Craigmore
Craigmore's most distinctive feature is its mortgage-belt profile: 52.4% of homes are owned with a mortgage, while 99.4% are separate houses. Its population is 10,943 and median age is 37, which is 3 years below the national figure, yet the forecast points to an Aging trajectory. Household income sits at the 47.3rd percentile, giving the suburb a middle-income position rather than the stronger income profile seen in some northern Adelaide districts. Compared with nearby Munno Para, Craigmore presents as a more settled address, with 83.5% of residents staying at the same address and only 21.2% born overseas. That combination supports stable family demand, but buyers should weigh car dependence and future ageing alongside current housing scale.
Population
10,943
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,513/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
50
Median House
$742K
First quarter 2026
Craigmore suits buyers seeking conventional family housing, because 99.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 59.2% contain 3 bedrooms while another 38.5% have 4 or more. The separate-house share is far higher than the apartment share of 0.3%, so the market is geared toward yards, driveways and larger blocks rather than compact units. A stated mortgage payment of $1,300 per month and mortgage-to-income share of 19.8%, with no mortgage-stress flag, support a manageable profile for some households, although the recent price rise warrants careful budgeting.
For Buyers
Craigmore suits buyers seeking conventional family housing, because 99.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 59.2% contain 3 bedrooms while another 38.5% have 4 or more. The separate-house share is far higher than the apartment share of 0.3%, so the market is geared toward yards, driveways and larger blocks rather than compact units. A stated mortgage payment of $1,300 per month and mortgage-to-income share of 19.8%, with no mortgage-stress flag, support a manageable profile for some households, although the recent price rise warrants careful budgeting.
For Investors
Craigmore's investment case centres on detached housing and established rental demand. The median rent is $300 per week, vacancy is 3.7% and 20.7% of households rent, a share lower than the combined 78.8% owner-occupied proportion. That tenure mix can support a stable owner-occupier base, while 50 development applications in the past 12 months point to continuing property activity. Migration is labelled Balanced, so investors should test holding costs, insurance and tenant demand rather than relying on population growth alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
345
Last 12 Months
50
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-12.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Craigmore
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Craigmore South Primary School
Playford Primary School
Demographics
Craigmore has a median age of 37, 3 years below the national figure, and an average household size of 2.8, which is 0.3 above the national comparison. University attainment is 14.0%, or 16.1 percentage points below the national level, while the overseas-born share is 21.2%, only 0.4 points below the national comparison. English ancestry is prominent at 5,310 people, followed by Scottish at 997 and Irish at 763. No religion is recorded for 5,789 residents, compared with 4,124 identifying with Christianity. Compared with nearby Munno Para, Craigmore presents as a more settled address: 83.5% stayed at the same home, implying lower turnover and more continuity for established households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.4%
Houses
0.4%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Craigmore's housing market is overwhelmingly detached and family-sized. Three-bedroom homes account for 59.2% of dwellings and 4-plus-bedroom homes for 38.5%, so larger households have more relevant stock than buyers seeking studios or compact apartments. Mortgage ownership at 52.4% is higher than outright ownership at 26.4%, while renting accounts for 20.7%. The 41.0 affordability measure in 2021 was below 44.4 in 2011, and the improving trend may help, but current prices still require comparison with nearby Smithfield and Munno Para options.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$682
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.7%
Unoccupied
144
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.4%
Couples with children
34.7%
Couples, no children
20.8%
Single parent
3,036
Total families
Economy & Employment
Craigmore's employment base is led by healthcare, which accounts for 21.2% of workers or 579 people, followed by education at 11.6% and 316 people. Manufacturing, construction and public administration contribute 10.3%, 9.5% and 9.1%, respectively. The occupation mix is concentrated in community and personal services at 785 people, trades at 766 and labouring at 707, ahead of clerical and administrative work at 619 and professionals at 543. Full-time employment is 58.8%, participation is 61.6% and unemployment is 6.4%. SEIFA education and occupation sits in decile 2, below the income and economic-resources deciles of 5, suggesting household resources rank higher than education and occupational indicators. That gap helps explain why Craigmore's household income percentile is 47.3 rather than higher.
Unemployment
6.4%
Labour Force
5,331
Unemployed
342
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.8%
Part-time
34.5%
Participation
61.6%
Employed
4,989
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.0%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
21.2%
Dwellings
3,739
Transport to Work
Craigmore is practical for households that rely on cars. A high 85.7% drive to work, compared with only 1.9% using public transport and 0.7% walking or cycling, while 6.0% work from home. The suburb has 2 named nearby schools, both government primary schools, so families should check exact enrolment zones and nearby secondary options before buying. Crime is recorded at 446 incidents, or 40.8 per 1,000 residents, which should be compared with current rates in neighbouring Playford suburbs and checked at street level. With 10,943 residents across 4.88 square kilometres, density is 2,241.6 people per square kilometre. IRSAD sits in decile 2, below the midpoint decile of 5, so transport and service access matter more than a premium amenity setting.
Drive
85.7%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
6.0%
Population Forecast
+1.62%/yr
(+345 people/yr)
EstablishedCraigmore's wider-area outlook points to annual growth of 1.62%, with migration described as Balanced rather than led by one dominant source. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 23.0% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased 3.2 percentage points and the young share has fallen 1.2 points. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 20, so the suburb is not yet showing a high-intensity reinvention pattern. Rent growth of 19.2% and 50 development applications in 12 months indicate activity, but compared with a younger growth corridor, Craigmore's future demand is more likely to reflect established households, ageing residents and incremental renewal.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+92
Net Internal / yr
+85
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +29% since 2011, Net internal migration +85/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
446
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
40.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Craigmore compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Craigmore a good suburb to live in?
Craigmore can suit buyers wanting detached housing and established local routines. It has 10,943 residents, 99.4% separate houses and 2 government primary schools, while 85.7% drive to work. Compared with a transit-led suburb, it is better matched to households comfortable with car-based travel and a quieter suburban setting.
What schools are in Craigmore?
Craigmore has Craigmore South Primary School and Playford Primary School, both government primary schools. The named local group is 2 primary schools, so families needing secondary or independent options should check nearby catchments and travel times. Enrolment zones should be confirmed against the exact address because boundaries can differ.
Is Craigmore safe?
Safety depends on the offence mix and personal circumstances. Craigmore recorded 446 total offences, equal to 40.8 offences per 1,000 residents. That figure should be compared with current rates in neighbouring Playford suburbs and checked by street and offence category before making a decision, because a suburb-wide rate can hide local variation.
How is Craigmore's population changing?
The wider-area forecast points to 23.0% population change over 10 years and annual growth of 1.62%, with migration labelled Balanced. The shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.2 percentage points and the young share down 1.2 points. Compared with a younger growth profile, this suggests demand may gradually tilt toward established households and accessible housing.
What development is occurring in Craigmore?
Craigmore recorded 50 development applications over 12 months. The visible mix includes a detached dwelling and 2 verandah applications, indicating ongoing small-scale residential improvement alongside new housing work. Compared with a suburb with little approval activity, this points to more active property renewal, although application counts do not confirm that every proposal will be built.
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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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