Salisbury Downs
The median house price jumped 27.9% in a single year, from $660,500 in 1Q 2025 to $845,000 in 1Q 2026, yet household income still sits in just the 21.2nd percentile nationally, and that gap defines this suburb. All four SEIFA indexes land in decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier in the country, while 40.3% of residents were born overseas, 18.7 points above the national figure. The crime rate of 109.6 per 1,000 runs well above what most metro suburbs record. With a median age of 37, three years below national, and 79.6% of dwellings detached houses, this is a working family area where affordability is eroding fast.
Population
6,296
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,134/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
69
Median House
$845K
Median 1Q 2026
Buyers face a $845,000 median that climbed 27.9% from $660,500 a year earlier, a steep move for a suburb where household income ranks in only the 21.2nd percentile. The stock suits families: 79.6% are separate houses and 63.1% have three bedrooms, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 20.5% and apartments just 7.0%. Despite the price surge, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, because many loans were taken before the recent spike. Owners with a mortgage (35.7%) outnumber outright owners (28.3%), pointing to a buyer base still paying down debt rather than established equity holders. The main risk is that prices have run ahead of local incomes.
For Buyers
Buyers face a $845,000 median that climbed 27.9% from $660,500 a year earlier, a steep move for a suburb where household income ranks in only the 21.2nd percentile. The stock suits families: 79.6% are separate houses and 63.1% have three bedrooms, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 20.5% and apartments just 7.0%. Despite the price surge, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, because many loans were taken before the recent spike. Owners with a mortgage (35.7%) outnumber outright owners (28.3%), pointing to a buyer base still paying down debt rather than established equity holders. The main risk is that prices have run ahead of local incomes.
For Investors
A 36.0% renter share and $273 weekly rent give landlords a steady tenant base, and the math is more favourable than in premium markets. Against the $845,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 1.7%, modest but ahead of inner-city suburbs. The vacancy rate of 4.1% is higher than a tight market but signals available supply rather than chronic oversupply. Demand support is real: overseas migration adds 331 residents a year and is the primary growth driver, though net internal migration removes 292, leaving thin natural growth. Development is active at 63 applications in 12 months, including land divisions splitting single allotments into three, which expands future rental stock. With annual population growth at 0.91%, the case rests on steady tenant demand and continued price momentum more than yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
289
Last 12 Months
69
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-1.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Salisbury Downs iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Thomas More College
7-12 · 1132 students
Riverdale Primary School
U, R-6 · 241 students
Salisbury Downs Primary School
R-6 · 271 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, marking a younger, family-heavy profile, and 40.3% of residents were born overseas, 18.7 points above national. University qualifications reach only 22.5%, which is 7.6 points below national, consistent with a labour and trades workforce. Average household size is 2.6, just 0.1 above national, and couples with children (1,982 families) far outnumber couples without (1,006). Ancestry leans English (1,775) with strong Vietnamese (418) and Italian (339) communities, and the top non-English languages are Khmer (94 speakers), Nepali (65) and Arabic (62). Islam (498 residents) and Buddhism (469) sit behind Christianity (2,365), a religious mix that reflects the high overseas-born share and ongoing migrant settlement.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.6%
Houses
13.4%
Townhouse
7.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split three ways: 35.7% carry a mortgage, 36.0% rent and 28.3% own outright. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners points to a buyer base still building equity rather than established wealth, which matters given how fast prices have moved. The stock is 79.6% separate houses, 13.4% semi-detached and only 7.0% apartments, so detached family homes dominate. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 63.1% and 4-plus bedroom homes 20.5%. The median house price rose 27.9% from $660,500 to $845,000 across 2025-2026, far outpacing real income growth of 7.5% over the decade. Mortgage-to-income at 26.5% and rent-to-income at 24.1% both stay below the 30% stress line for now, but the price-to-income gap is widening because incomes sit in the 21.2nd percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (Median 1Q 2026)
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$273
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$535
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
99
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.4%
Couples, no children
4,938
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in lower-paid service and trade sectors: Healthcare leads at 24.2% (315 workers), Manufacturing follows at 10.0% (130) and Education at 9.1% (119), with Construction at 8.1% and Retail at 7.2%. By occupation, Labourers (445) and Community/Personal workers (398) top the list, ahead of Professionals (262), which aligns with the decile 1 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is high at 9.5% and participation reads just 49.1%, with 2,152 residents not in the labour force. The full-time employment rate is 59.5%. All four SEIFA indexes sit at decile 1, the bottom tier nationally, because low incomes, modest qualifications and high joblessness compound, leaving the area economically stretched despite rising house values.
Unemployment
9.6%
Labour Force
8,340
Unemployed
804
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.5%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
49.1%
Employed
2,257
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.5%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
40.3%
Dwellings
2,284
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 87.5% of commuters drive, well above the national rate, while only 3.7% use public transport and 1.7% walk or cycle, so good road access matters more than transit here. The suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, and the crime rate of 109.6 per 1,000 residents is high relative to typical metro suburbs. Volunteering runs at 9.0% and 9.0% of residents (535 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the 2.8 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. Rent-to-income at 24.1% keeps tenants below the stress line, a practical positive in an area where median income sits in the 21.2nd percentile.
Drive
87.5%
Public Transport
3.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.91%/yr
(+175 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth registers 0.91% a year, with a 16.2% rise over the past decade, classifying this as an established but steadily expanding area. The sole positive driver is overseas migration at 331 residents a year, which more than offsets a net internal outflow of 292, so the suburb relies on new arrivals to grow rather than people relocating from elsewhere in Australia. The young-adult share rose 1.5 points while the working-age share slipped 0.7 points. Affordability moved only slightly, from 49.9% in 2011 to 50.9% in 2021, a stable trend, even as house prices jumped 27.9% in the latest year. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying with a score of 16, meaning the area is growing through migration rather than rising income or displacement.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+331
Net Internal / yr
-292
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +17% since 2011, Net internal outflow -292/yr, Strong overseas inflow +331/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
690
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
109.6
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Salisbury Downs compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salisbury Downs a good suburb to live in?
Salisbury Downs scores decile 1 on all four SEIFA indexes, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, with household income in the 21.2nd percentile. It suits families, with 79.6% detached houses and a median age of 37, three years below national, but the crime rate of 109.6 per 1,000 is a clear trade-off.
What is the median house price in Salisbury Downs?
The median house price is $845,000 as of 1Q 2026, up 27.9% from $660,500 a year earlier. Weekly rent averages $273 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.5%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Salisbury Downs?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.8 km2 Salisbury Downs boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. University qualifications sit at 22.5%, which is 7.6 points below the national figure, reflecting a labour and trades workforce.
Is Salisbury Downs safe?
The crime rate is 109.6 per 1,000 residents, with 690 recorded offences, higher than most metro suburbs. The area also scores decile 1 on IRSAD, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, an indirect marker consistent with elevated crime in lower-income areas.
Is Salisbury Downs good for property investment?
Rent of $273 a week against the $845,000 median gives a gross yield near 1.7%, modest but ahead of premium suburbs. The 4.1% vacancy rate and overseas migration of 331 a year support tenant demand, while internal outflow of 292 keeps natural growth thin.
How is Salisbury Downs's population changing?
Population is growing 0.91% a year, a 16.2% rise over the decade. Growth comes entirely from overseas migration at 331 residents a year, which offsets a net internal outflow of 292. The young-adult share rose 1.5 points while the working-age share slipped 0.7 points.
What languages are spoken in Salisbury Downs?
About 40.3% of residents were born overseas, 18.7 points above the national figure. English is dominant, with Khmer (94 speakers), Nepali (65), Arabic (62) and Italian (56) the most common non-English languages, reflecting strong Vietnamese and Southeast Asian settlement.
How much development is happening in Salisbury Downs?
There were 63 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Many are land divisions splitting one allotment into three, plus new terrace dwellings, which adds future housing supply consistent with the area's 0.91% annual population growth and steady rental demand.
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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