Ardrossan
At 61, Ardrossan's median age is 21 years above the national figure, making its aging resident base the town's most distinctive feature. The suburb has 1,269 residents, a 20.6% vacancy rate and 52.6% outright home ownership. Compared with nearby Maitland and Port Clinton as local reference points, Ardrossan is defined by mature households, detached housing and a slower, established-town rhythm. Its 83.5% separate-house share supports space and privacy, while high car use and limited household incomes shape everyday choices.
Local council: Yorke Peninsula
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
23
Ardrossan suits buyers prioritising detached housing, established streets and manageable household commitments. Separate houses account for 83.5% of dwellings, while 3-bedroom homes make up 52.4%, compared with 16.8% for homes with 4 or more bedrooms. Outright ownership at 52.6% is higher than mortgage ownership at 20.2%, reflecting a settled market. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,083, with mortgage costs equal to 29.6% of household income, higher than the 27.0% rent-to-income measure. Buyers should compare current listings with recent settled sales and allow for car-dependent living.
For Buyers
Ardrossan suits buyers prioritising detached housing, established streets and manageable household commitments. Separate houses account for 83.5% of dwellings, while 3-bedroom homes make up 52.4%, compared with 16.8% for homes with 4 or more bedrooms. Outright ownership at 52.6% is higher than mortgage ownership at 20.2%, reflecting a settled market. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,083, with mortgage costs equal to 29.6% of household income, higher than the 27.0% rent-to-income measure. Buyers should compare current listings with recent settled sales and allow for car-dependent living.
For Investors
Ardrossan presents a cautious rental proposition because tenant demand and vacancy risk pull in opposite directions. Rent is $228 per week and 25.5% of households rent, but the 20.6% vacancy rate is high compared with a tighter leasing market. Development activity reached 24 applications over 12 months, including a proposed temporary workers accommodation facility with capacity for up to 630 people, which could change local demand if approved. Rent growth of 83.0% is more notable than the 1.37% annual trend, while migration is described as Balanced. Purchase-price checks are essential before assessing yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
192
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-4.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ardrossan
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Ardrossan Area School
Demographics
Ardrossan has a median age of 61, which is 21 years above the national figure, and average household size is 1.9 people, 0.6 below the national level. Only 13.4% of residents have university qualifications, 16.7 percentage points below the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 11.8%, 9.8 points lower. English ancestry is reported by 539 people, followed by German at 128 and Scottish at 114. Christianity accounts for 622 residents and no religion for 524. The age profile helps explain why 82.9% stayed at the same address and why smaller households are common.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.5%
Houses
6.5%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Ardrossan's housing stock is strongly detached and owner-oriented. Separate houses represent 83.5% of dwellings, substantially higher than the 6.5% semi-detached share, while 3-bedroom homes account for 52.4% and 2-bedroom homes for 21.7%. Outright ownership is 52.6%, compared with 20.2% paying a mortgage and 25.5% renting. Weekly rent is $228, but vacancy reaches 20.6%, creating more choice for tenants than in a tightly occupied market. Mortgage costs equal 29.6% of household income, higher than the 27.0% rent-to-income figure. Buyers should assess recent sales, condition and transport needs rather than rely on a single headline measure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$228
Census 2021
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
21.4%
Couples with children
69.3%
Couples, no children
7.9%
Single parent
355
Total families
Economy & Employment
Ardrossan's household income profile is modest, with weekly household income of $844 at the 5.7th percentile, below broader household-income benchmarks. Unemployment is 4.1%, but participation is only 36.7% because 631 people are outside the labour force, a pattern linked to the median age of 61. Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.3% and 39 workers, followed by education at 14.6% and 33, retail at 10.6% and 24, construction at 9.7% and 22, and manufacturing at 8.8% and 20. Trades, labouring and machinery or driving occupations lead the workforce. Compared with a younger labour market, services and practical occupations carry greater weight here.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
415
Unemployed
17
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.5%
Part-time
38.7%
Participation
36.7%
Employed
398
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.4%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
11.8%
Dwellings
589
Transport to Work
Daily life in Ardrossan is strongly car-oriented: 81.4% of commuters drive, compared with 6.3% who walk or cycle, while 7.2% work from home. The suburb has 1 local government primary and secondary combined school, Ardrossan Area School, so families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Recorded crime totals 29 incidents, equivalent to 22.9 per 1,000 residents, providing a useful comparison point when assessing nearby locations. An IRSAD decile of 5 places Ardrossan around the middle nationally rather than in the top or bottom deciles. Volunteering is 28.2%, while 10.6% need assistance, reinforcing the importance of local services and community connections.
Drive
81.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
6.3%
Work from Home
7.2%
Growth Outlook
Ardrossan's forecast annual trend is 1.37%, with migration identified as Balanced. Population change across the wider area is 17.4% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Aging, including a 5.4 percentage-point rise in the senior share and a 3.9-point decline in the young share. The 1.37% annual trend is more measured than the 83.0% rent-growth signal, so housing-cost pressure may be more visible than rapid population expansion. Gentrification is rated 22 at the Early signs stage, pointing to limited but emerging change. Affordability worsened from 21.2 in 2011 to 29.5 in 2021, which may constrain younger demand compared with established older households.
Population trend: Yorke Peninsula council area
Ardrossan sits in the Yorke Peninsula council area. These are the council area's residents, not Ardrossan's.
Residents 2025
12,242
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit residents seeking a quieter coastal-town setting, detached housing and established community networks. The median age is 61, 81.4% drive to work and 1 local combined school serves primary and secondary students. Compared with a larger urban suburb, services and public transport options are more limited, so lifestyle fit and car access matter.
What is the median house price in Ardrossan?
A reliable current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales and current listings before buying. Weekly rent is $228 and the vacancy rate is 20.6%, so rental evidence may not translate directly into sale value. Compared with relying on one headline figure, buyers should assess the individual home's condition, land, location and likely resale demand.
What schools are in Ardrossan?
Ardrossan Area School is the suburb's 1 listed government primary and secondary combined school. Families should confirm the school's current intake arrangements, year levels and enrolment zone against the exact address. Compared with suburbs containing multiple campuses, school choice within Ardrossan is more concentrated, making catchment checks important before signing a contract.
Is Ardrossan safe?
Ardrossan recorded 29 crimes, equivalent to 22.9 incidents per 1,000 residents. That rate is a useful comparison point for nearby areas, but safety can vary by street, property type and time of day. Residents should still inspect lighting, access and security around a particular home rather than treating a suburb-wide rate as a guarantee.
Is Ardrossan good for property investment?
Ardrossan requires careful investment screening. Weekly rent is $228 and 25.5% of households rent, but the 20.6% vacancy rate is high compared with a tighter leasing market. There were 24 development applications over 12 months, and forecast migration is Balanced. Compared with a high-demand rental market, vacancy and resale liquidity may create more risk, so yield should be tested against current purchase prices and costs.
How is Ardrossan's population changing?
Ardrossan's population is ageing rather than becoming younger. The median age is 61, the wider-area population change is 17.4% over 10 years, and the senior share has risen 5.4 percentage points while the young share fell 3.9 points. The forecast trajectory is Aging, with annual growth of 1.37%. Compared with a younger growth corridor, demand is more likely to centre on services, accessibility and established housing.
What development is planned in Ardrossan?
There were 24 development applications over the past 12 months. Recent examples include a performance-assessed temporary workers accommodation facility with capacity for up to 630 people, plus shed, carport and verandah works. Application status can change, so prospective residents and investors should check approvals, conditions and construction timing. Compared with routine small-scale alterations, the accommodation proposal could have a larger local effect if approved.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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