SA 5095 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Mawson Lakes

University attainment is the standout marker: 49.4% of residents hold a degree, 19.3 points above the national level. Mawson Lakes combines a young median age of 33 with 43.5% born overseas, 21.9 points above national, so demand is shaped by students, skilled migrants and professional households. Compared with nearby Salisbury and Pooraka, the suburb reads more planned and higher income, with household income in the 72.9 percentile and a 2026 median house price of $1,040,000.

Mawson Lakes urban fabric map

Population

13,794

Median Age

33.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,940/wk

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

62

Median House

$1.0M

Median 1Q 2026

6.16 km²· 2,238.4 people/km²· Family income $2,220/wk

Buyers face an upper-north Adelaide price point, with the median house price at $1,040,000 in 1Q 2026, 12.9% above 1Q 2025 and currently at its recorded peak. The mix still suits families because 66.9% of dwellings are separate houses and 48.0% have 3 bedrooms, while 28.8% have 4 or more. Mortgage pressure is below stress settings at 19.7% of income, helped by a median monthly mortgage of $1,659 even though 42.6% of homes are mortgaged.

For Buyers

Buyers face an upper-north Adelaide price point, with the median house price at $1,040,000 in 1Q 2026, 12.9% above 1Q 2025 and currently at its recorded peak. The mix still suits families because 66.9% of dwellings are separate houses and 48.0% have 3 bedrooms, while 28.8% have 4 or more. Mortgage pressure is below stress settings at 19.7% of income, helped by a median monthly mortgage of $1,659 even though 42.6% of homes are mortgaged.

For Investors

Investor appeal is led by a large renter pool: 39.6% of homes are rented, compared with 42.6% under mortgage and 17.8% owned outright. Median rent is $360 per week, and rent-to-income sits at 18.6%, so tenant affordability looks stronger than in higher-stress markets. The main caution is the 6.1% vacancy rate, which is higher than investors prefer, partly because 58 development items and a 15.0% apartment share add competing rental choice.

Development Activity

Total DAs

336

Last 12 Months

62

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+3.3%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Deck / Pergola / Patio
49
Tree Removal
19
Commercial / Industrial
12
Swimming Pool / Spa
11
Renovation / Extension
9
Signage / Advertising
5
Garage / Carport / Shed
5
Hospitality / Food Premises
3

Schools in Mawson Lakes iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Endeavour College

ICSEA 1083 Secondary Independent

7-12 · 738 students

Mawson Lakes School

ICSEA 1060 Primary Government

R-6 · 716 students

Demographics

Mawson Lakes is younger and more internationally connected than the national profile. The median age is 33, which is 7.0 years below national, while 43.5% of residents were born overseas, 21.9 points above national. Education levels are also high, with 49.4% university qualified, 19.3 points above national. English ancestry leads at 3,538 people, but Chinese 1,273, Indian 1,056 and Vietnamese 746 ancestry groups matter because Punjabi 326 and Mandarin 319 are among the top languages.

Age Distribution

0-14
18.6%
15-24
15.6%
25-44
36.2%
45-64
21.4%
65+
8.2%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.3%
2 bed
21.9%
3 bed
48.0%
4+ bed
28.8%

Dwelling Structure

66.9%

Houses

18.0%

Townhouse

15.0%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 17.8% Mortgage 42.6% Rent 39.6%

Housing is more owner-occupier weighted than the renter share first suggests: 17.8% are owned outright and 42.6% are mortgaged, compared with 39.6% rented. The median moved from $921,250 in 1Q 2025 to $1,040,000 in 1Q 2026, a 12.9% lift over 1 year, with no fall from peak because the latest quarter is also the peak. Compared with inner apartment markets, Mawson Lakes remains house-led at 66.9% separate homes, 18.0% semi-detached and 15.0% apartments.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,659

Rent / wk

$360

HH Size

2.6

Personal Income / wk

$915

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

6.1%

Unoccupied

327

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

18.6%

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

19.7%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Punjabi
326
Mandarin
319
Canton
166
Hindi
152
Urdu
139
Arabic
127

Ancestry

English
3,538
Other
3,138
Chinese
1,273
Indian
1,056
Vietnamese
746
Scottish
727

Household Composition

23.9%

Couples, no children

10,780

Total families

Economy & Employment

The jobs base is professional but not one-dimensional. Healthcare employs 1,128 residents, or 20.4%, followed by Public Admin at 616, Education at 606, Professional/Tech at 503 and Manufacturing at 425. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 2,030, above Managers at 1,013 and Clerical/Admin at 1,037. SEIFA shows the nuance: IEO decile 7, IRSAD decile 7 and IRSD decile 7 sit above average, while IER decile 5 is lower because economic resources are less elevated than education and occupation status.

Unemployment

2.0%

Labour Force

9,363

Unemployed

185

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
7
Disadvantage
7
Economic resources
5
Education & occupation
7

Full-time

65.0%

Part-time

29.3%

Participation

70.3%

Employed

7,443

Occupations

Professionals 2,030
Community/Personal 1,039
Clerical/Admin 1,037
Managers 1,013
Labourers 613
Sales 612
Machinery/Drivers 471

Top Industries

Healthcare 20.4%
Public Admin 11.1%
Education 10.9%
Professional/Tech 9.1%
Manufacturing 7.7%

University

49.4%

Postgraduate

16.3%

Born Overseas

43.5%

Dwellings

5,025

Transport to Work

Education is a clear livability anchor, with 2 local schools spanning an ICSEA range of 1060 to 1083. Endeavour College is the higher ICSEA option at 1083 with 738 enrolments in the Independent sector, while Mawson Lakes School is a Government primary with ICSEA 1060 and 716 enrolments. Daily movement is still car-led because 84.6% drive, compared with 7.0% using public transport and 2.8% walking or cycling. Crime is 64.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, while IRSAD decile 7 supports an above average social advantage setting.

Drive

84.6%

Public Transport

7.0%

Walk / Cycle

2.8%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+2.64%/yr

(+396 people/yr)

Established

Forecast momentum is strong for an established suburb, with annual growth projected at 2.64%, or 396 people a year. The medium path rises from 16,231 in 2026 to 18,210 in 2031, a gain of 1,979 residents. Migration explains the pattern because overseas migration adds an average 470 people a year, compared with a net internal outflow of -335. The gentrification score is 22 with an Early signs stage, while the shift profile points to aging as seniors rise 3.7 points and working-age share falls 2.8.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+470

Net Internal / yr

-335

22

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +35% since 2011, Net internal outflow -335/yr, Strong overseas inflow +470/yr

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

894

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

64.8

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Mawson Lakes compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 2%
Household Income
Top 27%
Rent Level
Top 24%
Apartments
Top 23%
Renters
Top 16%
Uni Educated
Top 10%
Public Transport
Top 22%
Born Overseas
Top 5%
Density
Top 7%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mawson Lakes a good suburb to live in?

Yes, for many buyers it suits education-focused and professional households. The median age is 33, university attainment is 49.4%, and 2 local schools have ICSEA scores from 1060 to 1083.

What is the median house price in Mawson Lakes?

The median house price is $1,040,000 for 1Q 2026. That is up 12.9% from $921,250 in 1Q 2025, and the latest quarter is also the recorded peak.

What schools are in Mawson Lakes?

Mawson Lakes has 2 listed schools: Endeavour College, an Independent secondary with ICSEA 1083 and 738 enrolments, and Mawson Lakes School, a Government primary with ICSEA 1060 and 716 enrolments.

Is Mawson Lakes safe?

Recorded crime totals 894 incidents, equal to 64.8 per 1,000 residents. Buyers should weigh that figure alongside the suburb's IRSAD decile 7 and its school, income and transport profile.

Is Mawson Lakes good for property investment?

It has a large rental market, with 39.6% of dwellings rented and a median rent of $360 per week. The 6.1% vacancy rate is the key risk, especially with 58 recent development items adding supply.

How is Mawson Lakes's population changing?

Population growth is projected at 2.64% a year, or about 396 people annually. The medium forecast reaches 18,210 by 2031, supported by average overseas migration of 470 people a year.

What languages are spoken in Mawson Lakes?

English is common, but the suburb has a strong multilingual profile because 43.5% of residents were born overseas. Leading non-English language groups include Punjabi 326, Mandarin 319, Canton 166, Hindi 152 and Urdu 139.

Is there much development in Mawson Lakes?

Yes. There were 58 development items over the past 12 months, including residential repairs, fitouts and smaller works. That level of activity matters for investors because new or upgraded supply can affect vacancy and rent competition.

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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