Plympton

Population growth drivers in Plympton are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Plympton's population is approximately 30,001 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 3,521 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 26,480. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 28,321 in June 2024 and an additional 319 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,803 persons per square kilometer, placing Plympton in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 13.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 9.0%, as well as that of Greater Adelaide. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 96.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category were used, based on 2021 data and adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for statistical areas across the nation. The area is expected to grow by 7,481 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 19.3% in total over the 17 years.

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

Plympton recorded approximately 208 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 1040 homes were approved, with an additional 104 approved in FY-26 so far. The average number of new residents per year for each dwelling over these five financial years was 2.1.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $257,000. This year, there have been $116.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Plympton demonstrates moderately higher development activity, with 18.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. New development consists of 40.0% standalone homes and 60.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a trend towards denser development to provide accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 58.0% houses. Plympton reflects a developing area with around 152 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate that Plympton will gain approximately 5,801 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Plympton has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 12thth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified 16 projects that could impact the area. Significant ones include Mooringe Avenue Development in North Plympton, Tram Grade Separation Projects (including the Glenelg Line project), and Project Flight - Adelaide Airport Terminal and Infrastructure Upgrade. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Plympton ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Plympton has a well-educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.4% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.4%.

As of this date, 16,998 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% below Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Plympton was 71.8%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. According to Census responses, 10.6% of residents worked from home as of September 2025.

Dominant employment sectors included health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. Manufacturing was under-represented at 5.2%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.0%. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 4.4% while labour force increased by 4.3%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 2.9%, and a fall in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Plympton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates that income in Plympton SA2 is just below the national average. The median income is $55,047 and the average income stands at $66,370. In contrast, Greater Adelaide has a median income of $54,808 and an average income of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Plympton SA2 would be approximately $59,891 (median) and $72,211 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household incomes in Plympton rank at the 38th percentile, family incomes at the 46th percentile, and personal incomes at the 48th percentile. The largest segment comprises 33.3% of residents earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (9,990 residents), aligning with the broader area where this cohort represents 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Plympton SA2, 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

Plympton's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 58.3% houses and 41.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Plympton was 27.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.1% and rented ones at 40.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. Median weekly rent in Plympton was $300, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Plympton's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households make up 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, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

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

Educational attainment in Plympton is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 35.9% hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in Greater Adelaide. Bachelor degrees are the 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 holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (18.0%).

Educational participation is high in Plympton, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in tertiary education, 7.7% in primary education, and 5.7% pursuing secondary education.

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

Plympton has 149 active public transport stops, offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 43 different routes, collectively facilitating 4,231 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent access to transport, with an average distance of 164 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport, used by 79% of residents, while buses account for 12%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 604 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 28 weekly trips per individual stop. The map accompanying this analysis shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

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

Health data for Plympton shows positive outcomes overall, with mortality rates and health conditions broadly matching national benchmarks.

Common health conditions are relatively low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is slightly below average at 52%, covering approximately 15,630 people in total. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (7.9%) and arthritis (7.3%). A majority of residents, 71.1%, report no medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Plympton has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 16.2% (4,869 people), compared to Greater Adelaide's 19.3%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Plympton was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Plympton's cultural diversity is notable, with 35.1% of its population born overseas and 33.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Plympton, accounting for 42.0% of the population. The category 'Other' is overrepresented in Plympton compared to Greater Adelaide, comprising 3.7% versus 1.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (22.5%), Australian (20.6%), and Other (14.3%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Greek is overrepresented at 4.3% in Plympton compared to 2.0% regionally, Indian at 4.4% versus 2.3%, and German at 4.6% versus 5.1%.

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 21.1% of Plympton's population, higher than Greater Adelaide's percentage but lower than the national figure of 14.4%. The 65-74 cohort is less prevalent in Plympton at 7.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 19.7% to 21.1%, while the 85+ cohort has decreased from 3.9% to 3.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Plympton's age structure, with the 45-54 group expected to grow by 33%, reaching 4,158 people from its current figure of 3,135.