Ardrossan
At a median age of 61, Ardrossan sits 21 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest-skewing communities on the Yorke Peninsula. Household income falls in the 5.7th percentile nationally, yet 53.5% of residents own their homes outright, reflecting decades of accumulation rather than current earnings capacity. The vacancy rate of 20.6% stands well above typical residential markets, partly because many dwellings serve as holiday or seasonal homes in this coastal town of 1,269 people. Population has grown 17.4% over the past decade, a meaningful expansion for a small regional centre.
Population
1,269
Median Age
61.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$844/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
27
No median house price data is available for Ardrossan in current records, which reflects the thin transaction volume typical of small regional towns. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, lower than most metropolitan benchmarks, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 83.5% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 52.4% of stock. Owner-occupiers who own outright account for 53.5% of households, well above the national average, signalling a settled, long-term resident base rather than a market driven by leveraged buyers. Semi-detached dwellings make up 6.5%, leaving very little apartment supply.
For Buyers
No median house price data is available for Ardrossan in current records, which reflects the thin transaction volume typical of small regional towns. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, lower than most metropolitan benchmarks, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 83.5% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 52.4% of stock. Owner-occupiers who own outright account for 53.5% of households, well above the national average, signalling a settled, long-term resident base rather than a market driven by leveraged buyers. Semi-detached dwellings make up 6.5%, leaving very little apartment supply.
For Investors
The 20.6% vacancy rate is the most significant investment risk signal in Ardrossan, sitting substantially higher than typical residential markets. Weekly rent of $228 is low compared to metro benchmarks, though the local rent-to-income ratio of 27.0% remains below the 30% stress level. Rent has grown 83% over the survey period, a strong nominal gain that reflects a low starting base. With only 25.9% of households renting, the tenant pool is thin. There were 24 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly outbuildings and alterations rather than new dwellings. Net overseas migration of 15 per year and internal migration of 44 per year provide a modest but balanced demand base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
187
Last 12 Months
27
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+12.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ardrossan iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ardrossan Area School
R-12 · 137 students
Demographics
The median age of 61 is 21 years above the national figure, driven by a senior share that has grown 5.4 points over the decade while the young adult share fell 3.9 points. Average household size of 1.9 is 0.6 below national, consistent with the dominant couples-without-children pattern: 55.5% of families are couples with no children. Overseas-born residents make up 11.8% of the population, 9.8 points below the national rate, reflecting the predominantly Anglo-Celtic heritage typical of long-established South Australian rural towns. English ancestry leads at 539 residents, followed by German (128) and Scottish (114). University qualifications reach only 13.4%, which is 16.7 points below the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.5%
Houses
6.5%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers who hold their property outright account for 53.5% of households, compared to just 20.6% carrying a mortgage, an unusually wide gap that points to an older, debt-free resident base. Renters account for 25.9%. Separate houses make up 83.5% of the dwelling stock, reflecting the detached suburban character common to regional SA towns. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 52.4%, followed by two-bedroom at 21.7% and four-plus at 16.8%. The vacancy rate of 20.6% is elevated, which may relate to holiday and seasonal use patterns. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, a figure well below metropolitan levels, though no current median sale price data is available to construct a precise price-to-income ratio.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wk
$228
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$495
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.6%
Unoccupied
154
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.5%
Couples, no children
860
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 17.3% of local jobs (39 workers), followed by Education at 14.6% (33 workers), Retail at 10.6% (24) and Construction at 9.7% (22). Manufacturing accounts for 8.8%. By occupation, Labourers (54) and Machinery/Drivers (52) are the largest groups, reflecting the agricultural service economy of the Yorke Peninsula. The participation rate of 33.6% is very low compared to national norms, because a large share of the population is retired. Unemployment among those participating sits at 4.5%. Full-time workers account for 57.6% of employed residents. SEIFA places Ardrossan in decile 4 on both IER and IRSD, indicating below-average economic resources and higher relative disadvantage than most Australian suburbs.
Unemployment
1.9%
Labour Force
2,108
Unemployed
41
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.6%
Part-time
37.9%
Participation
33.6%
Employed
363
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.4%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
11.8%
Dwellings
589
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 87.7% of commuters driving, consistent with a rural coastal town that has no recorded public transport usage in the data. Walking and cycling account for 6.8% of trips, above what many comparable small towns record, likely reflecting short distances in a compact 24.32 km2 area. Crime totals 29 incidents, producing a rate of 22.9 per 1,000 residents. No schools are recorded within the Ardrossan boundary in current data, so families depend on facilities elsewhere on the Yorke Peninsula. SEIFA IRSAD decile 5 places the suburb at the national median for combined advantage and disadvantage. Volunteering is notably strong at 28.2%, well above typical levels, and 10.6% of residents (124 people) need daily assistance, which is consistent with the aged demographic profile.
Drive
87.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
6.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.37%/yr
(+43 people/yr)
EstablishedArdrossan has grown 17.4% over the past decade, reaching 1,269 residents, with annual growth running at 1.37% (approximately 43 persons per year). The medium forecast projects the broader area growing from 3,147 in 2025 to around 3,385 by 2031, adding roughly 238 residents over six years. Migration is balanced: net internal migration averages 44 per year and overseas migration 15 per year. The suburb shows early gentrification signals, with population up 22% since 2011 and an accelerating gentrification score of 22. Affordability has worsened, moving from 21.2% in 2011 to 29.5% in 2021, and the aging trajectory means the working-age share has gained only 0.9 points while the senior share climbed 5.4 points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+15
Net Internal / yr
+44
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Accelerating: -0% → 22%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
29
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
22.9
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ardrossan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ardrossan a good suburb to live in?
Ardrossan suits retirees and owner-occupiers more than young families or career movers. With 53.5% of residents owning their homes outright and a crime rate of 22.9 per 1,000, it offers stability and relative safety. The tradeoffs are limited services, no schools recorded within the suburb boundary, and a household income in the 5.7th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Ardrossan?
No current median house price data is available for Ardrossan due to thin transaction volumes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.6%, just below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting purchase prices are relatively affordable compared to metro benchmarks.
What schools are in Ardrossan?
No schools are recorded within the Ardrossan suburb boundary in current data. Families with school-aged children typically rely on facilities in nearby Yorke Peninsula towns. Only 13.4% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 16.7 points below the national figure.
Is Ardrossan safe?
Ardrossan recorded 29 total crime incidents, giving a crime rate of 22.9 per 1,000 residents. This is a relatively low rate for a South Australian suburb. The IRSD decile 4 score indicates some disadvantage factors, but the low crime absolute count reflects the small resident population of 1,269.
Is Ardrossan good for property investment?
The 20.6% vacancy rate is the key caution: it is substantially elevated above typical residential markets and suggests significant seasonal or holiday-use stock. Weekly rent of $228 is low, though it has grown 83% over the survey period. The thin renter pool of 25.9% of households and limited price data make yield calculations uncertain.
How is Ardrossan's population changing?
Ardrossan grew 17.4% over the past decade, with annual growth currently at 1.37%, adding around 43 residents per year. Net internal migration averages 44 per year and overseas migration 15 per year. The population is aging, with the senior share up 5.4 points over the decade, reducing the working-age base.
How much development is happening in Ardrossan?
There were 24 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most involve outbuildings such as sheds, and dwelling alterations and additions, rather than new residential dwellings. This pattern is consistent with an established, older owner-occupier base improving existing properties rather than building new ones.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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