Glenelg South
The population of 2,184 has a median age of 52, which is 12 years above the national figure, and 77% of residents have not moved in the past five years, reflecting deep residential stability. University qualifications at 45.8% run 15.7 percentage points above the national average, while a 15.4% vacancy rate and 38.4% renter share signal a segment of the housing stock that turns over more freely than the ownership base would suggest.
Local council: Holdfast Bay
Population
2,184
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,561/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
36
Median House
$2.7M
First quarter 2026
The stock is weighted toward semi-detached dwellings at 39.1%, with separate houses at 38.5% and apartments at 21.8%, meaning a freestanding house purchase competes for a relatively scarce share of supply. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 44.0%, with three-bedroom at 30.4% and four-plus at 17.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.6%, just below the conventional 30% stress threshold despite purchase prices that are well above state norms.
For Buyers
The stock is weighted toward semi-detached dwellings at 39.1%, with separate houses at 38.5% and apartments at 21.8%, meaning a freestanding house purchase competes for a relatively scarce share of supply. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 44.0%, with three-bedroom at 30.4% and four-plus at 17.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.6%, just below the conventional 30% stress threshold despite purchase prices that are well above state norms.
For Investors
A 38.4% renter share provides landlords with a broad tenant base, but the numbers require scrutiny. The 15.4% vacancy rate is elevated and points to oversupply in the apartment and semi-detached segment. Development activity has been moderate at 29 applications in the past 12 months, most being alterations to existing dwellings rather than new supply. The 21.9% price growth in a single year supports the capital-gains case, though that rate is unlikely to repeat. Investors betting on rental income rather than appreciation face a structural yield problem at current prices.
Development Activity
Total DAs
181
Last 12 Months
36
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, making Glenelg South one of Adelaide's most distinctly older-resident suburbs. Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below national, consistent with a dominant couple-without-children pattern: 41.9% of families are couples with no dependent children. Overseas-born residents account for 24.4%, which is 2.8 percentage points above the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, with English (988), Irish (282) and Scottish (239) the three largest groups. University qualifications reach 45.8%, running 15.7 percentage points above national, and the volunteering rate of 18.7% reflects a well-resourced, community-engaged population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
38.5%
Houses
39.1%
Townhouse
21.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between outright owners at 37.4%, renters at 38.4% and mortgage holders at 24.2%. Outright owners matching renters in share is notable: in most premium markets owners outnumber renters significantly, so the 38.4% renter proportion reflects a mix of investment properties and lifestyle tenants rather than affordability-driven renting. Semi-detached properties are the largest stock category at 39.1%, ahead of separate houses at 38.5%, with apartments making up the remaining 21.8%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 44.0% of all homes, reflecting the older, smaller-household demographic. Rent-to-income sits at 21.8%, below the 30% stress line.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$340
Census 2021
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$889
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.4%
Unoccupied
177
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.3%
Couples with children
54.0%
Couples, no children
12.4%
Single parent
556
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer, accounting for 19.7% of resident workers, followed by Education at 14.2% and Professional/Technical services at 9.8%. Construction (7.9%) and Public Administration (7.7%) round out the top five. By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 313 workers, followed by Managers (195) and Clerical/Administrative staff (140). The unemployment rate of 5.0% is modest, and the full-time employment rate of 59.7% is consistent with a workforce that includes a significant part-time cohort. Participation at 55.2% is below national norms, primarily because 779 residents are not in the labour force, a figure that aligns with the older median age of 52 and the high outright-ownership rate.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
1,143
Unemployed
54
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.7%
Part-time
38.3%
Participation
58.0%
Employed
1,089
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.8%
Postgraduate
10.9%
Born Overseas
24.4%
Dwellings
967
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high at 84.6% of commuters, while public transport accounts for just 2.3% and walking or cycling for 7.8%, reflecting the coastal residential layout that is well suited to cars and bikes but not heavily served by transit. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families draw on institutions in adjacent Glenelg and Somerton Park. The crime rate of 41.7 incidents per 1,000 residents covers 91 recorded offences across the population of 2,184. Housing stress is contained: the mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.6% sits below the 30% threshold and rent-to-income at 21.8% is comfortable relative to state norms. The 18.7% volunteering rate is above average nationally, and 9.9% of residents require some form of daily assistance, consistent with the older demographic profile.
Drive
66.9%
Public Transport
5.4%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
17.4%
Growth Outlook
Price growth of 21.9% over the year to 1Q 2026 is a strong recent signal, though the data covers only two quarters, so this likely reflects a cyclical uplift rather than a long-run trend that can be extrapolated. Residential stability is high: 77% of residents did not move in the five years to the Census, and the turnover rate of 23% is low. Development activity at 29 applications in 12 months is concentrated in renovations and additions, consistent with a mature suburb where owners invest in upgrading rather than subdividing. The older age profile and couples-without-children household structure suggest natural population growth will remain flat, with any future gains driven by migration inflows or lifestyle purchasers moving from elsewhere in Adelaide.
Population trend: Holdfast Bay council area
Glenelg South sits in the Holdfast Bay council area. These are the council area's residents, not Glenelg South's.
Residents 2025
39,683
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.8%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
91
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
41.7
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Glenelg South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Glenelg South?
No schools are recorded within the Glenelg South suburb boundary in this dataset. Families draw on schools in neighbouring Glenelg, Somerton Park and Plympton. The local population is highly educated, with 45.8% holding university qualifications, which is 15.7 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Glenelg South safe?
The suburb recorded 91 total incidents, giving a crime rate of 41.7 per 1,000 residents. No detailed category breakdown is available in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has high educational attainment at 45.8% university-qualified and low housing stress, with rent-to-income at 21.8% and mortgage-to-income at 29.6%.
How is Glenelg South's population changing?
Glenelg South has a population of 2,184 in a 0.67 km2 footprint, giving a density of 3,276 residents per km2. Residential mobility is low: 77% of residents have not moved in five years, and the turnover rate is 23%. The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, pointing to an aging, stable cohort rather than active population growth.
How much development is happening in Glenelg South?
There were 29 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are alterations and additions to existing dwellings, including kitchen and living area extensions, verandahs and front fences. New dwelling construction is not prominent in the recent application sample, consistent with a compact, established suburb of 0.67 km2 with little vacant land.
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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