Revealed: SA’s nappy valleys and tombstone towns

SA’s Nappy Valleys and Tombstone Towns have been revealed, with ABS data painting an insightful picture of our booming family-friendly regions and retiree hotspots.

Analysis firm KPMG’s investigation of Australian Bureau of Statistics data of 2023 births and deaths by area show if you’re looking to put down roots surrounded by other young, growing families, Adelaide’s northern suburbs is the place to do it.

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Munno Para West – Angle Vale was identified as the state’s Nappy Valley, where the number of births in 2023 radically outpaced the number of deaths recorded.

According to the data, 382 people were born in the area, while just 48 died, a difference of 334.

Davoren Park scored second place, with 199 more people being born into the suburb than dying in it.

The data simply compares birth and death rates and does not factor in population growth through movement in and out of a suburb.

While the third place Enfield – Blair Athol recorded more births than Davoren Park at 368, it also recorded significantly more deaths – 182 – bringing the difference to 186.

KPMG’s urban economist Terry Rawnsley said areas which had seen significant development were magnets for young families, hence the inclusion of many northern suburbs locales, and said Mount Barker also recorded strong numbers of births.

“Established middle-ring locations like Windsor Gardens, Enfield, and Blair Athol also saw high numbers of births as new families have moved into these areas over recent years,” he said.

“These types of locations have suitable housing for families, as well as good local amenities and access to jobs and services.”

Edge Realty’s Mike Lao. Supplied

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Edge Realty’s Mike Lao, who sells in the northern suburbs which dominate the list, said he wasn’t surprised to hear the region was responsible for producing Adelaide’s most births.

“There are a lot of young families buying into the area looking to put roots down and they’re attracted to it primarily because of price, but also the fantastic amenities in the area,” he said.

“There are lots of parks, playgrounds, shopping, transport medical facilities, childcare centres and schools and these are very attractive to young families, and couples looking to start one.

Imogen Jiggins and partner Wade Matthews moved into the Munno Para home they built last year and have since welcomed their son Dakota.

Imogen Jiggins and her baby Dakota at their Munno Para West home. Image/Russell Millard Photography

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Ms Jiggins said while they were initially attracted by the suburb’s affordability, they have since fallen in love with what their suburb has to offer.

“The amenities are great – everything’s new so it’s nice and the schools are great as well,” she said.

“It’ll be a great place for Dakota to grow up in and there are heaps of other young families around.”

Imogen Jiggins and her baby Dakota at their Munno Para West home. Image/Russell Millard Photography

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Known colloquially as “God’s waiting room” for decades, Victor Harbor had the greatest discrepancy between births and deaths, with 152 more deaths than births last year.

According to the data, 256 people died there in 2023, while the suburb recorded 104 births.

Unley – Parkside had the second highest difference between deaths and births, with 149 more residents dying in the suburb than being born there in 2023, but recorded the highest number of overall deaths of any area in the state.

Some 290 people died there in 2023, while 141 were born there.

Mr Rawnsley said Victor Harbor, and nearby Goolwa – Port Elliot’s fourth place ranking were no surprise because of the age of its residents, and said the inner suburban suburbs’ inclusion could also be easily explained.

“Unlike in other states, Adelaide’s inner suburbs – those within 5 km of the CBD – have more deaths than births,” he said.

KPMG’s Terry Rawnsley. Supplied

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“Suburbs like Unley – Parkside, North Adelaide, and Toorak Gardens have seen little new housing development, which has prevented younger people from entering the housing market, resulting in fewer babies being born to offset the number of deaths.”

According to the data, there were 95 more deaths than births in Morphettville, 92 more in West Lakes, 80 more in Brighton and 70 more in Glenelg.

The northern Yorke Peninsula recorded almost double the number of deaths as births for the year, while the coastal town of Moonta and the Barossa Valley town of Nuriootpa were also identified as retiree havens.

Hope Valley – Modbury also made the list, with 258 deaths in 2023 and 207 births; as did nearby St Agnes – Ridgehaven with 160 deaths and 123 births.

Boffo Real Estate’s Robert Lonie, who specialises in these suburbs, said the statistics, particularly the more minor difference between births and deaths, did not surprise to him

“There are a lot of huge aged care facilities through this area,” he said.

“What you see is these older residents moving out of their homes into these facilities, and young families move into their homes and having one or two children.

“A lot of these residents that bought soon after the suburbs were created are now in their 70s and at that age where they move into retirement living or aged care.”

SA’s Nappy Valleys

SA’s Tombstone Towns