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, as of May 2026, is approximately 28,679. This figure represents an increase of 2,199 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 26,480. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates; Plympton's population was 28,617 in June 2025 and there were 328 new addresses validated after the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,680 persons per square kilometer, placing Plympton in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 8.3% since the 2021 Census exceeds both state (7.5%) and SA3 averages, indicating strong population growth led by overseas migration contributing approximately 95.2% of overall gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered or years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted and adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Based on these projections, Plympton is expected to grow by 6,526 persons to reach a total population of approximately 35,205 by 2041, reflecting an overall growth rate of 22.5% over the 16-year period.

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

Plympton has recorded approximately 208 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 1,040 homes were approved. As of FY-26189 homes have been approved.

On average, each dwelling has resulted in 2.1 new residents per year over these five years, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $257,000. This financial year has seen $116.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Plympton shows 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, a trend that provides accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a shift from the area's existing housing, which is currently 58.0% houses. Plympton reflects a developing area with around 152 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate Plympton will gain approximately 6,464 residents by 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Plympton has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 16 projects that could affect the region. Notable projects include Mooringe Avenue Development in North Plympton, Tram Grade Separation Projects, specifically the one on the Glenelg Line, and Project Flight - Adelaide Airport Terminal Expansion. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Plympton rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Plympton has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 6.3% over the past year as of December 2025. In this period, 17,347 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 1.6% lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Plympton stands at 72.2%, higher than Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. According to Census responses, 10.6% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade.

Manufacturing is under-represented in Plympton with only 5.2% of its workforce compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.0%. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 6.3%, while labour force grew by 5.6%, leading to a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 4.2% and unemployment falling by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment expansion by 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, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that median income in Plympton SA2 was $55,047 and average income was $66,370. This is compared to Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852 for the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth from June 2023 to March 2026 (approximately 10.17%), estimated current incomes would be around $60,645 (median) and $73,120 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Plympton ranked modestly, between the 38th and 48th percentiles. The largest income segment comprised 33.3% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (9,550 residents), similar to the broader area where this cohort also represented 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 84.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 39th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th 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, consisted of 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 stood at 27.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.1% and rented ones at 40.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. The 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 account for 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 constitute the remaining 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. As of the latest data, 35.9% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in Greater Adelaide. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 28.7% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 10.7% and certificates for 18.0%.

Educational participation is high, 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 lightrail and bus services. These are served by 43 routes providing 4,231 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 164 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, primarily by car (79%), with 12% using buses. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 10.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 604 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 28 weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this data, showing 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 shows relatively positive outcomes for Plympton residents.

AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions indicates results broadly in line with national benchmarks. The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low among the general population but higher than the nation's average among older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 52% of the total population (~14,941 people) has private health cover, slightly lagging the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, affecting 7.9 and 7.3% of residents respectively. About 71.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents show low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 16.3% of residents aged 65 and over (4,668 people), lower than the 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. 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 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 dominant religion in Plympton, comprising 42.0% of its population. There is an overrepresentation of 'Other' religions compared to Greater Adelaide, with 3.7% in Plympton versus 1.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.5%), Australian (20.6%), and Other (14.3%). Notably, Greek (4.3%), Indian (4.4%), and German (4.6%) populations are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 2.0%, 2.3%, and 5.1% respectively.

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 median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 21.6% of Plympton's population, higher than Greater Adelaide's percentage but lower than the national average of 14.6%. Meanwhile, the 65-74 cohort makes up 7.4% of Plympton's population. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has grown from 19.7% to 21.6%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 14.1% to 15.3%. Conversely, the 85+ cohort has decreased from 3.9% to 3.2%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Plympton's age structure, with the 25-34 group expected to grow by 18%, reaching a total of 7,303 people from the current 6,183.