SA 5083 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Sefton Park

At just 0.49 km2, Sefton Park packs 1,274 residents into a density of 2,595 per km2, and the education profile stands out: 51.2% hold university qualifications, which is 21.1 percentage points above the national average. The suburb sits at the 57.6th household income percentile nationally, above the midpoint but not at the top, and a median house price of $840,000 as of 1Q 2025 reflects a market that has captured attention beyond the inner-ring norm. Separate houses dominate at 75.6% of dwellings, giving this compact suburb a character more typical of mid-ring family areas than high-density corridors.

Sefton Park urban fabric map

Population

1,274

Median Age

39.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,663/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

16

0.49 km²· 2,595.2 people/km²· Family income $2,179/wk

The median house price recorded $840,000 in 1Q 2025, and with three-bedroom dwellings making up 48.7% of the stock, supply skews toward family-sized homes on established blocks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,775, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 75.6% of dwellings, well above the typical inner-suburban mix, so buyers get detached stock at a price that remains below comparable inner-Adelaide options. Semi-detached homes cover 13.6% and apartments 10.8%, providing some entry-level alternatives. Outright owners and mortgaged households each hold around 35%, signalling a stable, long-held ownership base rather than rapid churn.

For Buyers

The median house price recorded $840,000 in 1Q 2025, and with three-bedroom dwellings making up 48.7% of the stock, supply skews toward family-sized homes on established blocks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,775, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 75.6% of dwellings, well above the typical inner-suburban mix, so buyers get detached stock at a price that remains below comparable inner-Adelaide options. Semi-detached homes cover 13.6% and apartments 10.8%, providing some entry-level alternatives. Outright owners and mortgaged households each hold around 35%, signalling a stable, long-held ownership base rather than rapid churn.

For Investors

Renters make up 29.0% of households, generating steady demand against a vacancy rate of 6.2%, which is moderate and suggests the market is not oversupplied. Weekly rent of $310 against a $840,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%, low but consistent with a suburb where capital growth is the primary investor thesis. Development activity is modest at 14 applications in 12 months, meaning new supply is not putting pressure on existing stock. The turnover rate is 18.6%, with 81.4% of residents having stayed in place, indicating low speculative churn. Rent-to-income sits at 18.6%, well below the 30% stress level, which keeps tenant default risk low.

Development Activity

Total DAs

60

Last 12 Months

16

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+100.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
5
Garage / Carport / Shed
4
Tree Removal
4
Commercial / Industrial
3
Hospitality / Food Premises
2
New Dwelling
2
Signage / Advertising
1
Swimming Pool / Spa
1

Demographics

The median age of 39 is 1 year below the national figure, placing Sefton Park slightly younger than average. University qualifications reach 51.2%, a rate 21.1 percentage points above the national average, one of the more striking education gaps you find at suburb level. Overseas-born residents account for 30.6%, which is 9.0 percentage points above national. Ancestry is led by English (388 residents), Italian (186) and Irish (110), with Greek, Gujarati and Punjabi among the non-English languages spoken. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure, and couples with children form 416 of 1,042 total families, the largest single household type at roughly 40%.

Age Distribution

0-14
15.8%
15-24
11.9%
25-44
29.0%
45-64
24.9%
65+
17.6%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.7%
2 bed
28.3%
3 bed
48.7%
4+ bed
19.3%

Dwelling Structure

75.6%

Houses

13.6%

Townhouse

10.8%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 35.7% Mortgage 35.3% Rent 29.0%

The tenure split is roughly balanced between ownership and renting: 35.7% own outright, 35.3% are paying off a mortgage and 29.0% rent. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 48.7%, with four-plus bedrooms at 19.3% and two-bedroom at 28.3%, a profile that matches the family-oriented separate-house stock. Separate houses represent 75.6% of all dwellings, well above the typical inner-ring suburb, while semi-detached and apartments account for the remaining quarter. The $840,000 median house price as of 1Q 2025 and a monthly mortgage of $1,775 give a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%, below the stress threshold. Rent-to-income of 18.6% keeps the rental side affordable relative to national benchmarks.

Mortgage / mo

$1,775

Rent / wk

$310

HH Size

2.5

Personal Income / wk

$784

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

6.2%

Unoccupied

33

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

18.6%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

24.7%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Greek
19
Guj
19
Italian
18
Punjabi
16
Mandarin
13

Ancestry

English
388
Italian
186
Other
163
Irish
110
Scottish
95
Indian
92

Household Composition

24.4%

Couples, no children

1,042

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.4% of employed residents (105 workers), followed by Education at 12.8% (60 workers) and Public Admin at 10.0% (47 workers). Professionals are the largest occupation group with 183 workers, ahead of Managers at 95, reflecting the high university qualification rate of 51.2%. The full-time employment rate is 60.4%, and the unemployment rate is 6.7%, above the national norm, with 46 residents recorded as unemployed. Labour force participation is 64.7%, with 317 residents not in the labour force. Weekly household income of $1,663 places the suburb at the 57.6th percentile nationally, above the midpoint but below the top quartile.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

60.4%

Part-time

32.9%

Participation

64.7%

Employed

644

Occupations

Professionals 183
Managers 95
Community/Personal 81
Clerical/Admin 77
Sales 61
Labourers 55
Machinery/Drivers 29

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.4%
Education 12.8%
Public Admin 10.0%
Professional/Tech 9.2%
Construction 6.8%

University

51.2%

Postgraduate

13.4%

Born Overseas

30.6%

Dwellings

492

Transport to Work

Car reliance is high at 81.7% of residents driving to work, while 9.3% use public transport and 4.0% walk or cycle, ratios typical of an established mid-ring Adelaide suburb. No schools are recorded within the 0.49 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families draw on institutions in neighbouring areas. Crime totals 96 incidents, giving a rate of 75.4 per 1,000 residents; no breakdown by category is available in this dataset to compare against state averages. Volunteering stands at 16.3% of residents, and only 5.4% (67 people) need daily assistance. Rent-to-income at 18.6% and mortgage-to-income at 24.7% both sit below stress thresholds, pointing to a financially comfortable resident base.

Drive

81.7%

Public Transport

9.3%

Walk / Cycle

4.0%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

96

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

75.4

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Sefton Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 26%
Household Income
Top 42%
Rent Level
Top 36%
Apartments
Top 29%
Renters
Top 30%
Uni Educated
Top 8%
Public Transport
Top 14%
Born Overseas
Top 13%
Density
Top 5%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sefton Park a good suburb to live in?

Sefton Park offers a stable, education-heavy population with 51.2% holding university qualifications, which is 21.1 percentage points above the national average. Household income sits at the 57.6th percentile nationally. With 75.6% separate houses and mortgage-to-income at 24.7%, below the stress threshold, it suits families and professional households who want a compact suburb without financial overextension.

What is the median house price in Sefton Park?

The median house price was $840,000 in 1Q 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,775, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $310, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 18.6%.

What schools are in Sefton Park?

No schools are recorded within the Sefton Park boundary (0.49 km2) in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident population is highly educated, with 51.2% holding university qualifications, which is 21.1 percentage points above the national figure.

Is Sefton Park safe?

Sefton Park recorded 96 total crime incidents, giving a rate of 75.4 per 1,000 residents. No category breakdown is available in this dataset to directly compare against state averages. As a broader indicator, rent-to-income is 18.6% and mortgage-to-income is 24.7%, both below stress thresholds, reflecting a financially stable community.

Is Sefton Park good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $310 against a $840,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%. The vacancy rate is 6.2% and renters make up 29.0% of households, providing a steady tenant base. With only 14 development applications in 12 months and a compact 0.49 km2 footprint, new supply is constrained, which supports existing values over the medium term.

How is Sefton Park's population changing?

Population forecast data is not available for Sefton Park in this dataset. The suburb's turnover rate is 18.6%, with 81.4% of residents having remained in place, indicating strong residential stability. The population of 1,274 is concentrated into just 0.49 km2, giving a density of 2,595 residents per km2.

What languages are spoken in Sefton Park?

About 30.6% of residents were born overseas, which is 9.0 percentage points above the national average. Greek, Gujarati and Punjabi each have around 16 to 19 speakers, with Italian (18) and Mandarin (13) also represented. The top ancestries are English (388 residents), Italian (186) and Irish (110).

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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