Smithfield
All four SEIFA indexes place Smithfield in decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, yet the suburb recorded an 11.7% median house price gain in a single year to reach $645,000 by early 2026. That price growth is the standout signal in a suburb where household income sits at the 14.9th percentile nationally and 50.9% of residents rent rather than own. The population of 2,482 has a median age of 35, five years below the national figure, and unemployment runs at 12.8%, well above the state average. The high share of labourers and machinery operators among workers reflects a blue-collar occupational mix more than the knowledge-economy composition found in higher-decile suburbs.
Population
2,482
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,049/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
26
Median House
$645K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $645,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up from $577,500 a year earlier, a gain of 11.7% and a faster rate than most SA markets over the same period. Separate houses dominate at 79.9% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 72.2% of the stock, so a typical Smithfield purchase is a three-bedroom detached house on a modest site. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,100, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2% against the household median, below the 30% stress threshold. Only 16.3% of residents own their homes outright and 32.8% carry a mortgage, compared to the renter majority of 50.9%. Buyers enter a market where price momentum is real but the income base is thin, at the 14.9th percentile nationally, which limits the pool of local upgraders.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $645,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up from $577,500 a year earlier, a gain of 11.7% and a faster rate than most SA markets over the same period. Separate houses dominate at 79.9% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 72.2% of the stock, so a typical Smithfield purchase is a three-bedroom detached house on a modest site. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,100, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2% against the household median, below the 30% stress threshold. Only 16.3% of residents own their homes outright and 32.8% carry a mortgage, compared to the renter majority of 50.9%. Buyers enter a market where price momentum is real but the income base is thin, at the 14.9th percentile nationally, which limits the pool of local upgraders.
For Investors
With 50.9% of residents renting, Smithfield offers landlords a large and persistent tenant base. Weekly rent averages $260, and against the $645,000 median, gross yield sits around 2.1%, low in absolute terms but in line with lower-priced SA suburban markets. The vacancy rate of 5.7% is elevated and warrants monitoring, as it suggests some oversupply relative to active tenant demand. Development activity recorded 26 applications in the past 12 months, a moderate pipeline including new detached dwellings and alterations, indicating continued owner-builder interest despite the low-income base. Renter-majority suburbs at decile 1 SEIFA can see sharp price swings because buyer demand is thin; the 11.7% annual price gain reflects recent momentum but buyers should weigh that against the suburb's underlying income constraints.
Development Activity
Total DAs
152
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-7.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 35 is five years below the national figure, pointing to a younger population than most established suburbs. Overseas-born residents account for 28.4%, which is 6.8 percentage points above the national average. Ancestry is led by English (927 residents), followed by Scottish (185) and German (131), with a moderate presence of other backgrounds. University qualifications reach only 12.8% of the population, which is 17.3 points below the national average, consistent with the occupational profile skewed toward labourers, machinery operators and community service workers. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure. The participation rate is 45%, which is low, and 802 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting a mix of caring responsibilities and early workforce exit among the younger-than-average population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.9%
Houses
19.0%
Townhouse
1.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is heavily detached: 79.9% separate houses and 19.0% semi-detached, with apartments at just 1.1%. Three-bedroom homes represent 72.2% of all dwellings, making Smithfield one of the more uniform suburbs in SA by bedroom count. Tenure splits into 50.9% renters, 32.8% mortgagees and 16.3% outright owners, a renter-majority profile that is unusual for a detached-dominant suburb and reflects the income constraints at the 14.9th national percentile. Prices moved from $577,500 in the first quarter of 2025 to $645,000 a year later, an 11.7% gain. Rent at $260 per week gives a rent-to-income ratio of 24.8% against household income, below the stress threshold of 30%, though affordability is relative given the low income base. Mortgage-to-income sits at 24.2%, also below stress levels.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,100
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$526
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.7%
Unoccupied
55
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.0%
Couples, no children
1,816
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 25.2% of workers, reflecting the suburb's proximity to northern Adelaide health services. Manufacturing follows at 11.1%, Retail at 9.9% and Public Administration at 8.4%, with Education at 7.9%. By occupation, Labourers lead (172 workers), followed by Community and Personal service workers (136) and Machinery and Drivers (117), a profile concentrated in trade and care work rather than professional services. All four SEIFA deciles sit at 1, meaning Smithfield ranks in the lowest national tier on education and occupation (IEO), economic resources (IER), relative disadvantage (IRSD) and advantage-disadvantage (IRSAD). Unemployment is 12.8%, with a participation rate of 45%, leaving 802 residents outside the labour force. The full-time employment rate of 57.3% among those employed is below national norms.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.3%
Part-time
29.9%
Participation
45.0%
Employed
765
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.8%
Postgraduate
2.2%
Born Overseas
28.4%
Dwellings
911
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high: 85.6% of residents drive to work while only 5.6% use public transport and 1.2% walk or cycle. The crime rate of 429.1 incidents per 1,000 residents is well above typical suburban rates and is one of the suburb's identity signals alongside the renter-majority and detached-dominant character. The IRSAD decile of 1 nationally confirms that the concentration of disadvantage is significant, covering both low income and limited economic resources. Housing stress is contained by low rents relative to income, with rent-to-income at 24.8% below the 30% threshold, though this reflects the very low $260 weekly rent rather than high incomes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families travel to neighbouring areas. Volunteering participation sits at 9.8% and 9.7% of residents, or 218 people, require assistance with daily activities.
Drive
85.6%
Public Transport
5.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,065
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
429.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Smithfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smithfield a good suburb to live in?
Smithfield sits in decile 1 on all four SEIFA indexes nationally, indicating high disadvantage. Household income is at the 14.9th percentile nationally and the crime rate of 429.1 per 1,000 residents is elevated. The positive is affordability: the $645,000 median house price is accessible compared to inner Adelaide, and rent-to-income sits at 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Smithfield?
The median house price is $645,000, based on first quarter 2026 data. That represents an 11.7% rise from $577,500 a year earlier. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,100, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2% against the local household median. Weekly rent averages $260.
What schools are in Smithfield?
No schools are recorded inside the Smithfield suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring northern Adelaide suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 12.8%, which is 17.3 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the suburb's lower-income, trade-oriented workforce.
Is Smithfield safe?
The crime rate is 429.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, recorded across 1,065 total incidents, which is high compared to typical suburban benchmarks. Smithfield carries a high-crime-rate identity signal. SEIFA decile 1 on IRSD confirms a concentration of relative disadvantage, which correlates with higher crime rates in Australian suburbs nationally.
Is Smithfield good for property investment?
The suburb delivered 11.7% median house price growth in one year, from $577,500 to $645,000. The renter share is 50.9%, providing a large tenant pool, and 26 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. However, the vacancy rate of 5.7% is elevated, gross yield is modest at around 2.1%, and SEIFA decile 1 nationally means buyer demand is sensitive to income changes.
How is Smithfield's population changing?
Smithfield has a population of 2,482 with a turnover rate of 22.7%, meaning around one in four residents moved within the past year. The overseas-born share of 28.4% is 6.8 percentage points above national, so migration is an active contributor to household formation. The median age of 35 is five years below the national figure, indicating a younger and more mobile population.
How much development is happening in Smithfield?
There were 26 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including single-storey detached dwellings, ancillary accommodation and commercial fitouts. Activity is moderate for a suburb of 2,482 people, signalling ongoing builder interest in the northern Adelaide corridor despite the decile 1 SEIFA position and 12.8% unemployment rate.
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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