# Morphett Vale - West

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile

Located in: South Australia › Greater Adelaide › Onkaparinga › 5162, SA

Area: 5 km²

Weekly incomes in Morphett Vale - West are well below the national figure, marking it as a disadvantaged area. It is a predominantly residential community where a large number of people live in separate houses and a high proportion of families are led by a single parent. While the population is ageing and faces significant health challenges, the area is very walkable with easy access to local shops and parks. This combination of lower financial means and high amenity access shapes the character of the suburb.

## Demographics & Identity

The population has grown by 11% since 2011 to reach 10,138 people. While the typical resident is 39, there has been a notable increase in seniors, with those aged 65 and over now making up 20.3% of the community.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 10,138 | +10.8% since 2011 |
| Median age | 39 yrs | +0.0% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 2.7% | +48.0% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 20.3% | +23.8% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 17.0% | -1.7% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 13.9% | +9.9% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Young adults (25–44) 28.0%, Older adults (45–64) 23.6%, Seniors (65+) 20.3%, Children (0–14) 17.0%, Youth (15–24) 11.2%

**Marital status** — Never married 40.9%, Married 36.9%, Divorced 12.8%, Widowed 5.2%, Separated 4.3%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for 45.0% and 38.2% respectively. The proportion of people born overseas is 20.4%, which is well below both the state and national figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 20.4% | -6.4% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 74.1%, England 7.6%, New Zealand 1.2%, India 1.0%, Philippines 1.0%, China 0.4%, South Africa 0.2%, Italy 0.2%, Vietnam 0.1%, Nepal 0.1%

**Ancestry** — English 45.0%, Australian 38.2%, Scottish 8.7%, Irish 7.6%, German 6.2%, Italian 2.3%, Dutch 2.1%, Filipino 1.4%, Chinese 1.1%, Greek 1.1%, Indian 1.0%, Vietnamese 0.2%

## Language

English is the main language for 85.2% of residents, and the share of people using another language at home rose to 9.8% since 2011. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 9.8% | +35.2% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 1.3% | -8.0% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 85.2%, Arabic 0.8%, Mandarin 0.6%, Greek 0.5%, Punjabi 0.3%, Tagalog 0.3%, Italian 0.2%, Hindi 0.2%, Cantonese 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.1%

## Religion

A majority of the community has no religion, at 54.2%, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. This trend has grown significantly, rising 22 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 54.2% | +68.4% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — No religion 54.2%, Christianity 34.4%, Not stated 7.6%, Islam 1.3%, Other religions 1.1%, Buddhism 0.8%, Hinduism 0.7%

## Education & Qualifications

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 10.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure, though it has risen 10 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 44.1% | +29.6% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 10.2% | +63.2% since 2011 |
| Schools | 3 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 1.74 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 31 | — |
| School enrolments | 731 | — |
| Average school size | 244 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 955 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 44.1%, Year 11 19.8%, Year 10 19.4%, Year 9 or below 10.3%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 45.6%, Bachelor degree 14.2%, Advanced diploma / diploma 12.9%, Certificate I / II 4.7%, Postgraduate degree 2.9%, Graduate diploma / certificate 1.9%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 17.1%, Society & culture 16.2%, Management & commerce 14.6%, Health 9.6%, Food, hospitality & personal services 8.3%, Education 5.5%, Architecture & building 5.3%, Creative arts 2.3%, Agriculture & environment 2.0%, Information technology 2.0%, Natural & physical sciences 1.7%

## Income

Typical weekly household income is $1,163, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Very few households earn $3,000 or more a week, a rate far below the rest of Australia.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $612 | +31.0% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,163 | +36.0% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,409 | +34.3% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 2.7% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 5.6% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 38.7%, $1,500–$2,999 27.3%, Under $650 21.9%, $3,000–$3,999 4.1%, $4,000 or more 1.5%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 49.3%, $650–$1,499 35.3%, $1,500–$2,999 8.4%, $3,000 or more 0.6%

## Health & Disability

Health challenges are common here, with 39.0% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure, and 14.7% of residents live with a mental health condition.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 39.0% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 14.7% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 8.8% | +35.5% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Mental health 14.7%, Arthritis 12.8%, Asthma 12.3%, Other condition 10.5%, Diabetes 8.3%, Heart disease 5.5%, Cancer 3.7%, Lung condition 3.1%, Stroke 1.4%, Dementia 0.6%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 53.7%, One condition 23.9%, Two conditions 9.2%, Three or more 5.9%

## Community Participation

Unpaid care is a key part of local life, as 14.5% of people provide unpaid care, which is much higher than in most areas. However, volunteering has fallen to 12.0% since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 12.0% | -16.1% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 14.5% | +15.2% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 27.1% | -2.5% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 3.6% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 21.7% | -8.7% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations people make up a small part of the population, with a typical personal income of $532. The unemployment rate for this group is 14.3%, which is a little above the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 269 | — |
| First Nations median age | 23 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 37.3% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 14.3% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $532 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,145 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 4.1% | — |

## Family & Households

One-parent families make up 23.7% of the area, a figure well above the national average. Additionally, 30.6% of people live alone, which is higher than in most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.3 | +0.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 23.7% | +7.8% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 30.6% | +4.5% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 45.7%, Couples without children 28.9%, One-parent families 23.7%, Other families 1.8%

**Household size** — 2 people 36.4%, 1 person 30.6%, 3 people 15.4%, 4 people 11.6%, 5 people 3.8%, 6 or more 2.0%

## Housing & Dwellings

Most people live in separate houses, and 83.5% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Renting is more common here than in the state average, with a typical weekly rent of $295.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $295 | +34.1% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,274 | -2.0% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.70 | -36.4% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 31.1% | +1.8% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 26.8% | -5.7% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 85.9% | -1.4% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 83.5% | +0.1% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned with a mortgage 40.0%, Rented 31.1%, Owned outright 26.8%, Not stated 1.2%, Other tenure 0.8%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 85.9%, Townhouse / semi-detached 13.6%, Flat or apartment 0.5%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 68.5%, 4 bedrooms 12.9%, 2 bedrooms 12.9%, 1 bedroom 2.5%, 5 or more 2.1%, Studio / none 0.1%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 56.2%, Under $200 22.8%, $350–$549 17.8%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 58.2%, Under $1,000 26.8%, $1,800–$2,999 9.6%, $3,000 or more 1.8%

## Transport & Vehicles

While 68.2% of workers drive to work, the area has a high number of public transport routes and stops. Despite this, 8.3% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is much higher than most areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 8.3% | -19.3% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 5.7% | +153.8% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 3.2% | -33.0% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 55 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 5.43 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 1,520.9 | — |
| Public transport routes | 15 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 7 | — |
| Drive time to the city (min) | 25 | — |
| People reachable in 30 min by transit | 10,138 | — |
| People reachable in 45 min by transit | 54,812 | — |
| Transit time to the city (min) | 86 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 68.2%, Worked at home 5.7%, Car (passenger) 4.7%, Bus 2.1%, Train 1.1%, Walked 0.7%, Bicycle 0.3%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 1 vehicle 40.9%, 2 vehicles 36.0%, 3 vehicles 10.4%, No vehicle 8.3%, 4 or more 4.5%

## Migration & Movement

The community is relatively stable, with 33.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals are also much lower than in most areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 33.1% | +8.2% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 5.9% | -18.3% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

The unemployment rate is 7.2%, which is a little above the national figure. Only 54.7% of adults are working or looking for work, a rate much lower than most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 7.2% | +3.2% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 54.7% | -2.3% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 54.9% | -7.8% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 18.6%, Retail trade 12.8%, Construction 10.4%, Manufacturing 8.2%, Accommodation & food 6.4%, Education & training 6.1%, Administrative & support 5.7%, Public administration & safety 5.4%, Other services 4.5%, Transport & warehousing 4.3%, Professional & technical 3.8%, Finance & insurance 2.5%, Wholesale trade 2.2%, Mining 1.3%, Electricity, gas & water 1.2%, Arts & recreation 1.0%, Media & telecommunications 0.8%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.7%, Rental & real estate 0.7%

**Occupations people work in** — Community & personal service 17.2%, Technicians & trades 16.7%, Labourers 13.4%, Professionals 12.2%, Clerical & administrative 12.1%, Sales workers 10.4%, Machinery operators & drivers 8.8%, Managers 7.1%

## Economy & Advantage

The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged, with a very low overall advantage score of 876. This is reflected in the low access to money, resources, and job skills.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 1 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 2 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 2 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 1 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 876 | — |
| Population estimate | 10,622 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 3.8% | — |
| Businesses | 392 | — |

## Environment & Climate

The area receives an average annual rainfall of 521mm, which is far above the South Australian average. The average maximum temperature of 21.5 degrees is well below the state figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 521 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 21.5 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 12.0 | — |

## Walkability

The suburb is very walkable, with 95.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 100% within reach of a park. This provides high amenity access compared to the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 6.9 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 6.8 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 91.2% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 95.5% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 99.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 93.4% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 100.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 74.9% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 15.3 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 172 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 4.9% | — |

## Schools serving Morphett Vale - West

31 schools, 12,395 students, average ICSEA 996.

By sector: Government 20, Independent 6, Catholic 5

By type: Primary 24, Secondary 4, Combined 3

Nearest 10 shown:

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flaxmill School P-6 | Government | Primary | 0.8 km | 358 |
| Antonio Catholic School | Catholic | Primary | 0.9 km | 277 |
| Morphett Vale East School | Government | Primary | 1.4 km | 153 |
| Lonsdale Heights Primary School | Government | Primary | 1.4 km | 71 |
| Morphett Vale Primary School | Government | Primary | 1.5 km | 182 |
| Pimpala Primary School | Government | Primary | 1.6 km | 254 |
| Wirreanda Secondary School | Government | Secondary | 1.7 km | 915 |
| Calvary Lutheran Primary School | Independent | Primary | 1.8 km | 191 |
| Reynella South Primary School | Government | Primary | 2.1 km | 150 |
| Southern Vales Christian College - Morphett Vale Campus | Independent | Combined | 2.1 km | 503 |

## Nearby areas

[Morphett Vale - East](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/403041084/morphett-vale-east) · [Lonsdale](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/403041082/lonsdale) · [Hackham West - Huntfield Heights](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/403041079/hackham-west-huntfield-heights) · [Christie Downs](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/403041073/christie-downs) · [Reynella](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/403041086/reynella) · [Christies Beach](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/403041074/christies-beach) · [Hackham - Onkaparinga Hills](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/403041078/hackham-onkaparinga-hills) · [Hallett Cove](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/403021059/hallett-cove)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/403041085/morphett-vale-west