South Plympton
South Plympton packs 4,721 residents into 1.57 sq km, creating a density of 3,014.7 people per sq km and an established inner-south setting. At 37, its median age is 3.0 years below the national figure, while university attainment at 46.0% is 15.9 percentage points above the national comparison. Compared with nearby Plympton and Edwardstown, the suburb’s compact footprint supports a mix of 33.3% overseas-born residents, professionals and service workers.
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
67
Median House
$1.2M
First quarter 2026
Separate houses account for 60.9% of stock, with apartments at 21.9% and semi-detached homes at 17.1%, creating more choice than a detached-only market. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.4%, followed by two-bedroom dwellings at 29.6%. Mortgage-to-income is 25.3%, compared with rent-to-income of 21.9%, and outright ownership at 29.8% is lower than the 35.0% mortgage share. Compared with nearby Plympton and Edwardstown, buyers should check the exact street because housing form changes across this 1.57 sq km suburb.
For Buyers
Separate houses account for 60.9% of stock, with apartments at 21.9% and semi-detached homes at 17.1%, creating more choice than a detached-only market. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.4%, followed by two-bedroom dwellings at 29.6%. Mortgage-to-income is 25.3%, compared with rent-to-income of 21.9%, and outright ownership at 29.8% is lower than the 35.0% mortgage share. Compared with nearby Plympton and Edwardstown, buyers should check the exact street because housing form changes across this 1.57 sq km suburb.
For Investors
South Plympton has a 30.4% renting share, $340 weekly rent and a 6.4% vacancy rate. That combination gives tenants some choice, so investors should assess property condition and leasing appeal rather than rely on scarcity alone. Development activity reached 67 applications in 12 months, including a Torrens Title division from 1 into 3 allotments. Annual growth is forecast at 1.22%, driven by overseas migration, while gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 32. The case is stronger for selective, longer-term buying than for a vacancy-led strategy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
365
Last 12 Months
67
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 South Plympton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Forbes Primary School
Demographics
South Plympton has 4,721 residents and a median age of 37, which is 3.0 years below the national comparison. Average household size is 2.3 people, 0.2 below the national figure, while university attainment reaches 46.0%, 15.9 points above the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 33.3%, 11.7 points above the national share. Mandarin is recorded for 147 people, alongside Greek 55, Nepali 52, Punjabi 48 and Canton 46. English ancestry counts 1,409 and Chinese ancestry 494; no religion and Christianity are reported at 1,914 and 1,900. Compared with nearby Plympton and Edwardstown, the suburb presents a smaller-household, internationally connected profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
60.9%
Houses
17.1%
Townhouse
21.9%
Apartment
Tenure
The stock is more mixed than a traditional detached-house suburb, with 60.9% separate houses, 21.9% apartments and 17.1% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes make up 50.4%, while two-bedroom homes represent 29.6%. Tenure is split across 29.8% owned outright, 35.0% with a mortgage and 30.4% rented. Compared with nearby Plympton and Edwardstown, buyers should compare street-level dwelling form because this 1.57 sq km suburb contains materially different housing pockets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$340
Census 2021
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
42.2%
Couples with children
39.7%
Couples, no children
15.5%
Single parent
1,246
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads South Plympton’s industry mix at 23.1%, followed by education at 10.9%, professional and technical work at 9.5%, construction at 7.6% and public administration at 7.3%. The occupation mix is led by 664 professionals, 370 community and personal service workers, 339 clerical and administrative workers, 295 trades workers and 267 managers. Labour-force participation is 66.5%, unemployment is 5.9% and full-time employment is 57.7%, indicating a broad service economy rather than a single-employer base. Household income sits at the 49.5 percentile, while the SEIFA education and occupation decile is 7, higher than the economic-resources decile of 3. This suggests skills are stronger than some measures of financial capacity.
Unemployment
5.9%
Labour Force
2,645
Unemployed
155
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.7%
Part-time
36.8%
Participation
66.5%
Employed
2,490
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.0%
Postgraduate
11.2%
Born Overseas
33.3%
Dwellings
1,967
Transport to Work
South Plympton provides an established inner-south setting with 1 local primary school, Forbes Primary School, in the government sector. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address, since boundaries can cut across nearby suburbs. Daily travel is car-led: 70.7% drive, compared with 8.9% using public transport, 3.4% walking or cycling and 11.7% working from home. The crime rate is 41.1 incidents per 1,000 residents. IRSAD is at decile 6, above the economic-resources decile of 3 but below the education and occupation decile of 7. An overseas-born share of 33.3%, 15.8% volunteering and 74.3% staying at the same address add to the suburb’s social continuity, which is higher than the 25.7% turnover rate.
Drive
70.7%
Public Transport
8.9%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
11.7%
Population Forecast
+1.22%/yr
(+349 people/yr)
EstablishedSouth Plympton is an established area with annual growth forecast at 1.22%, driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 16.3% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed and affordability is marked Improving, moving from 43.1 in 2011 to 37.8 in 2021. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 32, and the shift measure is 37. Real income growth is 15.9% against rent growth of 25.0%. This points to gradual change rather than a completed transformation: the forecast pace is lower than the 21.1% one-year house-price increase, while 67 development applications indicate ongoing incremental renewal.
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 can suit buyers and renters who value an established inner-south setting, with 4,721 residents, 60.9% separate houses and 8.9% public transport use. The 37 median age and 46.0% university attainment point to a relatively young, educated profile compared with national measures. Check the exact address for parking, school zones and dwelling condition.
What schools are in South Plympton?
There is 1 local primary school, Forbes Primary School, which is in the government sector. Families should confirm enrolment boundaries and transport arrangements against the exact address, especially when comparing nearby options. Secondary schooling varies by enrolment zone, so check current school zones and admissions directly before signing a lease or contract.
Is South Plympton safe?
South Plympton recorded 194 crimes, equivalent to 41.1 incidents per 1,000 residents. That figure should be read with the street, time and incident type in mind because suburb-wide rates can vary across small areas. Prospective residents should inspect the immediate surroundings and compare recent local information before choosing a property.
How is South Plympton's population changing?
South Plympton’s current population is 4,721. Growth is forecast at 1.22% a year and is driven primarily by overseas migration, while population change across the wider area is 16.3% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Mixed and gentrification is at the Early signs stage, with a score of 32, suggesting gradual change rather than a completed transformation.
What languages are spoken in South Plympton?
Overseas-born residents make up 33.3% of South Plympton’s population. Mandarin is the most commonly recorded language at 147 people, followed by Greek at 55, Nepali at 52, Punjabi at 48 and Canton at 46. English ancestry is also common at 1,409 people, alongside Chinese ancestry at 494.
What development is occurring in South Plympton?
Development activity reached 67 applications in the 12 months covered. Examples include a Torrens Title land division from 1 into 3 allotments, plus swimming-spa and verandah works. This points to incremental change across established properties rather than evidence of a single large project pipeline. Buyers should check approvals and future development potential at the individual address.
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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