SA 5031 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Thebarton

A median house price of $1,495,000 in a 1.2 km2 suburb with only 1,442 residents tells a concentrated wealth story, yet the weekly household income of $1,429 sits at just the 42.3rd percentile nationally. That gap between asset prices and income is the defining tension here. Three SEIFA indexes land at decile 10 nationally, the top advantage tier, while IER sits at decile 6 because nearly half the residents (48.8%) rent rather than own. The suburb has grown 64.8% over 10 years, well above most established inner-Adelaide areas, and population is forecast to reach 2,578 by 2031.

Thebarton urban fabric map

Population

1,442

Median Age

39.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,429/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

30

Median House

$1.5M

Median 1Q 2026

1.2 km²· 1,206.1 people/km²· Family income $2,122/wk

The median house price jumped from $840,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,495,000 in 1Q 2026, a 78% rise in a single year, placing Thebarton far above the SA state median. Separate houses make up 56.4% of stock and semi-detached dwellings 27.8%, with apartments at just 14.7%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 42.8%, followed by 2-bedroom at 33.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,627, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners (25.5%) are roughly matched by mortgage holders (25.7%), meaning the majority of the resident base rents rather than carries a mortgage.

For Buyers

The median house price jumped from $840,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,495,000 in 1Q 2026, a 78% rise in a single year, placing Thebarton far above the SA state median. Separate houses make up 56.4% of stock and semi-detached dwellings 27.8%, with apartments at just 14.7%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 42.8%, followed by 2-bedroom at 33.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,627, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners (25.5%) are roughly matched by mortgage holders (25.7%), meaning the majority of the resident base rents rather than carries a mortgage.

For Investors

Thebarton's renter share of 48.8% is significantly higher than the national average, providing a large and consistent tenant pool. Weekly rent of $315 against the $1,495,000 median implies a gross yield well below 2%, so the investment case leans on capital growth rather than income. The vacancy rate of 9.9% is elevated, suggesting some rental oversupply relative to demand. Net overseas migration adds 35 residents annually, the primary population driver, while internal migration contributes a net 6. Development activity reached 28 applications in the past 12 months, a moderate pace for a suburb of this size that signals ongoing owner-occupier upgrades rather than major new supply.

Development Activity

Total DAs

201

Last 12 Months

30

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-18.9%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
15
Deck / Pergola / Patio
11
Garage / Carport / Shed
9
Commercial / Industrial
7
Change of Use
6
Tree Removal
5
Signage / Advertising
5
New Dwelling
4

Demographics

The median age of 39 is 1 year below the national figure, placing Thebarton at roughly average maturity rather than skewing especially young or old. University qualifications reach 50.3%, which is 20.2 points above the national rate, reflecting a knowledge-worker resident base. Overseas-born residents at 27.5% sit 5.9 points above national. The top ancestries are English (448), Greek (200) and German (130), with Greek also the leading non-English language at 88 speakers. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below the national figure, consistent with the high share of couples without children (29.7% of families) and smaller dwelling configurations.

Age Distribution

0-14
12.9%
15-24
11.5%
25-44
33.9%
45-64
24.9%
65+
16.4%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
12.3%
2 bed
33.8%
3 bed
42.8%
4+ bed
11.2%

Dwelling Structure

56.4%

Houses

27.8%

Townhouse

14.7%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 25.5% Mortgage 25.7% Rent 48.8%

The price surge from $840,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,495,000 in 1Q 2026, a 78% move, is the headline figure, though the one-year data window limits confidence in the trajectory. Tenure splits sharply: 48.8% rent while only 25.5% own outright and 25.7% carry a mortgage, a renter-majority profile uncommon in suburban SA. The stock leans toward separate houses (56.4%) and semi-detached (27.8%), with apartments at 14.7%. Three-bedroom homes account for 42.8% and 2-bedroom for 33.8%. Rent-to-income sits at 22.0%, below the 30% stress threshold. Vacancy at 9.9% is above typical healthy market levels of around 3%, pointing to softer rental demand relative to available supply.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,627

Rent / wk

$315

HH Size

2.1

Personal Income / wk

$831

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

9.9%

Unoccupied

73

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

22.0%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

26.3%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Greek
88
Mandarin
17
Italian
11

Ancestry

English
448
Greek
200
Other
168
German
130
Scottish
128
Irish
126

Household Composition

29.7%

Couples, no children

901

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare dominates local employment at 21.3% (129 workers), followed by Education at 12.7% and Professional/Tech at 11.5%, a pattern common to well-educated inner suburbs near hospital and university precincts. Professionals form the largest occupation group at 260 workers, followed by Managers (107) and Clerical/Admin (101). The unemployment rate is 4.5% and the full-time employment rate is 63.4%, with participation at 64.4%. Three SEIFA decile 10 scores (IRSD, IRSAD, IEO) confirm very high relative advantage, though the IER decile 6 reflects that a large renter share of 48.8% constrains aggregate household wealth. Real income growth was negative at -2.4% over the decade, meaning purchasing power slipped even as asset prices rose.

Unemployment

0.4%

Labour Force

1,461

Unemployed

6

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
10
Disadvantage
10
Economic resources
6
Education & occupation
10

Full-time

63.4%

Part-time

32.1%

Participation

64.4%

Employed

771

Occupations

Professionals 260
Managers 107
Clerical/Admin 101
Community/Personal 95
Sales 60
Labourers 50
Machinery/Drivers 30

Top Industries

Healthcare 21.3%
Education 12.7%
Professional/Tech 11.5%
Public Admin 7.7%
Retail 6.8%

University

50.3%

Postgraduate

13.3%

Born Overseas

27.5%

Dwellings

665

Transport to Work

Active transport use is above average: 13.4% of residents walk or cycle to work, compared to a lower national car-dependence benchmark, while 74.7% drive and only 5.7% use public transport. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD nationally, the highest advantage tier, indicating very low levels of deprivation. The crime rate of 107.5 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated relative to many SA suburbs, a notable trade-off against the otherwise strong SEIFA profile. Rent-to-income at 22.0% keeps housing costs manageable for renters. No schools are recorded within the 1.2 km2 boundary, so families rely on institutions in adjacent suburbs, which is typical for a high-density inner area at 1,206 residents per km2.

Drive

74.7%

Public Transport

5.7%

Walk / Cycle

13.4%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+3.12%/yr

(+67 people/yr)

Established

Thebarton's 10-year population growth of 64.8% is well above the rate for most established inner-Adelaide suburbs, driven primarily by overseas migration (35 residents net per year) rather than internal flows (net 6 per year). The current population of 1,442 is forecast to reach 2,578 by 2031 under medium projections, a further 79% rise. Annual growth is tracking at 3.12%, or about 67 persons per year. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 8.4 points and the working-age share falling 5.2 points over the decade. The gentrification score registers low and the stage reads not gentrifying, consistent with a suburb that is already at SEIFA decile 10 on three indexes with limited room to further upgrade.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Balanced

Net Overseas / yr

+35

Net Internal / yr

+6

15

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Accelerating: 18% → 44%

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

155

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

107.5

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Thebarton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 25%
Household Income
Bottom 42%
Rent Level
Top 35%
Apartments
Top 23%
Renters
Top 10%
Uni Educated
Top 9%
Public Transport
Top 29%
Born Overseas
Top 16%
Density
Top 14%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Thebarton a good suburb to live in?

Thebarton scores decile 10 on three of four SEIFA indexes nationally, the top advantage tier, and 50.3% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 20.2 points above the national rate. The main drawbacks are a crime rate of 107.5 per 1,000 residents and a high vacancy rate of 9.9%.

What is the median house price in Thebarton?

The median house price is $1,495,000 as of 1Q 2026, up from $840,000 in 1Q 2025, a 78% rise over one year. Weekly rent averages $315 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,627, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3%.

What schools are in Thebarton?

No schools are recorded inside the 1.2 km2 Thebarton boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 50.3% holding university qualifications, which is 20.2 points above the national average.

Is Thebarton safe?

The recorded crime rate is 107.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is elevated compared to many suburban SA areas. Thebarton is flagged as a high-crime-rate suburb in the data profile. The SEIFA IRSD decile 10 ranking indicates low relative disadvantage overall, but the crime figure is a practical consideration for residents.

Is Thebarton good for property investment?

The renter share of 48.8% provides a large tenant pool, but weekly rent of $315 against a $1,495,000 median implies a gross yield well below 2%. The 9.9% vacancy rate signals some rental oversupply. Net overseas migration of 35 per year supports long-term demand, and population growth of 3.12% annually underpins the capital growth case.

How is Thebarton's population changing?

Population grew 64.8% over 10 years and is currently tracked at 1,442 residents, with annual growth of 3.12% adding about 67 people per year. Medium forecasts project the population reaching 2,578 by 2031. The primary driver is overseas migration at 35 net arrivals annually, with internal migration contributing a net 6.

How much development is happening in Thebarton?

There were 28 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Applications include residential alterations, a swimming pool, and a change of use from shop to light industry, reflecting a mix of residential upgrades and small commercial activity rather than major new housing supply in this 1.2 km2 suburb.

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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