Kadina
At 49, Kadina's median age sits 9 years above the national figure, making its aging resident base the clearest local marker. The town has 2,944 residents spread across 102.45 square kilometres, with a low density of 28.7 people per square kilometre. Detached homes make up 90.6% of dwellings, while 28.4% of households rent and vacancy is 10.5%. Compared with nearby Wallaroo and Moonta, Kadina reads as an inland service centre with healthcare, education and agricultural links. Its household income percentile is 16.7, below the national midpoint, so affordability and local services matter more than prestige pricing.
Local council: Copper Coast
Population
2,944
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,081/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
75
Kadina suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable repayments rather than apartment access. Separate houses account for 90.6% of dwellings, with 52.4% containing 3 bedrooms and 27.1% containing 4 or more. Indicative mortgage repayments are $1,083 per month, while mortgage stress is 23.1% of household income, matching the rent-to-income figure and suggesting a relatively contained payment burden. A further 42.3% of residents own outright and 27.1% have a mortgage, pointing to an established owner base. Compared with a higher-density market, Kadina provides more detached stock, but a current median sale price is unavailable, so inspections and independent valuations are essential before judging value.
For Buyers
Kadina suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable repayments rather than apartment access. Separate houses account for 90.6% of dwellings, with 52.4% containing 3 bedrooms and 27.1% containing 4 or more. Indicative mortgage repayments are $1,083 per month, while mortgage stress is 23.1% of household income, matching the rent-to-income figure and suggesting a relatively contained payment burden. A further 42.3% of residents own outright and 27.1% have a mortgage, pointing to an established owner base. Compared with a higher-density market, Kadina provides more detached stock, but a current median sale price is unavailable, so inspections and independent valuations are essential before judging value.
For Investors
Kadina has a mixed rental picture. Weekly rent is $250, 28.4% of households rent and vacancy is 10.5%, so investors should allow for longer letting periods even though entry rents are modest. Development activity reached 76 applications in 12 months, but the examples include sheds, detached homes and infrastructure changes, not only new rental dwellings. Forecast growth is 0.78% annually with migration described as Balanced, which is slower than a high-growth corridor and supports a yield-and-occupancy strategy rather than aggressive capital-growth assumptions. The 38.9% rent growth signal may assist landlord returns, although vacancy remains the key risk because it can reduce income between tenancies.
Development Activity
Total DAs
404
Last 12 Months
75
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+5.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kadina
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Wallaroo Mines Primary School
Kadina Memorial School
Demographics
Kadina's population profile is older and less university-oriented than the national pattern. Median age is 49, or 9 years above the national comparison, while university attainment is 15.7%, 14.4 percentage points below the national figure. Average household size is 2.2, lower than the national comparison by 0.3, helping explain the large share of couples without children at 51.6%. English, German, Scottish and Irish ancestries are the most reported, with counts of 1,318, 244, 229 and 220 respectively. No religion is recorded for 1,484 people compared with 1,185 identifying with Christianity. Compared with nearby Wallaroo and Moonta, Kadina's older, Anglo-leaning profile fits its role as a regional service town.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.6%
Houses
7.5%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Kadina's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached: 90.6% separate houses, 7.5% semi-detached dwellings and only 0.2% apartments. The bedroom mix is concentrated in 3-bedroom homes at 52.4%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom homes at 27.1%, so the market is better suited to conventional houses than compact units. Tenure is split between 42.3% outright ownership, 27.1% mortgages and 28.4% renting, while mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income ratios are both 23.1%. That indicates less immediate tenure stress, although a 10.5% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly occupied market and may limit rental scarcity. Compared with apartment-oriented coastal markets, Kadina provides more land-rich housing, but buyers need current local sales evidence because a median house price is unavailable.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$598
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
146
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.9%
Couples with children
51.6%
Couples, no children
18.8%
Single parent
803
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kadina's economy is anchored by service industries rather than a single dominant employer. Healthcare accounts for 23.0% of jobs, followed by Education at 14.7%, Retail at 7.1%, Public Administration at 6.5% and Agriculture at 6.2%. This mix supports local demand because health, education and government services can continue operating when farm or retail cycles vary. Labour-force participation is 48.7%, unemployment is 6.1% and full-time employment is 53.3%, pointing to a smaller and older workforce than a higher-participation regional hub. Occupations span Community/Personal roles at 172 people, Professionals at 170, Trades at 147, Sales at 144 and Labourers at 140. Household income is $1,081 per week and sits at the 16.7th percentile, below the national midpoint, so price-sensitive spending is likely important.
Unemployment
6.1%
Labour Force
1,205
Unemployed
74
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.3%
Part-time
40.7%
Participation
48.7%
Employed
1,131
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.7%
Postgraduate
1.9%
Born Overseas
7.6%
Dwellings
1,232
Transport to Work
Kadina functions well for residents who value local services and a low-density town layout. There are 2 nearby government schools spanning primary and combined primary/secondary education, giving families local options while exact enrolment zones should be checked by address. Car dependence is high: 80.7% travel as car drivers, compared with 6.7% who walk or cycle and 7.2% who work from home. Safety needs a realistic reading, with 154 recorded offences and a rate of 52.3 per 1,000 people. Socioeconomic conditions are mixed: IRSAD is in decile 2, IER in decile 3 and IEO in decile 1, so disadvantage is higher than the national median despite volunteering at 23.0%. Compared with denser coastal centres, Kadina offers more space but fewer non-car mobility choices.
Drive
80.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
6.7%
Work from Home
7.2%
Growth Outlook
Kadina's growth outlook is steady rather than explosive. The forecast trend is 0.78% annually and the primary migration driver is Balanced, pointing to incremental demand instead of a one-way inflow. Population change across the wider area is 6.8% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 5.4% and the young share down 3.4%. Gentrification is scored 11 and staged as Not gentrifying, so redevelopment pressure remains lower than in stronger lifestyle markets. Development activity reached 76 applications over 12 months, creating construction and service opportunities, but that volume includes varied projects rather than a clear housing boom. Compared with a high-growth corridor, Kadina's likely advantage is stability; its constraint is a gradually older demand base.
Population trend: Copper Coast council area
Kadina sits in the Copper Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Kadina's.
Residents 2025
16,601
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
154
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
52.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kadina compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kadina a good suburb to live in?
Kadina suits residents seeking detached housing, local services and a quieter regional setting. The population is 2,944, median age is 49 and 80.7% of commuters drive, so it is better suited to people comfortable with car-based living than households seeking frequent public transport.
What is the median house price in Kadina?
A current median house price is unavailable for Kadina. Buyers should compare recent sales, land size and property condition, noting that 90.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 52.4% have 3 bedrooms. Independent valuations are useful when assessing individual listings.
What schools are in Kadina?
Kadina has 2 nearby government schools covering primary and combined primary/secondary education. School access depends on the exact address and enrolment zone, so families should confirm eligibility directly. The local school mix supports basic access without implying differences in school performance.
Is Kadina safe?
Kadina recorded 154 offences, equal to a rate of 52.3 per 1,000 people. That figure is a useful local indicator but not a guarantee for every street or property. Buyers and renters should check recent incidents, lighting, access points and the immediate surroundings before deciding.
Is Kadina good for property investment?
Kadina may suit investors targeting modest rents and regional service demand. Weekly rent is $250, vacancy is 10.5% and forecast growth is 0.78% annually. The higher vacancy level can extend letting periods, so cash-flow modelling should allow for empty weeks, maintenance and limited capital-growth momentum.
How is Kadina's population changing?
Kadina has an aging trajectory. Forecast annual growth is 0.78%, while population change across the wider area is 6.8% over 10 years. The senior share has risen 5.4% and the young share has fallen 3.4%, indicating demand is likely to remain more service-oriented than youth-driven.
What development is happening in Kadina?
Kadina recorded 76 development applications over 12 months. Examples include a single-storey detached dwelling, an outbuilding and infrastructure alterations linked to data centres. The volume is above what a purely static market might show, but the varied project types do not indicate 76 new homes.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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