Dayton
A median age of 30 sits 10 years below the national figure, and that youth shapes almost everything else in Dayton. Half the residents (50.9%) were born overseas, 29.3 points above the national share, and 37.9% hold university qualifications, 7.8 points above national. The housing is overwhelmingly new and family-sized: 96.7% are separate houses and 49.3% carry four or more bedrooms, which pairs with an average household of 3.0 people. Affordability is the draw, with a $478,000 median house price and household incomes already in the 81.4th percentile nationally, so only 21.7% of income goes to a mortgage despite 73.0% of homes still being financed.
Population
5,507
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,133/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
38
Median House
$478K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $478,000 median, Dayton is an entry point that working households can clear without overextending. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, which works out to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and unusual given that 73.0% of homes are mortgaged. The trade-off for that affordability is a near-uniform housing type: 96.7% are separate houses and apartments make up just 0.5%, so buyers seeking a low-maintenance unit have almost no options here. Stock skews large, with 49.3% of homes holding four or more bedrooms and 47.4% holding three, which suits the 3.0-person average household and the 2,950 couples raising children. Outright ownership is rare at 4.9%, well below typical established suburbs, because most owners are recent buyers still paying down newly built homes.
For Buyers
At a $478,000 median, Dayton is an entry point that working households can clear without overextending. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, which works out to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and unusual given that 73.0% of homes are mortgaged. The trade-off for that affordability is a near-uniform housing type: 96.7% are separate houses and apartments make up just 0.5%, so buyers seeking a low-maintenance unit have almost no options here. Stock skews large, with 49.3% of homes holding four or more bedrooms and 47.4% holding three, which suits the 3.0-person average household and the 2,950 couples raising children. Outright ownership is rare at 4.9%, well below typical established suburbs, because most owners are recent buyers still paying down newly built homes.
For Investors
Renters make up 22.2% of households, a smaller pool than many metro suburbs, but the 3.9% vacancy rate shows tenant demand keeps pace with supply. Weekly rent of $360 against the $478,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, materially higher than the sub-2% yields common in premium Sydney or Melbourne markets, which is the core investor case here. Migration support is real: half the population (50.9%) was born overseas, 29.3 points above national, and new arrivals typically rent before buying. Development activity is modest at 26 applications over 12 months, mostly patios and minor approvals rather than new dwelling supply, so existing stock is unlikely to be diluted. With rent-to-income at just 16.9%, tenants have room to absorb increases, supporting steady rather than spectacular rent growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
38
Last 12 Months
38
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Dayton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Emmaus Catholic Primary School
PP-6 · 207 students
Dayton Primary School
K-6 · 404 students
Demographics
The median age of 30 runs 10 years below the national figure, marking Dayton as a young-family suburb rather than an aging one. Overseas-born residents reach 50.9%, which is 29.3 points above national, and ancestry reflects that: English (1,143) leads the named groups, followed by Indian (822) and Filipino (643). The top non-English languages are Punjabi (297), Gujarati (99) and Hindi (90), consistent with a strong South Asian presence that also shows in 643 Hindu residents behind 2,013 Christians. University qualifications at 37.9% sit 7.8 points above national, higher than the affordable price point would suggest, because many residents are skilled migrants. Average household size is 3.0, half a person above national, driven by the 2,950 couples with children versus only 824 couples without.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.7%
Houses
2.8%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by debt: 73.0% of households carry a mortgage while just 4.9% own outright and 22.2% rent. That outright figure sits far below the level seen in older suburbs and signals a population of recent buyers in newly built homes rather than long-settled owners. The stock is 96.7% separate houses with only 0.5% apartments and 2.8% semi-detached, so detached living is effectively the only choice. Homes are large, with 49.3% holding four or more bedrooms and 47.4% three bedrooms, matched to the 3.0-person average household. The $478,000 median against an 81.4th-percentile household income keeps the mortgage-to-income ratio at 21.7% and rent-to-income at 16.9%, both well below the 30% stress line, a rare combination of affordable prices and above-average earnings.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,021
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
72
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.4%
Couples, no children
4,748
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 20.4% of workers (432 people), followed by Transport at 8.2% (173), Retail at 8.1% (171), Manufacturing at 7.8% (165) and Mining at 7.6% (161), a spread that leans toward services and logistics rather than office work. By occupation, Community and Personal Services lead at 476, just ahead of Professionals at 458 and Clerical and Admin at 376, which fits the healthcare concentration. The labour market is healthy: unemployment is 4.7%, the full-time employment rate is 69.1% and participation reaches 74.3%, above the national norm and consistent with the young, working-age profile. Household income lands in the 81.4th percentile nationally, higher than the affordable housing would imply, because dual-income working families are the norm with 2,950 couples raising children.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.1%
Part-time
26.2%
Participation
74.3%
Employed
2,875
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.9%
Postgraduate
9.0%
Born Overseas
50.9%
Dwellings
1,774
Transport to Work
Dayton is built around the car: 90.7% of commuters drive while only 3.4% use public transport and 0.8% walk or cycle, well below the levels in inner-city suburbs and a function of the low-density, detached layout at 2,282 residents per km2. That car dependence is the practical cost of the space and affordability the suburb offers. Day-to-day pressure is low, with rent-to-income at 16.9% and mortgage-to-income at 21.7%, both comfortably under the 30% stress threshold, so residents keep more disposable income than in pricier markets. Only 2.0% of residents (105 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the young median age of 30. Community ties are developing, with a volunteering rate of 11.8% and 71.3% of residents having stayed put, a sign the population is putting down roots.
Drive
90.7%
Public Transport
3.4%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dayton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dayton a good suburb to live in?
Dayton suits young families seeking affordable space. Household income sits in the 81.4th percentile nationally, the median house price is $478,000, and mortgage costs take just 21.7% of income, below the 30% stress line. The main trade-off is heavy car reliance, with 90.7% driving to work and only 3.4% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Dayton?
The median house price is $478,000, an affordable entry point by metro standards. Weekly rent averages $360 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold for households here.
What schools are in Dayton?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.41 km2 Dayton boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is well educated, with university qualifications at 37.9%, which is 7.8 points above the national figure.
Is Dayton safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Dayton in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 2.0% of residents (105 people) need daily assistance and 71.3% have stayed put rather than moving, both patterns more common in stable, settled residential areas.
Is Dayton good for property investment?
Rent of $360 a week against a $478,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%, well above the sub-2% yields in premium capital-city markets. A 3.9% vacancy rate shows steady tenant demand, and with 50.9% of residents born overseas, migration keeps the rental pool replenished.
How is Dayton's population changing?
Dayton is an early-stage growth suburb where 73.0% of homes are mortgaged and only 4.9% are owned outright, a pattern typical of recent build-out. The median age of 30 is 10 years below national, and resident turnover of 28.7% shows the population is settling rather than churning.
What languages are spoken in Dayton?
About 50.9% of residents were born overseas, 29.3 points above the national figure. English is the main language, while Punjabi (297 speakers), Gujarati (99) and Hindi (90) are the most common non-English languages, reflecting a strong South Asian community alongside 643 Filipino-ancestry residents.
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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