Springvale South
A strong migrant-majority pattern defines Springvale South: 62.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 40.8 percentage points above the national share. The suburb remains strongly detached, with 85.8% separate houses and only 3.2% apartments, giving it a lower-density family feel compared with nearby Springvale and Keysborough. Median house value sits at $846,000, while household income ranks at the 46.7 percentile, so affordability relies on established ownership and multi-income households.
Population
12,766
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,498/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$846K
Apr-Jun 2024
Buyers are paying a median $846,000 for a suburb where the housing stock is still dominated by separate houses at 85.8%. That matters because 53.4% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 30.3% have 4 or more, giving families more space than apartment-heavy locations. Mortgage costs average $1,600 a month and sit at 24.7% of income, below common stress thresholds, but the 46.7 household income percentile means budgets can still be tight for first-home buyers.
For Buyers
Buyers are paying a median $846,000 for a suburb where the housing stock is still dominated by separate houses at 85.8%. That matters because 53.4% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 30.3% have 4 or more, giving families more space than apartment-heavy locations. Mortgage costs average $1,600 a month and sit at 24.7% of income, below common stress thresholds, but the 46.7 household income percentile means budgets can still be tight for first-home buyers.
For Investors
Springvale South is more owner-occupied than a pure rental market, with 27.8% renting compared with 39.2% owned outright and 33.0% mortgaged. Median rent is $351 a week and vacancy is 3.8%, so income is steady but not ultra-tight. The investor case is supported by 36.9% rent growth in the shift indicators and overseas migration averaging +902 people a year, while only 1 development application in 12 months limits near-term new supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-66.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Springvale South iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Hoa Nghiem Primary School
Prep-6 · 70 students
Keysborough Primary School
Prep-6 · 382 students
Athol Road Primary School
Prep-6 · 402 students
Keysborough Secondary College
7-12 · 2194 students
Demographics
Springvale South is younger than the national profile, with a median age of 38, which is 2.0 years below the national comparison. Overseas-born residents make up 62.4%, sitting 40.8 percentage points above national, while university attainment of 35.6% is 5.5 points higher. Vietnamese ancestry counts 2,978 residents and Chinese ancestry 2,573, with Buddhism at 4,197 people. Household size is 3.2, or 0.7 above national, because family households are common.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.8%
Houses
10.2%
Townhouse
3.2%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing market has moved from $430,000 in 2013 to a median $846,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 96.7% gain and a 5.0% CAGR over 14 years. The latest price is also the peak, with 0.0% fall from peak to latest. Tenure is unusually settled: 39.2% own outright, higher than the 27.8% renting share, and 33.0% are paying a mortgage. Compared with more apartment-oriented suburbs, the 85.8% separate-house share keeps land content central to value.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wk
$351
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$559
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.8%
Unoccupied
152
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.8%
Couples, no children
10,535
Total families
Economy & Employment
Work is concentrated in practical service and production sectors: healthcare employs 465 people, manufacturing 386, retail 242, professional and tech 206, and education 163. Occupations lean to labourers at 1,256 and machinery or drivers at 808, higher than professionals at 675, which helps explain the lower SEIFA profile. IRSAD and IRSD both sit in decile 1, while IEO and IER are decile 2, so education and resources rank below average despite 63.8% of workers being full-time.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
12,693
Unemployed
662
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.8%
Part-time
28.3%
Participation
53.1%
Employed
5,214
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.6%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
62.4%
Dwellings
3,860
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 84.7% drive to work, far higher than the 3.3% using public transport and 0.9% walking or cycling. School choice is compact, with 4 local schools and ICSEA scores from 941 to 1017. Hoa Nghiem Primary is the highest ICSEA option at 1017 in the Independent sector, while Keysborough Primary at 964 and Keysborough Secondary College with 2,194 enrolments add Government coverage. Crime sits at 47.9 offences per 1,000 people, and IRSAD decile 1 points to lower socio-economic advantage.
Drive
84.7%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.95%/yr
(+233 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive, with the trend adding 0.95% a year, or about 233 people. The medium population path rises from 24,477 in 2026 to 25,641 in 2031. Migration is the main driver: overseas migration averages +902 a year, compared with net internal movement of -508. Gentrification is tagged at a score of 26 with an Early signs stage, lower than the shift gentrification score of 45, because rent growth is strong at 36.9% but internal outflow remains negative.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+902
Net Internal / yr
-508
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal outflow -508/yr, Strong overseas inflow +902/yr, COVID recovered (-5% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
611
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
47.9
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Springvale South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Springvale South a good suburb to live in?
Yes for households wanting established detached housing and strong family networks. Separate houses make up 85.8% of dwellings, average household size is 3.2, and the median age is 38. The trade-off is car dependence, with 84.7% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Springvale South?
The median house price is $846,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. Prices have risen from $430,000 in 2013, a 96.7% increase, and the latest quarter is also the recorded peak, with 0.0% below peak.
What schools are in Springvale South?
There are 4 local schools. Hoa Nghiem Primary has an ICSEA of 1017, Keysborough Primary is 964, Athol Road Primary is 947, and Keysborough Secondary College is 941 with 2,194 enrolments.
Is Springvale South safe?
Recorded crime is 47.9 offences per 1,000 people, with 611 total offences. The largest category is property and deception offences at 321, followed by crimes against the person at 114.
Is Springvale South good for property investment?
It suits investors seeking established-family demand rather than heavy new development. Renters make up 27.8% of households, median rent is $351 a week, vacancy is 3.8%, and only 1 development application was recorded in 12 months.
How is Springvale South's population changing?
The growth path is moderate, with trend growth of 0.95% a year, or 233 people. The medium projection rises from 24,477 in 2026 to 25,641 in 2031, supported by overseas migration averaging +902 a year.
What languages are spoken in Springvale South?
Language use reflects the 62.4% overseas-born population. Khmer is recorded for 1,052 people, followed by Canton at 358, Mandarin at 178, Punjabi at 152, and Greek at 133.
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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