Old Noarlunga
At a median house price of $830,500 after a 24.9% gain in a single year, Old Noarlunga punches well above what its household income profile would predict. The 1,531-person suburb occupies 3.65 square kilometres on the Onkaparinga River floodplain, with 94.8% of dwellings being separate houses, a detached-house share far above the national average. The suburb carries a high-crime-rate signal at 92.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, and household income sits at the 46.3rd percentile nationally, roughly in the middle of Australian suburbs. Those two facts together explain why the rapid price growth attracts buyers seeking undervalued detached stock rather than premium-priced alternatives closer to Adelaide's CBD.
Population
1,531
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,485/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
29
Median House
$830K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $830,500 in the first quarter of 2026, up from $665,000 a year earlier, a 24.9% rise in 12 months. That is an unusually steep move for a suburb with household income at the 46.3rd percentile nationally, and it signals buyer demand outpacing local earnings capacity. Separate houses represent 94.8% of the stock, so there is very little apartment or semi-detached competition. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant type at 56.4%, with four-plus bedroom homes at 30.7%, making the suburb suited to families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,395, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 32.3% and mortgage holders at 49.2% suggest a stable tenure mix without signs of speculative churn.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $830,500 in the first quarter of 2026, up from $665,000 a year earlier, a 24.9% rise in 12 months. That is an unusually steep move for a suburb with household income at the 46.3rd percentile nationally, and it signals buyer demand outpacing local earnings capacity. Separate houses represent 94.8% of the stock, so there is very little apartment or semi-detached competition. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant type at 56.4%, with four-plus bedroom homes at 30.7%, making the suburb suited to families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,395, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 32.3% and mortgage holders at 49.2% suggest a stable tenure mix without signs of speculative churn.
For Investors
A renter share of 18.5% is low compared to the national average, meaning demand for rental stock is narrower than in higher-density suburbs. Weekly rent of $305 is modest, and against the $830,500 median the gross yield calculates to approximately 1.9%, below typical investment benchmarks. Vacancy sits at 5.9%, elevated relative to most suburban markets, which reflects limited rental demand rather than oversupply. Development activity shows 27 applications lodged in the past 12 months, a solid pipeline for a suburb of 1,531 people, with recent approvals including land divisions and new double-storey dwellings. The 24.9% price gain from 2025 to 2026 is the standout data point for investors, though the low yield and above-average vacancy suggest capital growth has run ahead of rental fundamentals.
Development Activity
Total DAs
172
Last 12 Months
29
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+31.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Old Noarlunga iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Old Noarlunga Primary School
R-6 · 155 students
Demographics
The median age is 41, matching the national figure within one year, so Old Noarlunga does not skew unusually young or old. Overseas-born residents make up 19.8% of the population, 1.8 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic: English (739), Scottish (184) and Irish (136) dominate. University qualifications reach only 17.6%, which is 12.5 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a blue-collar occupational profile. Average household size of 2.5 is in line with national norms. Couples with children account for 484 families versus 339 couples without children, pointing to a family-oriented composition. Volunteering is recorded at 13.6% of residents, moderate by Australian suburban standards.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.8%
Houses
0.5%
Townhouse
4.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The price trajectory is the defining feature: from $665,000 in the first quarter of 2025 to $830,500 in the first quarter of 2026, representing 24.9% growth over one year. That is well above typical SA state price growth over the same period. Tenure is weighted toward ownership, with 32.3% owning outright and 49.2% on mortgages, leaving only 18.5% renting, lower than the national rental share. The stock is almost exclusively separate houses at 94.8%, and the bedroom split concentrates in three-bedroom (56.4%) and four-plus bedroom (30.7%) homes, so the market caters to families rather than singles or couples seeking smaller dwellings. Rent-to-income at 20.5% keeps tenants out of stress, and mortgage-to-income at 21.7% is similarly comfortable relative to the national median.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,395
Rent / wk
$305
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$704
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
36
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.7%
Couples, no children
1,222
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 20.0% of local workers (90 people), followed by Construction at 17.1% (77 people), which explains the strong Labourer occupation category at 103 workers. Retail accounts for 7.3% and Professional/Technical services 6.4%, giving the economy a service and trades orientation rather than a white-collar professional base. Full-time employment runs at 60.4% and the unemployment rate is 6.1%, above the national average, consistent with the lower university qualification rate of 17.6%. The participation rate of 57.6% sits below typical metropolitan rates, partly because 411 residents are outside the labour force. Personal weekly income averages $704, which places local earnings below the national median, and family weekly income of $1,845 is similarly moderate by state and national benchmarks.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.4%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
57.6%
Employed
682
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.6%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
19.8%
Dwellings
572
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 90.0% of commuters driving, versus just 3.3% using public transport and 1.8% walking or cycling. This is above the national car-reliance level and reflects the suburb's position on the urban fringe without strong rail or bus connections. Crime records 141 incidents totalling 92.1 per 1,000 residents, which is elevated compared to metropolitan Adelaide averages and is the primary livability concern. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families depend on facilities in neighbouring Noarlunga and Morphett Vale. Rent stress is absent, with rent-to-income at 20.5% below the 30% threshold. About 7.0% of residents (102 people) need daily assistance, a moderate figure for a suburb with median age 41, slightly above national norms for its age profile.
Drive
90.0%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
141
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
92.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Old Noarlunga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Noarlunga a good suburb to live in?
Old Noarlunga suits families who prioritise detached housing and affordable mortgage repayments. Monthly mortgage costs average $1,395 against a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. The main drawbacks are a crime rate of 92.1 per 1,000 residents, which is above metropolitan Adelaide averages, and high car dependency at 90.0% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Old Noarlunga?
The median house price is $830,500 as of the first quarter of 2026. This is up 24.9% from $665,000 in the first quarter of 2025. Weekly rent averages $305, and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,395.
What schools are in Old Noarlunga?
No schools are recorded inside the Old Noarlunga suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Noarlunga Centre and Morphett Vale. University qualifications in the suburb stand at 17.6%, which is 12.5 percentage points below the national average.
Is Old Noarlunga safe?
Old Noarlunga recorded 141 incidents in the most recent period, giving a crime rate of 92.1 per 1,000 residents. This is flagged as a high-crime-rate area relative to South Australian suburban benchmarks. Residents are advised to review current SA Police statistics for detailed category breakdowns.
Is Old Noarlunga good for property investment?
Capital growth has been strong at 24.9% over 12 months, from $665,000 to $830,500. However, a renter share of only 18.5% and a vacancy rate of 5.9% limit rental demand. Gross yield is approximately 1.9% against the current median, below typical investment targets. The investment case rests on continued capital growth rather than rental income.
How is Old Noarlunga's population changing?
Old Noarlunga has a population of 1,531 across 3.65 km2. A turnover rate of 20.9% indicates new residents are arriving, with 79.1% of residents having stayed in place. Development activity totalled 27 applications in the past 12 months, including land divisions and new dwellings, pointing to gradual residential expansion.
How much development is happening in Old Noarlunga?
There were 27 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent approvals include a community land division (1 into 2 lots), a double-storey detached dwelling and a verandah addition. This is a moderate but steady activity level relative to the suburb's 1,531 residents, consistent with incremental suburban infill.
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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