Munno Para West
A median age of 27 makes Munno Para West 13 years younger than the national average, while 98.5% of homes are separate houses. The suburb has 7,577 residents across 3.4 square kilometres, creating a density of 2,225.7 people per square kilometre. Compared with nearby Munno Para and Andrews Farm, Munno Para West presents as a newer, mortgage-led growth area, with 48.9% of households paying a mortgage and 41.6% renting. The combination of young households, detached housing and internal migration helps explain its strong development pipeline.
Population
7,577
Median Age
27.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,567/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
152
Median House
$720K
First quarter 2026
The housing mix is far more detached than apartment-oriented suburbs, with 98.5% separate houses, 61.8% three-bedroom homes and 36.7% with four or more bedrooms. A weekly rent of $315 provides a useful comparison for buyers weighing ownership against renting, while the mortgage-to-income measure of 19.4% indicates that repayments are not currently flagged as stressed. The 4.3% vacancy rate also gives relocating households some flexibility while they assess streets and school zones.
For Buyers
The housing mix is far more detached than apartment-oriented suburbs, with 98.5% separate houses, 61.8% three-bedroom homes and 36.7% with four or more bedrooms. A weekly rent of $315 provides a useful comparison for buyers weighing ownership against renting, while the mortgage-to-income measure of 19.4% indicates that repayments are not currently flagged as stressed. The 4.3% vacancy rate also gives relocating households some flexibility while they assess streets and school zones.
For Investors
The suburb has a sizeable tenant base, with 41.6% of households renting and a median weekly rent of $315. A 4.3% vacancy rate is a key comparison point for investors assessing leasing conditions, while rent growth of 10.7% indicates stronger movement than a flat rental market. Development activity is substantial, with 151 applications recorded over 12 months, including detached dwellings and Torrens Title land division. That pipeline can add competing stock, but it also reflects sustained housing demand. The high-growth classification, 4.16% annual trend and internal migration driver support the case for long-term demand, although investors should compare new-build supply, holding costs and tenant appeal against established parts of Playford before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
734
Last 12 Months
152
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+94.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Munno Para West has a distinctly young profile: the median age is 27, which is 13 years below the national average, and only 16.2% of residents have a university qualification, 13.9 percentage points below the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 16.0%, 5.6 points below the national figure, while the average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above average. Families are important, with couples with children making up 42.2% of families and one-parent families 29.1%. English ancestry is recorded for 3,366 people, followed by Scottish at 570 and Irish at 494. No religion is the largest religious response at 4,443, compared with 2,343 identifying with Christianity. A 71.2% stayed rate suggests more residential continuity than the 28.8% turnover rate alone might imply.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.5%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly detached and family-sized: 98.5% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 0.3% apartments and 1.2% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties account for 61.8% of stock and four-plus-bedroom homes 36.7%, making the suburb more suitable for families than compact, apartment-led markets. The tenure mix explains its mortgage-belt character, with 48.9% of households paying a mortgage, 41.6% renting and only 8.8% owning outright. Compared with older suburbs with more outright owners, Munno Para West has a younger ownership base and greater exposure to interest rates. Its average household size of 2.8 helps support demand for three and four-bedroom layouts.
Mortgage / mo
$1,319
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$315
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$834
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.3%
Unoccupied
117
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.2%
Couples with children
27.4%
Couples, no children
29.1%
Single parent
2,076
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the leading industry, employing 472 people or 22.3% of workers, followed by retail at 219 and 10.4%, construction at 198 and 9.4%, manufacturing at 195 and 9.2%, and education at 178 and 8.4%. The occupational mix is practical and service-oriented, led by community and personal services at 573, trades at 549, clerical and administration at 501, labourers at 480, and machinery operators and drivers at 410. Participation is 72.8%, unemployment is 6.8%, and 60.4% of workers are full time. SEIFA places education and occupation in decile 2, below the middle decile, while economic resources sit at decile 5; IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 3. Compared with a university-heavy employment base, the lower IEO result aligns with the suburb's trades, labouring and machinery profile, while household income sits around the 51.1st percentile.
Unemployment
6.8%
Labour Force
3,904
Unemployed
264
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.4%
Part-time
32.9%
Participation
72.8%
Employed
3,640
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.2%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
16.0%
Dwellings
2,596
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented. A total of 87.1% of residents travel as car drivers, far higher than the 1.7% using public transport, while 0.7% walk or cycle and 5.4% work from home. That pattern means access to employment, shopping and services is more convenient by car than by public transport. The recorded crime rate is 33.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 256 total incidents, so buyers should compare current street-level conditions and local benchmarks before choosing a property. IRSAD is in decile 3, below the middle decile, indicating a lower relative level of advantage than more affluent suburbs. Families should check exact-address enrolment zones and nearby school access before committing, because boundaries can cross suburb lines. The compact 3.4 square kilometre area and density of 2,225.7 people per square kilometre support a built-up suburban setting rather than a low-density rural lifestyle.
Drive
87.1%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
5.4%
Population Forecast
+4.16%/yr
(+1,013 people/yr)
High GrowthMunno Para West is classified as high growth, with an annual trend of 4.16% and internal migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 108.3% over 10 years, substantially higher than a flat-growth trajectory, while the shift trajectory is labelled Mixed. Rent growth of 10.7% adds pressure to housing demand, even as the model labels the affordability trend Improving, with affordability measures of 44.2 in 2011 and 37.5 in 2021. Development activity reinforces the expansion pattern, with 151 applications in 12 months. The gentrification score is 0: the forecast stage is New development and the shift signal is Not gentrifying. This points to population and dwelling growth driven more by new supply and incoming households than by a premium-renovation cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+80
Net Internal / yr
+1,551
Gentrification Signal
New development
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
256
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
33.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Munno Para West compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Munno Para West a good suburb to live in?
Munno Para West can suit households wanting newer detached housing and family-sized homes. The median age is 27, 98.5% of dwellings are separate houses and 87.1% of residents drive, so it compares better with car-based family suburbs than transit-oriented areas.
What schools are in Munno Para West?
Families should check the exact property address against current public, Catholic and independent enrolment zones, as nearby school access can cross suburb boundaries. With 87.1% of residents driving and only 1.7% using public transport, transport planning is also important when comparing school options.
Is Munno Para West safe?
The recorded crime rate is 33.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 256 total incidents. Treat those figures as a comparison point rather than a complete verdict, and inspect the immediate street, lighting, traffic and property conditions before buying or renting.
Is Munno Para West good for property investment?
It has several investment positives: 41.6% of households rent, median rent is $315 per week, vacancy is 4.3% and rent growth is 10.7%. However, 151 development applications in 12 months mean investors should compare new supply and tenant demand carefully.
How is Munno Para West's population changing?
Growth is strong, with a 4.16% annual trend and internal migration as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 108.3% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Mixed and the forecast classifies the area as New development rather than gentrifying.
What development is happening in Munno Para West?
There were 151 development applications over 12 months, including detached single-storey dwellings and a 1 into 2 Torrens Title land division. The volume is consistent with a high-growth area where new housing supply is expanding faster than in established suburbs.
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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