Oaklands Park
The 3,948-resident suburb packs 1,957.5 people into each square kilometre, creating a compact setting near Marion and Warradale. Prices rose 15.0% from 1Q 2025 to 1Q 2026, which is higher than a flat market, but the mortgage share of 26.5% and mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.1% point to affordability pressure. Compared with nearby Marion and Warradale, Oaklands Park has a more rental-oriented profile, making it relevant to both investors and buyers seeking smaller or attached dwellings.
Population
3,948
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,208/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
63
Median House
$1.1M
First quarter 2026
Ownership costs need testing against income because mortgage repayments are listed at $1,625 monthly and mortgage commitments equal 31.1% of income, above a comfortable affordability threshold. Housing is not dominated by detached stock: 48.9% is semi-detached, 43.9% separate houses and 7.2% apartments. The largest bedroom category is 3 bedrooms at 50.1%, followed by 2 bedrooms at 34.7%, so the suburb suits couples, smaller families and downsizers more than buyers seeking large blocks. Compared with nearby Marion and Warradale, inspect strata, land size and renovation scope carefully rather than relying on the headline median.
For Buyers
Ownership costs need testing against income because mortgage repayments are listed at $1,625 monthly and mortgage commitments equal 31.1% of income, above a comfortable affordability threshold. Housing is not dominated by detached stock: 48.9% is semi-detached, 43.9% separate houses and 7.2% apartments. The largest bedroom category is 3 bedrooms at 50.1%, followed by 2 bedrooms at 34.7%, so the suburb suits couples, smaller families and downsizers more than buyers seeking large blocks. Compared with nearby Marion and Warradale, inspect strata, land size and renovation scope carefully rather than relying on the headline median.
For Investors
Oaklands Park has a sizeable tenant base, with 48.7% renting, a weekly rent of $300 and vacancy of 11.3%. The vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied rental market, so gross rent alone should not drive the purchase decision; longer letting periods and incentives can reduce returns. Development activity is also notable, with 64 applications in 12 months, including a four-dwelling project and retail fitout activity. That pipeline may add choice for tenants and competition for older stock, although it can also signal ongoing amenity investment. Price growth was 15.0% over the year to 1Q 2026, higher than a flat market, while the suburb's 2.02 sq km footprint limits land supply. Investors should compare vacancy, maintenance and achievable rent with nearby Marion and Warradale before assuming the median price supports yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
410
Last 12 Months
63
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Oaklands Park's median age is 39, one year below the national comparison, and average household size is 2.0 people, 0.5 below the national figure. That smaller-household pattern helps explain the strong presence of 2-bedroom homes at 34.7% and 3-bedroom homes at 50.1%. University-qualified residents account for 40.5%, 10.4 percentage points above the national comparison, while 33.5% of residents were born overseas, 11.9 points above national. English ancestry leads at 1,367 people, followed by Other at 611, Scottish at 308, Irish at 297 and Chinese at 269. No religion is recorded for 1,813 residents, compared with 1,418 identifying with Christianity. Compared with nearby Marion and Warradale, the profile points to a compact, internationally connected suburb with moderate residential turnover: 28.8% moved during the reference period and 71.2% stayed.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
43.9%
Houses
48.9%
Townhouse
7.2%
Apartment
Tenure
The price peak and latest figure are the same, so there is no recorded pullback across the 2-quarter history. Tenure is split between 22.4% outright owners, 26.5% mortgage holders and 48.7% renters, a more rental-heavy mix than an owner-dominated suburb. Semi-detached dwellings make up 48.9%, separate houses 43.9% and apartments 7.2%; 3-bedroom homes lead at 50.1%, while 2-bedroom homes account for 34.7%. With mortgage commitments at 31.1% of income versus rent at 24.8%, leveraged buyers face more pressure than renters. Compared with nearby Marion and Warradale, the combination of price growth, compact housing and high rental share makes dwelling type and strata costs important.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$648
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.3%
Unoccupied
222
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.0%
Couples with children
45.3%
Couples, no children
21.3%
Single parent
945
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare anchors Oaklands Park's employment base at 24.4% and 315 workers, followed by Education at 12.7% and 164, Professional/Tech at 8.6% and 111, Construction at 7.6% and 98, and Retail at 7.1% and 92. This mix is broader than a single-industry suburb and supports demand from both service workers and professional households. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 457, ahead of Community/Personal Services at 315, Clerical/Admin at 252, Trades at 224 and Sales at 160. The labour force participation rate is 55.5%, the unemployment rate is 6.1% and the full-time rate is 55.9%. Household income is $1,208 weekly and sits at the 25.5th percentile, below the middle of the distribution despite 40.5% university participation, likely reflecting part-time work, care and service roles.
Unemployment
6.1%
Labour Force
1,938
Unemployed
118
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
55.5%
Employed
1,820
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.5%
Postgraduate
11.1%
Born Overseas
33.5%
Dwellings
1,743
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-led: 69.7% drive as a car driver, compared with 11.1% using public transport, 4.2% walking or cycling and 11.2% working from home. That pattern suits households prioritising road access, while the low active-travel share means proximity to shops and services should be tested street by street. Recorded crime is 311.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, from 1,231 incidents, so safety is a more significant consideration than in a low-crime setting. The suburb covers 2.02 sq km at 1,957.5 people per sq km, making services relatively close but parking and traffic more consequential. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because catchments can cross suburb boundaries. Compared with a lower-density suburb, Oaklands Park's compact form can reduce trip distances, but it does not remove car dependence.
Drive
69.7%
Public Transport
11.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.2%
Work from Home
11.2%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,231
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
311.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Oaklands Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oaklands Park a good suburb to live in?
Oaklands Park can suit residents who value a compact setting, nearby services and varied housing. It has 3,948 residents across 2.02 sq km, but 311.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents and 69.7% car-driver travel make safety checks and transport habits important. Its 11.1% public transport share is lower than a transit-oriented area.
What schools are in Oaklands Park?
Families should verify nearby school options and enrolment zones using the exact address, since catchments can cross suburb boundaries. Oaklands Park has 3,948 residents in a 2.02 sq km area, so practical access may differ by street. Do not assume a nearby campus guarantees a place or a particular sector.
Is Oaklands Park safe?
Safety deserves close attention. Oaklands Park recorded 1,231 crimes, equal to 311.8 incidents per 1,000 residents. That rate is higher than a low-crime benchmark, so inspect the exact street, lighting, parking areas and travel routes at different times. Crime categories are not broken out, so local checks are worthwhile before renting or buying.
How is Oaklands Park's population changing?
Oaklands Park has 3,948 residents, a median age of 39 and average household size of 2.0, with household size 0.5 below the national comparison. Residential stability is meaningful: 71.2% stayed while turnover was 28.8%. The 33.5% overseas-born share is 11.9 percentage points above national, so population change is likely to reflect both household moves and international diversity rather than only family expansion.
What languages are spoken in Oaklands Park?
Mandarin is the leading listed language other than English, spoken by 79 residents, followed by Nepali at 37, Arabic at 31, Punjabi at 25 and Hindi at 19. The overseas-born share is 33.5%, which is 11.9 percentage points above the national comparison and indicates a broader language mix than many less internationally connected suburbs.
What development is happening in Oaklands Park?
There were 64 development applications in the 12 months covered. Examples include a four-dwelling, two-storey group housing project, a Medibank retail tenancy fitout and a digital advertisement near the Dan Murphy's tenancy. This level of activity is higher than a quiet residential precinct and may bring both improved commercial amenity and additional housing 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), 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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