Marleston vs North Plympton

Marleston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in North Plympton. In Marleston, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In North Plympton, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in North Plympton: a median of $1.13 million, against $950,000 in Marleston, and rent is higher there too. Marleston is closer to the city centre: 4.9 km, against 7.5 km. On these figures, Marleston tends to suit renters and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

North Plympton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 74/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (70% vs 51%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (48% vs 38%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Marleston

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($581,500 vs $765,000)
  • has cheaper land ($1,041,500 vs $1,290,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,130,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Marleston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $360/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Marleston sits closer to the CBD (4.9 km vs 7.5 km)
  • North Plympton is more walkable (82/100 vs 72/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

North Plympton

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 74/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 18%)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 72/100)
  • But Marleston has more units and townhouses to downsize into (49% vs 30%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

North Plympton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.9% vs 6.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Marleston and North Plympton drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Marleston North Plympton
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Marleston North Plympton
Walkability 72 / 82
Marleston — Walkability: 72/100 North Plympton — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 26 / 55
Marleston — Safety: 26/100 North Plympton — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Marleston — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Plympton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 6 / 37
Marleston — Low flood risk: 6/100 North Plympton — Low flood risk: 37/100

Demographics

North Plympton has more residents (3,610 vs 1,950); North Plympton rents higher ($360/wk vs $290/wk).

Marleston North Plympton
Population 1,950 3,610
+85% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.2% +11.9%
Median age 37 40
Median household income $73,736/yr $85,800/yr
+16% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $360/wk
+24% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Marleston North Plympton
0-4 5.4% / 5.5%
Marleston — 0-4: 5.4% North Plympton — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 7.1% / 8.3%
Marleston — 5-14: 7.1% North Plympton — 5-14: 8.3%
15-19 3.8% / 4.1%
Marleston — 15-19: 3.8% North Plympton — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 9.6% / 7.7%
Marleston — 20-24: 9.6% North Plympton — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 20.1% / 16.3%
Marleston — 25-34: 20.1% North Plympton — 25-34: 16.3%
35-44 16.3% / 13.2%
Marleston — 35-44: 16.3% North Plympton — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 10.6% / 10.3%
Marleston — 45-54: 10.6% North Plympton — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 8.9% / 8.9%
Marleston — 55-64: 8.9% North Plympton — 55-64: 8.9%
65-74 6.8% / 8.4%
Marleston — 65-74: 6.8% North Plympton — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 5.8% / 7.8%
Marleston — 75-84: 5.8% North Plympton — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 5.6% / 9.4%
Marleston — 85+: 5.6% North Plympton — 85+: 9.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Marleston 47.9% lone person
Marleston — Lone Person: 47.9% Marleston — Couple Families: 26.1% Marleston — One Parent Families: 11.5% Marleston — Group Household: 11.0% Marleston — Other Families: 3.4%
North Plympton 43.2% lone person
North Plympton — Lone Person: 43.2% North Plympton — Couple Families: 34.7% North Plympton — One Parent Families: 13.0% North Plympton — Group Household: 7.2% North Plympton — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Marleston 47.2% renting
Marleston — Owned Outright: 22.4% Marleston — Mortgage: 30.5% Marleston — Renting: 47.2%
North Plympton 32.4% renting
North Plympton — Owned Outright: 30.2% North Plympton — Mortgage: 37.5% North Plympton — Renting: 32.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Marleston North Plympton
India 7.6% / 5.4%
Marleston — India: 7.6% North Plympton — India: 5.4%
China 4.4% / 3.0%
Marleston — China: 4.4% North Plympton — China: 3.0%
England 2.6% / 3.1%
Marleston — England: 2.6% North Plympton — England: 3.1%
Nepal 2.8% / 1.6%
Marleston — Nepal: 2.8% North Plympton — Nepal: 1.6%
Greece 2.3% / 1.9%
Marleston — Greece: 2.3% North Plympton — Greece: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Marleston North Plympton
Bachelor Degree 18.4% / 17.4%
Marleston — Bachelor Degree: 18.4% North Plympton — Bachelor Degree: 17.4%
Certificate III & IV 12.4% / 11.7%
Marleston — Certificate III & IV: 12.4% North Plympton — Certificate III & IV: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 8.2%
Marleston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% North Plympton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 7.5% / 5.9%
Marleston — Postgraduate Degree: 7.5% North Plympton — Postgraduate Degree: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 1.7%
Marleston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% North Plympton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Marleston 50.8% houses
Marleston — Houses: 50.8% Marleston — Townhouses: 31.7% Marleston — Flats / Apartments: 17.5%
North Plympton 69.8% houses
North Plympton — Houses: 69.8% North Plympton — Townhouses: 27.6% North Plympton — Flats / Apartments: 2.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Marleston North Plympton
Median house price $950,000 $1,130,000
Median unit price $581,500 $765,000
Median land price $1,041,500 $1,290,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 18 sales
 16 days
from 29 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Marleston North Plympton
3 bed $920K / $1.08M
Marleston — 3 bed: $920K (25 sales) North Plympton — 3 bed: $1.08M (43 sales)

25 vs 43 sales

4 bed $1.05M / $1.26M
Marleston — 4 bed: $1.05M (9 sales) North Plympton — 4 bed: $1.26M (19 sales)

9 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Marleston has more industrially zoned land (44% vs 28%).

Marleston North Plympton
Residential 53% 71%
Industrial 44% 28%
Commercial 3% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Marleston North Plympton
New dwellings approved 578
across West Torrens
same for both
Approvals change year on year +103%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Marleston North Plympton
Houses 3.9%
$750/wk on $1.01M
 4.0%
$750/wk on $968K
Units 4.1%
$522/wk on $655K
 —

Ranking within SA

Marleston North Plympton
House price Higher than 38% of SA Higher than 56% of SA
Income Higher than 48% of SA Higher than 64% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of SA Higher than 93% of SA
Affordability Higher than 51% of SA Higher than 47% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 60% of SA Higher than 75% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of SA
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 46% of SA Higher than 59% of SA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 21% of SA —

Liveability

North Plympton scores higher overall (70 vs 46); North Plympton is more walkable (82 vs 72).

Marleston North Plympton
Grade C A
Score 46/100 70/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Marleston carries more crime risk (74 vs 45); Marleston carries more flood risk (94 vs 63).

Marleston North Plympton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 Moderate
45/100
Flood High
94/100
 Moderate
63/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Marleston North Plympton
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 4.0 km
 3
Tonsley, 5.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 3.4%

Amenities in the suburb

Marleston North Plympton
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 0 1
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1 0

Mobility

North Plympton sits further from the CBD (7.5 km vs 4.9 km).

Marleston North Plympton
Walkability score 72/100 82/100
Distance to Adelaide 4.9 km 7.5 km
+53% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 14 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 57.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 99.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 5033
 0.9%
postcode 5037
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 5033
 45
postcode 5037

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Marleston North Plympton
Car (driver) 67.4% / 72.8%
Marleston — Car (driver): 67.4% North Plympton — Car (driver): 72.8%
Worked from Home 10.0% / 10.4%
Marleston — Worked from Home: 10.0% North Plympton — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Bus 9.8% / 7.3%
Marleston — Bus: 9.8% North Plympton — Bus: 7.3%
Car (passenger) 6.5% / 5.3%
Marleston — Car (passenger): 6.5% North Plympton — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Walked Only 3.8% / 2.1%
Marleston — Walked Only: 3.8% North Plympton — Walked Only: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.8%).

Setting

Marleston North Plympton
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.3 km 3.9 km

NBN connectivity

Marleston North Plympton
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 5%
1,128 premises
 5%
1,977 premises

Climate

Marleston North Plympton
Annual rainfall 457 mm 394 mm
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C 28.1°C
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C 7.8°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Marleston North Plympton
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Marleston North Plympton
Average residential rate $1,532/yr
same for both
Council West Torrens
same for both

Federal electorate

Marleston North Plympton
Division Adelaide Hindmarsh
Member Steve Georganas Mark Butler
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Marleston North Plympton
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Marleston

Inner Multicultural Parks Townhouses

North Plympton

Inner Parks Retirees River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Marleston

Marleston vs Richmond Marleston vs Kurralta Park Marleston vs Netley Marleston vs Ashford Marleston vs West Richmond Marleston vs Keswick

Other comparisons with North Plympton

North Plympton vs Plympton North Plympton vs Camden Park North Plympton vs Kurralta Park North Plympton vs Novar Gardens North Plympton vs Netley
Full data on Marleston Full data on North Plympton
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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