Plympton

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, the estimated population of the suburb of Plympton as of May 2026 is around 5,604. This reflects an increase of 145 people (2.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,459 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 5,592 in June 2025 and an additional 79 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,202 persons per square kilometer, placing Plympton in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, ending in June 2025, Plympton has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.5%, outpacing its SA3 area. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 97.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in June 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, released in December 2023 and based on 2021 data, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Anticipating future population dynamics, an above median population growth is projected for the suburb, with an expected increase of 1,278 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 22.6% in total over the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Plympton recorded around 33 residential property approvals per year from FY-21 to FY-25, totalling approximately 167 homes. So far in FY-26, 41 approvals have been recorded. This results in an average of about 3 new residents per home built annually over the past five years. The demand exceeds supply, which typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition.

New properties are constructed at an average cost of $379,000, indicating a focus on premium segment development. There have been $18.5 million in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Plympton maintains similar construction rates per person, consistent with the broader area's market balance. New building activity shows 41.0% standalone homes and 59.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

The location has approximately 155 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts suggest Plympton will gain 1,266 residents by 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

Plympton has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects expected to affect the region: Mooringe Avenue Development in North Plympton, Tram Grade Separation Projects on the Glenelg Line, and Project Flight - Adelaide Airport Terminal Expansion. These are the key initiatives likely to have the most relevance.

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

Plympton has an educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.1%, lower than the Greater Adelaide average of 3.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.7%.

As of December 2025, 3695 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7% and workforce participation at 76.6%. Home workership is low at 9.9%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food services, and retail trade. Health care has notable concentration, at 1.3 times the regional average.

Manufacturing representation is lower at 4.8% compared to the regional average of 7.0%. Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by Census data comparison. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.7% and labour force grew by 4.1%, reducing unemployment by 0.6 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 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 7.1% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

The latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Plympton suburb's median income among taxpayers is $55,944, with an average of $66,723. This is slightly lower than the national average. Comparing to Greater Adelaide, Plympton has a median income of $54,808 and an average of $66,852. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $61,634 (median) and $73,509 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census figures, personal income ranks at the 58th percentile ($843 weekly), while household income sits at the 41st percentile. The earnings profile shows 35.9% of the population (2,011 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range. This is consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 31.8% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 42nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th 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, comprised 51.4% houses and 48.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Plympton was 24.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.7% and rented ones at 46.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,662, 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 at $1,662 versus Australia's 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 lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 61.2% of all households, including 22.6% couples with children, 27.7% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.8%, with lone person households at 31.5% and group households comprising 7.3%. 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, 41.2% of residents aged 15 years and above hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in South Australia (SA) and 28.9% in Greater Adelaide. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 26.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 11.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.3%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 26.9% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 11.2% and certificates for 15.7%.

Educational participation is high in the area, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in tertiary education, 6.6% in primary education, and 4.8% pursuing secondary education.

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

Plympton has 29 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 33 different routes, collectively facilitating 3,277 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 141 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Plympton's residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 74%, while buses account for 15%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 9.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 468 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 113 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Plympton is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Plympton shows above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Both young and old age cohorts have low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is higher than average at approximately 53% of the total population, which is around 2,990 people. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 7.4% of residents and arthritis impacting 6.0%. About 75.4% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Plympton has 11.7% of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general 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 41.7% of its population born overseas and 40.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Plympton, comprising 38.1% of the population. However, Hinduism is notably overrepresented, making up 12.6% of the population compared to the Greater Adelaide average of 2.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Plympton are English at 20.5%, Australian at 18.1%, and Other at 17.3%. Notably, Greek ethnicity is overrepresented in Plympton at 4.0% compared to the regional average of 2.0%, as is Indian ethnicity at 5.7% versus 2.3%. Hungarian ethnicity also shows a notable divergence with 0.3% in Plympton and 0.3% regionally.

Plympton hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Plympton's median age of 33 years is notably younger than Greater Adelaide's 39 and the national average of 38. The 25-34 age group comprises 27.0% of Plympton's population compared to Greater Adelaide, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 7.9%. This 25-34 concentration is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present day, the 25-34 age group has risen from 25.0% to 27.0%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 14.4% to 15.7%. Conversely, the 85+ cohort has decreased from 2.3% to 1.5%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic shifts in Plympton. The 25-34 age group is projected to increase significantly, adding 284 people (a 19% rise) from 1,513 to 1,798.