Smithfield Plains
A young, renter-heavy profile defines Smithfield Plains, where 3,305 residents have a median age of 29 and population density reaches 2,197.3 people per square kilometre. The age profile is 11 years below the national median, while university attainment at 9.9% is 20.2 percentage points below the national comparison. Separate houses account for 84.8% of dwellings, but 50.7% of households rent. The suburb sits near Smithfield and Munno Para in northern Adelaide, with its lower-income, car-oriented profile shaping daily life.
Population
3,305
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,008/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
41
Median House
$686K
First quarter 2026
Smithfield Plains suits buyers seeking predominantly detached housing, with separate houses making up 84.8% of dwellings and three-bedroom homes accounting for 73.3%. That rise means buyers face a higher entry price than twelve months earlier, even though the typical mortgage indicator is $1,092 per month. Mortgage costs equal 25.0% of household income, while 50.7% of residents rent, creating a substantial pool of competing tenants and buyers. The 13.1% outright ownership rate is low compared with more established owner-occupied areas, so purchasers should allow for stronger price sensitivity and carefully check property condition.
For Buyers
Smithfield Plains suits buyers seeking predominantly detached housing, with separate houses making up 84.8% of dwellings and three-bedroom homes accounting for 73.3%. That rise means buyers face a higher entry price than twelve months earlier, even though the typical mortgage indicator is $1,092 per month. Mortgage costs equal 25.0% of household income, while 50.7% of residents rent, creating a substantial pool of competing tenants and buyers. The 13.1% outright ownership rate is low compared with more established owner-occupied areas, so purchasers should allow for stronger price sensitivity and carefully check property condition.
For Investors
Smithfield Plains has a renter-majority market, with 50.7% of households renting and a reported weekly rent of $251. The 6.8% vacancy rate is higher than the tightest rental markets, which may create more leasing competition and make property presentation important. Compared with owner-dominated suburbs, the local tenant base is more significant, while 84.8% of dwellings being separate houses supports a family-oriented rental product. Development activity is also notable, with 42 applications recorded over 12 months, including a two-dwelling project and a three-lot community title division.
Development Activity
Total DAs
290
Last 12 Months
41
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+24.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Smithfield Plains
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
John Hartley School B-6
Demographics
Smithfield Plains has a younger population than the national pattern, with a median age of 29, or 11 years below the national comparison. University attainment is 9.9%, which is 20.2 percentage points below the national figure, while the overseas-born share is 21.5%, almost identical to the national comparison at 0.1 percentage points lower. Average household size is 2.6 people, 0.1 above the national measure. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 1,287 people, followed by other ancestry at 588 and Scottish ancestry at 217. No religion is recorded for 1,714 residents, compared with 1,006 identifying with Christianity and 146 with Islam. This creates a younger, more working-class social profile than higher-education suburbs elsewhere in northern Adelaide.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.8%
Houses
11.3%
Townhouse
3.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is strongly detached and family-sized: 84.8% of dwellings are separate houses and 73.3% contain three bedrooms, compared with 17.1% with four or more bedrooms. Tenure is unusual for an established suburb because renting at 50.7% is higher than mortgage ownership at 35.8% and outright ownership at 13.1%. The 3.9% apartment share and 11.3% semi-detached share indicate limited attached housing compared with denser areas near major centres. Around Smithfield and Munno Para, buyers should compare land size, renovation needs and tenure costs closely because the recent price increase has outpaced the relatively modest weekly rent of $251.
Mortgage / mo
$1,092
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$251
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$511
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
83
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.4%
Couples with children
23.3%
Couples, no children
39.1%
Single parent
785
Total families
Economy & Employment
Resident employment is concentrated in healthcare, which accounts for 25.4% of recorded industry employment and 141 people, followed by retail at 12.2% and 68 people. Construction and administration each represent 6.8%, or 38 people, while manufacturing accounts for 6.5% and 36 people. The occupational mix is led by labourers at 224 people, community and personal service workers at 185, machinery operators and drivers at 127, trades at 118, and clerical and administrative workers at 113. Unemployment is 15.6% and participation is 50.3%, while the full-time employment rate is 52.2%. Household income is $1,008 per week, at the 13th percentile, below higher-income suburban benchmarks. The concentration in healthcare and practical occupations helps explain why household earnings remain below the national middle while essential service employment is prominent.
Unemployment
15.6%
Labour Force
1,218
Unemployed
190
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.2%
Part-time
41.1%
Participation
50.3%
Employed
1,028
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.9%
Postgraduate
1.4%
Born Overseas
21.5%
Dwellings
1,152
Transport to Work
Daily mobility is highly car dependent, with 81.9% of residents driving as a car passenger or driver compared with 3.3% using public transport, 1.5% walking or cycling, and 4.4% working from home. That pattern reflects a suburban setting where access to employment and services is more practical by car than by active travel. John Hartley School B-6 provides one local government primary education option, and families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can differ across nearby suburbs. Recorded crime is 444 incidents, or 134.3 per 1,000 residents, a higher rate than lower-crime areas and an important factor for buyers to investigate at street level. With density of 2,197.3 people per square kilometre across 1.5 square kilometres, the suburb has a compact, established residential layout.
Drive
81.9%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
4.4%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
444
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
134.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Smithfield Plains compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smithfield Plains a good suburb to live in?
Smithfield Plains may suit households seeking detached housing at a northern Adelaide price point, with 84.8% of dwellings being separate houses and 73.3% containing 3 bedrooms. Compared with higher-income suburbs, household income is lower at $1,008 per week and the recorded crime rate is 134.3 per 1,000 residents, so buyers should inspect streets and services carefully.
What schools are in Smithfield Plains?
John Hartley School B-6 is the local listed school, providing government primary education from reception or early years through Year 6. Compared with a larger school precinct, local choice is narrower, so families should confirm the enrolment zone and available places for the exact address before purchasing or signing a lease.
Is Smithfield Plains safe?
Recorded crime is 444 incidents, equal to 134.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. That rate is higher than in lower-crime areas, so safety should be assessed through recent street-level incidents, lighting, parking and property security rather than suburb-wide averages alone. The compact area covers 1.5 square kilometres and has 3,305 residents.
How is Smithfield Plains's population changing?
Smithfield Plains currently has 3,305 residents, with a median age of 29. Residential mobility is moderate: 20.1% changed address while 79.9% stayed. Compared with a rapidly turning-over community, the staying rate indicates a sizeable established base, although 42 development applications in 12 months could influence housing turnover if projects proceed.
Is there development activity in Smithfield Plains?
Yes. Forty-two development applications were recorded over 12 months, including a land division into 3 community title lots, a 2-bedroom dwelling addition and a project for 2 dwellings. Compared with an area with no recent applications, this indicates active property change, although applications do not guarantee that every proposal will be completed.
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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