Plympton
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Plympton's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 28,462 as of August 2025. This reflects a growth of 1,982 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 26,480 people. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 28,341 in June 2024 and an additional 300 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,660 persons per square kilometer, placing Plympton in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Plympton's growth rate of 7.5% since the 2021 census exceeds both the state average (6.7%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.5% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, Plympton is forecasted to experience significant population increase, growing by 7,481 persons to 2041 based on the latest numbers, recording an overall gain of 25.8% over the 17 years.

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

Plympton records approximately 208 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, showing 1,040 homes over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with 39 recorded so far in FY-26. On average, 2.1 new residents per year have been associated with each dwelling over the past five financial years. This suggests solid demand supporting property values, with new homes being built at an average expected construction cost value of $379,000.

In FY-26, there have also been $116.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Plympton records 18.0% above the regional average per person in construction over the five-year period, maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. Recent construction comprises 40.0% standalone homes and 60.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant departure from existing housing patterns of 58.0% houses. This shift suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The location has approximately 152 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Looking ahead, Plympton is expected to grow by 7,340 residents through to 2041. Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Plympton has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 17 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include the Tram Grade Separation Projects, Mooringe Avenue Development in North Plympton, Glenelg Line's Tram Grade Separation Project, and Adelaide Airport Project Flight Upgrades. The following details those most relevant:.

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

Plympton ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Plympton has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 2.6%, with an estimated employment growth of 3.0% over the past year as of June 2025.

There are 16,744 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4% below Greater Adelaide's 4.0%. Workforce participation is at 66.2%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade, while manufacturing employs only 5.2% of local workers compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.0%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. From June 2024 to June 2025, employment increased by 3.0%, labour force by 3.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In Greater Adelaide, employment grew by 2.1% and unemployment rose marginally. State-level data from Sep-25 shows SA employment grew by 1.06% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, in line with the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Plympton's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9%% over five years and 14.3% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Plympton has median income of $52,693 and average income of $62,845. These figures are below Greater Adelaide's median income of $52,592 and average income of $64,886. By March 2025, estimated median income is approximately $58,400 and average income is around $69,651, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.83% since financial year 2022. Incomes in Plympton rank modestly according to the 2021 Census figures, between the 38th and 48th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The income distribution shows that 33.3% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, consistent with broader trends across metropolitan regions at 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Plympton, with only 84.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 39th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Plympton, as per the latest Census, consisted of 58.3% houses and 41.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 63.9% houses and 36.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Plympton stood at 27.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.1% and rented ones at 40.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,745. The median weekly rent in Plympton was $300, compared to Adelaide metro's $310. Nationally, Plympton's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Plympton features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 61.7% of all households, including 25.4% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for 38.3%, with lone person households at 31.8% and group households comprising 6.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, aligning with the Greater Adelaide average.

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

Educational attainment in Plympton is notably high with 35.9% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in the Greater Adelaide area as of recent data. Bachelor degrees are most common at 23.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 9.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.8%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 28.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 18.0%. Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.2% in tertiary education, 7.7% in primary education, and 5.7% pursuing secondary education as per the latest statistics.

Plympton has a robust network of 9 schools educating approximately 3,855 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1043) and balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 4 primary, 2 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools.

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

The transport analysis indicates 151 active stops operating within Plympton. These stops offer a mix of bus services. The study finds that these stops are served by 39 individual routes, collectively facilitating 3,973 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically situated 161 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 567 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 26 weekly trips per stop.

Plympton's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Plympton residents showed positive health outcomes overall, with low prevalence of common conditions among the general population but higher rates among older cohorts at risk compared to national averages.

Private health cover was present in approximately 51% of Plympton's total population (~14,544 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues and arthritis were the most common medical conditions, affecting 7.9% and 7.3% of residents respectively. A majority (71.1%) reported no medical ailments, similar to Greater Adelaide's 70.9%. Residents aged 65 and over constituted 16.2% (4,622 people), lower than Greater Adelaide's 17.6%. Health outcomes among seniors required more attention compared to the broader population.

Plympton is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Plympton has a high level of cultural diversity, with 35.1% of its population born overseas and 33.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Plympton, making up 42.0% of people there. However, the most significant overrepresentation is seen in the 'Other' category, which comprises 3.7% of the population compared to 3.1% across Greater Adelaide.

The top three ancestry groups in Plympton are English (22.5%), Australian (20.6%), and Other (14.3%). Notably, Greek (4.3%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average of 6.1%, Indian (4.4%) has a higher representation than the regional average of 3.7%, and German (4.6%) shows no significant difference from the regional figure of 4.6%.

Plympton's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Plympton has a median age of 35, which is younger than Greater Adelaide's figure of 39 and slightly below Australia's national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 21.2% of Plympton's population, compared to Greater Adelaide's total, while the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent at 7.4%. This concentration in the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and now, the 25-34 age group has grown from 19.7% to 21.2%, while the 85+ cohort has declined from 3.9% to 3.2%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Plympton's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 group is expected to grow by 21%, adding 1,255 people and reaching a total of 7,298 from its current figure of 6,042.