Morphettville

Morphettville lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Morphettville's population is approximately 17,623 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,092 people, a 6.6% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 16,531. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,529 in June 2024 and an additional 155 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,842 persons per square kilometer, placing Morphettville in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Morphettville's growth rate of 6.6% since the 2021 census exceeds that of both the SA4 region (5.4%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023, with adjustments made using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends project an above median growth for statistical areas nationally, with Morphettville expected to expand by 3,463 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 19.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Morphettville among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Morphettville has averaged approximately 124 new dwelling approvals annually. Between Financial Year 2021 (FY-21) and FY-25, a total of 623 homes were approved, with an additional 63 approved so far in FY-26. On average, each dwelling built over the past five financial years has resulted in 2.4 new residents annually, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $267,000. This year, $5.6 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Morphettville has similar development levels per capita, contributing to market stability aligned with regional trends.

New development consists of 74.0% detached houses and 26.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's suburban character and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 129 people per dwelling approval, Morphettville exhibits growth area characteristics. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 3,368 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, promoting steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Morphettville has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 13thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 12 projects that could affect the region. Notable initiatives include the Morphettville/Glengowrie Horse Related Activities Code Amendment, Tram Grade Separation Projects, Morphettville Racecourse Redevelopment, and Tram Grade Separation at Marion Road and Cross Road, Plympton. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Morphettville demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Morphettville has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.7%. As of September 2025, 9,609 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.8% below Greater Adelaide's and workforce participation similar to Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Manufacturing has limited presence at 4.6%, compared to the regional average of 7.0%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 3.7% and labour force by 3.5%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point decrease in unemployment. In Greater Adelaide, employment grew by 3.0%, labour force expanded by 2.9%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov shows SA employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 10,710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.0%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Morphettville's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2022, Morphettville SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $53,529 and an average level of $66,446. These figures are slightly above the national averages of $52,592 and $64,886 respectively for Greater Adelaide. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% from financial year 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $60,397 and average income is around $74,971. The 2021 Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Morphettville rank modestly, between the 38th and 46th percentiles. Income distribution reveals that 30.7% of the population (5,410 individuals) fall within the $1,500-$2,999 income range, consistent with surrounding regions at 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 39th percentile. Morphettville's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Morphettville displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The latest Census evaluated Morphettville's dwelling structure as 60.8% houses and 39.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Adelaide metro had 70.8% houses and 29.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Morphettville was 29.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.9% and rented ones at 34.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, higher than Adelaide metro's $1,700 but lower than the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Morphettville was $320, lower than Adelaide metro's $330 and substantially below the national figure of $375.

Morphettville features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 62.0% of all households, including 25.8% couples with children, 24.3% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.0%, with lone person households at 33.5% and group households comprising 4.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Morphettville exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates of 31.5%, exceeding the South Australian average of 25.7% and that of the SA4 region at 28.1%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with vocational credentials held by 29.9% of residents aged 15+, including advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (19.8%).

Educational participation is high at 26.3%, with current enrollment in formal education including primary (8.1%), tertiary (7.1%), and secondary education (5.2%).

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Morphettville has 79 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 28 different routes that together facilitate 2,377 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 179 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

On average, there are 339 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about 30 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Morphettville is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Morphettville faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across all age groups but to a higher degree among older adults.

As of 2016, approximately 52% (~9,234 people) of Morphettville's population had private health cover, slightly higher than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues and arthritis were the most common medical conditions, affecting 8.7% and 8.3% of residents respectively. However, 67.3% of residents reported having no medical ailments compared to 68.1% in Greater Adelaide. Morphettville has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (19.5%, or 3,429 people), with health outcomes among this age group requiring more attention than the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Morphettville was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Morphettville's population shows higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 26.1% born overseas and 20.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Morphettville, accounting for 43.2%. Hinduism stands out as overrepresented compared to Greater Adelaide, comprising 4.5% of Morphettville's population versus 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (28.2%), Australian (23.9%), and Other (9.5%). Notably, German (4.9%) is slightly overrepresented compared to the regional average of 5.0%, while Polish (0.9%) and Serbian (0.4%) show minor divergences from their respective regional percentages of 1.1% and 0.3%.

Morphettville's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Morphettville's median age is 39 years, matching Greater Adelaide's average of 39 and aligning with Australia's median of 38. Locally, the 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented at 15.9%, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 10.2%. Post the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has increased from 13.9% to 14.6% of Morphettville's population. Conversely, the 85+ cohort has decreased from 4.4% to 3.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Morphettville's age profile. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 31%, adding 613 residents to reach 2,589. Meanwhile, the 0-4 group shows more modest growth of 9%, with an addition of 85 residents.