Mclaren Vale
A median age of 54 puts McLaren Vale 14 years above the national figure, making it one of South Australia's most age-skewed suburbs. The population has grown 28.3% over the decade, driven by net internal migration of 288 residents a year, an unusually strong inflow for a suburb its size. Households sit at the 33rd income percentile, yet the IRSD decile is 7, indicating below-average disadvantage relative to national norms. The gentrification score of 57 signals active change: affordability improved from 48.9% in 2011 to 45.1% in 2021, and the median house price reached $950,000 in Q1 2026, up 21% on Q1 2025.
Population
4,061
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,331/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
85
Median House
$950K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price hit $950,000 in Q1 2026, a 21% rise from $785,000 a year earlier, making it one of the stronger short-term gains in SA. Separate houses dominate at 85.4% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 10.5% and apartments at just 2.4%, so buyers are buying almost entirely detached stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 47% of the mix, followed by four-plus at 31%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,560, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold despite a premium price point. Outright owners make up 48.3% of all households, well above the national average, which signals a long-held, low-debt base rather than a market dominated by recent borrowers.
For Buyers
The median house price hit $950,000 in Q1 2026, a 21% rise from $785,000 a year earlier, making it one of the stronger short-term gains in SA. Separate houses dominate at 85.4% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 10.5% and apartments at just 2.4%, so buyers are buying almost entirely detached stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 47% of the mix, followed by four-plus at 31%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,560, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold despite a premium price point. Outright owners make up 48.3% of all households, well above the national average, which signals a long-held, low-debt base rather than a market dominated by recent borrowers.
For Investors
Renters are 16.7% of households, a low share compared to most suburban markets, which limits tenant pool depth. Weekly rent averages $328, and against the $950,000 median that implies a gross yield around 1.8%, modest but consistent with a lifestyle and owner-occupier suburb. Vacancy sits at 7.5%, elevated and a caution for investors targeting quick occupancy. Development applications reached 73 in the past 12 months, most being extensions and outbuildings on existing houses rather than new supply. Net internal migration of 288 per year is the strongest demand driver, and the medium forecast puts the broader SA2 population at 9,577 by 2031, up from 8,779 in 2025, suggesting sustained inflow. Rent growth of 29.6% over the measured period points to tightening even against the high vacancy headline.
Development Activity
Total DAs
536
Last 12 Months
85
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-13.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mclaren Vale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Tatachilla Lutheran College
R-12 · 1103 students
McLaren Vale Primary School
R-6 · 521 students
Demographics
The median age of 54 is 14 years above the national figure, with the senior share growing 3.8 points and the working-age share falling 1.5 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents are 27.2% of the population, 5.6 points above national. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (2,191), Scottish (499), Irish (377) and German (309). University qualifications reach 26.2%, which is 3.9 points below the national rate, consistent with a trade and hospitality-anchored local economy. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national average, and 39.1% of families are couples without children, higher than typical suburban compositions. Volunteering at 20.3% is notably high, reflecting the older, community-embedded resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.4%
Houses
10.5%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is heavily weighted toward ownership: 48.3% own outright and 35% carry a mortgage, leaving only 16.7% renting, well below the national renter share. That outright-ownership dominance reflects a long-settled, older cohort rather than recent market activity. The stock is 85.4% separate houses, which is high even compared to outer suburban SA norms. Prices moved from $785,000 in Q1 2025 to $950,000 in Q1 2026, a 21% rise over one year. Mortgage-to-income is 27.1% and rent-to-income is 24.6%, both below the 30% stress threshold, meaning neither buyers nor renters face acute housing cost pressure by standard measures. Three-bedroom homes are the largest segment at 47%, followed by four-plus at 31%, with only 3.4% being studios or one-bedroom.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,560
Rent / wk
$328
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$687
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
135
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.1%
Couples, no children
3,169
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 16.3% (188 workers), followed by Education at 12.2%, Manufacturing at 11.4% and Construction at 10.6%. Professional and Technical services account for 7.5%. By occupation, Professionals (323) and Managers (320) are nearly equal, and together with Clerical/Admin (227) they form a white-collar majority. The unemployment rate is 4.6%, in line with the national average. Participation at 49.9% is low relative to the employed share, because 1,466 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the suburb's older age profile. Real incomes grew 14.3% over the decade. The SEIFA IER decile is 8, above the IRSD decile of 7, which indicates that physical and economic resources are somewhat stronger than the disadvantage index alone implies.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
4,748
Unemployed
99
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.9%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
49.9%
Employed
1,668
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.2%
Postgraduate
5.0%
Born Overseas
27.2%
Dwellings
1,642
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high: 88.7% of residents drive to work and only 1.9% use public transport, lower than almost any metropolitan suburb and a practical reflection of its rural-fringe location. Walking and cycling account for 5.6% of commutes, above what the density of 69 residents per km2 would suggest. The crime rate is 31 incidents per 1,000 residents based on 126 total recorded crimes, a rate that is below most urban SA benchmarks. The suburb ranks decile 7 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in above-average territory for socio-economic advantage. Residents needing daily assistance are 7.4% (287 people), consistent with the older median age of 54. Development activity of 73 applications in 12 months is moderate relative to the 58.5 km2 footprint, mostly home improvements rather than subdivision.
Drive
88.7%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
5.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.28%/yr
(+200 people/yr)
EstablishedThe McLaren Vale SA2 population grew 28.3% over the decade and is forecast to reach 9,577 by 2031 under the medium scenario, up from 8,779 in 2025. Annual growth runs at 2.28% with approximately 200 additional persons per year. Internal migration is the primary driver at a net 288 residents annually, with overseas migration adding a further 36. The gentrification score is 57, classified as active, supported by signals including population growth of over 50% since 2011 and a shift in the working-age to senior ratio. Affordability improved from 48.9% in 2011 to 45.1% in 2021. The trajectory is aging, not retreating: the suburb is attracting established households relocating from metro areas rather than young families, which sustains demand for larger detached dwellings.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+36
Net Internal / yr
+288
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +50% since 2011, Net internal migration +288/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 44%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
126
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
31.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mclaren Vale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is McLaren Vale a good suburb to live in?
McLaren Vale ranks decile 7 on IRSAD nationally, in the above-average advantage tier, with a crime rate of 31 per 1,000 residents and neither mortgage nor rent stress by standard measures. The main practical trade-off is very limited public transport: only 1.9% of residents use it, and the suburb sits 40 km from the Adelaide CBD.
What is the median house price in McLaren Vale?
The median house price was $950,000 in Q1 2026, up 21% from $785,000 in Q1 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,560, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $328.
What schools are in McLaren Vale?
No schools are recorded inside the McLaren Vale suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Willunga, Seaford or Morphett Vale. The local population has a university qualification rate of 26.2%, which is 3.9 points below the national figure.
Is McLaren Vale safe?
Recorded crime totals 126 incidents, giving a rate of 31 per 1,000 residents. This is below the rates seen in most urban SA suburbs. The IRSD decile of 7 nationally places it in the lower-disadvantage tier, which broadly correlates with safer community outcomes.
Is McLaren Vale good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $328 against a $950,000 median implies a gross yield around 1.8%, modest for an investment play. Vacancy sits at 7.5%, which is elevated. The positive case is strong: net internal migration of 288 residents per year and a 21% house price rise in 12 months show genuine demand. Rent grew 29.6% over the measured period.
How is McLaren Vale's population changing?
The suburb grew 28.3% over the decade and is forecast to reach 9,577 by 2031 under the medium scenario, up from 8,779 in 2025. Annual growth is 2.28%. Internal migration is the primary driver at 288 net arrivals per year. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.8 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in McLaren Vale?
There were 73 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are extensions, verandahs, carports and dwelling additions to existing houses rather than new builds, consistent with an established suburb where infill improvement is more common than subdivision.
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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