Kapunda
With a median age of 49, Kapunda's resident base sits 9 years above the national figure, making it one of South Australia's most distinctly age-weighted regional towns. A population of 2,947 spreads across 83.67 km2 at just 35 residents per km2, and household income sits in only the 21st percentile nationally. Despite that income profile, 41.3% of households own their home outright, a rate that reflects long tenure rather than recent wealth. Separate houses dominate at 94.5% of stock, and the vacancy rate of 8.8% is moderately elevated compared to tighter metro markets.
Population
2,947
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,140/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
62
Median house price data is not recorded for Kapunda in this dataset, but the cost structure gives useful context: monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability relative to income is a meaningful signal in a market where household income is in the 21st percentile nationally. Stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 94.5% separate houses and only 4.3% semi-detached. Bedroom mix favours three-bedroom homes at 53.9%, with 26.2% having four or more bedrooms and just 16.4% at two bedrooms. Outright owners at 41.3% outnumber mortgage holders at 39.3%, pointing to a stable, long-held ownership base rather than a market driven by recent entrants.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not recorded for Kapunda in this dataset, but the cost structure gives useful context: monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 22.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability relative to income is a meaningful signal in a market where household income is in the 21st percentile nationally. Stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 94.5% separate houses and only 4.3% semi-detached. Bedroom mix favours three-bedroom homes at 53.9%, with 26.2% having four or more bedrooms and just 16.4% at two bedrooms. Outright owners at 41.3% outnumber mortgage holders at 39.3%, pointing to a stable, long-held ownership base rather than a market driven by recent entrants.
For Investors
Rental demand in Kapunda is modest. The 19.3% renter share is lower than state and national averages, and weekly rent of $246 is well below the national median. The vacancy rate of 8.8% is elevated, indicating supply exceeds demand in the rental segment. Development activity remains active with 60 applications lodged in the past 12 months, largely outbuilding additions and dwelling alterations rather than new housing supply. The low renter proportion and above-average vacancy suggest investors face thin competition for tenants, though the income base, with household income in the 21st percentile nationally, constrains rent growth. The investment case rests primarily on low entry costs and stability rather than yield or capital growth momentum.
Development Activity
Total DAs
404
Last 12 Months
62
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-15.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kapunda iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kapunda Primary School
R-6 · 274 students
Kapunda High School
7-12 · 594 students
Demographics
Kapunda's median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure, the clearest signal of an aging-resident base. Overseas-born residents make up just 13.5%, which is 8.1 percentage points below the national figure, reinforcing the predominantly Anglo-Celtic composition. Ancestry is led by English (1,342 residents), German (421), Scottish (313) and Irish (312), a mix that reflects the town's 19th-century settler history. University qualifications reach 17.7%, which is 12.4 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a regional trade and services workforce. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national figure, and couples without children account for 35.4% of families, above average for the country, reflecting the older age profile. Volunteering is high at 24.7%, which is well above typical national rates and consistent with strong community participation in regional towns.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.5%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Kapunda's housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.5%, with semi-detached at 4.3% and no recorded apartment presence, a profile more concentrated in detached housing than most Australian suburbs. Tenure is notably skewed toward outright ownership: 41.3% own without a mortgage, compared to 39.3% with a mortgage and 19.3% renting. The large outright-owner share reflects decades of settlement in a low-turnover market, with an 82.7% stay-rate among residents over the measured period. Bedrooms skew toward family-sized homes, with 53.9% three-bedroom and 26.2% four-plus bedroom. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127 and rent-to-income sits at 21.6%, neither triggering stress thresholds despite household incomes being in only the 21st percentile nationally. Vacancy at 8.8% is the main indicator of softness in rental demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,127
Rent / wk
$246
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$625
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.8%
Unoccupied
119
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.4%
Couples, no children
2,230
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Kapunda's industry base at 17.6% of workers (137 people), followed closely by Manufacturing at 13.6% (106) and Education at 13.5% (105). These three sectors together account for nearly half of local employment. Construction adds 7.1% and Other Services 7.2%. By occupation, Labourers lead at 193 workers, followed by Professionals (169) and Community/Personal workers (164). The full-time employment rate is 58.7% and unemployment sits at 5.0%, modestly above the national average. Participation rate is 50.3%, reflecting the older demographic with 1,038 residents not in the labour force. Personal weekly income of $625 is lower than state and national figures, which aligns with the household income sitting in the 21st percentile nationally. The economy operates on essential-services and trades foundations rather than high-knowledge employment.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.7%
Part-time
36.3%
Participation
50.3%
Employed
1,184
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.7%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
13.5%
Dwellings
1,229
Transport to Work
Kapunda is almost entirely car-dependent: 90.6% of residents drive to work, compared to a much higher public transport share nationally, and only 0.8% use public transport. Walking or cycling accounts for 4.7% of trips, plausible given the low-density 35 residents per km2 footprint. The crime rate is 40.7 incidents per 1,000 residents annually based on 120 total recorded crimes, a figure that should be interpreted alongside the rural context where certain crime categories differ structurally from metro averages. SEIFA scores are not recorded for Kapunda in this dataset. Housing stress indicators are low, with rent-to-income at 21.6% and mortgage-to-income at 22.8%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The 8.2% of residents needing daily assistance (231 people) is elevated compared to national averages, consistent with the older median age of 49. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset.
Drive
90.6%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
4.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
120
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
40.7
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kapunda compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kapunda a good suburb to live in?
Kapunda suits residents who prefer a low-density regional setting with stable housing costs. Mortgage-to-income sits at 22.8% and rent-to-income at 21.6%, both below the 30% stress threshold. Household income is in the 21st percentile nationally, so it is an affordable rather than high-income market. The volunteering rate of 24.7% points to active community participation.
What is the median house price in Kapunda?
Median house price data is not available for Kapunda in this dataset. As a proxy, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,127 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $246, lower than state and national medians.
What schools are in Kapunda?
No schools are recorded within the Kapunda suburb boundary in this dataset. Families seeking schooling data should check the SA Department for Education directly. The suburb's university qualification rate is 17.7%, which is 12.4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a regional vocational workforce profile.
Is Kapunda safe?
Kapunda recorded 120 crimes in the measured period, giving a rate of 40.7 incidents per 1,000 residents. This figure is drawn from total recorded crimes and should be interpreted in its regional context, where crime categories differ structurally from metro suburbs. Housing stress indicators are low, which is indirectly associated with community stability.
Is Kapunda good for property investment?
Investment conditions in Kapunda are modest. Weekly rent of $246 is well below national medians and the vacancy rate is 8.8%, indicating more rental supply than demand. The 19.3% renter share is lower than average nationally. The low-cost entry point (mortgage repayments averaging $1,127 per month) may suit investors targeting capital stability over yield growth.
How is Kapunda's population changing?
Current population trend data is not available in this dataset. Structural indicators point to slow or flat growth: the median age of 49 is 9 years above national, overseas-born share is 13.5% (8.1 points below national) limiting in-migration, and the 82.7% resident stay-rate signals a low-churn, aging-in-place population of 2,947.
How much development activity is happening in Kapunda?
Kapunda recorded 60 development applications in the past 12 months. Most involve outbuilding construction or alterations to existing dwellings rather than new housing supply, consistent with long-term owner-occupiers (41.3% own outright) upgrading rather than a market attracting new residential development.
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 Kapunda on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map