Port Noarlunga
A median age of 46, six years above the national figure, defines the character of Port Noarlunga more than anything else. The suburb is a small coastal pocket of 3,245 residents in 2.5 km2 south of Adelaide, where 79.6% of dwellings are detached houses and the median house price reached $898,000 in Q1 2026, up 12% in a single year from $802,000. Household income sits at the 35.4th percentile nationally, well below average, yet housing stress remains contained: mortgage-to-income runs at 25.9% and rent-to-income at 23.4%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The workforce leans heavily toward Healthcare, which accounts for 21.3% of employed residents.
Population
3,245
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,369/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
44
Median House
$898K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price of $898,000 in Q1 2026 rose 12% from $802,000 one year earlier, placing Port Noarlunga above the broader SA metro median in appreciation pace. Stock is detached-house dominant at 79.6%, with apartments only 12.2% and semi-detached at 8.2%, so buyers overwhelmingly compete for houses. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 51.6%, while 4-plus bedroom dwellings account for 25.1%, giving reasonable choice for families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,534, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold even though household income is in the 35.4th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 32.2% and mortgage holders at 39.9% together represent 72.1% of tenure, indicating owner-occupier confidence in the suburb.
For Buyers
The median house price of $898,000 in Q1 2026 rose 12% from $802,000 one year earlier, placing Port Noarlunga above the broader SA metro median in appreciation pace. Stock is detached-house dominant at 79.6%, with apartments only 12.2% and semi-detached at 8.2%, so buyers overwhelmingly compete for houses. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 51.6%, while 4-plus bedroom dwellings account for 25.1%, giving reasonable choice for families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,534, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold even though household income is in the 35.4th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 32.2% and mortgage holders at 39.9% together represent 72.1% of tenure, indicating owner-occupier confidence in the suburb.
For Investors
Renters make up 27.9% of the suburb, providing a moderate tenant pool against a median house price of $898,000. Weekly rent of $320 implies a gross yield around 1.9%, low by national standards, which reflects the capital-growth story rather than an income play. Vacancy sits at 7.6%, above average and a signal of softer short-term rental demand. Development activity ran at 40 applications in the past 12 months, with recent lodgements including ancillary accommodation and coastal maintenance works rather than large residential additions. Population stability is high: 80.4% of residents did not move in the prior year, compared with higher turnover in inner-city suburbs, which supports steady if unspectacular demand. The 12% price rise in the year to Q1 2026 is the clearest case for capital-growth investors.
Development Activity
Total DAs
246
Last 12 Months
44
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
Schools in Port Noarlunga iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Port Noarlunga Primary School
R-6 · 370 students
Demographics
The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure, the single most distinctive demographic fact about Port Noarlunga. Overseas-born residents reach 27.4%, which is 5.8 percentage points above the national average, though the top ancestries remain Anglo-Celtic: English (1,701), Scottish (367), Irish (342) and German (259). The average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, consistent with a mature, couple-oriented profile where 31.6% of families are couples without children. University qualifications at 26.9% sit 3.2 points below the national rate, which aligns with the workforce concentration in Healthcare and Community roles rather than knowledge-economy sectors. Only 15.9% of residents volunteer, below what comparable coastal SA suburbs typically record.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.6%
Houses
8.2%
Townhouse
12.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is owner-occupier weighted: 32.2% own outright, 39.9% carry a mortgage and 27.9% rent, a split that reflects the older resident base holding paid-off or nearly-paid-off properties. The stock is 79.6% separate houses, well above the national average, with apartments at 12.2% and semi-detached at 8.2%. Three-bedroom homes account for 51.6% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes for 25.1%, meaning three-quarters of the stock suits families or downsizers with space needs. The median price climbed from $802,000 in Q1 2025 to $898,000 in Q1 2026, a 12% move in one year. At the current price, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9% and rent-to-income of 23.4% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, a relatively comfortable position given that household income is at the 35.4th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,534
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$717
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
110
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.6%
Couples, no children
2,438
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 21.3% of the workforce (228 workers), followed by Education at 13.7% (147) and Public Administration at 10.6% (113), giving Port Noarlunga a public-sector and caring-economy profile more than a private-enterprise one. Construction accounts for 10.2% (109 workers) and Retail for 6.9% (74). By occupation, Professionals lead at 304 workers, followed by Community and Personal service workers at 257 and Clerical and Admin at 207. Unemployment sits at 5.8%, above the national low in recent years, and the full-time employment rate of 59.7% is moderate. Participation is 57%, partly because 1,001 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older age profile. Weekly personal income averages $717, below the state average, and household income at the 35.4th percentile nationally confirms a middle-to-lower income base.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.7%
Part-time
34.5%
Participation
57.0%
Employed
1,483
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.9%
Postgraduate
5.3%
Born Overseas
27.4%
Dwellings
1,316
Transport to Work
Port Noarlunga is car-dependent: 90.1% of workers drive, which is well above the national average, while only 3.3% use public transport and 2.2% walk or cycle. The suburb's coastal position on the southern edge of the Adelaide metro means bus services are thinner than middle-ring suburbs. Crime totals 185 reported incidents, giving a rate of 57.0 per 1,000 residents, which provides a baseline for comparison with adjacent suburbs. No schools are recorded within the 5167 postcode in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Noarlunga Centre and Christies Beach. Rent-to-income at 23.4% keeps tenants comfortable relative to the 30% stress threshold, and 8.2% of residents need daily assistance, higher than the state average, consistent with the older median age of 46.
Drive
90.1%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
185
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
57.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Noarlunga compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Noarlunga a good suburb to live in?
Port Noarlunga suits older owner-occupiers and coastal lifestyle seekers. The median age is 46, six years above the national average, and 72.1% of residents own their home outright or with a mortgage. Mortgage-to-income at 25.9% and rent-to-income at 23.4% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, making it financially manageable despite household income at the 35.4th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Port Noarlunga?
The median house price is $898,000 as of Q1 2026, up 12% from $802,000 in Q1 2025. Weekly rent averages $320 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,534, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%.
What schools are in Port Noarlunga?
No schools are recorded within the Port Noarlunga boundary in this dataset. Families in the 5167 postcode typically use schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Noarlunga Centre and Christies Beach. University qualifications among residents reach 26.9%, which is 3.2 points below the national rate.
Is Port Noarlunga safe?
Crime totals 185 reported incidents, a rate of 57.0 per 1,000 residents. The suburb has 3,245 residents and the high outright-ownership rate of 32.2% is typically associated with stable, lower-turnover communities. Residential mobility is low, with 80.4% of residents not moving in the prior year.
Is Port Noarlunga good for property investment?
The 12% price rise from $802,000 to $898,000 in one year is the strongest argument for capital growth. However, weekly rent of $320 against the $898,000 median implies a gross yield around 1.9%, below the national average for investment properties. Vacancy at 7.6% is above average, so short-term rental demand is softer than typical.
How is Port Noarlunga's population changing?
Port Noarlunga has 3,245 residents with a median age of 46, six years above the national figure. Residential stability is high: 80.4% of residents stayed in the same address over the prior year. The aging profile and low mobility suggest slow organic population change rather than rapid growth driven by new arrivals.
How much development is happening in Port Noarlunga?
There were 40 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include coastal erosion maintenance on the Onkaparinga Estuary, pool safety barriers and ancillary accommodation additions. The activity is modest and mostly small-scale, consistent with an established low-density suburb of 2.5 km2.
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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