Morphett Vale is an outer metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Onkaparinga Council, where heritage listings sit alongside mixed commercial and residential development. Notable landmarks include Emu Hotel, War Memorial Garden and Morphett Vale Institute.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. School access is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked outer metropolitan suburbs, and open-space access is better than in most comparable places. Green cover is an exceptional strength. The main trade-offs are higher rents and more mapped flood cover.
Overall, Morphett Vale suits people prioritising school access and daily services over lower rents.
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
Outer metropolitan suburb · compared with outer metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (64)
Strengths
School access is exceptionally strong
Green cover is a relative strength
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Open-space access is better than in most comparable places
Weaknesses
Median rents are a relative weakness
Mapped flood cover is a relative weakness
What stands out
Heritage listings
Emu Hotel
War Memorial Garden
Morphett Vale Institute
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 Morphett Vale compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$785k
+12% change
Median rent
$590/wk
Houses $600 · Units $480
Population (ERP)
25,028
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.2%
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
#38
among Metro Adelaide · Established
Crime rate
69th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
55th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
29%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
33rd
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
48.2/100 — Average
State standing
Top 28% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
2380th in Australia
State rank
193rd in SA
Peer rank
#38 among Metro Adelaide · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#143 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
100%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$480
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$600
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$590
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
190
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$785,100
Median price change
+11.6%
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
25,028(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · +3.9% over 5 years · 55th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.6%
5-year growth
+3.9%
Change in 1 year
+139
Change in 5 years
+947
Growth rank in SA
55th 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 (~25,700), extrapolated at +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
24,002
Median age
40
Median household income / week
$1,199
Dwelling vacancy
5.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
542 of 10,450
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$295
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
28.5% / 42.5% / 29%
Employment rate
52.4%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
6.1% / 3.1% / 74.7%
Walked or cycled to work
1.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
8,406 / 1,459 / 33
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.
10.8% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 24.4% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified10.8% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified7.6% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational24.4% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below57.2% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies19.6%
Society and culture18.6%
Management and commerce17.7%
Health11.7%
Food, hospitality and personal services8.5%
Education7%
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)
$55,626
56th percentile in SA · -5% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$59,868
58th percentile in SA · -8% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
8.0%
8th percentile in SA · -42% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$70,089
38th percentile in SA · +11% vs Australia
Residents with business income
9.0%
29th percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5162 — 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
20,602
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,600
Median net rent
-$834
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,762
Taxable income vs state median
+2%
Salary / wages vs state median
+4%
Rental investment vs state median
-33%
Super vs state median
-10%
Business income vs state median
-18%
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
9.4% speak a language other than English at home; 21.5% born overseas
Language at home
20,739 English only · 2,161 other
Non-English at home
9.4%
Born overseas
4,929 (21.5%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
555 (2.3%)
Australian citizens
21,538
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
31
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Arabic101 · 12.4%
Urdu74 · 9.1%
Mandarin53 · 6.5%
Greek52 · 6.4%
German46 · 5.6%
Polish45 · 5.5%
Punjabi43 · 5.3%
Spanish43 · 5.3%
Religion
53.8%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 53.8%, while Christianity accounts for 34.6%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
53.8%
45.2%
Christianity
34.6%
40%
Other / not stated
11.6%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
11.3%
15.5%
Anglican
7.8%
7.2%
Uniting Church
3.8%
4.8%
Christian (not further defined)
3.2%
2.6%
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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
1,399
Against the person
425
Against property
974
Rate per 1,000 residents
55.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 56 residents
State crime-rate percentile
68.9th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
369
Decrease (daily rate)
-6%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
507
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
20.26
Most common offence types
Common Assault103
Damage Or Destroy Property263
Serious Assault252
Theft From A Person139
Theft From Retail Premises266
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Morphett Vale East SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 908 · 12th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 153 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 0.3 km awayView on My School →
Antonio Catholic SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1008 · 51th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 277 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
Pimpala Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 981 · 38th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 254 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
Wirreanda Secondary SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 913 · 14th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 915 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
Flaxmill School P-6Primary · Government · ICSEA 950 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 358 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
Southern Vales Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1038 · 63th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 503 students · Top SEA quarter 18% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
Coorara Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 947 · 23th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 233 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Woodcroft CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1071 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 1,534 students · Top SEA quarter 28% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Morphett Vale Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 950 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 182 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
Reynella South Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 969 · 33th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 150 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.9 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 — 66 parks mapped in suburb, 9 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 132 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 52 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
92/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.08
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.46
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.75
Food & drink(11)
Blossom CakesBakery
Mortgage Choice in Morphett ValCafe
Quartz CafeCafe
Barnacle BillFast food
Emu HotelPub
Benny's American Take AwayRestaurant
Bills BBQ Chickens & TakeawayRestaurant
Chicken HuttRestaurant
Oh CalcuttaRestaurant
171 Main South Road
Pimpala PizzaRestaurant
Pizza BlueRestaurant
Shopping(7)
CellarbrationsBottle shop
OTRConvenience store
140 Main South Road, Morphett Vale
VinniesOp shop
FoodlandSupermarket
WoolworthsSupermarket
Everyday services(3)
Suds Express LaundromatLaundry
BPPetrol station
Main South Road, Morphett Vale
OTR Morphett Vale OutboundPetrol station
140 Main South Road
Community(8)
Morphett Vale Preschool KindergartenKindergarten
Antonio Catholic SchoolSchool
8 Bains Road
Flaxmill School P-7School
80 Flaxmill Road, Morphett Vale
Morphett Vale East Primary SchoolSchool
Monarch Street, Morphett Vale
Pimpala Primary SchoolSchool
School
Southern Vales Christian CollegeSchool
Wirreanda Secondary SchoolSchool
105 Richards Drive
Health & services(6)
Benson RadiologyMedical clinic
Southern Specialist CentreMedical clinic
SPORTSMED·SA Morphett ValeMedical clinic
National PharmaciesPharmacy
TerryWhite ChemmartPharmacy
Southern Animal Hospital - Hutt PhilipVeterinary
Sport & outdoors(93)
Beach Road TrailCycling route
Christie Creek Linear TrailCycling route
Glenhelen PathCycling route
Golden Wattle Way TrailCycling route
Ocean to Vines Rail TrailCycling route
Patrick Jonker VelowayCycling route
Dog park
C.R. Anderson ReservePark
City of Onkaparinga Memorial Garden and War MemorialPark
Dalkieth Local Community PlaygroundPark
Lynly Court reservePark
Park (28)
Public Community PlaygroundPark
Wilfred Taylor ReservePark
Horse thingPlayground
Playground (7)
Wilfred Taylor Reserve Nature PlayspacePlayground
Public toilets
BMX TrackSports field
Sports field
Swimming pool (40)
Transport(54)
54 bus stops
Other(34)
Battery WorldBattery
Bench (7)
Standish CyclesBicycle
170 Main South Road
Australian Motors MitsubishiCar
Happy Wash Self Service Car WashCar wash
Patchwork By SeaCraft
Alfred James Funeral Homes - Morphett ValeFuneral Directors
Classic CutsHairdresser
Coast PowersportsMotorcycle
222 Main South Road
EyemedicsOptician
279 Main South Road
Parking (106)
Cash ConvertersPawnbroker
Wirreanda on Wheatsheaf - Christodoulou LPhysiotherapist
Harvest Australia ChurchPlace of worship
Morphett Vale Catholic ParishPlace of worship
St Hilary’s Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
1 High Street, Morphett Vale
Post Box
Shelter
Telephone
Southern Districts Model Car ClubTrack
Cheap As ChipsVariety Store
The Reject ShopVariety Store
Adam DeliYes
Amanda RishworthYes
Brooks TrailersYes
Compute Your WorldYes
Elders Insurance Adelaide SouthYes
FirstAidPro Morphett ValeYes
Gas Appliances PlusYes
Residential Letting & Management ExpertsYes
Reynella Subaru Service CentreYes
Solver Paints Morphett ValeYes
Trend FitnessYes
Whitehouse Furniture PTY LtdYes
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
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap and the SA Sports Vouchers venue list, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
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
3 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Harvest Australia Church
Morphett Vale Catholic Parish
St Hilary’s Anglican Church
1 High Street, Morphett Vale
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
27° / 16°
Rainfall
49 mm · ~6 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 13°
Rainfall
94 mm · ~12 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
16° / 8°
Rainfall
161 mm · ~20 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
21° / 11°
Rainfall
95 mm · ~12 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
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.
Woodcroft SouthLabor 73.2% · Coalition 26.8% TPP (2025)1.6 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%)