Morphett Vale
A 24,002-person suburb with 84.9% separate houses, Morphett Vale has a strongly detached, mortgage-belt profile while 28.5% of households rent. Its median age of 40 matches the national figure, but university attainment at 17.4% sits 12.7 percentage points below the national level and household income ranks at the 25.1 percentile. Compared with nearby Christies Beach, the housing mix is more oriented towards conventional family homes. The combination of 41.8% mortgage ownership, 65.4% three-bedroom dwellings and an aging trajectory reflects an established community where affordability and access to practical services remain central.
Population
24,002
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,199/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
307
Median House
$785K
First quarter 2026
The typical mortgage is listed at $1,300 per month, with mortgage payments equal to 25.0% of household income and rent costs at 24.6%. Housing choice is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes at 65.4%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom dwellings at 17.7%, so buyers seeking standard family layouts have more choice than apartment shoppers. Separate houses account for 84.9% of stock compared with 0.3% apartments, because the suburb was built around low-rise residential streets. Rising prices improve owner equity but make deposit size the main hurdle for new entrants.
For Buyers
The typical mortgage is listed at $1,300 per month, with mortgage payments equal to 25.0% of household income and rent costs at 24.6%. Housing choice is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes at 65.4%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom dwellings at 17.7%, so buyers seeking standard family layouts have more choice than apartment shoppers. Separate houses account for 84.9% of stock compared with 0.3% apartments, because the suburb was built around low-rise residential streets. Rising prices improve owner equity but make deposit size the main hurdle for new entrants.
For Investors
Morphett Vale has a substantial rental base, with 28.5% of households renting compared with 28.0% owning outright. Weekly rent is $295 and the vacancy rate is 5.2%, giving investors a market with tenant demand but also some leasing flexibility. Development activity is notable, with 302 applications recorded over 12 months, including a project for 33 group dwellings with 10 affordable homes and another for 3 detached houses. The primary migration driver is labelled Balanced, so rental performance is more likely to depend on local employment, household formation and property condition than on one dominant migration stream. The 0.62% annual growth trend is positive, but slower than a high-growth market, favouring careful asset selection over speculative assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,423
Last 12 Months
307
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+43.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Morphett Vale
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Coorara Primary School
Flaxmill School P-6
Morphett Vale East School
Morphett Vale Primary School
Pimpala Primary School
Demographics
Morphett Vale's median age is 40, exactly matching the national comparison, while its average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 21.5%, almost identical to the national proportion, and 17.4% have university qualifications, 12.7 percentage points below the national rate. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 10,978 people, followed by Scottish at 2,225, Irish at 1,908 and German at 1,592. No religion is reported by 12,920 residents, compared with 8,304 identifying with Christianity. Compared with nearby Christies Beach, Morphett Vale's larger detached-house base supports a more conventional suburban household pattern, while its 23.3% one-parent family share points to varied family needs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.9%
Houses
14.7%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is dominated by separate houses at 84.9%, with semi-detached dwellings making up 14.7% and apartments just 0.3%. The most common format is a 3-bedroom home at 65.4%, while 17.7% have 4 or more bedrooms and 15.2% have 2 bedrooms. Tenure is split between 41.8% mortgage owners, 28.0% outright owners and 28.5% renters. Compared with the limited apartment supply, this detached profile gives families more space but narrows the entry-level choice for buyers seeking smaller dwellings. Stable affordability moved from 47.1 in 2011 to 48.2 in 2021, while mortgage and rent stress measures remain close at 25.0% and 24.6%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$295
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$639
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
542
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.4%
Couples with children
39.3%
Couples, no children
23.3%
Single parent
6,681
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Morphett Vale's leading industry at 24.5%, employing 1,582 people, followed by construction at 10.9% with 701, retail at 8.8% with 566, education at 8.7% with 563 and public administration at 7.1% with 461. The occupational mix is similarly practical, led by community and personal services at 1,783, trades at 1,769, clerical and administration at 1,415, labourers at 1,311 and professionals at 1,272. Unemployment is 6.7%, participation is 56.2% and the full-time rate is 55.5%. Weekly household income of $1,199 ranks at the 25.1 percentile nationally, below the middle of the distribution. IRSAD and IRSD both sit at decile 2, lower than the national midpoint, which helps explain why essential-service employment is prominent while participation remains modest and 7,799 people are outside the labour force.
Unemployment
6.7%
Labour Force
11,259
Unemployed
754
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.5%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
56.2%
Employed
10,505
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.4%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
21.5%
Dwellings
9,898
Transport to Work
Daily travel is strongly car-oriented: 82.4% drive as the main transport mode, compared with 3.7% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling. This matters because access to work, shopping and services is likely to be easier for households with reliable vehicle access. Six nearby government schools provide practical coverage, comprising 5 primary schools and 1 secondary school; families should check the exact enrolment zone because boundaries can cut across suburb streets. Recorded crime is 1,488 incidents, or 62.0 per 1,000 residents, so street-level conditions and current local patterns deserve attention rather than relying on a suburb-wide rate alone. Morphett Vale's IRSAD decile of 2 is below the national midpoint, indicating socioeconomic constraints that can affect service access and household budgets. A 7.4% work-from-home rate adds some flexibility, but remains far below the car-driver share.
Drive
82.4%
Public Transport
3.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
7.4%
Population Forecast
+0.62%/yr
(+66 people/yr)
EstablishedMorphett Vale is on an established growth path, with annual growth forecast at 0.62% and the primary migration driver described as Balanced. Population change across the wider area is 10.8% over 10 years, higher than a static population, but the trajectory is classified as Aging. That direction is supported by a 3.8 percentage-point increase in the senior share, a 2.6-point fall in the working share and a 0.4-point decline in the young share. Rents have grown 34.1%, which can increase pressure on tenants even as affordability is labelled Stable. Gentrification signals are mixed: one shift measure records a score of 29 and Early signs, while the dedicated indicator records 19 and Not gentrifying. Compared with a rapidly transforming suburb, the pattern points to gradual demographic change rather than wholesale reinvention.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+48
Net Internal / yr
0
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011, Accelerating: 2% → 11%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,488
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
62.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Morphett Vale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Morphett Vale?
Morphett Vale has 6 listed government schools, comprising 5 primary schools and 1 secondary school. The mix includes primary campuses and Wirreanda Secondary School. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact property, because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries and may affect available options.
Is Morphett Vale safe?
Morphett Vale recorded 1,488 reported crimes, equal to 62.0 incidents per 1,000 residents. That suburb-wide figure cannot describe every street or time period, so buyers and renters should compare current local conditions, lighting, transport access and nearby activity before deciding. A property-level check is more useful than relying on one rate alone.
Is Morphett Vale good for property investment?
Morphett Vale has 28.5% renters, weekly rent of $295 and a 5.2% vacancy rate. Development activity is high at 302 applications over 12 months, including 33 group dwellings and 10 affordable homes. The 0.62% annual growth trend is positive but moderate, so investors should compare property condition, tenant appeal and future competing supply.
How is Morphett Vale's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 10.8% over 10 years, with annual growth forecast at 0.62% and migration described as Balanced. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 3.8 percentage points, while the working share fell 2.6 points and the young share fell 0.4 points. This indicates gradual growth with an older age profile.
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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