Parafield Gardens
The suburb houses 18,467 people at a median age of 36, with 42.5% born overseas and 89.5% living in separate houses. Its 40.8% mortgage-holder share points to a family-oriented mortgage belt, while the 3.4 percentage point rise in the senior share signals an aging trajectory. Compared with nearby Mawson Lakes, the housing profile is more detached and established, because most stock is made up of 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom homes.
Population
18,467
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,384/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
172
Median House
$876K
First quarter 2026
The stock is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes at 62.4%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom properties at 27.4%, so buyers have more choice for family layouts than for apartments, which represent only 2.1% of dwellings. A typical mortgage repayment is listed at $1,382 per month, while mortgage payments equal 23.1% of household income.
For Buyers
The stock is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes at 62.4%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom properties at 27.4%, so buyers have more choice for family layouts than for apartments, which represent only 2.1% of dwellings. A typical mortgage repayment is listed at $1,382 per month, while mortgage payments equal 23.1% of household income.
For Investors
The rental profile is supported by 28.6% of households renting, a weekly rent of $300 and a vacancy rate of 4.0%. Rental growth of 36.4% is above zero and improves the income outlook, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Development activity is also substantial, with 174 applications recorded over 12 months. Established detached housing should appeal to family tenants because 62.4% of homes have 3 bedrooms and another 27.4% have 4 or more.
Development Activity
Total DAs
832
Last 12 Months
172
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+13.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Parafield Gardens
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Karrendi Primary School
Parafield Gardens Primary School
The Pines School
Parafield Gardens High School
Demographics
Parafield Gardens has a median age of 36, which is 4 years below the national comparison, but its age profile is moving older as the senior share has increased by 3.4 percentage points. The overseas-born share is 42.5%, or 20.9 percentage points above the national figure, helping explain the presence of Indian and Vietnamese ancestry groups and languages including Punjabi at 441 people, Guj at 328 and Khmer at 283. University attainment is 31.4%, 1.3 percentage points above the national comparison. Average household size is 2.9 people, 0.4 above the national figure, because couples with children make up 48.5% of families. Compared with nearby Salisbury, the suburb has a particularly strong overseas migration influence.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.5%
Houses
8.4%
Townhouse
2.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing market is detached-dominant, with 89.5% separate houses, 8.4% semi-detached dwellings and just 2.1% apartments. Tenure is split between 28.0% owned outright, 40.8% owned with a mortgage and 28.6% rented. The 3-bedroom category accounts for 62.4% of homes, while 27.4% have 4 or more bedrooms. Compared with apartment-oriented pockets around Mawson Lakes, Parafield Gardens provides more conventional family stock because its established residential fabric is overwhelmingly house based.
Mortgage / mo
$1,382
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$585
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.0%
Unoccupied
259
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.5%
Couples with children
29.6%
Couples, no children
19.9%
Single parent
4,932
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry by a wide margin at 23.4%, employing 1,039 people, followed by manufacturing at 8.8%, construction and education at 8.2% each, and retail at 7.8%. The main occupations are labourers at 1,296, community and personal service workers at 1,239, trades workers at 1,107, professionals at 942 and machinery operators or drivers at 853. Unemployment is 8.2% and participation is 57.1%, while household income of $1,384 per week sits at the 39.4th percentile, below the midpoint. The SEIFA IRSAD decile is 1, lower than the IER decile of 3, indicating broader disadvantage remains more pronounced than the economic-resource measure alone suggests.
Unemployment
8.2%
Labour Force
8,359
Unemployed
685
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.8%
Part-time
38.0%
Participation
57.1%
Employed
7,674
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
31.4%
Postgraduate
7.8%
Born Overseas
42.5%
Dwellings
6,126
Transport to Work
Daily travel is strongly car dependent, with 83.9% driving to work compared with 3.4% using public transport, while only 0.7% walk or cycle. That pattern matters because the suburb covers 7.03 square kilometres at a density of 2,627.9 people per square kilometre. Families have access to 4 nearby government schools, comprising 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school, with enrolment zones needing to be checked against the exact address. The recorded crime rate is 47.7 incidents per 1,000 people, alongside 880 total offences. The IRSAD decile of 1 is lower than the national benchmark, so household budgets and street-level conditions remain important practical comparisons when assessing livability.
Drive
83.9%
Public Transport
3.4%
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
5.7%
Population Forecast
+1.02%/yr
(+190 people/yr)
EstablishedParafield Gardens is forecast to grow at 1.02% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 20.6% over 10 years, which is above zero but consistent with an established suburb rather than a new release area. The forecast trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 3.4 percentage points, while the working-age share has fallen 1.5 points. Affordability was broadly stable, moving from 51.6 in 2011 to 51.3 in 2021. Compared with a rapid redevelopment corridor, the gentrification signal is restrained, with a score of 16 and a Not gentrifying stage, so growth is more likely to come from migration and household change than major tenure transformation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+228
Net Internal / yr
-359
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal outflow -359/yr, Strong overseas inflow +228/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
880
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
47.7
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Parafield Gardens compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parafield Gardens a good suburb to live in?
Parafield Gardens can suit households seeking established family housing, with 89.5% separate houses, 62.4% 3-bedroom homes and 4 nearby government schools. Car access is important because 83.9% of commuters drive, while the 47.7 incidents per 1,000 people crime rate and IRSAD decile of 1 warrant checking the exact street and address.
What schools are in Parafield Gardens?
There are 4 nearby government schools serving primary and secondary students: 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school. Enrolment zones can vary by street, so families should confirm eligibility for the exact address before purchasing or renting. The local housing stock includes 62.4% 3-bedroom homes.
Is Parafield Gardens safe?
Parafield Gardens recorded 880 offences, equal to a crime rate of 47.7 incidents per 1,000 people. Safety can vary between streets and property types, so buyers and tenants should inspect the immediate area at different times. The suburb's IRSAD decile is 1, indicating a lower socioeconomic position than higher-decile areas.
How is Parafield Gardens's population changing?
The suburb has 18,467 residents today and a median age of 36. Wider-area population change is 20.6% over 10 years, with forecast growth of 1.02% annually driven by overseas migration. The trajectory is Aging, reflected in a 3.4 percentage point rise in the senior share and a 1.5 point decline in the working-age share.
What languages are spoken in Parafield Gardens?
Punjabi is recorded for 441 people, Guj for 328 and Khmer for 283, followed by Arabic at 140 and Hindi at 94. These language patterns sit alongside an overseas-born share of 42.5%, which is 20.9 percentage points above the national comparison and helps shape local services and community connections.
What development is occurring in Parafield Gardens?
There were 174 development applications over the latest 12-month period. Examples include an industrial building with associated office and canopy works, plus residential verandah projects. The suburb remains detached-house dominated, with 89.5% separate houses, so much activity is likely to involve additions and alterations as well as larger commercial works.
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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