Salisbury Plain
A crime rate of 138 per 1,000 residents stands out as the headline caution in Salisbury Plain, running well above the national average for urban suburbs. Yet the same 1.35 km2 pocket, home to 1,333 people, also logged a median house price of $730,000 in early 2026, up 6.2% from $687,500 just a year prior. All four SEIFA indexes place the suburb in decile 1 nationally, the lowest advantage tier, because household incomes sit in the 28th percentile. Overseas-born residents account for 34.4% of the population, which is 12.8 points above national, and overseas migration of 331 people per year is the primary driver of local population growth.
Population
1,333
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,258/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$730K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $730,000 in the first quarter of 2026, rising 6.2% from $687,500 a year earlier. That gain is notable for a suburb with household incomes in the 28th percentile nationally, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, just below the 25% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 85.6% of stock and semi-detached dwellings account for 14.4%, giving buyers a strongly detached-dominant market. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 64.8%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 22.4% and 2-bedrooms at 12.8%. With 42% of households on a mortgage and 30% owning outright, Salisbury Plain carries the profile of a working mortgage belt where most residents are servicing existing loans rather than sitting on equity.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $730,000 in the first quarter of 2026, rising 6.2% from $687,500 a year earlier. That gain is notable for a suburb with household incomes in the 28th percentile nationally, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, just below the 25% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 85.6% of stock and semi-detached dwellings account for 14.4%, giving buyers a strongly detached-dominant market. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 64.8%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 22.4% and 2-bedrooms at 12.8%. With 42% of households on a mortgage and 30% owning outright, Salisbury Plain carries the profile of a working mortgage belt where most residents are servicing existing loans rather than sitting on equity.
For Investors
Renting households make up 28% of the suburb, slightly below the national average, with weekly rent sitting at $285. Against a $730,000 median, that implies a gross yield around 2.0%, lower than typical for suburbs at this price point. The vacancy rate of 4.2% is elevated, suggesting that rental demand does not fully absorb available stock at present. Overseas migration drives growth at 331 arrivals per year, compared to a net internal outflow of 292 per year, so demand is sustained by new arrivals rather than locals relocating within Australia. Development activity recorded 12 applications in the past 12 months, modest for the area, with recent approvals including a new detached dwelling and verandah works rather than higher-density supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
121
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-42.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, pointing to a relatively younger resident base. Overseas-born residents reach 34.4%, which is 12.8 points above national. English ancestry leads at 444 residents, followed by Scottish (95), Italian (94) and Irish (82). Nepali is the most common non-English language at 40 speakers, ahead of Greek (18) and Italian (17), reflecting a small but diverse migrant intake. University qualifications reach only 20.3%, which is 9.8 points below the national figure, consistent with the decile 1 IEO score for education and occupation. Couples with children (487 families) outnumber couples without children (219 families) by more than 2 to 1, pointing to a younger, family-oriented household structure across the suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.6%
Houses
14.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between mortgage holders at 42% and outright owners at 30%, with 28% renting. The 30% outright ownership share is substantial for a low-income suburb, suggesting many long-term residents acquired property before recent price growth. Prices moved from $687,500 in the first quarter of 2025 to $730,000 in the first quarter of 2026, a 6.2% gain over one year. Separate houses account for 85.6% of stock, with semi-detached properties filling the remaining 14.4%; no apartment share is recorded. The median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,300 translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, below the 25% stress threshold, so the average borrower is not under immediate pressure despite incomes sitting in the 28th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$285
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$577
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.2%
Unoccupied
22
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.0%
Couples, no children
1,093
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 22.4% of resident workers (66 people), well above most comparable suburbs, followed by Construction and Education at 11.2% each, Retail at 10.2% and Manufacturing at 9.8%. By occupation, Labourers lead at 97 workers, ahead of Professionals (70), Community and Personal service workers (68), Clerical and Admin (61) and Machinery and Drivers (53). The unemployment rate is 8.2%, higher than the national average, with 46 residents counted as unemployed and a participation rate of 52.8%. Full-time employment accounts for 60% of those in work. All four SEIFA deciles sit at 1, the lowest tier nationally, meaning the suburb ranks below 90% of Australian suburbs on relative disadvantage, economic resources and education opportunity.
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
60.0%
Part-time
31.8%
Participation
52.8%
Employed
513
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.3%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
34.4%
Dwellings
494
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total, with 92.9% of residents commuting by car and only 1.8% using public transport, well below the national participation rate in urban areas. No schools are recorded within the Salisbury Plain boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs in the Salisbury corridor. Crime is recorded at 138 incidents per 1,000 residents across 184 total offences, a rate that ranks the suburb as high-crime relative to the SA state average. The IRSAD decile of 1 places the suburb in the bottom tier nationally for advantage and disadvantage. On the positive side, rent-to-income sits at 22.7% and mortgage-to-income at 23.9%, both below the 25% stress threshold, meaning most households are managing costs even with incomes in the 28th percentile nationally.
Drive
92.9%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
N/A
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.91%/yr
(+175 people/yr)
EstablishedThe surrounding statistical area's population grew 16.2% over the past decade and is forecast to reach around 20,373 by 2031, adding roughly 175 people per year at the current trend rate of 0.91% annually. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 331 net arrivals per year, significantly above the internal outflow of 292 per year. Rent grew 35% over the decade against real income growth of only 7.5%, meaning affordability eroded for renters even as headline income edged up. Affordability moved from 49.9% in 2011 to 50.9% in 2021, a stable but persistently stretched baseline. The gentrification score is 16, classified as not gentrifying, with the suburb showing early demographic signals such as a 1.5-point increase in the young-adult share but no meaningful income or education uplift to match.
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
184
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
138.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Salisbury Plain compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salisbury Plain a good suburb to live in?
Salisbury Plain offers affordable housing relative to its $730,000 median price, with mortgage-to-income at 23.9%, below the stress threshold. However, the suburb sits in SEIFA decile 1 nationally on all four indexes, the lowest advantage tier, and records a crime rate of 138 per 1,000 residents. It suits buyers seeking detached housing at accessible repayment levels rather than a low-disadvantage environment.
What is the median house price in Salisbury Plain?
The median house price was $730,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 6.2% from $687,500 in the first quarter of 2025. Weekly rent averages $285 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%.
What schools are in Salisbury Plain?
No schools are recorded within the Salisbury Plain boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Salisbury area. Local university qualification rates stand at 20.3%, which is 9.8 points below the national figure, reflecting the decile 1 IEO score for education and occupation.
Is Salisbury Plain safe?
Salisbury Plain records 184 total offences and a crime rate of 138 per 1,000 residents, which is high compared to SA suburban averages. The suburb's IRSD decile of 1 places it in the lowest tier for relative disadvantage nationally, and areas at this tier tend to see higher crime rates than the broader metropolitan average.
Is Salisbury Plain good for property investment?
Prices rose 6.2% over one year to $730,000, a meaningful gain. Weekly rent of $285 against a $730,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.0%, which is below average. The 4.2% vacancy rate signals some oversupply. Overseas migration of 331 per year supports long-term demand, though net internal outflow of 292 per year offsets much of that growth.
How is Salisbury Plain's population changing?
The broader area grew 16.2% over the past decade and is forecast to reach around 20,373 by 2031 at a trend rate of 0.91% annually. Overseas migration drives growth at 331 arrivals per year, while net internal outflow runs at 292 per year. The gentrification score is 16, classified as not gentrifying.
What languages are spoken in Salisbury Plain?
About 34.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 12.8 points above the national figure. Nepali is the most common non-English language with 40 speakers, followed by Greek (18) and Italian (17). English-ancestry residents make up the largest ancestry group at 444 people within the 1,333-person suburb.
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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