SA 5008 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Croydon

At 0.59 km2 with a population of 1,220, Croydon SA packs in a median house price of $1,560,000 alongside one of the more education-heavy workforces you will find this close to Adelaide. University qualification rates hit 48.5%, which is 18.4 percentage points above the national average, and household income ranks in the 67th percentile nationally. SEIFA scores tell a layered story: the IEO decile of 9 reflects a well-educated, professionally employed base, while the IRSD and IRSAD deciles of 6 and 8 suggest pockets of mixed economic resource. The suburb's 84.7% detached housing rate and 35.2% outright-ownership share point to a stable, owner-occupier-dominated community rather than a churn market.

Croydon urban fabric map

Population

1,220

Median Age

42.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,854/wk

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

20

Median House

$1.6M

Median 1Q 2026

0.59 km²· 2,074.5 people/km²· Family income $2,433/wk

The median house price reached $1,560,000 in 1Q 2026, up 12.4% from $1,387,500 in 1Q 2025, one of the stronger one-year moves in the inner-Adelaide ring. Detached houses dominate at 84.7% of stock, well above most comparable urban suburbs, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 48.7% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 24.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,985, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold despite prices pushing past $1.5 million. Outright owners (35.2%) and mortgage holders (38.3%) together account for nearly three quarters of residents, limiting stock churn and supporting price stability. The 26.4% renter share is moderate, keeping competition for owner-occupier stock relatively contained.

For Buyers

The median house price reached $1,560,000 in 1Q 2026, up 12.4% from $1,387,500 in 1Q 2025, one of the stronger one-year moves in the inner-Adelaide ring. Detached houses dominate at 84.7% of stock, well above most comparable urban suburbs, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 48.7% and 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 24.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,985, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold despite prices pushing past $1.5 million. Outright owners (35.2%) and mortgage holders (38.3%) together account for nearly three quarters of residents, limiting stock churn and supporting price stability. The 26.4% renter share is moderate, keeping competition for owner-occupier stock relatively contained.

For Investors

Weekly rent of $310 against a $1,560,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.1%, low by any measure. The 6.4% vacancy rate is elevated compared to the inner-Adelaide average, signalling some softness in tenant demand relative to available stock. Development activity is modest at 18 applications in the past 12 months, mostly verandah and shed additions rather than new dwellings, so supply pressure from construction is limited. Migration dynamics work in the suburb's favour: overseas migration contributes a net 277 residents a year to the broader SA4 area, compared to net internal outflow of 192, keeping external demand alive. With 12.4% price growth over one year and population projected to reach 11,460 by 2031 at a 0.13% annual rate, the investment case leans on capital growth rather than rental yield.

Development Activity

Total DAs

110

Last 12 Months

20

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+5.3%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
11
Deck / Pergola / Patio
9
Garage / Carport / Shed
5
Swimming Pool / Spa
3
Demolition
2
Tree Removal
2
Solar / Energy
2
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
1

Demographics

The median age of 42 sits 2.0 years above the national figure, consistent with the aging trajectory signal, where the senior share has risen 4.2 points and the working-age share has declined 0.6 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 48.5%, which is 18.4 percentage points above the national average, placing Croydon well into the upper tier nationally for educational attainment. Overseas-born residents account for 24.9%, 3.3 points higher than the national figure. Ancestry is Anglo-Mediterranean: English (349) leads, followed by Italian (208) and Greek (150), with Greek and Italian also the two most spoken non-English languages at home. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. Couples with children (409 families) outnumber couples without children (217), suggesting family formation is still active despite the older median age.

Age Distribution

0-14
16.4%
15-24
11.3%
25-44
25.7%
45-64
31.4%
65+
15.3%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.0%
2 bed
23.5%
3 bed
48.7%
4+ bed
24.8%

Dwelling Structure

84.7%

Houses

9.4%

Townhouse

6.0%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 35.2% Mortgage 38.3% Rent 26.4%

Tenure divides clearly: 35.2% own outright, 38.3% carry a mortgage and 26.4% rent, a split that favours stability over speculative activity. The 84.7% detached-house share is high for a suburb less than a kilometre square, well above the national urban norm, and semi-detached homes at 9.4% and apartments at 6.0% are limited in number. Bedroom mix centres on 3-bedroom dwellings (48.7%), followed by 4-plus (24.8%) and 2-bedroom (23.5%). Prices moved from $1,387,500 in 1Q 2025 to $1,560,000 in 1Q 2026, a 12.4% rise over one year. Mortgage repayments of $1,985 per month and a rent-to-income ratio of 16.7% both sit below stress levels, which partly explains low turnover, with 83.7% of residents having stayed in the same address for five years.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,985

Rent / wk

$310

HH Size

2.5

Personal Income / wk

$811

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

6.4%

Unoccupied

32

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

16.7%

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

24.7%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Greek
50
Italian
33

Ancestry

English
349
Italian
208
Greek
150
Other
125
Irish
111
German
94

Household Composition

22.4%

Couples, no children

969

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 16.7% (75 workers), with Education close behind at 15.2% (68 workers) and Professional/Technical services third at 10.7% (48 workers), a pattern that aligns with the suburb's high IEO decile of 9, reflecting above-average education and occupation scores nationally. Professionals are the dominant occupation group (213 workers), ahead of Managers (99) and Clerical/Admin staff (75). The unemployment rate of 3.8% is low and the full-time employment rate of 61.1% reflects a productive workforce. Household income sits in the 67th income percentile nationally, supported by real income growth of 16.2% over the decade. The IRSAD decile of 8 confirms broadly advantaged economic conditions, though the IRSD and IER deciles of 6 suggest the area is not uniformly wealthy across all economic resource dimensions.

Unemployment

4.4%

Labour Force

6,171

Unemployed

270

Quarterly Trend

Jun-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

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

Overall advantage
8
Disadvantage
6
Economic resources
6
Education & occupation
9

Full-time

61.1%

Part-time

35.1%

Participation

62.2%

Employed

609

Occupations

Professionals 213
Managers 99
Clerical/Admin 75
Community/Personal 58
Labourers 54
Sales 41
Machinery/Drivers 26

Top Industries

Healthcare 16.7%
Education 15.2%
Professional/Tech 10.7%
Public Admin 9.8%
Construction 7.6%

University

48.5%

Postgraduate

11.8%

Born Overseas

24.9%

Dwellings

470

Transport to Work

Car dependence is high at 80.2% of commuters driving, while 8.0% use public transport and 7.6% walk or cycle, figures in line with inner-Adelaide norms rather than the denser inner-city. The IRSAD decile of 8 places Croydon in the upper advantage tier nationally, and the IEO decile of 9 confirms a well-resourced, educationally active community. The crime rate of 77.0 incidents per 1,000 residents covers 94 total recorded incidents across the suburb. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in the dataset, so families draw on services in neighbouring areas. Rent stress is absent at 16.7% rent-to-income and mortgage stress is below threshold at 24.7%, meaning financial pressure on households is below national norms. The volunteering rate of 16.9% and a need-assistance rate of 8.4% (98 residents) are both consistent with a maturing, established residential suburb.

Drive

80.2%

Public Transport

8.0%

Walk / Cycle

7.6%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.13%/yr

(+15 people/yr)

Established

Annual population growth is 0.13%, adding about 15 residents a year to a base of 1,220 in the suburb itself. The broader SA4 area grew 2.4% over 10 years and medium forecasts project the area reaching 11,460 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 277 arrivals a year, more than offsetting net internal outflow of 192 per year. The suburb is classified not gentrifying, with a gentrification score of 19 out of 100, because the high IEO decile of 9 leaves little upward mobility remaining. Affordability did improve from 69.2% in 2011 to 58.6% in 2021, and rents grew 21.1% over the period compared to real income growth of 16.2%, a gap that compresses yields but supports nominal capital value. Population is aging, with the senior cohort expanding 4.2 points over the decade, which tends to further suppress turnover.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+277

Net Internal / yr

-192

10

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

Net internal outflow -192/yr, Strong overseas inflow +277/yr

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

94

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

77.0

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Croydon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 26%
Household Income
Top 33%
Rent Level
Top 36%
Apartments
Top 40%
Renters
Top 35%
Uni Educated
Top 10%
Public Transport
Top 18%
Born Overseas
Top 20%
Density
Top 8%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Croydon a good suburb to live in?

Croydon SA scores decile 9 on the IEO index, placing it in the top 10% nationally for education and occupation advantage. Household income ranks in the 67th percentile. Mortgage-to-income sits at 24.7% and rent-to-income at 16.7%, both below stress levels, pointing to financially comfortable residents across owner-occupiers and renters.

What is the median house price in Croydon?

The median house price reached $1,560,000 in 1Q 2026, up 12.4% from $1,387,500 in 1Q 2025. Weekly rent is $310 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,985. The 84.7% detached-house share makes free-standing homes the dominant purchase option.

What schools are in Croydon?

No schools are recorded inside the Croydon SA boundary in this dataset. Residents access schools in neighbouring inner-Adelaide suburbs. University qualification rates locally are 48.5%, which is 18.4 percentage points above the national average, reflecting a highly educated adult population despite the absence of on-suburb schools.

Is Croydon safe?

Croydon recorded 94 total incidents giving a crime rate of 77.0 per 1,000 residents. As context, the suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD and decile 9 on IEO, both in the upper advantage tier nationally, and financial stress indicators including 24.7% mortgage-to-income and 16.7% rent-to-income are below stress thresholds.

Is Croydon good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $310 against a $1,560,000 median gives a gross yield below 1.1%, low compared to most SA suburbs. The 6.4% vacancy rate is elevated. However, prices rose 12.4% year-on-year to 1Q 2026 and net overseas migration of 277 per year supports ongoing demand. The investment case is capital-growth driven rather than yield driven.

How is Croydon's population changing?

The suburb's own population is 1,220 growing at 0.13% annually. The broader area population was 11,318 in 2024 and is forecast to reach 11,460 by 2031. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 4.2 points and working-age share down 0.6 points over 10 years. Overseas migration at 277 net arrivals per year is the primary growth driver.

What industries employ people in Croydon?

Healthcare is the top employer at 16.7% of the workforce (75 workers), followed by Education at 15.2% (68) and Professional/Technical at 10.7% (48). The unemployment rate is 3.8% and full-time employment rate is 61.1%, above the national norm. Real incomes grew 16.2% over the decade, consistent with the decile 9 IEO score.

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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