Keith
At 3.6 people per square kilometre across 394.2 sq km, Keith combines a small-town population of 1,405 with an unusually high 98.7% separate-house share. Its median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, while household income of $1,294 a week sits at the 30.7th percentile. Compared with nearby Bordertown, Keith reads as a broad rural service community, with 25.6% of jobs in agriculture and a volunteering rate of 38.6%. The low-density setting supports a settled lifestyle because 76.0% of workers drive, while crime is 28.5 incidents per 1,000 residents and IRSAD ranks in the 10th decile.
Local council: Tatiara
Population
1,405
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,294/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Keith suits buyers prioritising land, detached living and manageable recurring costs over apartment choice. Nearly every dwelling is a separate house at 98.7%, with 56.9% containing 3 bedrooms and 31.2% containing 4 or more. Mortgage cost is listed at $773 per month, equal to 13.8% of household income, while rent is $180 a week and rent-to-income is 13.9%. Housing stress flags are absent, leaving more room for repairs or transport. Compared with apartment-heavy urban markets, the trade-off is less dwelling variety and a stronger reliance on current listings and inspections because no suburb median sale price is quoted.
For Buyers
Keith suits buyers prioritising land, detached living and manageable recurring costs over apartment choice. Nearly every dwelling is a separate house at 98.7%, with 56.9% containing 3 bedrooms and 31.2% containing 4 or more. Mortgage cost is listed at $773 per month, equal to 13.8% of household income, while rent is $180 a week and rent-to-income is 13.9%. Housing stress flags are absent, leaving more room for repairs or transport. Compared with apartment-heavy urban markets, the trade-off is less dwelling variety and a stronger reliance on current listings and inspections because no suburb median sale price is quoted.
For Investors
Keith's investment case centres on low-cost detached housing and local service demand, not rapid turnover. Renting accounts for 23.0% of occupied homes, with weekly rent at $180, while vacancy is 9.5%, higher than conditions normally associated with tightly held rental markets. That vacancy may soften short-term competition, although 16 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing construction and alteration activity. Rent growth of 7.1% and overseas migration as the primary driver provide support for demand, but the aging trajectory may shape tenant mix. Compared with a growth-corridor market, investors should allow for thinner resale depth and test each property's maintenance profile.
Development Activity
Total DAs
105
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-11.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Keith
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Keith Area School
Demographics
Keith's population is older and more locally rooted than the national pattern. The median age is 43, or 3 years above national, while university attainment is 16.9%, 13.2 percentage points below national. Only 7.2% of residents were born overseas, 14.4 points below national, and average household size is 2.3 people, 0.2 below national. English ancestry is reported by 562 people, followed by German at 153 and Scottish at 137. Mobility is low, with 85.6% staying at the same address. Compared with nearby Bordertown, Keith presents a stable rural catchment whose age and education mix reflects long-term settlement and agriculture.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.7%
Houses
1.3%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Keith's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached and family-sized. Separate houses make up 98.7% of dwellings, while 3-bedroom homes account for 56.9% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 31.2%; semi-detached homes represent only 1.3%. Tenure is split between outright owners at 40.6%, mortgagors at 33.3% and renters at 23.0%. Mortgage costs equal 13.8% of household income and rent costs 13.9%, with neither measure flagged as housing stress because payments are modest relative to weekly household income of $1,294. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Keith has less product variety but more scope for land, sheds and detached-home upgrades. Current sales evidence is needed to establish a median price.
Mortgage / mo
$773
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$180
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$746
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.5%
Unoccupied
59
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.0%
Couples with children
51.0%
Couples, no children
10.5%
Single parent
363
Total families
Economy & Employment
Keith's economy is anchored by agriculture, which accounts for 25.6% of industry employment and 103 workers, followed by healthcare at 12.4% and 50, construction at 12.2% and 49, retail at 10.2% and 41, and education at 8.7% and 35. This mix supports practical local services because managers number 156, trades 128 and labourers 98. Relative to its household-income percentile of 30.7, the labour market looks strong: unemployment is 2.3%, participation is 63.8% and full-time work is 60.0%. Socio-economic scores rank Keith in the 10th IEO, IRSD and IRSAD deciles, with IER in the 9th, so measured advantage is higher than the income percentile alone suggests.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
734
Unemployed
17
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.0%
Part-time
34.0%
Participation
63.8%
Employed
717
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.9%
Postgraduate
0.7%
Born Overseas
7.2%
Dwellings
554
Transport to Work
Keith's livability is practical and low-density. One local government school, Keith Area School, combines primary and secondary years, giving families access to both stages without a separate campus in town. Transport is strongly car-led: 76.0% drive to work, compared with 9.1% who walk or cycle and 8.9% who work from home. That matters because a 394.2 sq km locality spreads services across a large area. Recorded crime is 28.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, or 40 incidents, and the area ranks in the 10th IRSAD decile. Compared with denser suburbs, Keith provides space and simpler local access, but households should plan for driving, school-zone checks and regional service trips.
Drive
76.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
9.1%
Work from Home
8.9%
Growth Outlook
Keith is an established market with measured rather than corridor-style expansion. The forecast trend is 0.86% annual growth, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 7.9% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 4.6% and the working share fell 3.1%. Gentrification is rated Early signs, with a score of 31, and rent growth is 7.1%, suggesting gradual pressure rather than a sharp repositioning. Compared with faster-growing regional centres, this pattern favours incremental renovations and service investment because demand is being shaped by established households and a changing age mix.
Population trend: Tatiara council area
Keith sits in the Tatiara council area. These are the council area's residents, not Keith's.
Residents 2025
7,088
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
40
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
28.5
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Keith compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Keith a good suburb to live in?
Keith can suit households seeking detached housing, space and a quieter rural setting. The median age is 43, 98.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 76.0% of workers drive, so it suits residents comfortable with car-based living more than those seeking metropolitan transport.
What is the median house price in Keith?
A current median house price is not available for Keith. Buyers should compare recent local sales by land size, building condition and bedroom count, because 56.9% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 31.2% have 4 or more. Mortgage cost is listed at $773 per month.
What schools are in Keith?
Keith Area School is the local government school and combines primary and secondary years. Compared with towns that split those stages across separate campuses, the arrangement is straightforward, but families should confirm enrolment zones and transport against the exact address across the 394.2 sq km locality.
Is Keith safe?
Keith records 40 crimes, equivalent to 28.5 incidents per 1,000 residents. That provides a useful local rate for comparison, while the suburb's IRSAD score sits in the 10th decile. Residents should still use normal precautions and check the exact street and property context before renting or buying.
Is Keith good for property investment?
Keith may suit a patient investor seeking rental exposure, but the 9.5% vacancy rate is above tightly held-market conditions. Renting represents 23.0% of homes and weekly rent is $180, while 16 development applications were lodged over 12 months. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but an aging trajectory makes tenant mix and resale depth important.
How is Keith's population changing?
Keith is ageing gradually rather than shrinking sharply. The forecast trend is 0.86% annual growth, while population change across the wider area is 7.9% over 10 years. The senior share increased 4.6% and the working share fell 3.1%, with gentrification at the Early signs stage and a score of 31.
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).
Explore Keith on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map