McLaren Vale, SA: suburb profile

The population of McLaren Vale SA is 4,061 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in McLaren Vale is $687 per week ($35,724 per year). Median rent in McLaren Vale is $328 per week ($1,421 per month). McLaren Vale has a median age of 54 years, older than the national median of 38. McLaren Vale has a population density of 69 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in McLaren Vale is England. The most common religion is No religion (52.7% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Italian. The median monthly mortgage repayment in McLaren Vale is $1,560.

There were 61 recorded offences in McLaren Vale in 2025-26, a rate of 15 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (20 offences).

Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au), 2025-26.

McLaren Vale Map

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McLaren Vale Population

4,061 residents at the 2021 Census.

McLaren Vale Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$687/wk

$35,724 per year

Ranked 5,697 of 14,663

Median Rent

$328/wk

$1,421 per month

Ranked 3,933 of 14,663

Median Age

54years

16 years older than the national median

Mortgage

$1,560/mo

Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.7 per bedroom

McLaren Vale Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.3% (1,959) Female 51.7% (2,097)

Population Density

people per km²

4,061 people · 58.5 km²

Households

2.3

Avg household size

0.7

Persons per bedroom

$1,772

Family income/wk

McLaren Vale Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

McLaren Vale Home Ownership

Of owner-occupied homes in McLaren Vale, 58.0% are owned outright and 42.0% have a mortgage.

Owned outright

58.0%

Owned with mortgage

42.0%

Rented homes are not included in this breakdown.

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
Germany
Fiji
Canada
Greece
India

Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

McLaren Vale Religion

No religion

52.7%

Catholic

11.9%

Anglican

11.5%

Uniting Church

7.3%

Not stated

6.2%

Christian (other)

2.9%

Lutheran

2.4%

Baptist

0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

McLaren Vale Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

55.8%

Year 11 or equivalent

20.0%

Year 10 or equivalent

19.1%

Year 9 or equivalent

5.0%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Italian
German
French
Afrikaans
Arabic
Japanese
Spanish

Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Spoken at Home by SAL

McLaren Vale Employment

Employed full-time

30.6% 983 people

Employed part-time

21.2% 683 people

Unemployed

2.6% 83 people

Not in labour force

45.6% 1,467 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

McLaren Vale Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

38.0%

Bachelor Degree

26.2%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

22.2%

Postgraduate Degree

5.8%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

5.3%

Certificate I/II

2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

McLaren Vale Occupation

Professionals

24.5%

Managers

18.8%

Technicians & Trade Workers

16.6%

Community & Personal Service

13.3%

Clerical & Administrative

11.5%

Sales Workers

6.0%

Labourers

5.6%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

McLaren Vale Field of Study

Management & Commerce

20.9%

Engineering

16.0%

Health

13.6%

Society & Culture

12.0%

Education

9.9%

Architecture & Building

7.5%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

6.6%

Agriculture & Environment

4.5%

Creative Arts

4.0%

Natural & Physical Sciences

3.3%

Information Technology

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

McLaren Vale Dwelling Types

Separate house

89.0%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

11.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

McLaren Vale Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.1%

$1-$149/wk

1.2%

$150-$299/wk

1.1%

$300-$399/wk

2.5%

$400-$499/wk

7.6%

$500-$649/wk

6.3%

$650-$799/wk

10.2%

$800-$999/wk

9.0%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.0%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.6%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

5.4%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.1%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

8.8%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

6.6%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

6.2%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

3.2%

$4,000+/wk

8.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

McLaren Vale Marital Status

Married

55.3% 1,942

Separated

2.2% 78

Divorced

10.7% 376

Widowed

8.5% 298

Never married

23.3% 817

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

McLaren Vale Ancestry

English

54.0%

Australian

32.8%

Scottish

12.3%

Irish

9.3%

German

7.6%

Italian

4.7%

Dutch

2.0%

Welsh

1.1%

Polish

0.8%

Greek

0.7%

French

0.6%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

McLaren Vale School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

33.7%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

20.9%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

11.6%

Secondary — Government

10.6%

Vocational Education

9.8%

Pre-school

8.2%

Secondary — Catholic

3.3%

Primary — Catholic

1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

McLaren Vale Need for Assistance

Needs assistance

7.4%

No need for assistance

92.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

McLaren Vale Volunteering

Volunteer

20.3% 672

Not a volunteer

79.7% 2,633

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

McLaren Vale Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

7.6%

$300-$449/mo

4.2%

$450-$599/mo

2.5%

$600-$799/mo

4.2%

$800-$999/mo

6.4%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

19.5%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

20.0%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

22.3%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

6.6%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

McLaren Vale How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

75.3%

Did not go to work

13.1%

Walked only

4.6%

Car (passenger)

3.2%

Train

1.3%

Truck

0.9%

Other

0.9%

Bus

0.3%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.3%

Bicycle

0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

McLaren Vale Car Ownership

0 vehicles

4.4%

1 vehicle

36.6%

2 vehicles

36.8%

3 vehicles

13.5%

4+ vehicles

8.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

McLaren Vale Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

3.0%

2 bedrooms

18.6%

3 bedrooms

47.2%

4 bedrooms

26.6%

5 bedrooms

3.9%

6+ bedrooms

0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

McLaren Vale Population Mobility

9.8%

moved in the last year

32.8%

moved in the last 5 years

4.4%

unemployment rate (Census)

52.7%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

McLaren Vale Indigenous Population

0.7%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

McLaren Vale Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

346

Arthritis

218

Heart disease

169

Asthma

142

Diabetes

111

Lung condition

105

Cancer

Stroke

Kidney disease

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

McLaren Vale Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

7.8%

$1-$149/wk

5.1%

$150-$299/wk

7.1%

$300-$399/wk

6.0%

$400-$499/wk

4.6%

$500-$649/wk

4.7%

$650-$799/wk

11.5%

$800-$999/wk

10.5%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

11.5%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.1%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.8%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.4%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

6.8%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.5%

$3,500+/wk

2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

McLaren Vale Family Structure

Couple — no children

39.2%

Couple — children under 15

30.8%

Couple — no children under 15

19.0%

One parent — children under 15

5.4%

One parent — no children under 15

5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

McLaren Vale Military Service

Previously served

3.5% 116

Never served

96.5% 3,194

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

McLaren Vale Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance

13.9% 460

Did not provide

86.1% 2,838

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

McLaren Vale Children Ever Born

No children

23.8%

1 child

11.1%

2 children

38.5%

3 children

19.9%

4 children

5.8%

5+ children

1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

McLaren Vale When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

250

1971–1980

167

1981–1990

112

1991–2000

2001–2010

190

2011–2015

2016

2018

2019

2020

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

McLaren Vale Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

19.6%

5–14 hours

32.4%

15–29 hours

16.1%

30+ hours

10.3%

Did not do domestic work

21.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

McLaren Vale Household Size

1 person

27.4%

2 persons

41.3%

3 persons

13.7%

4 persons

11.9%

5 persons

4.4%

6+ persons

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

McLaren Vale Where Residents Moved From

Same address

3,462

Moved from SA

237

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from overseas

Moved from QLD

Moved from NSW

Moved from VIC

Moved from NT

Moved from ACT

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

McLaren Vale Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

86.1%

Step family — no other children

9.8%

Blended family — no other children

4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

McLaren Vale Crime Statistics

61 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft

Assault

Property Damage

Break & Enter

Robbery

Other Against Person

Total offences by year

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: SA Government Open Data (data.sa.gov.au).

McLaren Vale Schools

schools nearby

government

1018

avg ICSEA score

521

total students

McLaren Vale Primary School Government

Primary · R-6 · 521 students

1018

ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near McLaren Vale, with a map

McLaren Vale Rent Prices & Affordability

25% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,331/wk

Median rent $328/wk

Rent to income 24.6%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in McLaren Vale against your income

Your weekly income

About $5,768 a month

Median rent $328/wk

Left after rent $1,003/wk

Rent share 24.6%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Robe

Income: $740/wk Rent: $250/wk $78/wk less rent

Quorn

Income: $617/wk Rent: $200/wk $128/wk less rent

Meningie

Income: $607/wk Rent: $200/wk $128/wk less rent

Cowell

Income: $669/wk Rent: $200/wk $128/wk less rent

Kingston Se

Income: $634/wk Rent: $200/wk $128/wk less rent

Minlaton

Income: $580/wk Rent: $200/wk $128/wk less rent

Maitland (SA)

Income: $617/wk Rent: $200/wk $128/wk less rent

Kingscote

Income: $673/wk Rent: $214/wk $114/wk less rent

McLaren Vale vs the typical SA suburb

The median personal income in McLaren Vale is $687 a week, 9% below the typical SA suburb ($759). That ranks 458th of 710 SA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $328 a week, $28 more than the typical SA suburb. Rent takes 24.6% of the median household income here, against 19.5% in the typical SA suburb. The median resident is 54, 11 years older than in the typical SA suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
Measure	McLaren Vale	Typical SA	Typical Australia
Personal income	$687/wk	$759/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$1,331/wk	$1,494/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$328/wk	$300/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$1,560/mo	$1,534/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	54	43	42
Rent share of household income	24.6%	19.5%	20.3%

Suburbs near McLaren Vale

The closest suburb to McLaren Vale is Seaford Heights, 5.1 km away.

Seaford Heights

5.1 km away · income $1,081/wk · rent $380/wk

Old Noarlunga

5.3 km away · income $704/wk · rent $305/wk

McLaren Flat

5.5 km away · income $842/wk · rent $350/wk

Seaford Rise

6.1 km away · income $709/wk · rent $318/wk

Hackham

6.3 km away · income $613/wk · rent $297/wk

Huntfield Heights

6.5 km away · income $623/wk · rent $290/wk

Compare McLaren Vale

Frequently Asked Questions About McLaren Vale

What is the population of McLaren Vale SA?

The population of McLaren Vale SA is 4,061 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 69 people per km².McLaren Vale is ranked #1,893 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in McLaren Vale?

The median personal income in McLaren Vale SA is $687 per week, or $35,724 per year.The median household income is $1,331 per week.Family income is $1,772 per week.McLaren Vale is ranked #5,697 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in McLaren Vale?

Median rent in McLaren Vale SA is $328 per week ($1,421 per month).Rent represents 24.6% of household income, which is considered affordable.McLaren Vale ranks #3,933 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in McLaren Vale?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in McLaren Vale SA is $1,560. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in McLaren Vale?

The median age in McLaren Vale SA is 54 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is McLaren Vale a good suburb to live in?

McLaren Vale is a suburb in South Australia with a population of 4,061.The median income is $687/wk, which is below the typical SA suburb ($759/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (24.6% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Adelaide Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 40852. All dollar figures in AUD.