SA 5110 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Burton

A median age of 33, fully 7.0 years below the national figure, sets Burton apart from most established Adelaide suburbs and explains much of its character. The young base shows up in the housing: 54.9% of dwellings carry a mortgage versus just 21.5% owned outright, the profile of first-home and second-home buyers rather than settled retirees. The median house price reached $735,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 3.5% from $710,000 a year earlier. Stock is overwhelmingly detached at 96.4%, and average household size of 3.1 people sits 0.6 above national, consistent with the 2,687 couple-with-children families that anchor the suburb across its 6.1 km2 footprint.

Burton urban fabric map

Population

6,519

Median Age

33.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,517/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

47

Median House

$735K

Median 1Q 2026

6.1 km²· 1,068.6 people/km²· Family income $1,617/wk

Burton suits buyers who want detached family housing without inner-Adelaide prices. The $735,000 median rose 3.5% over the year from $710,000, a modest pace that keeps entry achievable relative to faster premium markets. Separate houses make up 96.4% of stock, and the bedroom mix is family-oriented: 63.1% are three-bedroom homes and 33.7% have four or more, while two-bedroom dwellings are just 3.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,312, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold, because purchase costs stay reasonable against local household incomes. With 54.9% of dwellings mortgaged and only 21.5% owned outright, Burton trades as a working buyer's market rather than a wealth-holding one.

For Buyers

Burton suits buyers who want detached family housing without inner-Adelaide prices. The $735,000 median rose 3.5% over the year from $710,000, a modest pace that keeps entry achievable relative to faster premium markets. Separate houses make up 96.4% of stock, and the bedroom mix is family-oriented: 63.1% are three-bedroom homes and 33.7% have four or more, while two-bedroom dwellings are just 3.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,312, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold, because purchase costs stay reasonable against local household incomes. With 54.9% of dwellings mortgaged and only 21.5% owned outright, Burton trades as a working buyer's market rather than a wealth-holding one.

For Investors

The case for Burton rests on stable occupancy rather than scale. Renters make up 23.6% of dwellings, a smaller tenant pool than apartment-heavy suburbs, but the 3.6% vacancy rate signals tight supply and low turnover risk. Weekly rent of $310 against the $735,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.2%, modest but supported by a rent-to-income ratio of just 20.4%, which leaves tenants room to absorb increases. Development is steady at 44 applications in 12 months, mostly verandahs, repairs and a commercial car wash rather than new dwelling supply, so existing stock should hold scarcity value. The almost entirely detached profile of 96.4% separate houses gives landlords standalone assets that appeal to the family tenants the suburb attracts.

Development Activity

Total DAs

256

Last 12 Months

47

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-17.5%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Deck / Pergola / Patio
23
Garage / Carport / Shed
15
Renovation / Extension
11
Commercial / Industrial
11
Tree Removal
9
Subdivision
8
Swimming Pool / Spa
6
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
4

Schools in Burton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Burton Primary School

ICSEA 946 Primary Government

U, R-6 · 422 students

Demographics

Burton skews young and migrant-influenced. The median age of 33 runs 7.0 years below the national figure, and average household size of 3.1 sits 0.6 above national, both pointing to families in the child-rearing phase. Overseas-born residents reach 32.5%, which is 10.9 points above national, and the mix is distinctive: English ancestry leads at 1,885, but Vietnamese (457) and a large Khmer-speaking group (227) reflect a strong Southeast Asian presence. Religion follows the same pattern, with Christianity at 2,056 followed by an unusually large Buddhist community of 831 and Islam at 395. University qualifications sit at 19.2%, which is 10.9 points below national, consistent with a workforce weighted toward trades and service roles rather than professional occupations.

Age Distribution

0-14
24.3%
15-24
13.1%
25-44
30.8%
45-64
22.6%
65+
9.5%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.2%
2 bed
3.0%
3 bed
63.1%
4+ bed
33.7%

Dwelling Structure

96.4%

Houses

3.6%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 21.5% Mortgage 54.9% Rent 23.6%

Tenure tilts heavily toward mortgaged owners: 54.9% carry a mortgage, 21.5% own outright and 23.6% rent, so debt-funded ownership dominates rather than settled equity. The stock is 96.4% separate houses with only 3.6% semi-detached and effectively no apartments, which keeps the suburb low-density at 1,068.6 residents per km2 across 6.1 km2. Bedrooms confirm the family orientation: 63.1% are three-bedroom and 33.7% four-plus, with two-bedroom homes at just 3.0%. The median house price moved from $710,000 to $735,000 across 2025 and early 2026, a 3.5% one-year rise. Both stress ratios stay comfortable, with mortgage-to-income at 20.0% and rent-to-income at 20.4%, well below the 30% threshold, because prices remain moderate against the suburb's incomes.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,312

Rent / wk

$310

HH Size

3.1

Personal Income / wk

$653

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

3.6%

Unoccupied

76

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

20.4%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

20.0%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Khmer
227
Punjabi
38
Arabic
37
Nepali
35
Polish
24
Persian ED
23

Ancestry

English
1,885
Other
1,688
Vietnamese
457
Ancestry NS
331
Scottish
301
German
262

Household Composition

15.8%

Couples, no children

5,609

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare leads the local workforce at 22.5% (318 workers), followed by Manufacturing at 11.5% (163), Education at 8.5% (120), and Retail and Public Administration tied at 8.2% (116 each). By occupation, Labourers (492) and Community and Personal Service workers (397) top the list, with Machinery Operators and Drivers (338) close behind, a blue-collar and service profile that matches the 19.2% university rate sitting 10.9 points below national. Unemployment is elevated at 8.1% against a participation rate of 60.6%, and the full-time employment rate reads 62.3%. Household income sits at the 47.4th percentile nationally, just below the midpoint, which fits a workforce concentrated in manufacturing and service roles rather than higher-paid knowledge sectors.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

62.3%

Part-time

29.6%

Participation

60.6%

Employed

2,756

Occupations

Labourers 492
Community/Personal 397
Machinery/Drivers 338
Clerical/Admin 320
Managers 309
Professionals 288
Sales 276

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.5%
Manufacturing 11.5%
Education 8.5%
Retail 8.2%
Public Admin 8.2%

University

19.2%

Postgraduate

3.0%

Born Overseas

32.5%

Dwellings

2,035

Transport to Work

Burton is built around the car: 90.2% of commuters drive, far above the public transport share of just 1.7% and active travel at 1.2%, reflecting the low density of 1,068.6 residents per km2 and limited rail access. The recorded crime rate is 53.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, or 347 total reports, a figure buyers should weigh against the suburb's family profile. On the social side, 7.2% of residents (454 people) need daily assistance and the volunteering rate is 8.1%. No schools are recorded inside the 6.1 km2 boundary in this dataset, so the 2,687 couple-with-children families rely on facilities in neighbouring suburbs, a trade-off for the detached layout that defines the area.

Drive

90.2%

Public Transport

1.7%

Walk / Cycle

1.2%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

347

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

53.2

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Burton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 8%
Household Income
Bottom 47%
Rent Level
Top 36%
Renters
Top 41%
Uni Educated
Bottom 34%
Public Transport
Bottom 29%
Born Overseas
Top 11%
Density
Top 15%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Burton a good suburb to live in?

Burton suits young families: the median age is 33, fully 7.0 years below national, and 96.4% of homes are detached houses. Household income sits at the 47.4th percentile nationally, and both mortgage-to-income (20.0%) and rent-to-income (20.4%) stay well below the 30% stress threshold, so housing remains affordable for its residents.

What is the median house price in Burton?

The median house price is $735,000 as of the first quarter of 2026, up 3.5% from $710,000 a year earlier. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,312 and weekly rent runs $310, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.0%, below the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Burton?

No schools are recorded inside the 6.1 km2 Burton boundary in this dataset, so the 2,687 couple-with-children families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 19.2%, which is 10.9 points below the national figure.

Is Burton safe?

Burton recorded 347 crime reports, a rate of 53.2 per 1,000 residents across its population of 6,519. Detailed category breakdowns are not available in this dataset, so prospective buyers should treat the per-capita rate as a general indicator rather than a complete safety picture.

Is Burton good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $310 against a $735,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.2%, modest but stable. The 3.6% vacancy rate signals tight supply, renters make up 23.6% of dwellings, and 44 development applications in 12 months are mostly repairs, so existing detached stock holds scarcity value.

How is Burton's population changing?

Burton holds 6,519 residents with a young median age of 33, fully 7.0 years below national, and a low 16.6% turnover rate means 83.4% of residents stayed put. The 2,687 couple-with-children families and household size of 3.1 point to steady, family-led demand rather than rapid change.

What languages are spoken in Burton?

About 32.5% of residents were born overseas, 10.9 points above national. English ancestry leads at 1,885 residents, but the suburb has a strong Southeast Asian presence, with 457 of Vietnamese ancestry and 227 Khmer speakers, alongside smaller Punjabi (38) and Arabic (37) language groups.

How much development is happening in Burton?

There were 44 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a commercial car wash facility, repairs to a fire-damaged dwelling and a verandah, so activity is weighted toward maintenance and small works rather than new housing supply across the 6.1 km2 suburb.

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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