Morphett Vale
SAMorphett Vale is a stable suburb in SA with 24,002 residents.
- SAL code
- 40925
- SA2
- 403041084
- Population
- 24,002
- LGA
- Onkaparinga
Morphett Vale, SA had 24,002 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 2.8% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 25-34 years, and the median age sits at 40. Households are most often couples without children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $1,300 a month. Around 69.0% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being owned with a mortgage at 41.3%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 84.9% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 68 parks and reserves mapped within its boundary. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Suburb analysis
Morphett Vale, SA at a glance
Morphett Vale is a large, established southern-Adelaide suburb ~22 km from the CBD in the City of Onkaparinga, sitting between the Southern Expressway and the Seaford rail corridor. Housing is mostly 1970s-90s detached on standard lots, with steady infill and townhouse activity along the main roads. The data tiles below cover the demographic baseline; this card adds the live market, lifestyle, and council context they don't.
For homebuyers
Morphett Vale is one of the larger southern Adelaide suburbs (>23,000 residents over 12.76 km²) and works well if you want space and price-per-metre over a short commute. The dominant feel is single-storey 3- and 4-bedroom houses on standard blocks, with newer infill closer to Main South Road. Colonnades at neighbouring Noarlunga is the regional shopping anchor; Woodcroft College sits within the suburb and is a known drawcard, with Pimpala Primary nearby. The Seaford rail line runs to Adelaide in ~40 minutes from Hackham / Noarlunga (about a 5-10 min drive), and the Southern Expressway gets you to the CBD in ~30 minutes off-peak. Christies Beach and the McLaren Vale wine region are both ~10-15 min by car. In short: a practical, affordable family suburb with the Colonnades hub on the doorstep and the southern beaches and wine country an easy drive away.
For investors
Morphett Vale combines strong recent growth with a deep transaction market. Median house sale ~$735,000 against $580/week rent gives ~4.27% gross yield; unit yield ~4.34% on $500/week rent (Your Investment Property May 2026). 12-month house growth +13.08% and quarterly +3.52%; units +18.13% YoY. 438 house sales in the past 12 months, vacancy ~1.01%, and days-on-market just 21.
Strengths
- Deep, liquid market — 438 house sales in the past 12 months gives easy entry and exit (htag May 2026).
- Strong recent growth — +13.08% houses / +18.13% units YoY (Your Investment Property May 2026).
- Tight vacancy (~1.01%) with 21-day average days-on-market signals reliable leasing velocity.
- Lower price point than mid-Adelaide suburbs while still inside the metro rail catchment — accessible entry for first-time landlords.
Trade-offs
- Yield is moderate (~4.3%) — growth has been doing the heavy lifting, not cashflow.
- Stock is dominated by older detached houses; limited brand-new product means maintenance capex needs budgeting.
- Recent double-digit growth pulls the entry price further from the long-run southern-Adelaide median — capital-growth runway from here may compress.
- No train station inside the suburb itself; tenants reliant on bus or a drive to Hackham/Noarlunga stations.
What's coming
The City of Onkaparinga's 2025/26 Annual Business Plan continues a rolling capital works program across the LGA, with recent local delivery including the Knox Park upgrade and Taylors Avenue road reconstruction in Morphett Vale. The Your Say Onkaparinga portal lists active community-land and planning consultations (including Marie Avenue) — worth tracking for parcel-level changes.
Bottom line
For homebuyers: an affordable, well-serviced southern suburb with Colonnades, schools and the coast all within easy reach. For investors: a deep, liquid market that's run hard on growth — moderate yield, low vacancy, plenty of stock to choose from.
Population
?24,002
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+2.8%
3yr: +1.3% · 10yr: +3.3%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$1,199/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
40
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?3/10
SA2 · more disadvantaged
Unemployment
?5.6%
SA2 · Q4 2025
Schools
10
5 primary, 1 secondary
Hospitals
No data for this suburb
Childcare services
?30
12 long day, 11 OSHC
Parks & green space
?68
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
?91
GTFS stops
Dwelling approvals
?94
Onkaparinga · Feb 2026
Median Weekly Rent
Based on rental bond lodgements recorded by the state government.
Median House Sale Price
Source: state Valuer-General (suburb-level quarterly medians).
→ Calculate stamp duty on this suburb's median price→ Estimate mortgage repayments→ Calculate rental yield (price + median rent)
Safety & Crime
2025 Q4Reported incidents from SA police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Morphett Vale - East (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Morphett Vale suburb alone is ~24,002 (Census 2021).
Source: ABS ERP (latest release · 2025) · Census 2021. Numbers refreshed quarterly.
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 14,369 to 14,198 over 24 years, averaging -0.0% per year.
Schools
10 in suburbSector
10 public
Type
5 primary · 1 secondary · 1 special
Total enrolment
2,148(6 of 10 reporting)
Avg per school
358
Government school catchment
Intake zonePrimary
Woodcroft Primary School
Secondary
Wirreanda Secondary School84.5%
- Christies Beach High School 15.5%
Source: SA Department for Education — School Zones (primary + high). Boundaries can be amended without notice; confirm with the school before relying on enrolment.
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Public housing 6.4%Almost entirely detached houses (84.9%), mixed tenure (69.0% own or mortgage), built for families (65% are 3 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
SA 28%
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire risk
Source: SA DHUD Bushfire Protection Areas
As of May 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped bushfire polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Flood risk
Source: SA DEW Flood Mapping
As of May 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped flood polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Planning zones
8 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL_NEIGHBOURHOOD | General NeighbourhoodResidential | 60.0% | 7.66 km² |
| HOUSING_DIVERSITY_NEIGHBOURHOOD | Housing Diversity NeighbourhoodResidential | 28.7% | 3.66 km² |
| RECREATION | RecreationRecreation | 5.3% | 0.68 km² |
| SUBURBAN_ACTIVITY_CENTRE | Suburban Activity CentreBusiness | 4.5% | 0.58 km² |
| EMPLOYMENT | EmploymentIndustrial | 0.5% | 0.07 km² |
| CONSERVATION | ConservationEnvironmental | 0.5% | 0.06 km² |
| STRATEGIC_EMPLOYMENT | Strategic EmploymentIndustrial | 0.2% | 0.03 km² |
| LOCAL_ACTIVITY_CENTRE | Local Activity CentreBusiness | 0.2% | 0.03 km² |
Source: SA Planning and Design Code Zones (ZONE_SA/2026-04-30/7965b1556505eb71) · As of Apr 2026. Zone boundaries are amended periodically; verify the exact property with the relevant council before relying on permitted use.