Unley
At 62.3% university-qualified, Unley sits 32.2 percentage points above the national average, making it one of Adelaide's most credentialed pockets. The suburb scores decile 9 on both IRSD and IRSAD nationally, placing it firmly in the top 10% for advantage. Yet the median house price fell from $2,300,000 in 1Q 2025 to $1,671,000 in 1Q 2026, a 27.3% correction that stands in sharp contrast to the suburb's high-income profile, where household income ranks in the 76.3rd percentile. This tension between prestige fundamentals and a significant price pullback defines Unley's current market position.
Population
3,997
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,037/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
73
Median House
$1.7M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price of $1,671,000 as of 1Q 2026 represents a 27.3% decline from the $2,300,000 peak in 1Q 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold despite premium pricing. Separate houses make up 52.4% of dwellings, with apartments at 27.3% and semi-detached at 20.3%, giving buyers more detached-house options than many comparable inner suburbs. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 41.6%, followed by 2-bedroom at 34.3% and 4-plus at 19.6%. The outright ownership rate of 35.7% exceeds the mortgage rate of 27.8%, reflecting long-held wealth rather than recent buyer activity.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,671,000 as of 1Q 2026 represents a 27.3% decline from the $2,300,000 peak in 1Q 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold despite premium pricing. Separate houses make up 52.4% of dwellings, with apartments at 27.3% and semi-detached at 20.3%, giving buyers more detached-house options than many comparable inner suburbs. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 41.6%, followed by 2-bedroom at 34.3% and 4-plus at 19.6%. The outright ownership rate of 35.7% exceeds the mortgage rate of 27.8%, reflecting long-held wealth rather than recent buyer activity.
For Investors
The renter share of 36.5% gives landlords a solid tenant base, and weekly rent of $372 is modest relative to the high median purchase price. Against the $1,671,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield around 1.2%, very low by national standards. The vacancy rate of 9.3% signals meaningful oversupply in the rental market, particularly in the apartment segment. Overseas migration adds an average net 486 residents per year to the broader SA2 area, providing long-run demand support, while internal migration runs at net negative 53 annually. Development activity reached 64 applications in 12 months, mostly alterations and single-dwelling works rather than new supply, consistent with an established low-growth suburb.
Development Activity
Total DAs
427
Last 12 Months
73
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-6.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Unley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Unley Primary School
R-6 · 470 students
Saint Spyridon College
R-6 · 39 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 matches the national median closely, though the senior share rose 6.1 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 4.2 points, signalling an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents make up 28.2%, which is 6.6 points above the national average. Ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,458), Scottish (409) and Irish (370), with Italian (342) also notable. University qualifications at 62.3% run 32.2 percentage points above the national figure, among the highest concentrations in South Australia. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national, consistent with the predominance of couples-without-children households at 31.6% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
52.4%
Houses
20.3%
Townhouse
27.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into a broad three-way share: 35.7% own outright, 27.8% carry a mortgage and 36.5% rent, a relatively balanced structure compared to outer suburban markets. Outright owners slightly outnumber mortgage holders, pointing to long-established wealth rather than recent buyer activity. The stock is majority separate houses at 52.4%, higher than many inner-Adelaide suburbs, with apartments at 27.3% and semi-detached at 20.3%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 34.3%, three-bedroom 41.6% and 4-plus 19.6%. The median price fell 27.3% from $2,300,000 to $1,671,000 across the year to 1Q 2026, a sharper correction than most premium Adelaide suburbs, yet rent-to-income at 18.3% and mortgage-to-income at 24.6% both remain below stress thresholds.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$372
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,066
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.3%
Unoccupied
177
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.6%
Couples, no children
2,929
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 21.9% of employed residents (366 workers), well above national industry averages, followed by Professional/Tech at 16.9% (282) and Education at 12.0% (200). By occupation, Professionals account for 877 workers and Managers 394, together forming the clear majority of the local workforce. The full-time employment rate is 62.3% and unemployment sits at 4.3%. The participation rate of 63.3% is moderate, with 1,035 residents not in the labour force, partly explained by the aging profile. The SEIFA IEO decile of 9 nationally confirms a high-education, high-occupation workforce, while the IRSAD decile of 9 and IRSD decile of 9 both place Unley in the top advantage tier. Real incomes grew 9.6% over the decade.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
12,516
Unemployed
285
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.3%
Part-time
33.4%
Participation
63.3%
Employed
2,060
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.3%
Postgraduate
20.4%
Born Overseas
28.2%
Dwellings
1,724
Transport to Work
Active transport use is notably high at 18.3% walking or cycling, far above the national average, reflecting the compact 1.5 km2 footprint and walkable street network. Public transport use is low at 6.3%, with 69.0% driving, typical for Adelaide. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the top advantage tier. Crime totals 281 incidents at a rate of 70.3 per 1,000 residents, a figure that should be read in the context of the suburb's high residential density of 2,656 people per km2. Volunteering reaches 21.5% of residents, above the national average, and only 3.7% (145 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in adjoining suburbs.
Drive
69.0%
Public Transport
6.3%
Walk / Cycle
18.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.54%/yr
(+121 people/yr)
EstablishedThe broader SA2 population sits at approximately 22,225 in 2025 and is growing slowly at 0.54% annually, adding around 121 residents per year. The 10-year population change is 6.9%, modest for an established suburb. Medium forecasts project the population reaching 22,754 by 2031, suggesting continued gradual expansion. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver at net 486 per year, significantly outweighing the internal outflow of 53 per year. The gentrification score of 10 classifies the suburb as not gentrifying, which is expected given it already holds decile 9 advantage status across three SEIFA indexes. The resident stability rate of 73.5% underscores that most households stay put, limiting turnover and keeping sales volumes constrained.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+486
Net Internal / yr
-53
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Strong overseas inflow +486/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
281
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
70.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Unley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Unley a good suburb to live in?
Unley ranks at decile 9 nationally on IRSAD, IEO and IRSD, placing it in the top 10% for advantage. University qualifications reach 62.3%, which is 32.2 points above the national average, and household income sits in the 76.3rd percentile. Active transport use at 18.3% reflects a walkable, compact environment. The main trade-offs are a high $1,671,000 median house price and a 9.3% vacancy rate in the rental market.
What is the median house price in Unley?
The median house price is $1,671,000 as of 1Q 2026, down 27.3% from the $2,300,000 peak in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent averages $372 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Unley?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.5 km2 Unley boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 62.3%, which is 32.2 percentage points above the national figure, the highest tier nationally.
Is Unley safe?
Unley recorded 281 total incidents at a rate of 70.3 per 1,000 residents. As a broader indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, and only 3.7% of residents (145 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, well-resourced community.
Is Unley good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $372 against a $1,671,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.2%, which is low. The 9.3% vacancy rate signals oversupply, particularly in apartments. Net overseas migration of 486 per year to the broader area supports long-run demand, but the 27.3% price decline from 1Q 2025 to 1Q 2026 means recent buyers are sitting on paper losses.
How is Unley's population changing?
The broader SA2 population is growing at 0.54% annually, adding about 121 residents per year, with medium forecasts projecting roughly 22,754 by 2031. The 10-year population change is 6.9%. Overseas migration is the primary driver at net 486 per year, offsetting a net internal outflow of 53 annually.
How much development is happening in Unley?
There were 64 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are dwelling alterations, variations to existing approvals and single-dwelling construction rather than large new supply, consistent with an established suburb at 0.54% annual population growth.
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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