Darlington
At 1,275 residents spread across 1.36 square kilometres, Darlington is a compact southern Adelaide suburb where crime statistics stand out: 165 recorded incidents produce a rate of 129.4 per 1,000 residents, higher than most comparable SA suburbs. Against that backdrop, the housing stock is overwhelmingly detached, at 82.3% separate houses, and 33.3% of households own their home outright. University qualifications reach 37.0%, which is 6.9 percentage points above the national figure, and the median age of 39 sits just below the national average. Healthcare dominates local employment at 24.8% of the workforce, pointing to a suburb where professional knowledge workers are well represented.
Population
1,275
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,601/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$870K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $870,000 in 1Q 2026, down 5.6% from $922,000 a year earlier, giving buyers a more accessible entry than the 2025 peak. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 25.0%, below the 30% stress threshold, so the suburb is broadly affordable relative to income. Separate houses dominate at 82.3% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common configuration at 54.7% and four-plus bedroom homes at 28.6%. Semi-detached options account for 15.8%, with apartments a rare 1.9%. Compared to the broader Adelaide market, this detached-dominant profile means buyers get space, but the recent price fall of 5.6% suggests demand has softened and negotiating room may exist.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $870,000 in 1Q 2026, down 5.6% from $922,000 a year earlier, giving buyers a more accessible entry than the 2025 peak. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 25.0%, below the 30% stress threshold, so the suburb is broadly affordable relative to income. Separate houses dominate at 82.3% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the most common configuration at 54.7% and four-plus bedroom homes at 28.6%. Semi-detached options account for 15.8%, with apartments a rare 1.9%. Compared to the broader Adelaide market, this detached-dominant profile means buyers get space, but the recent price fall of 5.6% suggests demand has softened and negotiating room may exist.
For Investors
A vacancy rate of 4.8% is elevated compared to the sub-2% levels seen in tighter rental markets, signalling some rental supply is available but not distressed. Weekly rent averages $325 against an $870,000 median, implying a gross yield of approximately 1.9%, low for an entry-level asset. The renter share is 28.8%, providing a reasonable tenant pool, while 33.3% of homes are owned outright by long-term holders. Development activity is modest at 11 applications in the past 12 months, including a proposal for eight three-storey group dwellings, which could add incremental supply. The 80.2% of residents who stayed in the same address over the measured period indicates low churn, which benefits landlords seeking stable tenancies but limits turnover-driven transaction activity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
72
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+27.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 39 is one year below the national figure, producing a workforce-age skew that aligns with the 59.1% participation rate. University qualifications at 37.0% run 6.9 percentage points above national, consistent with the Professionals-heavy occupational mix. Overseas-born residents account for 29.4%, which is 7.8 points above national, though English-speaking ancestry dominates: English (402), Scottish (97), Irish (91) and German (86) are the top four groups. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. Couples with children (333 families) outnumber couples without children (233), and volunteering reaches 18.3% of residents, above typical metropolitan rates. Only 5.9% of residents need daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.3%
Houses
15.8%
Townhouse
1.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership tenure divides into 33.3% owned outright, 37.9% mortgaged and 28.8% renting, a tenure split that leans toward established owner-occupiers rather than renters. The price fell 5.6% from $922,000 in 1Q 2025 to $870,000 in 1Q 2026, a meaningful correction compared to the prior year peak. Three-bedroom homes account for 54.7% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom homes 28.6%, so larger family-sized stock is the norm. Apartments are nearly absent at 1.9%, and semi-detached homes at 15.8% round out the stock. Rent-to-income sits at 20.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, keeping tenancy costs manageable for the 28.8% of households renting. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 reflect a suburb where buying costs are moderate relative to income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$325
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$752
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.8%
Unoccupied
25
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.0%
Couples, no children
932
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 24.8% of employed residents (104 workers), more than double the next sector, Construction at 11.9%. Education follows at 10.7%, Professional and Technical services at 8.1% and Public Administration at 7.4%. By occupation, Professionals lead with 147 workers, ahead of Community and Personal Services (83), Managers (78) and Clerical and Administrative roles (76). Full-time employment accounts for 60.8% of employed residents, and the unemployment rate is 6.2%, above the national average of around 4%. Household income sits at the 52.6th percentile nationally, placing Darlington in the middle band of Australian suburbs rather than the top or bottom quartile. The healthcare and education concentration suggests the local economy is anchored in publicly funded services.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.8%
Part-time
33.0%
Participation
59.1%
Employed
600
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.0%
Postgraduate
10.2%
Born Overseas
29.4%
Dwellings
475
Transport to Work
Car dependence is pronounced at 85.0% of commuters driving, with only 6.9% using public transport and 3.0% walking or cycling, higher car reliance than the national average for urban suburbs. No schools are recorded inside the 1.36 square kilometre boundary, so families depend on schools in adjacent suburbs. The crime rate of 129.4 incidents per 1,000 residents is the suburb's sharpest risk signal, above what would be typical for a middle-income area in Adelaide. Rent-to-income at 20.3% and mortgage-to-income at 25.0% both stay below stress thresholds, so housing costs are manageable. The volunteering rate of 18.3% indicates active community engagement. Household income sits at the 52.6th percentile nationally, placing residents in a middle band for economic resources.
Drive
85.0%
Public Transport
6.9%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
165
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
129.4
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Darlington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Darlington a good suburb to live in?
Darlington offers a detached-house-dominant setting (82.3% separate houses) with manageable housing costs: mortgage-to-income sits at 25.0% and rent-to-income at 20.3%, both below stress thresholds. University qualifications reach 37.0%, which is 6.9 points above national. The main caution is a crime rate of 129.4 per 1,000 residents, which is above typical for comparable Adelaide suburbs.
What is the median house price in Darlington?
The median house price is $870,000 as of 1Q 2026, down 5.6% from $922,000 in 1Q 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and weekly rent averages $325. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0% sits below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Darlington?
No schools are recorded inside the Darlington suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring southern Adelaide suburbs. The local population is relatively well-educated, with 37.0% holding university qualifications, which is 6.9 percentage points above the national average.
Is Darlington safe?
The suburb recorded 165 incidents in the reference period, producing a crime rate of 129.4 per 1,000 residents. That rate is higher than what is typically seen in middle-income Adelaide suburbs and is flagged as a notable signal in the suburb profile. Prospective residents should review SA Police local area data for current detail.
Is Darlington good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $325 against an $870,000 median gives a gross yield of approximately 1.9%, which is low. The vacancy rate of 4.8% is elevated compared to tighter Adelaide markets. The renter share of 28.8% provides a reasonable tenant base, but the 5.6% price fall over the year to 1Q 2026 signals softened demand, warranting caution on near-term capital growth.
How is Darlington's population changing?
Darlington's population stands at 1,275, with 80.2% of residents remaining at the same address over the measured period, indicating high residential stability rather than growth-driven churn. Development activity is modest at 11 applications in the past 12 months. No formal population forecast is available for this suburb in the current dataset.
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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