Port Adelaide
A 568.8 crimes per 1,000 residents rate and a 55.4% renter majority make Port Adelaide one of South Australia's most distinctive transitional suburbs. Median house prices sit at $720,000 as of Q1 2026, which is notable for a suburb scoring in the bottom two SEIFA deciles nationally on all four indexes. Population grew 40.4% over the decade, well above state and national averages, driven almost entirely by overseas arrivals at +1,240 per year. Gentrification is still at early-stage signals, which means the gap between current prices and trajectory is what investors and early homebuyers are watching.
Population
1,338
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,230/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
59
Median House
$720K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $720,000 in Q1 2026, down 5.3% from $760,000 a year earlier. Semi-detached dwellings dominate at 59.3% of stock, with separate houses at just 28.5% and apartments 10%, so the typical purchase is a terrace or row house rather than a freestanding home. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 43.1% of the housing mix and two-bedroom for 36.1%, giving buyers practical mid-size options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,672, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.4%, above the 30% stress threshold. Household income sits in the 26.9th percentile nationally, which means that while the sticker price is lower than many Adelaide suburbs, affordability is still stretched relative to local earnings.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $720,000 in Q1 2026, down 5.3% from $760,000 a year earlier. Semi-detached dwellings dominate at 59.3% of stock, with separate houses at just 28.5% and apartments 10%, so the typical purchase is a terrace or row house rather than a freestanding home. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 43.1% of the housing mix and two-bedroom for 36.1%, giving buyers practical mid-size options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,672, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.4%, above the 30% stress threshold. Household income sits in the 26.9th percentile nationally, which means that while the sticker price is lower than many Adelaide suburbs, affordability is still stretched relative to local earnings.
For Investors
A renter majority of 55.4% and weekly median rent of $293 define the investment profile here, though the numbers tell a more complex story. Against a $720,000 median, $293 weekly rent implies a gross yield around 2.1%, below typical investment benchmarks. The vacancy rate at 13.5% is high compared to Adelaide norms and signals excess supply in the rental pool, a risk factor for landlords. Overseas migration drives 1,240 net new arrivals annually to the broader SA2, creating sustained rental demand as new arrivals typically rent first. Development activity logged 56 applications in 12 months, many involving heritage and remedial works rather than new supply, so the stock is not growing quickly. The gentrification score of 25 places the suburb at early-stage, with rent growth of 23.1% over the decade pointing to a gradually improving demand base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
373
Last 12 Months
59
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+28.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 45 sits 5.0 years above the national figure, reflecting a suburb where the working-age churn of renters co-exists with an older established base. Overseas-born residents account for 25.2%, which is 3.6 percentage points above the national average. English (514 residents), Irish (122) and Scottish (103) ancestry dominate, reflecting a long-established Anglo-Celtic core. University qualifications reach 30.8%, about 0.7 percentage points above national. Average household size of 1.9 is 0.6 below national, consistent with the high share of one-person or couple households in a renter-majority suburb. The unemployment rate of 10.0% is elevated compared to SA and national figures, while the participation rate of 57.4% also trails the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
28.5%
Houses
59.3%
Townhouse
10.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is unusual even for an inner-suburban location: 55.4% of residents rent, compared to roughly 30% nationally, while just 23.8% carry a mortgage and 20.7% own outright. This renter majority means supply cycles and vacancy rates matter more here than in owner-occupier suburbs. The stock skews heavily to semi-detached dwellings at 59.3%, nearly double the proportion of separate houses at 28.5%. Three-bedroom homes at 43.1% and two-bedroom at 36.1% together account for 79.2% of dwellings, so very small or very large homes are uncommon. Price history shows a one-year decline from $760,000 in Q1 2025 to $720,000 in Q1 2026, a 5.3% fall, in contrast to the broader Adelaide market. Mortgage stress is present with a 31.4% mortgage-to-income ratio despite household income in the 26.9th national percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,672
Rent / wk
$293
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$754
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.5%
Unoccupied
101
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.4% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.2%
Couples, no children
810
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration leads employment at 15.8% of local workers, followed closely by healthcare at 15.5%, together making government and care sector the dominant employers. Education contributes 9.4%, construction 8.5% and retail 7.4%. By occupation, professionals are the largest group at 155 workers, followed by community and personal service (95) and managers (89). The unemployment rate of 10.0% is elevated, and full-time employment reaches just 67.9% of those employed. Participation at 57.4% trails national norms, partly because 403 residents are not in the labour force, a number high relative to the suburb's 1,338 total population. SEIFA scores rank in decile 2 on IRSD and IRSAD, placing Port Adelaide in the bottom 20% for both relative disadvantage and socioeconomic advantage nationally.
Unemployment
7.5%
Labour Force
14,087
Unemployed
1,057
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.9%
Part-time
22.1%
Participation
57.4%
Employed
623
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.8%
Postgraduate
7.0%
Born Overseas
25.2%
Dwellings
627
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 80.8% driving to work, compared to national urban averages, while public transport use is low at 5.4%. Walking and cycling account for 9.8% of commutes, reflecting the compact 4.73 km2 area and accessible waterfront. No schools are recorded in the suburb dataset for Port Adelaide itself. The crime rate of 568.8 per 1,000 residents is significantly higher than most Adelaide suburbs, a key livability factor that partly explains the low 26.9th percentile household income position. The IRSAD decile of 2 places Port Adelaide in the bottom quintile nationally for advantage, while the need-for-assistance rate of 7.8% (98 residents) is above typical figures. Volunteering at 16.1% is moderate and the rent-to-income ratio of 23.8% sits below the 30% stress threshold for renters.
Drive
80.8%
Public Transport
5.4%
Walk / Cycle
9.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.75%/yr
(+622 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 40.4% over the 10-year period to 2025, well above national population growth rates for established suburbs. The broader SA2 population reached 22,657 in 2025 and medium forecasts project 25,795 by 2031, an annual addition of roughly 622 persons at 2.75% per year. Overseas migration is the engine, contributing +1,240 net arrivals annually, while net internal movement runs at -255 per year as some residents move to other parts of Australia. The gentrification score of 26 places the suburb at early-stage signals, with affordability improving from 67% in 2011 to 55.1% in 2021. Real incomes grew 21.7% over the decade and rent grew 23.1%, both signs of a market that has absorbed demand. The young adult share grew 0.7 points over 10 years while the senior share grew 3.8 points, suggesting an aging but also gradually diversifying population structure.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+1,240
Net Internal / yr
-255
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -255/yr, Strong overseas inflow +1240/yr, Accelerating: 17% → 39%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
761
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
568.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Adelaide compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Adelaide a good suburb to live in?
Port Adelaide suits residents who value affordability and a maritime location. The suburb sits in the SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 nationally, meaning lower average advantage levels than most areas. The crime rate of 568.8 per 1,000 is elevated, and household incomes place at the 26.9th national percentile. Population grew 40.4% over the decade, reflecting real demand for the area.
What is the median house price in Port Adelaide?
The median house price in Port Adelaide is $720,000 as of Q1 2026, down 5.3% from $760,000 in Q1 2025. Weekly rent averages $293. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,672, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.4%, which sits above the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Port Adelaide?
No schools are recorded inside the Port Adelaide suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs. The suburb has a university qualification rate of 30.8%, about 0.7 percentage points above the national average, suggesting residents with higher education levels are present despite the lower SEIFA scores.
Is Port Adelaide safe?
Port Adelaide records a crime rate of 568.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is high compared to SA and national benchmarks. This is a significant livability consideration. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 2 places the suburb in the bottom 20% nationally for relative disadvantage, which correlates with elevated crime rates in comparative studies.
Is Port Adelaide good for property investment?
Investment potential depends on time horizon. Weekly rent of $293 against a $720,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.1%, below typical thresholds. However, a 55.4% renter majority ensures tenant demand, and overseas migration adds 1,240 net arrivals annually to the broader area. The 13.5% vacancy rate is a risk, and the gentrification score of 26 suggests early-stage improvement rather than established momentum.
How is Port Adelaide's population changing?
Population grew 40.4% over the decade to 2025, far above average for established suburbs. The broader SA2 population reached 22,657 in 2025 and is forecast to reach 25,795 by 2031. Overseas migration of +1,240 per year drives growth, offset by internal outflow of -255 per year. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.8 points over 10 years.
How much development is happening in Port Adelaide?
56 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. Recent applications include heritage remedial works, tree removal assessments and shed approvals, reflecting the suburb's established character and heritage building stock rather than large-scale new supply. This limits the addition of new dwellings even as population grows.
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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