Darlington
The striking feature of Darlington is its compact, detached-house profile: 1,275 residents occupy 1.36 sq km at a density of 938.9 people per sq km. The median age is 39, one year below the national figure, while 37.0% hold a university qualification, 6.9 percentage points above the national share. Housing is mainly separate houses at 82.3%, and the household income percentile is 52.6, close to the middle. For buyers comparing Darlington with nearby Belair or Blackwood, its compact, detached profile makes land, car access and street-level safety checks more important than apartment amenity.
Local council: Marion (67% of the suburb; the rest sits in a neighbouring council)
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
12
Median House
$870K
First quarter 2026
Darlington suits buyers who prioritise a conventional family house over apartment living. Separate houses account for 82.3% of dwellings, with 54.7% having 3 bedrooms and 28.6% having 4 or more, so the stock is more useful for households needing space than for compact-living buyers. A listed mortgage cost of $1,733 per month equates to 25.0% of household income, with no mortgage-stress flag, although the entry price remains material. Compared with a unit-focused market, the 1.9% apartment share limits choice for buyers seeking lower-maintenance stock.
For Buyers
Darlington suits buyers who prioritise a conventional family house over apartment living. Separate houses account for 82.3% of dwellings, with 54.7% having 3 bedrooms and 28.6% having 4 or more, so the stock is more useful for households needing space than for compact-living buyers. A listed mortgage cost of $1,733 per month equates to 25.0% of household income, with no mortgage-stress flag, although the entry price remains material. Compared with a unit-focused market, the 1.9% apartment share limits choice for buyers seeking lower-maintenance stock.
For Investors
Darlington's rental case is balanced rather than scarcity-driven. Rents sit at $325 a week, 28.5% of households rent, and vacancy is 4.8%, so investors should allow for more tenant choice than in a tightly constrained market. Rent growth of 22.4% supports income momentum, while 12 development applications in the latest 12 months point mainly to incremental additions rather than a large project pipeline. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver and the annual trend is 0.84%, which may support demand gradually. Compared with the 2011 affordability measure of 66.8, the 2021 figure of 58.7 is lower, making yield and maintenance assumptions important.
Development Activity
Total DAs
74
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Darlington has a settled but moderately educated demographic profile. The median age is 39, one year below the national level, and the average household size is 2.5, matching the national comparison. University-qualified residents account for 37.0%, 6.9 percentage points above the national share, while 29.4% were born overseas, 7.8 points above the national comparison. English ancestry is reported by 402 people, followed by Scottish at 97, Irish at 91 and German at 86. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 577, ahead of Christianity at 484. The 80.2% stayed rate is higher than the 19.8% turnover rate, pointing to a settled base alongside international connections.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.3%
Houses
15.8%
Townhouse
1.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Darlington's housing is overwhelmingly detached and owner-occupied or mortgaged. Separate houses make up 82.3% of dwellings, compared with 15.8% semi-detached homes and 1.9% apartments. Tenure is split between 32.9% owned outright, 37.5% with a mortgage and 28.5% rented, creating a substantial mix of established owners and active renters. Three-bedroom homes account for 54.7%, while 4-plus-bedroom homes represent 28.6%. Compared with a unit-heavy suburb, this format favours land and family space, but it can limit affordable entry points because detached stock dominates.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$325
Census 2021
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
43.1%
Couples with children
37.5%
Couples, no children
20.6%
Single parent
325
Total families
Economy & Employment
Darlington's employment base is led by healthcare, which accounts for 24.8% of jobs and 104 workers, followed by construction at 11.9% and 50, education at 10.7% and 45, professional and technical work at 8.1% and 34, and public administration at 7.4% and 31. This mix links local livelihoods to essential services and skilled trades rather than one narrow industry. Professionals number 147, followed by trades at 85 and community and personal services at 83, while managers total 78 and clerical and administrative workers 76. The participation rate is 62.8%, unemployment is 5.9% and full-time employment is 57.0%. Household income sits at the 52.6th percentile, close to the national midpoint, so Darlington reads as economically middle-range rather than high-income.
Unemployment
5.9%
Labour Force
680
Unemployed
40
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.0%
Part-time
36.7%
Participation
62.8%
Employed
640
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.0%
Postgraduate
10.2%
Born Overseas
29.4%
Dwellings
475
Transport to Work
Darlington is practical for car-based routines but less oriented to public transport or active commuting. A total of 74.9% of workers drive, compared with 6.0% using public transport and 2.6% walking or cycling; 11.9% work from home. That pattern likely reflects dispersed daily destinations and the suburb's compact residential setting, so households without a car should test their exact route and service frequency. Recorded crime is 165 incidents, or 129.4 per 1,000 residents, making safety checking important rather than assuming a low-risk setting. Volunteering is 18.3%, which supports some local civic participation. Families should confirm school zones and nearby government, Catholic or independent options against the exact address because enrolment boundaries can cross suburb lines. Compared with a transit-led suburb, Darlington's 74.9% car share is the defining access consideration.
Drive
74.9%
Public Transport
6.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.6%
Work from Home
11.9%
Growth Outlook
Darlington's outlook is established and measured: the annual trend is 0.84%, while overseas migration is the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 13.0% over 10 years, higher than the annual trend figure, pointing to accumulated growth rather than a sudden surge. The shift trajectory is Mixed, with affordability improving from 66.8 in 2011 to 58.7 in 2021, and senior share up 1.6 percentage points while young share fell 0.6 points. The gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with a score of 18, although the shift score of 31 is higher and labelled Early signs. Compared with a speculative boom profile, this is a gradual market where migration and existing housing stock matter more than large-scale redevelopment.
Population trend: Marion council area
About 67% of Darlington sits in Marion; the rest is in a neighbouring council. These are the council area's residents, not Darlington's.
Residents 2025
101,229
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 suits households seeking detached homes, moderate household size and a settled residential setting. The median age is 39, 82.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 74.9% of workers drive, so it is better suited to car-oriented living than transit-first routines.
What schools are in Darlington?
Families should confirm the nearest government, Catholic and independent schools against the exact address because enrolment zones can cross suburb boundaries. Transport planning is important, with 6.0% using public transport and 74.9% travelling as car drivers.
Is Darlington safe?
Recorded crime totals 165 incidents, equivalent to 129.4 per 1,000 residents. That rate warrants checking recent incident patterns and the exact street before buying or renting, then comparing the result with nearby areas rather than relying only on the suburb name.
How is Darlington's population changing?
Darlington has 1,275 residents today, while population change across the wider area is 13.0% over 10 years. Growth is forecast at 0.84% annually and is primarily driven by overseas migration, with a Mixed trajectory rather than a rapid expansion profile.
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).
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