SA 5113 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Davoren Park

A median house price of $676,000 sitting alongside household incomes in the 9.7th percentile nationally is the defining tension of Davoren Park. Prices jumped 14.6% in a single year, from $590,000 in 1Q 2025 to $676,000 in 1Q 2026, yet the suburb scores decile 1 on all four SEIFA indexes, the most disadvantaged tier. The resident base is young, with a median age of 33, seven years below the national figure, and education runs low: only 8.9% hold a university qualification, 21.2 points below national. Unemployment reaches 18.6% and the crime rate of 153.2 per 1,000 residents is high, framing a market where affordability has eroded faster than local incomes.

Davoren Park urban fabric map

Population

6,392

Median Age

33.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$931/wk

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

116

Median House

$676K

Median 1Q 2026

3.24 km²· 1,970 people/km²· Family income $1,080/wk

The $676,000 median is steep against local earnings, but the stock suits family buyers because 70.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 75.7% carry three bedrooms, a far more house-and-land profile than apartment-heavy inner suburbs. The 14.6% one-year price rise from $590,000 has outpaced the 12.7% real income growth recorded over a full decade, so entry is getting harder relative to wages. Despite that, the headline stress measures stay below the threshold: mortgage-to-income sits at 23.4% and average monthly repayments are just $945, lower than most metro markets, which keeps mortgaged ownership viable for households that can clear the deposit hurdle. Four-plus bedroom homes are scarce at 13.6%, so larger families face thinner supply than the three-bedroom mainstream.

For Buyers

The $676,000 median is steep against local earnings, but the stock suits family buyers because 70.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 75.7% carry three bedrooms, a far more house-and-land profile than apartment-heavy inner suburbs. The 14.6% one-year price rise from $590,000 has outpaced the 12.7% real income growth recorded over a full decade, so entry is getting harder relative to wages. Despite that, the headline stress measures stay below the threshold: mortgage-to-income sits at 23.4% and average monthly repayments are just $945, lower than most metro markets, which keeps mortgaged ownership viable for households that can clear the deposit hurdle. Four-plus bedroom homes are scarce at 13.6%, so larger families face thinner supply than the three-bedroom mainstream.

For Investors

A 47.5% renter share gives landlords a deep tenant pool, the standout feature for investors here. Weekly rent of $250 against the $676,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%, modest, though rents have grown 28.6% over the period, well above the suburb's price-to-income strain. The 9.2% vacancy rate is elevated and signals that demand does not absorb supply tightly, a caution for new entrants. Demand support is real: net internal migration adds about 147 residents a year and overseas migration another 120, with development running at 104 applications in 12 months, including rooming houses and terrace dwellings aimed squarely at the rental market. With annual population growth of 1.67%, the case rests on rental yield and tenant turnover rather than rapid capital gains, though the recent 14.6% price move shows upside exists.

Development Activity

Total DAs

827

Last 12 Months

116

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+13.7%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

New Dwelling
53
Subdivision
53
Garage / Carport / Shed
30
Deck / Pergola / Patio
25
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
18
Tree Removal
11
Renovation / Extension
11
Commercial / Industrial
10

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

Swallowcliffe School P-6

ICSEA 917 Primary Government

U, R-6 · 423 students

Demographics

The median age of 33 is 7.0 years below the national figure, marking a young, family-forming population rather than an aging one. Overseas-born residents reach 22.7%, just 1.1 points above national, so the suburb is less migrant-led than many metro areas. Ancestry leans Anglo, led by English (2,539), then Scottish (397) and German (378), and the largest non-English languages are Khmer (25 speakers), Persian (18) and Arabic (15), a small but present Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern mix. University qualifications at 8.9% run 21.2 points below national, the clearest marker of the suburb's profile. Average household size is 2.5, in line with national, and couples with children (1,648 families) outnumber couples without children (781), consistent with the younger median age.

Age Distribution

0-14
23.5%
15-24
12.8%
25-44
28.0%
45-64
21.6%
65+
14.1%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.4%
2 bed
7.2%
3 bed
75.7%
4+ bed
13.6%

Dwelling Structure

70.0%

Houses

27.0%

Townhouse

3.0%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 20.8% Mortgage 31.6% Rent 47.5%

Tenure tilts toward renting: 47.5% rent, 31.6% carry a mortgage and only 20.8% own outright, a renter-heavy split unusual for a detached-house suburb and a sign of a transient, lower-equity base. The stock is 70.0% separate houses and 27.0% semi-detached, with apartments almost absent at 3.0%, so this is overwhelmingly a ground-level housing market. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 75.7%, far above the national spread, while two-bedroom homes are just 7.2%. The median rose from $590,000 in 1Q 2025 to $676,000 in 1Q 2026, a 14.6% one-year move, yet repayments stay manageable: mortgage-to-income reads 23.4% and rent-to-income 26.9%, both below the 30% stress line, because purchase prices remain low in absolute terms compared with capital-city medians.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$945

Rent / wk

$250

HH Size

2.5

Personal Income / wk

$486

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

9.2%

Unoccupied

231

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

26.9%

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

23.4%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Khmer
25
Persian ED
18
Arabic
15

Ancestry

English
2,539
Other
973
Ancestry NS
533
Scottish
397
German
378
Irish
339

Household Composition

17.1%

Couples, no children

4,562

Total families

Economy & Employment

The workforce concentrates in lower-credential sectors, which explains the income and SEIFA profile. Healthcare leads at 22.4% (194 workers), followed by Retail at 11.6% (101), Manufacturing at 10.8% (94) and Construction and Education tied at 8.2% each. By occupation, Labourers (438) and Machinery Operators and Drivers (286) dominate, well above professional roles, aligning with the decile 1 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is high at 18.6% and participation low at 42.3%, leaving 2,285 residents not in the labour force. All four SEIFA indexes sit at decile 1, the bottom tier nationally, with IRSAD at 799 and IER at 862. Real incomes still grew 12.7% over the decade, so conditions are improving from a low base rather than stagnating.

Unemployment

11.1%

Labour Force

9,200

Unemployed

1,024

Quarterly Trend

Mar-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
1
Disadvantage
1
Economic resources
1
Education & occupation
1

Full-time

55.9%

Part-time

25.5%

Participation

42.3%

Employed

1,683

Occupations

Labourers 438
Machinery/Drivers 286
Community/Personal 267
Sales 174
Clerical/Admin 155
Managers 107
Professionals 105

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.4%
Retail 11.6%
Manufacturing 10.8%
Construction 8.2%
Education 8.2%

University

8.9%

Postgraduate

1.6%

Born Overseas

22.7%

Dwellings

2,281

Transport to Work

The suburb is heavily car-dependent: 84.6% drive to work while only 3.8% use public transport and 2.4% walk or cycle, well below the active-transport share of denser areas. No schools are recorded inside the 3.24 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off given the low 8.9% university qualification rate. The clearest livability concern is safety: the crime rate of 153.2 per 1,000 residents is high, with 979 recorded incidents, and the suburb scores decile 1 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the most disadvantaged tier. Volunteering runs at 8.4% and 13.9% of residents (819 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a lower-income community where affordability, at a $250 weekly rent, remains the main draw.

Drive

84.6%

Public Transport

3.8%

Walk / Cycle

2.4%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+1.67%/yr

(+341 people/yr)

Established

Davoren Park is classified as an established suburb on a steady upward path, with population growth of 1.67% a year and a 17.7% rise over the past decade, faster than many mature metro suburbs. Net internal migration of about 147 residents a year is the primary driver, supported by roughly 120 from overseas, a balanced inflow rather than a single source. The gentrification stage reads early signs, scoring 28 to 30, supported by a working-age share that rose 2.8 points and rents up 28.6%. Affordability actually improved, easing from 48.6% in 2011 to 45.1% in 2021, though it remains high. The combination of a young median age of 33 and consistent migration points to continued household formation rather than the flat trajectory typical of aging established suburbs.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Balanced

Net Overseas / yr

+120

Net Internal / yr

+147

28

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +29% since 2011, Net internal migration +147/yr

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

979

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

153.2

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Davoren Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 9%
Household Income
Bottom 10%
Rent Level
Bottom 44%
Apartments
Bottom 44%
Renters
Top 10%
Uni Educated
Bottom 4%
Public Transport
Top 44%
Born Overseas
Top 24%
Density
Top 8%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Davoren Park a good suburb to live in?

Davoren Park scores decile 1 on all four SEIFA indexes, the most disadvantaged tier, with household income in the 9.7th percentile. The main draw is affordability, with weekly rent around $250 and average monthly mortgage repayments of $945. The trade-offs are an 18.6% unemployment rate and a high crime rate of 153.2 per 1,000 residents.

What is the median house price in Davoren Park?

The median house price is $676,000 as of 1Q 2026, up 14.6% from $590,000 in 1Q 2025. That remains low compared with capital-city medians, and weekly rent of $250 gives a gross yield near 1.9%, with mortgage-to-income sitting at a manageable 23.4%.

What schools are in Davoren Park?

No schools are recorded inside the 3.24 km2 Davoren Park boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is young, with a median age of 33, seven years below national, though university qualifications are low at 8.9%.

Is Davoren Park safe?

Davoren Park has a high crime rate of 153.2 per 1,000 residents, with 979 recorded incidents. The suburb also scores decile 1 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, and 13.9% of residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a higher-need area.

Is Davoren Park good for property investment?

A 47.5% renter share gives a deep tenant pool, and rents grew 28.6% over the period. Against the $676,000 median, the $250 weekly rent implies a yield near 1.9%, while the 9.2% vacancy rate signals loose demand. Net migration of about 267 residents a year supports the rental market.

How is Davoren Park's population changing?

Population is growing at 1.67% a year, a 17.7% rise over the past decade, faster than many established suburbs. Growth is driven by net internal migration of about 147 residents a year plus 120 from overseas. The median age of 33 points to ongoing household formation rather than aging.

How much development is happening in Davoren Park?

There were 104 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a strong figure for a 3.24 km2 suburb. Recent samples include three-dwelling terrace arrangements and a six-bedroom rooming house, consistent with supply aimed at the 47.5% of residents who rent.

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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