SA 5041 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Daw Park

At 2,617 residents per square kilometre across just 1.03 km2, Daw Park is one of Adelaide's more compact inner-south suburbs, yet it carries a median house price of $1,415,000, well above the South Australian median. The suburb punches significantly above the national average on university qualifications, with 47.8% holding a degree compared to the national figure of around 30%, a gap of 17.7 percentage points. Unemployment sits at 5.1% and the crime rate of 22.6 incidents per 1,000 residents is low. Healthcare dominates employment at 24.4% of the local workforce, reflecting proximity to Flinders Medical Centre, which shapes both who lives here and the local economy.

Daw Park urban fabric map

Population

2,705

Median Age

39.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,639/wk

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

3

Median House

$1.4M

Median 1Q 2026

1.03 km²· 2,617.3 people/km²· Family income $2,265/wk

The median house price reached $1,415,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 12.0% from $1,263,000 in the first quarter of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is notable given the high price point. Separate houses account for 51.3% of dwellings, with apartments at 29.5% and semi-detached at 18.5%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 41.1%, followed by two-bedroom at 37.3%, meaning most stock suits couples and small families rather than large households. Outright ownership at 30.8% and mortgage holders at 36.4% together cover most residents, while 32.8% rent. The household income at the 56.7th percentile nationally is moderate relative to the purchase price, so buyers tend to bring equity or have long-held assets.

For Buyers

The median house price reached $1,415,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 12.0% from $1,263,000 in the first quarter of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is notable given the high price point. Separate houses account for 51.3% of dwellings, with apartments at 29.5% and semi-detached at 18.5%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 41.1%, followed by two-bedroom at 37.3%, meaning most stock suits couples and small families rather than large households. Outright ownership at 30.8% and mortgage holders at 36.4% together cover most residents, while 32.8% rent. The household income at the 56.7th percentile nationally is moderate relative to the purchase price, so buyers tend to bring equity or have long-held assets.

For Investors

A 32.8% renter share gives landlords a solid tenant base, and weekly rent of $300 is low relative to the $1,415,000 median, implying a gross yield of roughly 1.1%, below average for Adelaide. The vacancy rate of 6.8% is elevated and warrants caution, as this level is above the balanced-market threshold of around 3%. Development activity is minimal, with only 3 applications in the past 12 months, all alterations to existing structures rather than new dwellings, so supply growth is constrained. The price-to-income ratio is high relative to the 56.7th percentile household income nationally, meaning rental demand must sustain returns rather than yield expansion. The 12.0% price gain in one year is strong, but with only two quarters of data available, trend confidence is limited.

Development Activity

Total DAs

39

Last 12 Months

3

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

0.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
3
Change of Use
1
Tree Removal
1
Commercial / Industrial
1

Demographics

The median age is 39, which is 1.0 year below the national figure, placing Daw Park slightly younger than the national profile. University qualifications reach 47.8%, which is 17.7 percentage points above the national average, reflecting the concentration of healthcare and professional workers. Overseas-born residents make up 24.4% of the population, 2.8 percentage points above the national average. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,015), Scottish (245) and Irish (244), with German (200) also notable. The most common non-English languages are Greek (49 speakers) and Mandarin (30). Average household size is 2.3, which is 0.2 below the national figure, consistent with a high share of couples without children: 23.4% of families fall into that category.

Age Distribution

0-14
16.2%
15-24
12.1%
25-44
28.8%
45-64
24.3%
65+
18.6%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.5%
2 bed
37.3%
3 bed
41.1%
4+ bed
18.2%

Dwelling Structure

51.3%

Houses

18.5%

Townhouse

29.5%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 30.8% Mortgage 36.4% Rent 32.8%

Tenure splits across ownership categories: 30.8% own outright, 36.4% hold a mortgage and 32.8% rent. The proportion owning outright is lower than in many comparable high-priced suburbs, suggesting recent buyer activity rather than established generational ownership. Stock is majority separate houses at 51.3%, with apartments at 29.5% and semi-detached at 18.5%, offering more variety than purely detached markets. Three-bedroom dwellings are the most common at 41.1%, two-bedroom at 37.3%, and four-plus at 18.2%. The median price climbed from $1,263,000 to $1,415,000 between the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, a 12.0% rise. Rent-to-income sits at 18.3%, below the stress threshold, though the purchase price-to-income ratio is elevated compared to the suburb's 56.7th percentile income standing nationally.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,800

Rent / wk

$300

HH Size

2.3

Personal Income / wk

$797

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

6.8%

Unoccupied

78

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

18.3%

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

25.4%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Greek
49
Mandarin
30
Nepali
17
Punjabi
14

Ancestry

English
1,015
Other
365
Scottish
245
Irish
244
German
200
Greek
156

Household Composition

23.4%

Couples, no children

1,944

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare dominates at 24.4% of employed residents, with 255 workers, reflecting proximity to Flinders Medical Centre and Repatriation General Hospital. Professional and technical services follow at 12.5% (130 workers), Education at 11.3% (118), and Public Administration at 10.4% (108). By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 445 workers, followed by Community and Personal Service (189), Clerical and Administrative (180), and Managers (179). Full-time employment runs at 59.7%, and the unemployment rate is 5.1%. Participation is 62.4%, with 713 residents not in the labour force, a figure consistent with the 39-year median age and the proportion of established residents. Weekly household income of $1,639 sits at the 56.7th percentile nationally, moderate given the suburb's price point.

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

Full-time

59.7%

Part-time

35.2%

Participation

62.4%

Employed

1,346

Occupations

Professionals 445
Community/Personal 189
Clerical/Admin 180
Managers 179
Sales 115
Labourers 110
Machinery/Drivers 45

Top Industries

Healthcare 24.4%
Professional/Tech 12.5%
Education 11.3%
Public Admin 10.4%
Construction 6.0%

University

47.8%

Postgraduate

11.3%

Born Overseas

24.4%

Dwellings

1,072

Transport to Work

Car dependence is high at 83.4% of residents commuting by car, above the national average, while public transport accounts for 7.4% and walking or cycling for 4.7%. The crime rate is 22.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is low and contributes to the suburb's low-crime identity signal in the data. No schools are recorded within the Daw Park boundary, so families rely on institutions in adjacent suburbs. Volunteering is relatively active at 18.7% of residents. The rent-to-income ratio of 18.3% is below the stress threshold, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.4% is also below 30%, meaning housing costs are proportionally manageable relative to income despite the high absolute price. The suburb's 1.03 km2 footprint and density of 2,617 per square kilometre make it compact compared to many SA suburbs.

Drive

83.4%

Public Transport

7.4%

Walk / Cycle

4.7%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

61

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

22.6

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Daw Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 18%
Household Income
Top 43%
Rent Level
Top 41%
Apartments
Top 13%
Renters
Top 24%
Uni Educated
Top 11%
Public Transport
Top 20%
Born Overseas
Top 21%
Density
Top 5%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Daw Park a good suburb to live in?

Daw Park has a low crime rate of 22.6 incidents per 1,000 residents and strong education levels, with 47.8% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 17.7 percentage points above the national average. The rent-to-income ratio is 18.3% and mortgage-to-income is 25.4%, both below stress thresholds. The main trade-off is a high $1,415,000 median house price relative to household income at the 56.7th percentile nationally.

What is the median house price in Daw Park?

The median house price in Daw Park is $1,415,000 as of the first quarter of 2026, up 12.0% from $1,263,000 in the first quarter of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800 and weekly rent is $300. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 25.4%, below the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Daw Park?

No schools are recorded inside the Daw Park boundary in this dataset. Residents have 47.8% university qualification rates, which is 17.7 percentage points above the national average, suggesting families access well-regarded institutions in neighbouring suburbs such as Mitcham, Belair and Blackwood.

Is Daw Park safe?

Daw Park records 61 total crime incidents, producing a rate of 22.6 per 1,000 residents, which is low relative to most metropolitan suburbs. The suburb carries a low-crime-rate identity signal in the data. Only 10.8% of residents, or 283 people, need daily assistance, consistent with a well-supported population.

Is Daw Park good for property investment?

The median price rose 12.0% in one year, from $1,263,000 to $1,415,000. However, weekly rent of $300 against the $1,415,000 median implies a gross yield of roughly 1.1%, which is low. The vacancy rate of 6.8% is above the balanced-market threshold of around 3%, and development is minimal at 3 applications in 12 months, so supply is constrained but demand evidence is mixed.

How is Daw Park's population changing?

Daw Park has 2,705 residents across 1.03 km2 at a density of 2,617 per square kilometre. Community stability is high, with 79.2% of residents staying between census periods and a turnover rate of 20.8%. No forward population forecast data is available for this suburb. Development activity is minimal, with only 3 applications lodged in the past 12 months, all alterations rather than new dwellings.

What industries employ people in Daw Park?

Healthcare is the dominant employer at 24.4% of the workforce (255 workers), reflecting proximity to Flinders Medical Centre. Professional and technical services account for 12.5% (130 workers), Education 11.3% (118) and Public Administration 10.4% (108). Full-time employment runs at 59.7% and the unemployment rate is 5.1%.

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.

Explore Daw Park on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in SA