SA 5116 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Evanston Gardens

At a median age of 30, Evanston Gardens is 10 years younger than the national figure, and that youth shows in the housing tenure split: 45% of dwellings carry a mortgage, compared to 14.5% owned outright. Separate houses dominate at 96% of stock, which is far above the national average, making this one of South Australia's most house-dominant suburbs. The median house price reached $710,000 in early 2026, up 6.8% from $665,000 a year prior. Despite a population of 2,347 in just 3.4 square kilometres, 90.1% of residents drive to work, reflecting a suburb built around car access rather than walking distance to services.

Evanston Gardens urban fabric map

Population

2,347

Median Age

30.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,504/wk

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

65

Median House

$710K

Median 1Q 2026

3.4 km²· 690.8 people/km²· Family income $1,737/wk

The median house price of $710,000 in the first quarter of 2026 represents a 6.8% gain from $665,000 in the same quarter of 2025. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 96% of dwellings are separate houses, with semi-detached at just 4% and no recorded apartment component, so buyers face concentrated competition for a single dwelling type. Three-bedroom homes account for 68.1% of stock, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 27.4%, making it a family-oriented market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means even with 45% of residents carrying a mortgage, repayments are manageable relative to local incomes at the 47th household income percentile nationally.

For Buyers

The median house price of $710,000 in the first quarter of 2026 represents a 6.8% gain from $665,000 in the same quarter of 2025. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 96% of dwellings are separate houses, with semi-detached at just 4% and no recorded apartment component, so buyers face concentrated competition for a single dwelling type. Three-bedroom homes account for 68.1% of stock, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 27.4%, making it a family-oriented market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means even with 45% of residents carrying a mortgage, repayments are manageable relative to local incomes at the 47th household income percentile nationally.

For Investors

Renters make up 40.5% of the suburb, a higher share than the 14.5% who own outright, signalling a resident base that is transient by necessity rather than choice. Weekly rent sits at $300, which is low compared to broader Adelaide median rents, but the 5.2% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants attention before committing capital. Development activity is active, with 59 applications lodged in the past 12 months, most of them detached dwellings assessed as Deemed to Satisfy, indicating greenfield-style infill rather than renovation-led demand. The 6.8% price growth from $665,000 to $710,000 over one year is a positive signal, though the two-quarter price history limits confidence in trend durability. The 31.1% residential turnover rate suggests a high-churn tenant pool that suits investors comfortable managing regular re-lets.

Development Activity

Total DAs

421

Last 12 Months

65

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-32.3%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

New Dwelling
107
Deck / Pergola / Patio
18
Garage / Carport / Shed
15
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
12
Subdivision
3
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
2
Swimming Pool / Spa
2
Commercial / Industrial
1

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

Evanston Gardens Primary School

ICSEA 943 Primary Government

R-6 · 263 students

Demographics

The median age of 30 is 10 years below the national figure, placing Evanston Gardens among South Australia's younger suburbs. Overseas-born residents at 14.6% are 7 points below the national rate, consistent with the predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry: English (1,119 residents) is the dominant ancestry, followed by Scottish (210) and German (209), with Irish (187) also significant. University qualifications at 19.4% fall 10.7 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a workforce concentrated in trade, community service and operational roles rather than professional or knowledge-economy jobs. Average household size of 2.6 is broadly in line with the national figure, and couples with children (740 families) outnumber couples without children (407), reinforcing the young-family character that the age and mortgage data already suggest.

Age Distribution

0-14
24.0%
15-24
13.0%
25-44
35.2%
45-64
18.2%
65+
8.8%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
N/A
2 bed
4.5%
3 bed
68.1%
4+ bed
27.4%

Dwelling Structure

96.0%

Houses

4.0%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 14.5% Mortgage 45.0% Rent 40.5%

Ownership tenure is split with 45% carrying a mortgage, 40.5% renting and only 14.5% owning outright. The low outright ownership share, compared to established suburbs where 30-40% own free and clear, reflects the young median age of 30 and the fact that many residents are still in the early repayment phase of a home loan. The 96% separate house rate is exceptionally high nationally, and the bedroom mix confirms family orientation: 68.1% are three-bedroom and 27.4% have four or more bedrooms. Rent-to-income sits at 19.9% and mortgage-to-income at 21.6%, both below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable at current income levels. The median price rose from $665,000 to $710,000 between early 2025 and early 2026, a 6.8% annual gain that keeps pace with broader South Australian growth.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,408

Rent / wk

$300

HH Size

2.6

Personal Income / wk

$791

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

5.2%

Unoccupied

48

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

19.9%

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

21.6%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Italian
12

Ancestry

English
1,119
Scottish
210
German
209
Irish
187
Other
166
Ancestry NS
111

Household Composition

21.6%

Couples, no children

1,884

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the single largest employing industry at 21.6% of resident workers (150 people), well above what the small suburb population would suggest and consistent with proximity to the Gawler health corridor north of Adelaide. Public Administration follows at 11.4% (79 workers) and Education at 10.4% (72), giving the economy a strong public-sector lean. Manufacturing accounts for 9.1% and Retail 8.4%, adding a blue-collar layer. By occupation, Community and Personal Service workers (169) outnumber Professionals (157), Labourers (140) and Clerical workers (132), which aligns with the 7.7% unemployment rate, above the national average, and the full-time employment rate of 64.3%. The household income percentile of 47 places the suburb near the national median, consistent with a mixed economy of public-sector and trade jobs rather than high-skill knowledge work.

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

Full-time

64.3%

Part-time

28.0%

Participation

64.6%

Employed

1,060

Occupations

Community/Personal 169
Professionals 157
Labourers 140
Clerical/Admin 132
Sales 120
Managers 114
Machinery/Drivers 93

Top Industries

Healthcare 21.6%
Public Admin 11.4%
Education 10.4%
Manufacturing 9.1%
Retail 8.4%

University

19.4%

Postgraduate

2.6%

Born Overseas

14.6%

Dwellings

872

Transport to Work

Public transport usage is low at 3.3% and active transport negligible at 0.8%, with 90.1% of residents driving to work, above the national car-dependence rate. This reflects the suburb's location in the Gawler fringe of Adelaide, where rail connections exist but driving remains the practical default for most journeys. Crime totals 208 incidents, giving a rate of 88.6 per 1,000 residents; no SEIFA disadvantage decile is available to contextualise this further, but rent-to-income at 19.9% and mortgage-to-income at 21.6% are both below the stress threshold, suggesting financial pressure is not a dominant factor. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on neighbouring Evanston Park and Gawler institutions. Volunteering runs at 12.4%, and 6.2% of residents (139 people) need daily assistance, a modest share consistent with the young demographic profile.

Drive

90.1%

Public Transport

3.3%

Walk / Cycle

0.8%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

208

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

88.6

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

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

How Evanston Gardens compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 20%
Household Income
Bottom 47%
Rent Level
Top 41%
Renters
Top 15%
Uni Educated
Bottom 35%
Public Transport
Top 50%
Born Overseas
Top 48%
Density
Top 18%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Evanston Gardens a good suburb to live in?

Evanston Gardens suits young families seeking detached housing at a manageable cost. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6% is well below the 30% stress threshold, and 96% of dwellings are separate houses. The main trade-offs are low public transport access at 3.3%, no schools within the suburb boundary, and a 5.2% vacancy rate that hints at some oversupply pressure.

What is the median house price in Evanston Gardens?

The median house price is $710,000 as at the first quarter of 2026, up 6.8% from $665,000 in the same quarter of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6%. Weekly rent is $300.

What schools are in Evanston Gardens?

No schools are recorded within the Evanston Gardens suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring areas such as Evanston Park and the broader Gawler district. University qualifications among residents sit at 19.4%, which is 10.7 percentage points below the national average.

Is Evanston Gardens safe?

Evanston Gardens recorded 208 total crime incidents, a rate of 88.6 per 1,000 residents. No further breakdown by crime category is available in the current dataset. For comparison, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6% and rent-to-income of 19.9% are both below stress thresholds, suggesting limited financial pressure on households.

Is Evanston Gardens good for property investment?

The 40.5% renter share provides a tenant pool, but a 5.2% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants caution. Weekly rent of $300 against a $710,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.2%. The 6.8% price growth in one year is encouraging, and 59 development applications in 12 months signal active local construction.

How is Evanston Gardens's population changing?

Evanston Gardens has a population of 2,347 and a residential turnover rate of 31.1%, meaning roughly one in three residents moved in the past five years. The median age of 30 is 10 years below the national average, and the high proportion of couples with children (740 families) suggests the suburb is attracting young families rather than an established long-term base.

How much development is happening in Evanston Gardens?

There were 59 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Most are new detached dwellings assessed as Deemed to Satisfy, including single-storey houses and one performance-assessed outbuilding. This level of activity is high for a suburb of 2,347 residents, at roughly 25 applications per 1,000 people annually.

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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