Mount Pleasant
With a median age of 48, Mount Pleasant sits 8 years above the national figure, making it one of South Australia's older regional communities. Spread across 111 square kilometres with just 1,058 residents, the population density of 9.5 per km2 is far below state averages. Despite a household income at the 32.9th percentile nationally, the suburb maintains low financial stress: mortgage-to-income sits at 24.8% and rent-to-income at 18.9%, both below the standard stress thresholds. Anglo-Celtic heritage dominates, with English (474), German (128) and Scottish (103) as the leading ancestries, reflecting the region's colonial settlement history.
Population
1,058
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,321/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Median house price data is not available for Mount Pleasant, but monthly mortgage repayments average $1,420, which is well below those of metropolitan SA markets. The suburb is 92.7% separate houses, giving buyers a predominantly detached-home market with few apartments or semi-detached alternatives. Three-bedroom dwellings are the most common at 47.1%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom homes at 31.8%, so families generally find a wide range of larger homes. Mortgage-to-income at 24.8% is below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting repayments are manageable relative to local incomes at the 32.9th percentile nationally. Outright owners (41.6%) and mortgage holders (46.6%) together account for 88% of residents, pointing to a stable, owner-occupied community.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available for Mount Pleasant, but monthly mortgage repayments average $1,420, which is well below those of metropolitan SA markets. The suburb is 92.7% separate houses, giving buyers a predominantly detached-home market with few apartments or semi-detached alternatives. Three-bedroom dwellings are the most common at 47.1%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom homes at 31.8%, so families generally find a wide range of larger homes. Mortgage-to-income at 24.8% is below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting repayments are manageable relative to local incomes at the 32.9th percentile nationally. Outright owners (41.6%) and mortgage holders (46.6%) together account for 88% of residents, pointing to a stable, owner-occupied community.
For Investors
The rental market in Mount Pleasant is thin: only 11.8% of residents rent, compared to national norms above 30%, which limits tenant pool depth. Weekly rent is $250, low in absolute terms, and with a vacancy rate of 11.3%, securing a reliable tenant takes longer than in tighter markets. Development activity is modest, with 21 applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly outbuildings and verandahs rather than new dwellings. SEIFA data is unavailable for this suburb, but with household income in the 32.9th percentile nationally, rent growth potential is constrained by local income levels. The high owner-occupier rate and aging demographic suggest demand for rentals will remain modest unless regional migration patterns shift.
Development Activity
Total DAs
130
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-8.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mount Pleasant iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mount Pleasant Primary School
R-6 · 58 students
Demographics
The population of 1,058 skews significantly older, with a median age of 48 against a national figure of 40, a gap of 8 years. Overseas-born residents account for 13.9%, which is 7.7 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile led by English (474 residents), German (128) and Scottish (103). University qualifications reach 19.0%, which is 11.1 points below the national rate, reflecting the rural-service-town character of the area. Couples with children (305 families) slightly outnumber couples without children (284), though the high median age means many households are post-child-rearing. Volunteering is notable at 25.8%, above what most metropolitan suburbs record, suggesting strong community participation despite the sparse population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.7%
Houses
1.0%
Townhouse
5.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses dominate at 92.7%, well above the national average, with apartments making up just 5.1% of stock. Three-bedroom homes are the most common type at 47.1%, followed by four-plus-bedroom at 31.8%, so larger family homes define the local housing mix. Owner occupiers hold the majority stake: 41.6% own outright and 46.6% carry a mortgage, leaving only 11.8% in the rental market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,420, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, homeowners are not under financial pressure compared to many Australian markets. Vacancy sits at 11.3%, which is elevated for a small town, likely reflecting the combination of an aging population, modest in-migration and limited rental demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,420
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$687
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.3%
Unoccupied
53
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.1%
Couples, no children
786
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 15.2% (44 workers), followed by Construction at 12.5% (36), Education at 11.8% (34) and Agriculture at 10.4% (30). By occupation, Labourers lead with 80 workers, ahead of Managers (65) and Professionals (64), a pattern typical of rural service centres where trades and land-based work are substantial. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, close to national levels, and full-time employment runs at 61.1%. Participation at 53.0% is below the national rate, which is partly explained by the high median age of 48 and 318 residents not in the labour force. Agriculture's presence reflects the surrounding Barossa and Adelaide Hills farming country, giving the local economy a seasonal and land-use dimension that metropolitan markets lack.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.1%
Part-time
35.2%
Participation
53.0%
Employed
445
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.0%
Postgraduate
2.4%
Born Overseas
13.9%
Dwellings
410
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 84.4% of residents driving to work, compared to lower rates in metropolitan areas, reflecting the rural setting and limited public transport. Only 2.0% use public transport and 6.5% walk or cycle, which is roughly consistent with other small South Australian towns. Crime is low at 11.3 incidents per 1,000 residents across the total of 12 recorded incidents in the period. Volunteering at 25.8% is a strong civic indicator, above the rates found in many larger urban centres. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in nearby centres. With 6.8% of residents (66 people) requiring daily assistance, the suburb's care demand is moderate relative to its older median age of 48.
Drive
84.4%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
6.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
12
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
11.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mount Pleasant compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Pleasant a good suburb to live in?
Mount Pleasant suits those seeking a quiet, low-density lifestyle: 86.5% of residents stay year to year, crime sits at 11.3 per 1,000 and volunteering is 25.8%, well above metropolitan norms. The trade-off is limited services, heavy car dependence at 84.4% and household income in the 32.9th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Mount Pleasant?
Median house price data is not available for Mount Pleasant in current records. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,420, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8% suggests purchase prices are manageable relative to local incomes. Weekly rent is $250.
What schools are in Mount Pleasant?
No schools are recorded within the Mount Pleasant suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby towns, which is typical for rural South Australia. The suburb has 1,058 residents across 111 km2, so school catchments extend to neighbouring areas.
Is Mount Pleasant safe?
Mount Pleasant recorded 12 total crime incidents, a rate of 11.3 per 1,000 residents, which is low in absolute terms and consistent with small rural communities. The high resident stay-rate of 86.5% and volunteering rate of 25.8% are further indirect indicators of a stable local environment.
Is Mount Pleasant good for property investment?
The rental market is narrow, with only 11.8% of residents renting and a vacancy rate of 11.3%, making it harder to secure consistent tenancy than in metropolitan areas. Rent is $250 per week and household income sits in the 32.9th percentile nationally, limiting rent growth potential. It suits investors seeking low-price entry rather than yield-driven returns.
How is Mount Pleasant's population changing?
Mount Pleasant has 1,058 residents across 111 km2 and a median age of 48, which is 8 years above the national figure. The 86.5% resident stay-rate indicates stability rather than growth, and the aging demographic means the suburb faces a structural shift toward retirement-age households over the coming decade.
What industries employ residents in Mount Pleasant?
Healthcare is the top industry at 15.2% of workers (44 people), followed by Construction at 12.5% (36), Education at 11.8% (34) and Agriculture at 10.4% (30). The mix reflects a rural service centre, with trades and land-based work alongside the public-sector roles typical of a small regional town.
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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