factor into their timeline.
For Investors
The vacancy rate of 8.2% is elevated, suggesting more rental supply than current demand can absorb. Development activity logged 24 applications in the past 12 months, covering land divisions, pool replacements and tree removal, broadly maintenance-focused rather than new supply creation. Rent-to-income for tenants sits at 22.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, which supports tenant stability. However, the 6.9% price fall year-on-year and a 7.5% unemployment rate, higher than state norms, weigh against a near-term capital growth thesis. Income at the 34.5th percentile nationally limits rent-growth headroom.
Development Activity
Total DAs
118
Last 12 Months
25
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+19.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 42 sits 2.0 years above the national figure, placing Ethelton in the older-than-average bracket consistent with its low household turnover of 17.5%. University qualifications reach 32.4% of residents, 2.3 percentage points above the national average, a modest but positive gap. Overseas-born residents at 19.3% are 2.3 points below the national figure, reflecting the predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry mix: English (606), Irish (173), Scottish (154) and German (106) are the top ancestries. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, consistent with an older profile where couples without children make up 31.2% of families. Volunteering runs at 17.1% and 5.9% of residents need daily assistance, both within typical ranges for a lower-income, middle-aged suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.5%
Houses
22.1%
Townhouse
6.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners make up 28.8% of households, mortgagees 40.5% and renters 30.7%, a tenure split that skews toward mortgage holders relative to the SA state average. The stock is predominantly three-bedroom separate houses at 52.8%, with two-bedroom at 27.8% providing a secondary entry tier. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,500 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.8% remain below the standard 30% stress threshold, but that comfort reflects low repayment levels rather than high incomes, given household income at the 34.5th percentile nationally. Rent-to-income for tenants is 22.3%, also below stress levels at $300 per week.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$787
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
60
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.3%
Couples with children
41.6%
Couples, no children
23.2%
Single parent
409
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.0% of employed residents (111 workers), well above the typical suburban share, driven by proximity to Port Adelaide's hospital and health services precinct. Public Administration follows at 10.9% (55 workers) and Education at 10.5% (53), both reflecting the government-sector employment base common in inner-Adelaide corridors. Manufacturing at 9.9% (50 workers) retains a presence consistent with Port Adelaide's industrial heritage. By occupation, Professionals lead at 173 workers, followed by Clerical/Admin at 121 and Community/Personal Service at 91. The 7.5% unemployment rate is a concern, tracking above SA state averages, and the participation rate of 60.0% is moderate, with 422 residents not in the labour force, partly explained by the older median age of 42.
Unemployment
7.1%
Labour Force
790
Unemployed
56
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.9%
Part-time
34.7%
Participation
63.1%
Employed
734
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.4%
Postgraduate
6.6%
Born Overseas
19.3%
Dwellings
662
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 84.9% of commuters driving, compared with 6.5% using public transport and 3.5% walking or cycling, which is typical for suburban Port Adelaide but limits car-free living. No schools are recorded within the Ethelton boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Port Adelaide suburbs. Crime sits at 45.1 incidents per 1,000 residents across 67 total recorded offences, which gives a baseline for comparison but lacks category breakdown for deeper analysis. Rent-to-income of 22.3% and mortgage-to-income of 25.8% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are not crushing residents despite incomes at the 34.5th percentile nationally. The 5.9% of residents needing daily assistance (85 people) is moderate, and volunteering at 17.1% reflects reasonable community engagement.
Drive
75.1%
Public Transport
5.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
11.6%
Growth Outlook
Resident stability is high: 82.5% of people lived at the same address five years prior, a turnover rate of 17.5% that is lower than most comparable SA suburbs. This stability limits speculative churn but also suggests limited new-buyer demand pressure to support prices. No population forecast data is available in the brief, though the older median age of 42, 2.0 years above national, points toward a gradually aging cohort rather than an influx of younger families. Development applications at 24 in 12 months are modest for the suburb's size, consistent with low intensification pressure.
Population trend: Port Adelaide Enfield council area
Ethelton sits in the Port Adelaide Enfield council area. These are the council area's residents, not Ethelton's.
Residents 2025
143,022
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
67
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
45.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ethelton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ethelton a good suburb to live in?
Ethelton offers affordable housing costs relative to income, with mortgage-to-income at 25.8% and rent-to-income at 22.3%, both below the 30% stress threshold. Household income sits at the 34.5th percentile nationally, so it is a working-to-middle income suburb. The 7.5% unemployment rate is a downside, and car access matters since only 6.5% of residents use public transport.
What schools are in Ethelton?
No schools are recorded within the Ethelton boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Port Adelaide suburbs. Despite the lack of local schools, 32.4% of Ethelton residents hold university qualifications, 2.3 percentage points above the national average.
Is Ethelton safe?
Ethelton recorded 67 total crime incidents, giving a rate of 45.1 per 1,000 residents. Crime category breakdown is not available in this dataset. As context, the suburb has a low resident turnover of 17.5%, with 82.5% of people having lived here for at least 5 years, suggesting a settled, stable community.
How is Ethelton's population changing?
No population forecast data is available for Ethelton in this dataset. Current population is 1,487 across 0.52 km2. Resident stability is high: 82.5% of people were at the same address 5 years prior, a turnover rate of 17.5%. The median age of 42 is 2.0 years above the national figure, suggesting a slowly aging population base.
How much development is happening in Ethelton?
There were 24 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including a land division creating 2 allotments, pool replacement works and tree removal. Activity is modest given the suburb size of 0.52 km2 and reflects maintenance and small-scale subdivision rather than major new supply, consistent with the suburb's stable, low-turnover character.
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).
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