Plympton Park
A median house price of $1,250,000 in a suburb with a 6.1% vacancy rate and 40.1% renters tells an unusual story for Adelaide's inner south. Plympton Park packs 3,881 residents into 1.2 km2, producing a density of 3,237 per km2, well above the typical suburban norm. University qualifications reach 45.4%, which is 15.3 points above the national average, yet the SEIFA IER (economic resources) sits at a below-average decile 3, because 40.1% of the population rents rather than owns. Overseas-born residents make up 30.7% of the suburb, 9.1 points above the national figure, and overseas migration is the primary growth engine at a net 773 arrivals per year.
Population
3,881
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,667/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
33
Median House
$1.2M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price hit $1,250,000 in Q1 2026, up 27.6% from $980,000 a year earlier, the steepest single-year move in the price history available. Separate houses make up 70.1% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 18.1% and apartments at 11.9%, so detached stock remains the dominant offer. Three-bedroom homes account for 55.9% of all dwellings and four-plus bedrooms 14.3%, pointing to family-scale supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2%, below the 30% stress threshold compared to many metro markets. Outright owners represent 24.0% and mortgage holders 35.8%, while 40.1% rent, a tenure split more typical of inner urban than outer suburban Adelaide.
For Buyers
The median house price hit $1,250,000 in Q1 2026, up 27.6% from $980,000 a year earlier, the steepest single-year move in the price history available. Separate houses make up 70.1% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 18.1% and apartments at 11.9%, so detached stock remains the dominant offer. Three-bedroom homes account for 55.9% of all dwellings and four-plus bedrooms 14.3%, pointing to family-scale supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,820, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2%, below the 30% stress threshold compared to many metro markets. Outright owners represent 24.0% and mortgage holders 35.8%, while 40.1% rent, a tenure split more typical of inner urban than outer suburban Adelaide.
For Investors
Plympton Park's 40.1% renter share is above the national average and provides a broad tenant pool, with weekly rent at $320. Vacancy sits at 6.1%, which is elevated compared to the national norm of around 2-3%, and warrants caution for yield-focused buyers. Development activity recorded 33 applications in the past 12 months, including land division applications splitting lots 1 into 2 and 1 into 3, signalling subdivision demand. Net overseas migration of 773 per year drives consistent population growth of 1.22% annually, while net internal outflow of 368 per year partly offsets this. The gentrification score of 32 and early-signs stage, combined with rent growth of 25% over the period and real income growth of 15.9%, suggest conditions for gradual capital appreciation rather than rapid yield-driven returns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
178
Last 12 Months
33
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-10.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure, reflecting a younger working-age population. Overseas-born residents stand at 30.7%, 9.1 points above the national average, and the primary overseas migration driver at 773 net arrivals per year reinforces this. English ancestry leads at 1,304 residents, followed by Irish (333), Scottish (294) and Chinese (276). The top non-English languages spoken are Mandarin (73), Punjabi (64) and Nepali (50), tracking recent migration streams from South Asia and East Asia. University qualifications at 45.4% run 15.3 points above the national average, which helps explain the concentration in professional and healthcare occupations. Average household size is 2.4, marginally below the national figure, and 26.8% of families are couples with no children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.1%
Houses
18.1%
Townhouse
11.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure divides into renters (40.1%), mortgage holders (35.8%) and outright owners (24.0%), a profile skewed toward renting compared to typical outer suburban SA. The median house price moved from $980,000 in Q1 2025 to $1,250,000 in Q1 2026, a 27.6% rise in one year. Separate houses dominate at 70.1%, with semi-detached at 18.1% and apartments at 11.9%. Three-bedroom dwellings are the modal type at 55.9%, and four-plus bedrooms account for a further 14.3%. Mortgage-to-income sits at 25.2% and rent-to-income at 19.2%, both below the stress threshold, which means housing costs are manageable relative to current incomes even as purchase prices have risen sharply.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,820
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$831
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
102
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.8%
Couples, no children
2,885
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 23.3% of employed residents (346 workers), more than double the share of the second-ranked Education sector at 10.8% (160 workers). Professional/Technical services follow at 10.4% (155 workers), then Public Administration at 7.7% and Construction at 7.3%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 540 workers, consistent with the 45.4% university qualification rate, well above national. The unemployment rate is 5.4% and the full-time employment rate is 62.1%, with a participation rate of 63.0%. The SEIFA IRSAD decile is 6, placing the suburb at slightly above average on the combined advantage-disadvantage index nationally, while the IEO decile of 7 reflects the education and occupation strength.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
17,732
Unemployed
385
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.1%
Part-time
32.5%
Participation
63.0%
Employed
1,928
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.4%
Postgraduate
10.7%
Born Overseas
30.7%
Dwellings
1,566
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 83.3% of residents drive to work, while 6.8% use public transport and 3.4% walk or cycle. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 6 places Plympton Park above average nationally on the combined advantage-disadvantage measure, and the IEO score of 1,027 at decile 7 reflects strong education and occupation outcomes relative to national norms. The housing stress indicators are positive: rent-to-income sits at 19.2% and mortgage-to-income at 25.2%, both below the 30% threshold. The crime rate is 51.5 incidents per 1,000 residents (200 total incidents), which requires comparison against SA state figures to contextualise fully. No schools are recorded within the 1.2 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. Volunteering participation is 15.0% and 75.2% of residents stayed in the same address over the period, indicating stable community attachment.
Drive
83.3%
Public Transport
6.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.22%/yr
(+349 people/yr)
EstablishedPlympton Park is growing at 1.22% per year, adding around 349 residents annually, with medium forecasts projecting the broader area population reaching 30,494 by 2031 from a 2025 base of 28,617. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 773 arrivals per year, while internal migration shows a net outflow of 368 per year, a pattern typical of inner suburbs attracting new arrivals while established residents move further out. The gentrification score stands at 32, in the early-signs stage, supported by signals including population growth of 22% since 2011 and rent growth of 25% over the period. Affordability improved from 43.1% in 2011 to 37.8% in 2021, a positive trend compared to many other SA markets, though the sharp 2025-2026 price rise may reverse this.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+773
Net Internal / yr
-368
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Net internal outflow -368/yr, Strong overseas inflow +773/yr, Accelerating: 5% → 15%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
200
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
51.5
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Plympton Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plympton Park a good suburb to live in?
Plympton Park sits at SEIFA IRSAD decile 6 and IEO decile 7, both above the national average. University qualifications reach 45.4%, which is 15.3 points above national. Rent-to-income is 19.2% and mortgage-to-income is 25.2%, both below stress thresholds. The main trade-offs are a 6.1% vacancy rate and high car dependency at 83.3%.
What is the median house price in Plympton Park?
The median house price is $1,250,000 as of Q1 2026, up 27.6% from $980,000 in Q1 2025. Weekly rent averages $320 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $1,820, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2%.
What schools are in Plympton Park?
No schools are recorded within the 1.2 km2 Plympton Park boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well-educated, with 45.4% holding university qualifications, 15.3 points above the national average.
Is Plympton Park safe?
The recorded crime rate is 51.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 200 total incidents. As a broader indicator, Plympton Park scores SEIFA IRSAD decile 6, above the national midpoint, and only 6.8% of residents (257 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a reasonably low-disadvantage profile.
Is Plympton Park good for property investment?
The renter share of 40.1% provides a broad tenant pool, with weekly rent of $320. The 6.1% vacancy rate is elevated compared to the national average of 2-3%, which warrants attention. Annual population growth of 1.22% driven by overseas migration of 773 net arrivals per year supports demand. The 27.6% price rise from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026 signals strong recent capital growth.
How is Plympton Park's population changing?
The suburb is growing at 1.22% per year, adding around 349 residents annually. Overseas migration contributes a net 773 arrivals per year while internal migration shows a net outflow of 368. The population has grown 16.3% over 10 years, and medium forecasts project continued growth to 30,494 in the broader area by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Plympton Park?
About 30.7% of residents were born overseas, which is 9.1 points above the national figure. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (73 speakers), Punjabi (64) and Nepali (50), reflecting strong migration streams from East and South Asia alongside the suburb's 276 Chinese-ancestry residents.
How much development is happening in Plympton Park?
There were 33 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include land division applications splitting single lots into 2 or 3 Torrens Title allotments and demolition-and-rebuild projects for new single-storey dwellings, consistent with a gentrification score of 32 and early-signs stage.
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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