Malvern is an inner metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Unley Council, where heritage streetscapes sit alongside mixed commercial and residential development. Notable landmarks include Hotel (Cremorne), Church Hall (former Malvern Wesleyan Sunday School) and Church (former Wesleyan Methodist Centenary Church).
Dining and café access is an exceptional strength, well above typical levels for inner metropolitan suburbs. Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median. Household incomes are a relative strength, with household incomes 56% above the peer median, and university qualifications are more common than in comparable places, with university qualifications 28% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on higher housing costs and thinner park access, with median house prices 87% above the peer median.
Malvern is a better fit for people who value school quality and dining more than lower housing costs.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Inner metropolitan suburb · compared with inner metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (188)
Strengths
Household incomes are a relative strength
Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median
Dining and café access is a relative strength
University qualifications are more common than in comparable places
Weaknesses
Housing is among the most expensive in its peer group
Park access is a relative weakness
What stands out
Heritage streetscapes
Hotel (Cremorne)
Church Hall (former Malvern Wesleyan Sunday School)
Church (former Wesleyan Methodist Centenary Church)
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★☆☆
Professionals★★★★☆
Retirees★☆☆☆☆
Students★★★☆☆
Budget buyers★☆☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Malvern compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$2.65M
-15% change
Median rent
$550/wk
Houses $1,050 · Units $543
Population (ERP)
2,910
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.8%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#24
among Metro Adelaide · Mature
Crime rate
68th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
60th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
19%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
90th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
51.4/100 — Average
State standing
Top 18% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
1737th in Australia
State rank
123rd in SA
Peer rank
#24 among Metro Adelaide · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#87 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
93%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$542.5
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$1,050
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$550
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
20
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$2,650,750
Median price change
-14.9%
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Median house sale prices cover metropolitan Adelaide and selected fringe councils (19 LGAs, including Adelaide Hills and Gawler), not all of regional South Australia.
Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band
Data sources & freshness
SA rent report & metro median house sales — Government of South Australia · 1 January - 31 March 2026; 1Q 2026 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
2,910(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +3.4% over 5 years · 60th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.7%
5-year growth
+3.4%
Change in 1 year
+19
Change in 5 years
+96
Growth rank in SA
60th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~3,000), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
2,713
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$2,655
Dwelling vacancy
6.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
71 of 1,048
Median monthly mortgage
$2,800
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$380
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
49.4% / 31.3% / 19.3%
Employment rate
60.6%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
15.8% / 4.5% / 62.5%
Walked or cycled to work
4.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
784 / 125 / 72
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
47.8% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 6.4% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified47.8% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified9.6% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational6.4% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below36.1% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce26.2%
Health20.1%
Society and culture16.6%
Engineering and related technologies8.6%
Education8.5%
Natural and physical sciences6%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$70,493
98th percentile in SA · +20% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$66,487
88th percentile in SA · +2% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
17.0%
88th percentile in SA · +23% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$146,129
97th percentile in SA · +131% vs Australia
Residents with business income
11.0%
47th percentile in SA · +6% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5061 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
7,053
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,197
Median net rent
$490
Taxpayers reporting business income
809
Taxable income vs state median
+30%
Salary / wages vs state median
+16%
Rental investment vs state median
+42%
Super vs state median
+88%
Business income vs state median
0%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in SA, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
18.4% speak a language other than English at home; 23% born overseas
Language at home
2,183 English only · 493 other
Non-English at home
18.4%
Born overseas
619 (23%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
12 (0.4%)
Australian citizens
2,455
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
19
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Mandarin55 · 31.6%
Greek44 · 25.3%
Italian14 · 8%
Cantonese8 · 4.6%
French5 · 2.9%
Gujarati5 · 2.9%
Sinhalese5 · 2.9%
Arabic4 · 2.3%
Religion
49.2%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 49.2%, while 42.2% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
42.2%
45.2%
Christianity
49.2%
40%
Other / not stated
8.6%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
17.1%
15.5%
Anglican
11.4%
7.2%
Eastern Orthodox
7.2%
2.4%
Uniting Church
5.1%
4.8%
Lutheran
2.8%
2.4%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
158
Against the person
10
Against property
148
Rate per 1,000 residents
54.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 271 residents
State crime-rate percentile
67.7th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
38
Increase (daily rate)
+6.8%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
116
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
39.86
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property19
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences21
Sct - Non Residence14
Theft From A Person11
Theft From Retail Premises56
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Concordia CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1140 · 93th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 1,312 students · Top SEA quarter 56% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
Walford Anglican School for GirlsCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1162 · 97th percentile · LBOTE 32% · 400 students · Top SEA quarter 65% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
Unley Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1154 · 96th percentile · LBOTE 25% · 470 students · Top SEA quarter 63% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
Highgate SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1150 · 95th percentile · LBOTE 51% · 616 students · Top SEA quarter 63% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
Saint Spyridon CollegePrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1081 · 79th percentile · LBOTE 57% · 39 students · Top SEA quarter 30% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
Sunrise Christian School FullartonPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1133 · 92th percentile · LBOTE 24% · 175 students · Top SEA quarter 50% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
Mitcham Girls High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1083 · 79th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 754 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
St Joseph's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1135 · 92th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 256 students · Top SEA quarter 55% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
Unley High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1084 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 30% · 1,547 students · Top SEA quarter 34% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
Mitcham Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1121 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 24% · 629 students · Top SEA quarter 48% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Great for outdoor family life — 0 parks mapped in suburb, 5 playgrounds nearby
Reasonable bus and transport access — 16 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 51 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
42/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
1.11
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
3.32
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink(9)
Nettle and KneadBakery
84 Duthy Street
Nature's ProvidoreCafe
PaparazziCafe
Pat-a-Cake BakeryCafe
Noodle BoxFast food
Savvas YirosFast food
SubwayFast food
wok in a boxFast food
Cremorne HotelPub
Shopping(3)
Windor MeatsButcher
Mitre 10Hardware store
Malvern VillageShopping centre
Community(1)
Unley Primary SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(53)
Sheffield StreetCycling route
Playground (5)
Public toilets
Sports field
Swimming pool (45)
Transport(16)
16 bus stops
Other(8)
Mercedes Benz UnleyCar
Tommy’s GardenGarden
Parking (29)
The Physio SocietyPhysiotherapist
Place of worship
Post Box (3)
Gulf SeafoodsSeafood
TelstraTelephone
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Place of worship
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Usual max / min
29° / 14°
Rainfall
67 mm · ~8 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
23° / 10°
Rainfall
97 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
16° / 6°
Rainfall
148 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
22° / 9°
Rainfall
119 mm · ~15 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 51 proposals
September 2026
Construction of a single storey display home and three (3) illuminated advertisements for a temporary period of three (3) years , converting to a detached dwelling at the cease of the display home, construction of a swimming pool with associated safety barriers and a fence.
146 CROSS RD MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Underpinning works
2 ETON ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
We are proposing to remove the existing fiber glass swimming pool and build a new fully tiled concrete pool the same size however at 90 degrees to the existing to utilize the rear yard more effectively.
5 CLIFTON ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Partial demolition of existing dwelling and construction a single storey dwelling addition.
34 DOVER ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Removal of Regulated Cupressus sempervirens (Italian Cypress)
168A CROSS RD MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Removal of a Regulated tree, Hymenosporum flavumecies (Native Frangipani).
136 FISHER ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Removal of a Significant Street tree (Melaleuca styphelloiedes) in the verge forward of 38 Winchester Street, MALVERN
38 WINCHESTER ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Partial demolition of existing dwelling, and construction of a single storey dwelling addition (laundry) and building alterations
95 CREMORNE ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
August 2026
Demolition of ancillary structures, partial demolition of the existing dwelling, construction of dwelling additions and alterations (including alfresco area), carport, in-ground swimming pool and associated pool safety features, shed, front fencing and boundary fencing (in excess of 2.1m)
62 ETON ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Dwelling alterations and additions and verandah
57 CAMBRIDGE TCE MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Removal of a Regulated Street Tree (Loelreuteria paniculata)
20 SHEFFIELD ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
July 2026
Install a fiberglass swimming pool, spa & safety barrier
9 AUSTRAL TCE MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Demolition of existing privacy screens and the construction of privacy screens attached to the existing southern and eastern boundary fences
41 SHEFFIELD ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Remove of a significant tree (Canary Islan Date Palm)
206 WATTLE ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Removal of Regulated tree - English Oak (Quercus robur)
146 CROSS RD MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Alterations and singe storey dwelling addition
27 MARLBOROUGH ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Demolition of existing deck along the eastern side of the dwelling and masonry wall, single storey dwelling addition and building alterations, and construction of a deck along the eastern side of the dwelling
163 WATTLE ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Construction of concave roof carport with panel lift door
196 FISHER ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Construction of a double width carport with panel lift door
53 DOVER ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
June 2026
Alterations and additions to the existing dwelling, including partial demolition
UNIT 1 24 MARLBOROUGH ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Vergola roofing system
59 MALVERN AV MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Variation to DA 25037328 - construction of carport
63 SHEFFIELD ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
May 2026
Variation to Development Application 24021456 - Alterations and additions to an existing Local Heritage Place and partial demolition – Variation to incorporate internal alterations, window changes, setback changes and amendment to awning
33 MARLBOROUGH ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Variation to DA 25011821 - Construction of a two storey detached dwelling, front fence, combined fence and retaining wall and swimming pool with associated safety feature- To vary the roof profile from a hipped roof to a flat roof
80 CAMBRIDGE TCE MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Partial demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of dwelling additions and alterations (including a cellar and alfresco) and alterations to the existing carport
184 FISHER ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Verandah
47A DOVER ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Fencing and Swimming Pool and Safety Barrier
54 CLIFTON ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
April 2026
Demolish existing Carport and construct new enclosed carport.
70 SHEFFIELD ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Partial demolition of existing dwelling, single storey dwelling addition, swimming pool, outbuilding and fence.
93 CAMBRIDGE TCE MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Partial demolition of existing dwelling, internal alterations and a single storey dwelling addition.
15A SHEFFIELD ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Extend Carport.
142 FISHER ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Land Division - 1 into 3 (Torrens Title)
72 MALVERN AV MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Demolition of ancillary structures, partial demolition of the existing dwelling, construction of dwelling additions and alterations (including an alfresco), carport and in-ground swimming pool with associated safety features
190 WATTLE ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Demolition of an outbuilding (shed)
57 AUSTRAL TCE MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
March 2026
Variation to application 23028224 - Demolition of ancillary structures and construction of a carport and verandah - variation to alter the appearance of the carport and verandah
36 ETON ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Front fence
41 CAMBRIDGE TCE MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Variation to Application 23036423 – changes to floor plan and floor area, fencing and retaining and the inclusion of a swimming pool and safety barrier.
59A MALVERN AV MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
Modifications to the existing front fence, including the installation of 2 masonry pillars either side of the pedestrian gate.
66 MARLBOROUGH ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Removal of Significant Tree (Fiddlewood)
77 CLIFTON ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Additions and alterations to existing dwelling including partial demolition, alterations to swimming pool and associated safety barriers, decking and partial demolition and demolition of ancillary structures
85 WINCHESTER ST MALVERN SA 5061Under Assessment
2025· 4 proposals
December 2025
Masonry and blade front fence and driveway gate
103 DUTHY ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Variation to DA 23005997 consisting of partial enclosure of verandah (Retrospective)
24 CLIFTON ST MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Masonry fence
47 AUSTRAL TCE MALVERN SA 5061Decision Made
Removal of on Significant Eucalyptus sp which is located in the rear yard that has been poorly pruned/managed and the poses an unacceptable risk to person
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Flood cover is the share of the suburb boundary overlapping current SA Planning flood overlays (flooding and evidence required). Safer places from CFS designated locations.
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.9 km away).
Coalition 45.6%Labor 54.4%
14.7 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +6.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Unley ParkLabor 43.7% · Coalition 56.3% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
MalvernLabor 61.5% · Coalition 38.5% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
HighgateLabor 64.1% · Coalition 35.9% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
UnleyLabor 65.6% · Coalition 34.4% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
ParksideLabor 69.1% · Coalition 30.9% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)