South Plympton
A 21.1% jump in the median house price, from $1,020,000 in early 2025 to $1,235,000 a year later, is the headline number for this 1.57 km2 inner-southwest Adelaide suburb. The pace is unusual because household income sits at only the 49.5th percentile nationally, close to the midpoint rather than the top, so price growth is outrunning local earnings. University qualifications reach 46.0%, which is 15.9 points above the national figure, and 33.3% of residents were born overseas, 11.7 points above national. At a median age of 37, three years below national, the resident base skews younger and more educated than the price tag alone would suggest.
Population
4,721
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,552/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
64
Median House
$1.2M
Median 1Q 2026
The $1,235,000 median rose 21.1% in a single year from $1,020,000, a steep climb for buyers given that local household income reaches only the 49.5th percentile nationally. The stock favours families: 60.9% are separate houses against 21.9% apartments, and three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 50.4% with four-plus bedrooms a further 14.8%. Despite the high price, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, which suggests many current owners bought before the recent run-up. Outright owners at 31.3% sit just below the 36.8% carrying a mortgage, so the buyer market is active rather than dominated by long-held debt-free homes.
For Buyers
The $1,235,000 median rose 21.1% in a single year from $1,020,000, a steep climb for buyers given that local household income reaches only the 49.5th percentile nationally. The stock favours families: 60.9% are separate houses against 21.9% apartments, and three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 50.4% with four-plus bedrooms a further 14.8%. Despite the high price, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, which suggests many current owners bought before the recent run-up. Outright owners at 31.3% sit just below the 36.8% carrying a mortgage, so the buyer market is active rather than dominated by long-held debt-free homes.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $340 against the $1,235,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.4%, low for the price point, so the investment case leans on capital growth rather than income. Rent has grown 25.0% over the measured period and 31.9% of residents rent, giving landlords a reasonable tenant pool. The 6.4% vacancy rate is elevated and points to softer demand in the apartment segment, which is 21.9% of stock. Demand support comes from overseas migration averaging 773 net arrivals a year across the wider area, offset by net internal outflow of 368. Development activity is moderate at 60 applications in 12 months, including land divisions that add infill supply, so returns hinge on the area continuing to gentrify rather than on yield, which trails most Adelaide benchmarks.
Development Activity
Total DAs
354
Last 12 Months
64
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+20.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in South Plympton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Emmaus Christian College
R-12 · 1084 students
Forbes Primary School
U, R-6 · 235 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 runs 3.0 years below the national figure, and university qualifications at 46.0% sit 15.9 points above national, marking a younger, well-educated resident base. Overseas-born residents reach 33.3%, which is 11.7 points above national, and ancestry is led by English (1,409), with sizeable Chinese (494), Scottish (396) and Irish (365) communities. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (147 speakers), Greek (55) and Nepali (52), reflecting both established Greek roots and newer South Asian and Chinese arrivals. Average household size is 2.3, which is 0.2 below national, consistent with the mix of couples without children at 28.7% of families alongside 1,468 couples with children. Christianity (1,900 residents) leads on religion ahead of Hinduism (250).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
60.9%
Houses
17.1%
Townhouse
21.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is evenly split: 31.3% own outright, 36.8% carry a mortgage and 31.9% rent, a balanced profile that signals an active buyer market rather than entrenched long-term ownership. The stock is 60.9% separate houses, 21.9% apartments and 17.1% semi-detached, and three-bedroom homes make up 50.4% of dwellings with two-bedroom at 29.6%, suiting small families. The median house price climbed from $1,020,000 to $1,235,000 across 2025 and 2026, a 21.1% one-year move that lifted prices faster than the 49.5th-percentile local incomes. Affordability paradoxically improved over the longer run, from 43.1% in 2011 to 37.8% in 2021, because real incomes grew 15.9% before the recent price surge. Mortgage-to-income at 25.3% and rent-to-income at 21.9% both stay below stress thresholds.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$805
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.4%
Unoccupied
134
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.7%
Couples, no children
3,503
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 23.1% of workers (425 people), well above its national share, followed by Education at 10.9% (201) and Professional/Tech at 9.5% (175), with Construction at 7.6% and Public Admin at 7.3%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 664, ahead of Community and Personal Service workers (370), Clerical and Administrative (339) and Managers (267), a profile that aligns with the decile 7 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is moderate at 6.2% and the full-time rate is 61.0%, with participation at 63.1%. One anomaly stands out: the IER economic resources score sits at decile 3, well below the decile 6 IRSAD and decile 7 IEO, because the 31.9% renter base and active mortgage holders depress aggregate household wealth measures despite the area's education advantage.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
17,732
Unemployed
385
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
32.8%
Participation
63.1%
Employed
2,354
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.0%
Postgraduate
11.2%
Born Overseas
33.3%
Dwellings
1,967
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 83.2% of commuters drive, above the national average, while only 6.6% use public transport and 4.0% walk or cycle, reflecting the suburb's middle-ring position 1.57 km2 in size. Crime totals 194 incidents at a rate of 41.1 per 1,000 residents, a figure to weigh against the area's decile 6 IRSAD and decile 6 IRSD scores, both above the midpoint and consistent with a moderately advantaged area. No schools are recorded inside the boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a trade-off offset by the 46.0% university attainment rate that runs 15.9 points above national. Volunteering at 15.8% and only 6.0% of residents needing daily assistance round out a settled, family-oriented profile.
Drive
83.2%
Public Transport
6.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.22%/yr
(+349 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is forecast to grow 1.22% a year, and the area has already expanded 16.3% over the past decade, faster than most established suburbs. The primary driver is overseas migration averaging 773 net arrivals annually across the wider region, which more than offsets a net internal outflow of 368 a year. Gentrification reads early signs with a score of 32, supported by population up 22% since 2011 and an acceleration in growth pace. Affordability improved from 43.1% in 2011 to 37.8% in 2021, and real incomes rose 15.9% over the decade, both ahead of the recent price surge. The working-age share edged up 1.9 points while the senior share fell 1.1 points, a younger trajectory than the aging pattern seen in many comparable Adelaide suburbs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+773
Net Internal / yr
-368
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Net internal outflow -368/yr, Strong overseas inflow +773/yr, Accelerating: 5% → 15%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
194
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
41.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Plympton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Plympton a good suburb to live in?
South Plympton scores decile 6 on both the IRSAD and IRSD indexes, above the midpoint nationally, and university qualifications reach 46.0%, which is 15.9 points above the national figure. The main trade-off is a high $1,235,000 median house price relative to local incomes at the 49.5th percentile.
What is the median house price in South Plympton?
The median house price is $1,235,000 as of early 2026, up 21.1% from $1,020,000 a year earlier. Weekly rent averages $340 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,700, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%, below the stress threshold.
What schools are in South Plympton?
No schools are recorded inside the South Plympton boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is highly educated, with university qualifications at 46.0%, which is 15.9 points above the national figure.
Is South Plympton safe?
South Plympton recorded 194 crime incidents at a rate of 41.1 per 1,000 residents. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, above the midpoint nationally, and only 6.0% of residents need daily assistance.
Is South Plympton good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $340 against the $1,235,000 median gives a gross yield near 1.4%, low for the price point, and the vacancy rate is elevated at 6.4%. Rent grew 25.0% over the period, so returns lean on capital growth more than yield, which trails most Adelaide benchmarks.
How is South Plympton's population changing?
Population is forecast to grow 1.22% a year and has risen 16.3% over the past decade. Overseas migration averaging 773 net arrivals annually drives growth, offsetting a net internal outflow of 368. Gentrification reads early signs with a score of 32.
What languages are spoken in South Plympton?
About 33.3% of residents were born overseas, 11.7 points above the national figure. English dominates, with Mandarin (147 speakers), Greek (55), Nepali (52) and Punjabi (48) the most common non-English languages, reflecting both established Greek roots and newer Chinese and South Asian arrivals.
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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