Burra
At a median age of 54, Burra's population is 14 years older than the national figure, making it one of South Australia's most age-advanced communities. With only 1,112 residents spread across 440 square kilometres, the density sits at just 2.5 people per km2. Household income sits at the 6.5th percentile nationally, well below state and national averages, yet 48.4% of households own their homes outright, suggesting long-term residents who purchased decades ago rather than recent entrants. A vacancy rate of 22.1% reflects the limited demand for rental stock in a township where population is static and young workers tend to leave rather than stay.
Population
1,112
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$866/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
37
No current median house price data is available for Burra, which reflects thin sales volume in a town of 1,112 people. The affordability profile is nonetheless clear: monthly mortgage repayments average $953, compared to state capital figures often three times higher, and mortgage-to-income sits at 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 89.4% of dwellings, with semi-detached accounting for the remaining 10.6% and no apartment stock on record. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 47.4% of the stock, and 4-plus bedroom properties account for 23.4%. The high outright ownership rate of 48.4%, versus 25.9% carrying a mortgage, points to a buyer base of long-term owners rather than first-home entrants.
For Buyers
No current median house price data is available for Burra, which reflects thin sales volume in a town of 1,112 people. The affordability profile is nonetheless clear: monthly mortgage repayments average $953, compared to state capital figures often three times higher, and mortgage-to-income sits at 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 89.4% of dwellings, with semi-detached accounting for the remaining 10.6% and no apartment stock on record. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 47.4% of the stock, and 4-plus bedroom properties account for 23.4%. The high outright ownership rate of 48.4%, versus 25.9% carrying a mortgage, points to a buyer base of long-term owners rather than first-home entrants.
For Investors
The 22.1% vacancy rate is the most significant investor signal in Burra, running well above national norms and indicating persistent oversupply in a low-demand market. Weekly rent averages $180, which is lower than most comparable regional SA towns. Rent-to-income sits at 20.8%, below stress levels for tenants, but the low absolute rent combined with high vacancy makes yield calculations difficult without reliable price data. On a positive note, 32 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, many relating to heritage conservation works, which signals ongoing investment in the built fabric. Renter share is 25.7%, below the national average, so the tenant pool is structurally shallow, limiting demand uplift.
Development Activity
Total DAs
158
Last 12 Months
37
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+12.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Burra iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Burra Community School
R-12 · 194 students
Demographics
The median age of 54 is 14 years above the national figure, placing Burra among the oldest-skewing communities in the state. The couples-without-children household type dominates at 41.5%, consistent with a post-family, retirement-age population rather than a young family formation zone. Overseas-born residents account for 12.5%, which is 9.1 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (491 residents), Scottish (116), Irish (108) and German (104). University qualifications reach only 17.5%, which is 12.6 points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and agriculture employment base rather than professional migration. Average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national, consistent with the older couples profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.4%
Houses
10.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Burra's housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 89.4%, with semi-detached making up 10.6% and no recorded apartment component, which is typical of an inland heritage township rather than a growth corridor. Tenure is skewed toward outright ownership: 48.4% own outright, 25.9% carry a mortgage and 25.7% rent, an ownership profile that runs well above national averages for owner-occupiers. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 47.4%, followed by 2-bedroom at 23.8% and 4-plus bedroom at 23.4%. The 22.1% vacancy rate sits significantly higher than state and national benchmarks, reflecting population stagnation and an oversupply of dwellings relative to active demand. Monthly mortgage repayments of $953 are low compared to metropolitan SA markets.
Mortgage / mo
$953
Rent / wk
$180
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$539
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
22.1%
Unoccupied
136
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.5%
Couples, no children
737
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 16.1% of the local workforce, followed by Public Administration at 11.0% and Agriculture, Construction and Hospitality each at 10.1%. The occupation mix is led by Managers (83 workers) and Labourers (75), ahead of Community and Personal Service workers (47) and Professionals (42). The labour participation rate of 45.1% is notably below national levels, because the aging population pushes a large share of residents out of the workforce, with 394 people not in the labour force at all. The unemployment rate of 4.5% is modest, and full-time employment reaches 56.2% of those employed. Household income at the 6.5th percentile nationally reflects the dominance of low-wage rural and care sectors rather than professional employment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.2%
Part-time
39.3%
Participation
45.1%
Employed
402
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.5%
Postgraduate
4.1%
Born Overseas
12.5%
Dwellings
479
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 89.6% of commuters, which is expected for a town of 1,112 people in a 440 km2 footprint with no recorded public transport usage. Walking and cycling account for 7.0% of journeys, above what the sparse geography might suggest, reflecting the compact town centre relative to the broader cadastral area. The crime rate of 43.2 per 1,000 residents provides a baseline figure, though the absolute count of 48 incidents in the measured period is low given population size. Volunteering is a standout at 35.3%, well above national norms, indicating strong community engagement despite the small population. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring towns.
Drive
89.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
48
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
43.2
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Burra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burra a good suburb to live in?
Burra suits retirees and long-term rural residents more than young families or workers seeking employment. With a median age of 54, 48.4% of homes owned outright and a volunteering rate of 35.3%, it is a stable, community-oriented town. The trade-offs are a household income at the 6.5th percentile nationally, limited employment diversity and no recorded public transport.
What is the median house price in Burra?
No current median house price is available for Burra due to thin sales volume in a town of 1,112 people. Affordability indicators suggest low entry costs: monthly mortgage repayments average $953 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $180.
What schools are in Burra?
No schools are recorded within the Burra suburb boundary in this dataset. The local university qualification rate is 17.5%, which is 12.6 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the town's trade and agriculture employment base. Families in Burra typically access schools in nearby towns in the Clare and Gilbert Valleys region.
Is Burra safe?
The recorded crime rate is 43.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 48 total incidents in the measured period. The small absolute count reflects the town's population of 1,112. No SEIFA disadvantage decile data is available for direct comparison, but the high outright ownership rate of 48.4% and stable resident base suggest a low-transience environment.
Is Burra good for property investment?
The 22.1% vacancy rate is significantly above national benchmarks, signalling persistent oversupply relative to tenant demand. Weekly rent of $180 is low in absolute terms, and without a reliable median price the gross yield is hard to quantify. The 32 development applications in 12 months are mostly heritage works, not new supply, and the renter share of 25.7% is below the national average, limiting tenant pool depth.
How is Burra's population changing?
No formal population forecast is recorded for Burra. The current population of 1,112 is spread across 440 km2 at 2.5 people per km2. The median age of 54 is 14 years above national, the labour participation rate is 45.1% and 82% of residents stayed in the same address over the measured period, indicating a stable but aging and non-renewing population base.
How much development is happening in Burra?
32 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. The sample includes heritage maintenance works such as roof rectification, floor replacement in a museum building and fence alterations in the State Heritage Area, consistent with a town focused on preserving existing heritage fabric rather than adding new residential supply.
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.
Explore Burra on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map