Payneham is a suburb of Adelaide, in Norwood Payneham and St Peters Council, where heritage streetscapes sit alongside mixed commercial and residential development. Notable landmarks include Borthwick Memorial Centre.
Employment is slightly stronger than in comparable places. Reported crime is lower than in most comparable places. Reported offences have fallen 34% year on year, and heritage listings are a relative strength, and mapped flood cover is a very strong feature of the suburb, with mapped flood cover 72% below the peer median. The clearer weaknesses are limited amenity for the price and weaker public transport, with public transport 44% below the peer median.
Overall, Payneham suits people prioritising lower crime and employment over amenity for the price.
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
Reported crime is lower than in most comparable places
Employment is a relative strength
Heritage listings are a relative strength
Mapped flood cover is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Buyers pay a premium despite relatively limited amenity access
Public transport is a weakness
What stands out
Overseas-born and multilingual community
Heritage streetscapes
Borthwick Memorial Centre
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 Payneham compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.62M
+7.3% change
Median rent
$540/wk
Houses $610 · Units $510
Population (ERP)
2,464
+1.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.4%
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
#69
among Metro Adelaide · Emerging
Crime rate
35th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
86th
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
42%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
78th
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
46.3/100 — Average
State standing
Top 34% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
2826th in Australia
State rank
241st in SA
Peer rank
#69 among Metro Adelaide · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#171 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)
$510
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$610
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$540
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
30
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$1,620,000
Median price change
+7.3%
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
2,464(June 2025)
+1.6% annual · +6.8% over 5 years · 86th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.6%
5-year growth
+6.8%
Change in 1 year
+38
Change in 5 years
+158
Growth rank in SA
86th 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 (~2,550), extrapolated at +0.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
2,438
Median age
38
Median household income / week
$1,414
Dwelling vacancy
7.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
93 of 1,262
Median monthly mortgage
$1,700
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$300
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
28.7% / 29.3% / 42%
Employment rate
63.4%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
9% / 7.5% / 67.4%
Walked or cycled to work
3.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
483 / 272 / 406 (+ 4 other)
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.
39.4% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 11.1% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified39.4% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified9.9% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational11.1% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below39.6% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce24.3%
Health16.8%
Society and culture15.5%
Engineering and related technologies10.7%
Education10%
Creative arts5.5%
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)
$58,223
69th percentile in SA · -1% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$63,850
76th percentile in SA · -2% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
16.0%
87th percentile in SA · +16% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$70,766
39th percentile in SA · +12% vs Australia
Residents with business income
12.0%
74th percentile in SA · +15% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5070 — 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
10,267
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,615
Median net rent
-$85
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,224
Taxable income vs state median
+7%
Salary / wages vs state median
+11%
Rental investment vs state median
+33%
Super vs state median
-9%
Business income vs state median
+9%
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
32.8% speak a language other than English at home; 36.1% born overseas
Language at home
1,596 English only · 778 other
Non-English at home
32.8%
Born overseas
852 (36.1%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
23 (0.9%)
Australian citizens
1,912
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
22
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Italian75 · 24.6%
Mandarin40 · 13.1%
Punjabi33 · 10.8%
Nepali25 · 8.2%
Greek17 · 5.6%
Arabic14 · 4.6%
Urdu13 · 4.3%
Cantonese12 · 3.9%
Religion
47.4%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 47.4%, while 35.8% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
35.8%
45.2%
Christianity
47.4%
40%
Hinduism
4.3%
2.1%
Islam
2.9%
2.3%
Buddhism
2.1%
1.9%
Other / not stated
7.5%
8.5%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
25.5%
15.5%
Anglican
6.3%
7.2%
Uniting Church
2.9%
4.8%
Lutheran
2.5%
2.4%
Eastern Orthodox
2.3%
2.4%
Christian (not further defined)
2.2%
2.6%
Pentecostal
2.1%
1.1%
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)
57
Against the person
13
Against property
44
Rate per 1,000 residents
23.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 188 residents
State crime-rate percentile
35.1th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
72
Decrease (daily rate)
-34.5%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
133
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
53.98
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property8
Receive Or Handle Proceeds Of Crime5
Sct - Residence6
Serious Assault4
Theft From A Person9
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
St Joseph's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1092 · 82th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 494 students · Top SEA quarter 34% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
Felixstow Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1014 · 53th percentile · LBOTE 28% · 76 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
Marden Senior CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1041 · 65th percentile · LBOTE 28% · 496 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
Open Access CollegeCombined · Government · ICSEA 1017 · 54th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 4,028 students · Top SEA quarter 15% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
Trinity Gardens SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1103 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 35% · 695 students · Top SEA quarter 43% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
East Adelaide SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1117 · 88th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 495 students · Top SEA quarter 46% · 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 — 2 parks mapped in suburb, 5 playgrounds nearby
Walkability proxy
13/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.41
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.41
Parks per 1,000 residents
0.82
Food & drink(1)
PagesCafe
Sport & outdoors(11)
BBQ
Goodlife Health Clubs PaynehamGym
7 Portrush Road
Bridge Road ReservePark
Park
Playground (5)
Public toilets
Sports field
Transport(9)
9 bus stops
Other(3)
Bench
KoorongBooks
Parking (55)
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
Health access
Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
1
Nearest hospital
FMC Payneham Dialysis Clinic (0.3 km)
Nearest hospital type
Private Day Only Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
No emergency department listed
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
GP clinics in suburb
0
Aged-care services
1
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
FMC Payneham Dialysis Clinic350a Payneham RoadPrivate Day Only Hospital
Aged-care services
Pearl Home Care Adelaide SouthPAYNEHAMHome Care
Australian Government–subsidised services from the AIHW GEN list (30 June 2025), assigned to this suburb by location.
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
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· 33 proposals
September 2026
Torrens Title Land Division creating one additional allotment (1 into 2)
46 ASHBROOK AV PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
Construction of a two storey detached dwelling with a garage, porch, and alfresco UMR
LOT 2 TAYLOR AV PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
August 2026
Community Title Land Division - One (1) allotment (created in DA 26027699) into three (3) allotments with associated common property
19 ARTHUR ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
Torrens Title Land Division - One (1) allotment into two (2) allotments
19 ARTHUR ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
The construction of five two-storey abutting detached dwellings, three facing east and two facing south west, including the removal of one regulated tree and one significant tree.
25 ALBERT ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
Painting and Building Alterations to Local Heritage Place
374 PAYNEHAM RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Partial change of use of an existing domestic outbuilding to ancillary accommodation (inclusive of internal and external building alterations)
35A ARTHUR ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
Construction of 8 group dwelling and associated fencing and removal of 2 regulated trees
72 ASHBROOK AV PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
Repairs to fire-damaged two-story office building.
294 PAYNEHAM RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Variation to DA 22005246 - comprising modifications to the roof portion of the front entry area, changes to upper-level cladding, alterations to high-level glazing, and removal of glazing above garage door.
5 ARTHUR ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
July 2026
Construction of a verandah attached to an existing dwelling
23 LEWIS RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Illuminated Business Identification Signage
2A PORTRUSH RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
June 2026
Construction of three (3) two-storey detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement with associated fencing and retaining, and removal of one (1) significant and one (1) regulated tree
33 ROSELLA ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
Installation of a carport roller door
26 HARCOURT RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Change of use from dwelling to consulting room and demolition of ancillary building
55 PORTRUSH RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Verandah
23 LEWIS RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
May 2026
2x two-storey detached dwellings with associated swimming pools, fencing and retaining walls
71 AVENUE RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
freestanding verandah within community garden
23 LEWIS RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Five (5) two-storey abutting group dwellings together with retaining walls, fencing, common driveway and landscaping
17 LEWIS RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
April 2026
Verandah to Unit 174
23 LEWIS RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Structural repairs to hallway due to fire. Reinstatement repairs through (plaster, painting ect)
UNIT 5 284 PAYNEHAM RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Single storey detached dwelling with associated fencing and retaining walls
50 JOHN ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
March 2026
Single story detached dwelling
13 ARTHUR ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
Removal of two regulated street trees
UNIT 2 25 ARTHUR ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070;UNIT 3 25 ARTHUR ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Verandah
UNIT 22 74 -86 MARIAN RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Verandah
UNIT 2 2 ALBERT PL PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Proposed addition, verandah and carport to an existing dwelling.
17 LLANDOWER AV PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Single storey dwelling and removal of regulated tree
44 ROSELLA ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Community Title land division 1 into 4
6 SEWELL AV PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
February 2026
Verandah to unit 202
23 LEWIS RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Torrens Title Land Division creating one (1) additional allotment - 1 into 2
11 ARTHUR ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
January 2026
Verandah
UNIT 22 58 PORTRUSH RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Two (2), two-storey detached dwellings and the removal of two (2) regulated trees and one (1) significant tree
11 VICTORIA ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
2025· 18 proposals
December 2025
Construction of a single-storey detached dwelling with associated fencing and retaining
7 RUBY ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
Construction of a single-storey detached dwelling with associated fencing and retaining
7 RUBY ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
Verandah
23 LEWIS RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Ancillary accommodation
50 ASHBROOK AV PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Construction of two (2), two-storey abutting detached dwellings, with associated land division, fencing and retaining
13 ASHBROOK AV PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
November 2025
Construction of one (1) two-storey detached dwelling and three (3) two-storey group dwellings with common driveway and associated landscaping
19 ARTHUR ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
Side Carport
4 MARIAN RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Alterations and additions, partially enclosed verandah and side timber fences
4 VICTORIA ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Under Assessment
The construction of a two-storey residential flat building comprising four (4) dwellings and associated earthwork, retaining and fencing
6 SEWELL AV PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
October 2025
Two-storey detached dwelling
10 ROSELLA ST PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
Masonry walls around hydrant booster
292 PAYNEHAM RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
September 2025
Removal of a regulated Bottlebrush (Callistemon) tree
UNIT 3 70 MARIAN RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
verandah with roof-mounted solar panels
5 BRIDGE RD PAYNEHAM SA 5070Decision Made
August 2025
Demolition of existing carport and pergola, and construction of an outbuilding (shed) and carport
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 2.1 km away).
Coalition 36.6%Labor 63.4%
6.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
FelixstowLabor 65.9% · Coalition 34.1% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
MardenLabor 62.9% · Coalition 37.1% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
Trinity GardensLabor 65.8% · Coalition 34.2% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
GlyndeLabor 56.0% · Coalition 44.0% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
St Peters EastLabor 59.4% · Coalition 40.6% 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%)