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 November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 3,521 people, a 13.3% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 26,480. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 28,321 in June 2024 and an additional 307 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 other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Plympton's growth exceeded both the state (8.7%) and Greater Adelaide figures, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.5% 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 a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on projected demographic shifts, Plympton is forecast to experience significant population increase, with an expected growth of 7,481 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 19.3% over the 17 years.

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

Plympton granted approval for approximately 208 residential properties annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 1,040 homes were approved, with an additional 104 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling accommodated about 2.1 new residents per year over these five years.

The average construction cost value of new homes was approximately $257,000. This financial year has seen around $116.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Plympton exhibited moderately higher development activity, with an 18.0% increase per person over the five-year period. This maintained good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. New developments consisted of 40.0% standalone homes and 60.0% attached dwellings, reflecting a shift from the area's current housing composition (58.0% houses).

Plympton had around 152 people per approval, indicating a developing area. Population forecasts suggest Plympton will gain approximately 5,801 residents by 2041. 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 16 projects potentially affecting the area. Notable ones are Mooringe Avenue Development in North Plympton, Tram Grade Separation Projects (including Glenelg Line), 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.

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

Plympton has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% as of September 2025, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.4%.

As of that date, 16,998 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% below Greater Adelaide's and a workforce participation rate of 71.8%, higher than Greater Adelaide's 66.5%. According to Census responses, 10.6% of residents worked from home. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food services, and retail trade.

However, manufacturing is under-represented at 5.2% compared to Greater Adelaide's 7.0%. Many Plympton residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and 2025, employment increased by 4.4%, labour force by 4.3%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide had employment growth of 3.0% and a 0.1-point reduction in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national 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, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2023 shows Plympton SA2 had a median income of $55,047 and an average income of $66,370. This is slightly below the national average. Greater Adelaide's median income was $54,808 with an average of $66,852. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $59,891 (median) and $72,211 (average), based on a Wage Price Index growth of 8.8%. The 2021 Census ranks Plympton's household, family, and personal incomes modestly, between the 38th to 48th percentiles. Most residents in Plympton earn $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (9,990 individuals), similar to the broader area where this group represents 31.8%. Housing affordability is severe with only 84.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 39th percentile. Plympton'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

Dwelling structure in Plympton, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 58.3% houses and 41.7% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Adelaide metropolitan area had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings at the same time. Home ownership in Plympton stood at 27.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.1% and rented dwellings at 40.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Plympton was $1,733, above Adelaide metro's average of $1,562 recorded in the same Census year. Median weekly rent in Plympton was $300, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Plympton's mortgage repayments were lower than Australia's average of $1,863 as per ABS data from June 2021, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375 for the same period.

Plympton features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average 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 the remaining 38.3%, with lone person households at 31.8% and group households comprising 6.5% of the total. 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 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in Greater Adelaide. The most common university qualifications are bachelor degrees, held by 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 years and above holding such qualifications.

Advanced diplomas account for 10.7% and certificates for 18.0%. Educational participation is high in the area, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% pursuing tertiary education, 7.7% primary education, and 5.7% 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 lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 43 different routes, providing a total of 4,231 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 164 metres from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant transport mode at 79%, while bus usage stands at 12%. The area has an average vehicle ownership of 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 604 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 28 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays 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.

Mortality rates and health conditions are broadly in line with national benchmarks. Prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts compared to national averages. Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of the total population (~15,630 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and arthritis, affecting 7.9 and 7.3% of residents respectively. A total of 71.1% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents in Plympton exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 16.2%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 19.0%. 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 high 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, comprising 42.0% of people. Notably, the 'Other' religious category makes up 3.7%, higher than Greater Adelaide's 1.8%.

For ancestry, the top groups are English (22.5%), Australian (20.6%), and Other (14.3%). Greeks are overrepresented at 4.3% compared to the regional average of 2.0%. Indians also have a higher representation in Plympton at 4.4%, versus 2.3% regionally. Germans, however, show a slight underrepresentation at 4.6%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 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 is strongly represented in Plympton at 21.2%, compared to Greater Adelaide, while the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent at 7.4%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of the population in the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 19.7% to 21.2%, while the 85+ cohort has declined from 3.9% to 3.2%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Plympton's age structure, with the 45-54 group expected to grow by 32% (an increase of 1,010 people), reaching a total of 4,158 from its current figure of 3,147.