Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Tonsley suburb profile
Tonsley, SA · Postcode 5042
This Tonsley suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Tonsley, SA (postcode 5042). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Tonsley with nearby suburbs.
Tonsley at a glance
Population
743
Median rent
$330/wk
Household income
$1,470/wk
Median age
31
Tonsley trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+93% over 10 years
Population
743
was 3,242 in 2016
-2,499 · -77.1%
Median rent
$330/wk
was $303/wk in 2016
+$27 · +8.9%
Household income
$1,470/wk
was $1,162/wk in 2016
+$308 · +26.5%
Median age
31
was 35 in 2016
-4 · -11.4%
Dig deeper: Tonsley population growth · Tonsley then and now
Tonsley vs nearby & Greater Adelaide
Median Census 2021 figures for Tonsley, nearby suburbs (8), and the Adelaide metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+1.2% vs area
- Tonsley$330/wk
- Nearby$310/wk
- Adelaide$326/wk
Household income
-8.5% vs area
- Tonsley$1,470/wk
- Nearby$1,397.5/wk
- Adelaide$1,607/wk
Median age
-22.5% vs area
- Tonsley31
- Nearby36
- Adelaide40
Personal income
-1.4% vs area
- Tonsley$788/wk
- Nearby$722/wk
- Adelaide$799/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in SA. See Adelaide rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Tonsley compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Tonsley sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 3959
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 4964.5
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1880.5
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 81,029.2
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Tonsley on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Tonsley, SA.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Tonsley people
- Population
- 743
- Median age
- 31
- Born overseas
- 36.5%
- Average household size
- 2.0
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Tonsley income
- Median household income
- $1,470/wk
- Median personal income
- $788/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Tonsley housing
- Median rent
- $330/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,500/mo
- Separate houses
- 44.4%
- Flats & apartments
- 15.5%
- Owned outright
- 13.4%
- Mortgaged
- 36.2%
- Rented
- 38.6%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 9.7%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Tonsley work
- Employment to population
- 60.8%
- Unemployment rate
- 6.8%
- Year 12 or above
- 70.7%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 5042)
Compare Tonsley with nearby suburbs
Tonsley in numbers
Tonsley had 743 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 469th most populous suburb or locality in SA out of 1,624. The median age is 31, 26% below the typical SA suburb. The average household has 2 people. 36.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 13.4% own their home outright, 36.2% are paying a mortgage, 38.6% rent. Separate houses make up 44.4% of dwellings, with 15.5% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $330/wk, 6% above the typical SA suburb.
Median household income was $1,470/wk, 4% below the typical SA suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 6.8%. 70.7% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 3 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 77.1% (from 3,242 to 743). Median rent moved from $303/wk to $330/wk (+8.9%).
Tonsley suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Tonsley, SA?
- The median weekly rent in Tonsley was $330/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Tonsley, SA?
- Tonsley had 743 residents at the 2021 Census, down 77.1% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Tonsley?
- Median household income in Tonsley was $1,470/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Tonsley?
- 38.6% of occupied homes in Tonsley were rented, 13.4% were owned outright and 36.2% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Tonsley suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Tonsley. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Adelaide