Salisbury
A 44.5% overseas-born share is the clearest marker of Salisbury's identity, alongside a population of 8,841 and a median age of 37, three years below the national figure. Household income is $1,029 a week, at the 13.9th percentile, while density reaches 1,936.6 people per sq km. Compared with the larger suburban settings of Salisbury East and Parafield Gardens, Salisbury has a compact, central profile and a stronger migrant connection. The trade-off is socioeconomic: all 4 SEIFA measures sit in decile 1, so buyers should weigh price, services and local conditions carefully.
Population
8,841
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,029/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
97
Median House
$810K
First quarter 2026
The housing mix suits buyers seeking established family stock: 61.5% of dwellings are separate houses, 23.9% semi-detached and 14.6% apartments, with 52.3% having 3 bedrooms. The indicative monthly mortgage figure is $1,213, while mortgage costs represent 27.2% of household income. Compared with a detached-only market, the semi-detached and apartment shares create more entry options, although the 42.9% rental share means owner-occupiers compete with a large tenant base.
For Buyers
The housing mix suits buyers seeking established family stock: 61.5% of dwellings are separate houses, 23.9% semi-detached and 14.6% apartments, with 52.3% having 3 bedrooms. The indicative monthly mortgage figure is $1,213, while mortgage costs represent 27.2% of household income. Compared with a detached-only market, the semi-detached and apartment shares create more entry options, although the 42.9% rental share means owner-occupiers compete with a large tenant base.
For Investors
Investor demand has a clear tenant base: 42.9% of households rent, weekly rent is $260 and vacancy is 7.3%. Rent growth of 27.3% supports recent income momentum, but the vacancy rate makes tenant selection and pricing discipline important. A 98-application development pipeline over 12 months signals active renewal and may add competing stock. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Compared with an owner-dominated suburb, Salisbury favours yield-led analysis: its 1.26% annual trend is positive, but not a reason to assume rapid capital gains.
Development Activity
Total DAs
429
Last 12 Months
97
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+42.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Salisbury
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Salisbury Primary School
Demographics
With 44.5% of residents born overseas, Salisbury sits 22.9 percentage points above the national overseas-born share. The median age is 37, three years below the national figure, while university attainment is 21.1%, nine points below national levels. Ancestry responses include Other at 2,948, English at 2,248 and Italian at 644. Listed languages include Nepali at 357, Italian at 128, Arabic at 101, Punjabi at 56 and Khmer at 56; leading faith responses are Christianity at 3,528, no religion at 2,554 and Islam at 886. Average household size is 2.5, equal nationally, and 82.1% stayed at the same address. Compared with a university-heavy inner suburb, Salisbury is more oriented to families, trades and community services.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
61.5%
Houses
23.9%
Townhouse
14.6%
Apartment
Tenure
That repricing matters because household income is $1,029 a week, at only the 13.9th percentile nationally, even though mortgage costs sit at 27.2% of income and rent at 25.3%. Tenure is split across 26.3% owned outright, 28.5% mortgaged and 42.9% rented. Stock is varied: 61.5% is separate housing, 23.9% semi-detached and 14.6% apartments, while 52.3% of homes have 3 bedrooms. Compared with a pure owner-occupier market, the rental share and mixed dwelling form point to stronger turnover and more varied demand, while the 22.6% price rise raises affordability pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,213
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$260
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$536
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
262
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.4%
Couples with children
31.5%
Couples, no children
23.9%
Single parent
2,102
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 26.4%, with manufacturing at 10.2%, education at 9.1%, construction at 8.3% and retail at 8.2%. Occupations are led by labourers at 617, community and personal services at 527, trades at 433, machinery and drivers at 344, and clerical and administration at 332. Participation is 48.6%, unemployment is 10.9% and full-time work is 55.3%. Household income is $1,029 weekly at the 13.9th percentile. IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD all sit in SEIFA decile 1, the lowest nationally. This mix helps explain why healthcare employment coexists with lower incomes than national benchmarks, as labour, trade and service roles remain prominent.
Unemployment
10.9%
Labour Force
3,491
Unemployed
381
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.3%
Part-time
38.2%
Participation
48.6%
Employed
3,110
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.1%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
44.5%
Dwellings
3,296
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car oriented: 82.3% travel as car drivers, compared with 4.4% using public transport and 2.3% walking or cycling; 4.4% work from home. That suits households with vehicles but can make access harder without one, so route and service frequency checks matter. Education access includes 1 nearby government primary school; confirm enrolment zones against the exact address. Safety also needs due diligence: 1,746 recorded crimes equal 197.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, alongside IRSAD decile 1, the lowest nationally. Compared with public transport use, car dependence is much higher, so convenience depends on vehicle access.
Drive
82.3%
Public Transport
4.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
4.4%
Population Forecast
+1.26%/yr
(+238 people/yr)
EstablishedSalisbury's growth outlook is positive but measured: the annual trend is 1.26%, above a flat baseline, and overseas migration is the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 18.3% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed rather than uniformly accelerating. Rent growth has reached 27.3%, and the senior share has increased by 2.8 percentage points, helping explain why demand may broaden beyond young households. Gentrification signals remain restrained: the score is 16 with a stage of Not gentrifying, although a separate shift score of 20 labels Early signs. Compared with a fast-redeveloping inner market, Salisbury's established profile points to gradual change, with migration and housing renewal doing more work than prestige-led uplift.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+206
Net Internal / yr
-280
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +17% since 2011, Net internal outflow -280/yr, Strong overseas inflow +206/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,746
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
197.5
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Salisbury compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salisbury a good suburb to live in?
Salisbury can suit buyers and renters seeking a compact, car-oriented suburb with a 37-year median age and 44.5% overseas-born population. Housing is mixed, with 61.5% separate houses and 42.9% renting. The trade-offs are an IRSAD decile 1 position and a crime rate of 197.5 per 1,000, so inspect the exact pocket before committing.
What schools are in Salisbury?
Salisbury has 1 identified local school, Salisbury Primary School, a government primary school. Enrolment zones can affect access, so confirm the address before signing a lease or contract. The surrounding housing mix includes 52.3% three-bedroom homes, which may suit families, but school availability should be checked for each address.
Is Salisbury safe?
Safety should be assessed at street level rather than assumed from the suburb name. Salisbury recorded 1,746 crimes, equal to 197.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, and its IRSAD ranking is decile 1 nationally. Visit at different times, check current police information and compare the exact pocket with nearby streets before deciding.
Is Salisbury good for property investment?
It may suit an investor seeking a large tenant base: 42.9% of households rent, weekly rent is $260 and vacancy is 7.3%. Rent growth of 27.3% is supportive, while 98 development applications in 12 months may increase competing supply. The 1.26% annual growth trend favours disciplined yield analysis over assuming rapid capital gains.
How is Salisbury's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 18.3% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 1.26% and overseas migration as the primary driver. Salisbury's median age is 37, while the senior share has risen 2.8 percentage points and the shift trajectory is Mixed. That points to ongoing change, but not a uniformly younger or gentrifying profile.
What languages are spoken in Salisbury?
Overseas-born residents account for 44.5% of Salisbury's population. Nepali is the leading listed language with 357 speakers, followed by Italian at 128 and Arabic at 101. Christianity counts 3,528 people, Islam 886 and no religion 2,554, indicating that services and communications may need to suit several language and faith groups.
What development is occurring in Salisbury?
Development activity is notable, with 98 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent examples include 3 detached single-storey dwellings in a terrace arrangement and 1 transportable building room. This level of activity can improve housing choice but may also create construction disruption or future competition, so review the immediate street and approved plans.
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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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