Osborne
The suburb remains detached-house led, with 84.7% of dwellings separate houses, while its 1,951 residents have a median age of 41, just 1 year above the national figure. A 6.55% annual growth trend points to a high-growth setting, with migration described as Balanced rather than driven by one channel. Compared with nearby Taperoo and North Haven, Osborne gives buyers another established coastal option, but the price rise deserves careful testing against income. Household income sits at the 33.9th national percentile, making the recent acceleration more notable than its income position.
Local council: Port Adelaide Enfield
Population
1,951
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,336/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
33
Median House
$880K
First quarter 2026
Osborne's typical buyer is choosing a three-bedroom format: 66.5% of homes have 3 bedrooms, and 84.7% are separate houses. Mortgage repayments are $1,468 monthly; mortgage costs equal 25.4% of household income and rent equals 22.5%, with neither flagged for stress. Ownership is split between 27.2% outright owners, 39.9% mortgage holders and 32.2% renters. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Osborne suits buyers seeking conventional house layouts, while the 2.3-person average household means a three-bedroom purchase may provide flexibility beyond immediate family needs.
For Buyers
Osborne's typical buyer is choosing a three-bedroom format: 66.5% of homes have 3 bedrooms, and 84.7% are separate houses. Mortgage repayments are $1,468 monthly; mortgage costs equal 25.4% of household income and rent equals 22.5%, with neither flagged for stress. Ownership is split between 27.2% outright owners, 39.9% mortgage holders and 32.2% renters. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Osborne suits buyers seeking conventional house layouts, while the 2.3-person average household means a three-bedroom purchase may provide flexibility beyond immediate family needs.
For Investors
Osborne presents a mixed but potentially active rental case. Renting accounts for 32.2% of occupied dwellings, weekly rent is $300 and vacancy is 5.4%, giving landlords a tenant pool with more available stock than a tightly constrained market. Development activity reached 36 applications in 12 months, including land division, additions and alterations, pointing to ongoing property turnover. The 6.55% annual growth trend is supportive, while migration is Balanced, so the investment case depends on dwelling quality, tenant appeal and purchase discipline rather than one migration source.
Development Activity
Total DAs
151
Last 12 Months
33
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+22.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Osborne has an older age profile than the national average by 1 year, with a median age of 41, and its average household size is 2.3 people, 0.2 below the national figure. The ancestry profile leans English, with 887 people reporting English ancestry, followed by Scottish at 191 and Irish at 179; German ancestry accounts for 147. Overseas-born residents make up 17.1%, which is 4.5 percentage points below the national comparison, while the university share is 19.6%, 10.5 points below the national figure. No religion is the largest stated affiliation at 1,014 people, ahead of Christianity at 786. Mobility is settled, with 82.3% staying and turnover at 17.7%. Compared with nearby North Haven and Taperoo, Osborne is likely to appeal more to established households than to a highly transient renter population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.7%
Houses
10.1%
Townhouse
5.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Osborne's housing stock is strongly detached, with 84.7% separate houses, 10.1% semi-detached dwellings and 5.1% apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 66.5%, while 4-plus-bedroom homes account for 12.9%, making the suburb more conventional than apartment-oriented. Tenure is divided between 27.2% owned outright, 39.9% mortgaged and 32.2% rented. Mortgage costs equal 25.4% of household income and rent equals 22.5%, with neither flagged for stress. For buyers comparing Osborne with nearby Taperoo and North Haven, the detached mix and current median are important filters alongside street-level condition and land size.
Mortgage / mo
$1,468
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$647
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.4%
Unoccupied
47
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.7%
Couples with children
35.7%
Couples, no children
27.5%
Single parent
561
Total families
Economy & Employment
Osborne's employment base combines essential services and practical industries. Healthcare is the largest listed industry at 20.3% with 109 workers, followed by Education at 10.6% and 57, Manufacturing at 9.7% and 52, Public Administration at 9.5% and 51, and Construction at 8.6% and 46. Occupations are led by Trades at 152 and Clerical/Admin at 148, ahead of Professionals at 128, Community/Personal roles at 117 and Labourers at 96. The unemployment rate is 8.1% from a labour force of 940, while participation is 58.4% and full-time employment is 62.0%. Household income is $1,336 weekly, placing it at the 33.9rd national percentile. Compared with a higher-income professional suburb, Osborne's mix is more grounded in services, trades and public-facing work, which can support employment resilience but leave households more exposed to borrowing-cost changes.
Unemployment
8.1%
Labour Force
940
Unemployed
76
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.0%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
58.4%
Employed
864
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.6%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
17.1%
Dwellings
818
Transport to Work
Osborne is compact at 1.42 square kilometres, with 1,951 residents and density of 1,371.7 people per square kilometre. Daily travel is strongly car-based: 79.9% drive as the main mode, compared with 3.9% using public transport, while 8.6% work from home and 2.0% walk or cycle. That pattern suits households with reliable vehicle access but can make commute costs and parking more important than in a transit-led suburb. Families should check nearby government and non-government school options, exact enrolment zones and travel times against each address, because practical access can differ across the surrounding network. Osborne recorded 141 offences, equal to 72.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, so safety should be compared with nearby areas and assessed at different times. The median age of 41 is 1 year above the national average, while volunteering is 13.3%.
Drive
79.9%
Public Transport
3.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
8.6%
Growth Outlook
Osborne's growth outlook is unusually strong, running at 6.55% annually. The area is classified as greenfield and migration is identified as Balanced, so momentum is not attributed to overseas or internal movement alone. Development activity adds a practical signal: 36 applications were recorded over 12 months, including a conventional land division, dwelling alterations and an outbuilding. Compared with a lower-growth suburb, Osborne may see stronger competition for well-presented homes because development activity and price appreciation can attract both owner-occupiers and investors. Buyers should separate the 6.55% trend from any assumption that the same rate will persist.
Population trend: Port Adelaide Enfield council area
Osborne sits in the Port Adelaide Enfield council area. These are the council area's residents, not Osborne's.
Residents 2025
143,022
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
141
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
72.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Osborne compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Osborne a good suburb to live in?
Osborne can suit buyers who value detached housing and a settled profile. It has 1,951 residents, a median age of 41, and 79.9% car commuting. Compared with a transit-led suburb, daily life is more vehicle-dependent, so check routes, parking and local services before committing.
What schools are in Osborne?
School choice should be checked by exact address because enrolment zones can cross suburb boundaries. Compare nearby government and non-government options, travel times and year-level availability before signing a contract. Osborne covers 1.42 square kilometres, but practical access can still vary between streets and catchments.
Is Osborne safe?
Safety should be assessed with current street-level checks rather than a simple label. Osborne recorded 141 offences, equal to 72.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. Compare that rate with nearby suburbs and inspect lighting, parking areas and the route home at different times, because conditions can vary within a compact 1.42 square kilometre area.
How is Osborne's population changing?
The local population is 1,951 today, while the wider growth trend runs at 6.55% annually. Migration is classified as Balanced, and 36 development applications were recorded over 12 months. That combination points to active change without relying on a single migration source. Compared with a slower-growth suburb, Osborne may experience stronger housing demand.
What development is happening in Osborne?
Recent activity includes 36 applications in 12 months. Examples include a land division creating 2 allotments, an outbuilding and dwelling alterations. Compared with a quiet development year, this indicates active property work, but buyers should check approvals, timing and whether each proposal changes dwelling supply before relying on it.
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).
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