SA 5120 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Virginia

At 29.29 square kilometres with just 2,759 residents, Virginia is one of Adelaide's most sparsely settled fringe suburbs, yet house prices reached $883,000 at the start of 2026, up 17.3% in a single year from $752,500. That price growth outpaces most of metropolitan Adelaide and sits well above the national average annual capital gain for established suburbs. SEIFA disadvantage decile of 3 and an education-opportunity decile of 2 signal a working population that relies on trade and manual work more than professional credentials, which explains why 88.9% of dwellings are detached houses and 51.2% have four or more bedrooms. Household income sits at the 61.9th percentile nationally, a comfortable middle-market position for a suburb still operating below city-fringe norms on education.

Virginia urban fabric map

Population

2,759

Median Age

34.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,762/wk

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

77

Median House

$883K

Median 1Q 2026

29.29 km²· 94.2 people/km²· Family income $2,066/wk

The median house price of $883,000 is the headline number, but the 17.3% price increase from $752,500 in early 2025 shows how fast Virginia has repriced. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers at the median price retain reasonable repayment headroom compared to many suburban markets. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 88.9%, with 51.2% of dwellings containing four or more bedrooms, so larger family homes dominate. Just 12.4% of residents rent, well below the national average, and 35.5% own outright. The high ownership rate combined with the low rent share signals that Virginia is primarily an owner-occupier suburb where most purchasers intend to stay long term.

For Buyers

The median house price of $883,000 is the headline number, but the 17.3% price increase from $752,500 in early 2025 shows how fast Virginia has repriced. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers at the median price retain reasonable repayment headroom compared to many suburban markets. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 88.9%, with 51.2% of dwellings containing four or more bedrooms, so larger family homes dominate. Just 12.4% of residents rent, well below the national average, and 35.5% own outright. The high ownership rate combined with the low rent share signals that Virginia is primarily an owner-occupier suburb where most purchasers intend to stay long term.

For Investors

The rental market is thin: only 12.4% of residents rent, giving landlords a limited tenant base, and the vacancy rate of 7.5% is high enough to apply downward pressure on achievable rents. Weekly rent sits at $300, lower than comparable fringe SA suburbs, reflecting the modest rental demand. Against the $883,000 median, that implies a gross yield well below 2%, which is unattractive as a pure income play. The offsetting case is capital growth: the 17.3% price rise in the year to Q1 2026 outperforms most national benchmarks. Development activity recorded 67 applications in the past 12 months, dominated by detached dwellings and accepted development work, consistent with ongoing suburban expansion. Net internal migration of 59 arrivals per year provides a steady demand floor.

Development Activity

Total DAs

674

Last 12 Months

77

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-39.4%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

New Dwelling
89
Garage / Carport / Shed
31
Deck / Pergola / Patio
27
Commercial / Industrial
16
Swimming Pool / Spa
16
Renovation / Extension
10
Hospitality / Food Premises
3
Signage / Advertising
3

Schools in Virginia iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Virginia Primary School

ICSEA 992 Primary Government

R-6 · 487 students

Demographics

Virginia's median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, marking it as a relatively young suburb by Australian standards. Overseas-born residents make up 25.0% of the population, which is 3.4 percentage points above the national average. English ancestry is the largest group at 800 residents, followed by Italian at 305 and Vietnamese at 266, reflecting diverse settlement patterns across two generations. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above national, consistent with the family-oriented, four-bedroom housing stock. University qualifications reach only 20.3%, which is 9.8 points below national, while occupations lean toward managers (290 workers) and clerical roles (188), rather than professional or technical careers. The volunteering rate of 9.6% suggests moderate community engagement.

Age Distribution

0-14
22.2%
15-24
9.7%
25-44
31.8%
45-64
23.0%
65+
13.0%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
7.0%
2 bed
4.4%
3 bed
37.5%
4+ bed
51.2%

Dwelling Structure

88.9%

Houses

2.1%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 35.5% Mortgage 52.1% Rent 12.4%

Two price data points show a clear upward move: $752,500 in Q1 2025 and $883,000 in Q1 2026, a 17.3% annual increase that places the suburb among the faster-appreciating markets in SA. The stock is heavily weighted toward large detached homes, with 88.9% separate houses and 51.2% having four or more bedrooms. Ownership is the dominant tenure: 35.5% own outright and 52.1% carry a mortgage, leaving renters at just 12.4%, compared to the national renter average of around 30%. Mortgage stress is not evident at the median, with repayments at 22.7% of household income. Semi-detached dwellings account for only 2.1% of stock, and apartment data was not recorded, making this a suburb where buyers seeking higher-density options would need to look elsewhere.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,733

Rent / wk

$300

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$832

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

7.5%

Unoccupied

74

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

17.0%

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

22.7%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Greek
54
Italian
36
Punjabi
28
Khmer
24

Ancestry

English
800
Italian
305
Other
293
Vietnamese
266
Ancestry NS
203
Greek
197

Household Composition

22.7%

Couples, no children

2,261

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 17.3% of the workforce, or 128 workers, followed by Education at 11.1% (82 workers) and Construction at 10.4% (77 workers). Public Administration and Manufacturing round out the top five at 8.9% and 7.7% respectively. By occupation, managers account for 290 workers and professionals 175, but labourers (148) and machinery and vehicle drivers (140) represent a meaningful share of employment, confirming the trade-leaning workforce the SEIFA scores suggest. The unemployment rate is 3.9% and the full-time employment rate is 67.9%, with 414 residents working part time. SEIFA scores place Virginia in disadvantage decile 3 on both IRSD and IRSAD, below the national median, but the education and resources (IER) decile of 6 reflects adequate household assets among those in work.

Unemployment

2.4%

Labour Force

2,194

Unemployed

53

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
3
Disadvantage
3
Economic resources
6
Education & occupation
2

Full-time

67.9%

Part-time

28.2%

Participation

62.7%

Employed

1,291

Occupations

Managers 290
Clerical/Admin 188
Professionals 175
Labourers 148
Machinery/Drivers 140
Community/Personal 128
Sales 100

Top Industries

Healthcare 17.3%
Education 11.1%
Construction 10.4%
Public Admin 8.9%
Manufacturing 7.7%

University

20.3%

Postgraduate

2.8%

Born Overseas

25.0%

Dwellings

904

Transport to Work

Car dependence is near total in Virginia: 89.7% of workers drive to work, compared to the national figure where public transport, cycling and walking account for a far larger combined share. Only 0.5% use public transport, reflecting the suburb's size of 29.29 square kilometres and limited transit links to central Adelaide. Crime data shows 237 total incidents and a rate of 85.9 per 1,000 residents, which is worth tracking but should be read alongside the suburb's geographic spread. No schools are recorded inside the Virginia boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring localities. The IRSAD decile of 3 indicates relative disadvantage compared to most Australian suburbs, and 5.6% of residents, or 142 people, report needing daily assistance. Rent-to-income at 17.0% keeps rental affordability well managed for those who do rent.

Drive

89.7%

Public Transport

0.5%

Walk / Cycle

4.2%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+1.12%/yr

(+42 people/yr)

Established

Population has grown steadily: 3,535 residents in 2023, 3,668 in 2024 and 3,759 in 2025, a trajectory that represents roughly 1.12% annual growth or 42 additional people per year. Over the decade, the 10-year change was 12.2%. Migration is balanced: net internal migration averages 59 arrivals per year and overseas migration 17, providing a dual demand driver rather than dependence on a single source. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 6.8 points and the young adult share down 1.8 points over the decade. Medium forecasts project the population reaching approximately 3,928 by 2031. Gentrification signals are early and mild, with the score at 39 out of 100, noting population growth of 23% since 2011 and the positive internal migration as the primary indicators.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Balanced

Net Overseas / yr

+17

Net Internal / yr

+59

15

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Population +23% since 2011, Net internal migration +59/yr

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

237

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

85.9

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Virginia compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 18%
Household Income
Top 38%
Rent Level
Top 41%
Renters
Bottom 24%
Uni Educated
Bottom 38%
Public Transport
Bottom 4%
Born Overseas
Top 20%
Density
Top 27%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Virginia a good suburb to live in?

Virginia suits families who prioritise space and home ownership over urban amenity. The median age of 34 is 6 years below national, 88.9% of homes are detached and 51.2% have four or more bedrooms. Trade-offs include low public transport coverage at 0.5% of commuters and a SEIFA disadvantage decile of 3, below the national median.

What is the median house price in Virginia?

The median house price was $883,000 in Q1 2026, up 17.3% from $752,500 in Q1 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $300 for the 12.4% of residents who rent.

What schools are in Virginia?

No schools are recorded inside the Virginia SA boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers 29.29 square kilometres on the northern fringe of Adelaide, so residents typically rely on schools in neighbouring localities. The local university qualification rate of 20.3% is 9.8 points below the national average.

Is Virginia safe?

Virginia recorded 237 total crime incidents in the dataset period, giving a rate of 85.9 incidents per 1,000 residents. Category-level breakdown was not available. As a context reference, the suburb's SEIFA disadvantage decile of 3 indicates a lower socioeconomic position than most Australian suburbs, which is often associated with higher crime exposure.

Is Virginia good for property investment?

Capital growth is the investment case: prices rose 17.3% in the year to Q1 2026, from $752,500 to $883,000. However, the rental yield is weak, with $300 weekly rent against an $883,000 median implying gross yield under 2%. The 7.5% vacancy rate is elevated, and only 12.4% of residents rent, limiting the tenant pool.

How is Virginia's population changing?

Virginia has grown from 3,535 residents in 2023 to 3,759 in 2025, a 1.12% annual rate adding approximately 42 people per year. The 10-year population increase was 12.2%. Net internal migration averages 59 arrivals per year, and medium forecasts project the population reaching around 3,928 by 2031.

How much development is happening in Virginia?

Virginia recorded 67 development applications in the past 12 months. Recent samples include new detached dwellings, verandahs and patios, consistent with ongoing suburban infill rather than large-scale commercial development. The majority of applications were lodged as Accepted Development or Deemed to Satisfy, which are lower-complexity approval pathways.

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.

Explore Virginia on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in SA