Glenelg
The median age is 55, or 15.0 years above the national comparison, because the suburb has an aging resident base and many small households. Compared with nearby Glenelg East and Glenelg North, Glenelg has a particularly apartment-led profile, with 61.3% of dwellings classified as apartments. A 23.5% vacancy rate and forecast growth of only 0.47% annually point to a high-turnover, established market rather than a rapid-growth suburb.
Population
3,440
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,430/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
43
Median House
$1.9M
First quarter 2026
Glenelg suits buyers prioritising a compact, apartment-oriented lifestyle over a large detached block, but the entry price is substantial. Only 15.8% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 61.3% apartments and 20.8% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom properties dominate at 46.5%, followed by three-bedroom homes at 28.6%, because the local housing stock is shaped by smaller households averaging 1.8 people. The listed monthly mortgage figure is $1,733, with mortgage payments equal to 28.0% of household income, so buyers should compare body corporate costs and renovation exposure as carefully as the purchase price.
For Buyers
Glenelg suits buyers prioritising a compact, apartment-oriented lifestyle over a large detached block, but the entry price is substantial. Only 15.8% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 61.3% apartments and 20.8% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom properties dominate at 46.5%, followed by three-bedroom homes at 28.6%, because the local housing stock is shaped by smaller households averaging 1.8 people. The listed monthly mortgage figure is $1,733, with mortgage payments equal to 28.0% of household income, so buyers should compare body corporate costs and renovation exposure as carefully as the purchase price.
For Investors
Glenelg has a large renter base, with 42.4% of households renting and weekly rent recorded at $350. That demand is balanced by a 23.5% vacancy rate, which is higher than a tightly occupied rental market and can weaken landlord pricing power even when rents have grown 22.2%. The 0.47% annual growth forecast supports a defensive, established-market view rather than a rapid capital-growth thesis. Development activity reached 42 matters in 12 months, although examples include a verandah, advertising display and church roofing rather than a clear pipeline of new dwellings. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, so investors should compare vacancy, tenant turnover of 30.5% and apartment oversupply risk before committing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
279
Last 12 Months
43
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-12.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Glenelg's population profile is older and more highly educated than the national comparison. The median age is 55, standing 15.0 years above the national figure, while 46.4% of residents have university qualifications, 16.3 percentage points above the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 31.0%, or 9.4 points above the national share, with Portuguese, Greek and Italian among the recorded languages. Household size is 1.8 people, 0.7 below the national comparison, because couples without children represent 66.3% of families. The aging trajectory is reinforced by a 6.6 point rise in the senior share and a 4.0 point fall in the working share. English ancestry is recorded for 1,377 people, followed by Irish at 414 and Scottish at 346. Compared with Glenelg East and Glenelg North, this points to a particularly established and small-household demographic profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
15.8%
Houses
20.8%
Townhouse
61.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Glenelg's housing market is premium-priced but dominated by smaller attached dwellings. Apartments make up 61.3% of dwellings, compared with 15.8% separate houses and 20.8% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom stock accounts for 46.5%, while four-bedroom-plus homes represent only 7.6%, because the suburb's compact form favours apartments and smaller residences. Tenure is split between 37.3% owned outright, 14.6% with a mortgage and 42.4% rented. Compared with a detached-house suburb, Glenelg offers more rental and apartment exposure, while the 28.0% mortgage-to-income ratio and 24.5% rent-to-income ratio indicate that average housing costs are not currently flagged as stressed.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$915
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
23.5%
Unoccupied
519
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.5%
Couples with children
66.3%
Couples, no children
9.9%
Single parent
841
Total families
Economy & Employment
Glenelg has a professional and service-oriented employment base, led by healthcare at 19.2% and 220 workers, followed by professional and technical services at 11.3% and education at 10.3%. Public administration accounts for 8.6%, while construction represents 7.0%. Professionals number 465 and managers 285, both higher than trades at 138, because the suburb attracts knowledge, administrative and service occupations. The unemployment rate is 5.4%, participation is 52.5% and the full-time employment rate is 59.3%, while 1,394 people are outside the labour force. That aging profile helps explain why household weekly income is $1,430 and sits at the 42.3 percentile despite an IEO decile of 8. IER is lower at decile 5, while IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 7, showing that education and occupation advantages are higher than some household-resource measures.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
1,680
Unemployed
91
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.3%
Part-time
34.9%
Participation
52.5%
Employed
1,589
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.4%
Postgraduate
13.1%
Born Overseas
31.0%
Dwellings
1,675
Transport to Work
Glenelg delivers a dense, compact setting, with 3,601.3 people per sq km across 0.96 sq km. Car use is 60.2%, above public transport at 9.9%, while 7.2% walk or cycle and 19.2% work from home. This mix reflects a suburb where proximity can support short local trips, but many households still depend on cars for wider commuting. Safety requires careful consideration: 660 recorded offences equate to 191.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, a high-crime-rate signal compared with a lower-risk residential setting. Socioeconomic conditions are stronger than the middle of the decile scale, with IRSAD and IRSD both at 7, while 8.1% of residents need assistance. The median age of 55 and average household size of 1.8 reinforce an established environment suited to smaller households, although buyers should inspect the immediate street and building context.
Drive
60.2%
Public Transport
9.9%
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
19.2%
Population Forecast
+0.47%/yr
(+103 people/yr)
EstablishedGlenelg is forecast to grow at 0.47% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area runs at 4.4% over 10 years, supporting a slow-growth outlook rather than a rapid expansion cycle. The trajectory is labelled Aging because the senior share has increased 6.6 points while the working share has fallen 4.0 points. Rents have grown 22.2%, which is higher than the 0.47% annual population trend and may reflect pressure within a limited apartment market. Gentrification is not currently indicated: the forecast score is 10 and the stage is Not gentrifying, while the broader shift measure records a score of 14 with the same stage. Affordability is labelled Improving, with reported scores of 40.2 in 2011 and 35.7 in 2021, the latter lower than the former.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+470
Net Internal / yr
-130
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -130/yr, Strong overseas inflow +470/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
660
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
191.9
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Glenelg compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glenelg a good suburb to live in?
Glenelg can suit residents who value premium housing, compact apartments and established surroundings. The median age is 55, apartment share is 61.3% and vacancy is 23.5%, so the feel is older and higher-turnover than a family-oriented detached-house suburb. Check street-level safety and building conditions because the crime rate is 191.9 per 1,000 residents.
What schools are in Glenelg?
School options should be checked against the exact address because enrolment zones can cross Glenelg, Glenelg East and Glenelg North. Confirm current government, Catholic and independent choices directly and compare travel times before signing a contract. Glenelg's average household size is 1.8 people and its population is 3,440.
Is Glenelg safe?
Safety deserves active checking. Glenelg recorded 660 offences, equivalent to 191.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is a higher-risk consideration than a lower-crime residential setting. Inspect the immediate street during both day and night, review the latest local categories and compare the building's access, lighting and security before renting or buying.
Is Glenelg good for property investment?
Glenelg has investable rental depth, with 42.4% of households renting and weekly rent at $350. However, the 23.5% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly occupied market, and forecast population growth is only 0.47% annually. The median price rose 38.7% in the latest year, but investors should test whether that performance can continue against apartment supply and tenant turnover of 30.5%.
How is Glenelg's population changing?
Glenelg is on an Aging trajectory rather than a rapid-growth path. Annual growth is forecast at 0.47%, while population change across the wider area is 4.4% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the senior share has increased 6.6 points and the working share has fallen 4.0 points, so future demand is likely to reflect older and smaller households.
What languages are spoken in Glenelg?
Glenelg's overseas-born share is 31.0%, or 9.4 percentage points above the national comparison. Recorded language counts include Portuguese at 21 people, Greek at 19 and Italian at 18. English ancestry is the largest recorded ancestry group at 1,377, followed by Irish at 414, although ancestry and language measures describe different parts of the 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), 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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