Kingscote
With a median age of 51, Kingscote sits 11 years above the national figure, making it one of the most aged communities in South Australia. The town of 1,962 residents is the administrative hub of Kangaroo Island, which explains why Healthcare (17%) and Public Admin (8.2%) anchor the local economy rather than commuter-driven industries. Household income at the 17.6th percentile nationally is well below average, yet housing stress stays low: mortgage costs consume only 22.7% of income and rent just 19.4%. A vacancy rate of 20% signals a high proportion of holiday and seasonal-use homes, a structural feature of island tourism markets rather than a symptom of declining demand.
Population
1,962
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,103/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
38
Median house price data is not recorded for Kingscote, limiting direct price comparison, but the affordability picture is clear from repayment data. Monthly mortgage costs average $1,083, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7% sits below the 30% stress threshold, pointing to a market accessible by income standards even if island premiums apply. Separate houses dominate at 92% of dwellings, so buyers will find almost no apartment or semi-detached alternatives. Three-bedroom homes account for 53% of stock, with four-plus bedrooms at 20% and two-bedroom homes at 20.9%. Outright ownership at 40.5% is high, higher than the national rate, which reflects the older demographic base: established residents who have paid down debt over decades rather than recent leveraged entrants.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not recorded for Kingscote, limiting direct price comparison, but the affordability picture is clear from repayment data. Monthly mortgage costs average $1,083, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7% sits below the 30% stress threshold, pointing to a market accessible by income standards even if island premiums apply. Separate houses dominate at 92% of dwellings, so buyers will find almost no apartment or semi-detached alternatives. Three-bedroom homes account for 53% of stock, with four-plus bedrooms at 20% and two-bedroom homes at 20.9%. Outright ownership at 40.5% is high, higher than the national rate, which reflects the older demographic base: established residents who have paid down debt over decades rather than recent leveraged entrants.
For Investors
Investors face a mixed picture. Weekly rent of $214 is modest, and a vacancy rate of 20% is well above typical investment benchmarks, reflecting the dual role that many Kingscote properties play as holiday rentals or seasonal residences. Demand from long-term tenants is limited by the town's small population of 1,962. On the positive side, 37 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, showing active construction interest, and the island's status as a major tourism destination creates short-term rental opportunities outside the long-term lease market. Participation rate at 49.5% is lower than national averages, which constrains the local workforce rental pool. Investors relying on yield stability should weigh the high vacancy risk carefully against tourism upside.
Development Activity
Total DAs
251
Last 12 Months
38
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kingscote iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kangaroo Island Community Education
R-12 · 710 students
Demographics
Kingscote's median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, the most distinctive feature of its demographic profile. This aging base is reinforced by low mobility: 79.6% of residents stayed in the same address over the census period, compared to much higher turnover in mainland urban centres. Overseas-born residents make up 15.1%, which is 6.5 percentage points below national, and university qualifications reach 23.5%, some 6.6 points below national, consistent with a service-oriented island economy where trades and healthcare roles dominate. English, Scottish and German ancestries lead, reflecting Kangaroo Island's colonial settlement history. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, driven by a high share of couples without children at 44.2% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.0%
Houses
5.5%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is overwhelmingly detached: 92% of dwellings are separate houses, compared to a much lower national share, which limits options for buyers seeking low-maintenance alternatives. Outright owners hold 40.5% of properties, mortgage holders 28%, and renters 31.5%. The high outright ownership rate, above national norms, reflects the older resident base rather than recent price appreciation. A vacancy rate of 20% stands out sharply against typical suburbs, driven by holiday homes and seasonal tourism use across Kangaroo Island. Three-bedroom homes account for 53% of all dwellings, making them the clear majority format. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,083, and the rent-to-income ratio of 19.4% keeps most renters well below the 30% stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wk
$214
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$673
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.0%
Unoccupied
205
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
44.2%
Couples, no children
1,275
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 17% of the local workforce (93 workers), followed by Education at 12.1% (66 workers) and Construction at 9.9% (54 workers). Public Administration at 8.2% (45 workers) reflects Kingscote's role as the main service hub for Kangaroo Island. By occupation, Labourers lead at 147 workers, with Professionals (124) and Managers (114) close behind, a structure typical of regional service towns rather than knowledge-economy centres. The unemployment rate is 3.6%, and the participation rate of 49.5% is lower than national benchmarks, partly because the median age of 51 pushes more residents into retirement or near-retirement status. Volunteering runs at 32.8%, well above national averages, a sign of the strong community institutions that sustain a remote island economy.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.9%
Part-time
39.5%
Participation
49.5%
Employed
795
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.5%
Postgraduate
4.6%
Born Overseas
15.1%
Dwellings
812
Transport to Work
Transport on an island operates differently than on the mainland: 78.8% of residents travel by car, and 14.6% walk or cycle, which is notably high for a regional town and reflects the compact, walkable nature of Kingscote's town centre. No public transport data is recorded, consistent with the island's road-only environment. Crime sits at 85 reported incidents, a rate of 43.3 per 1,000 residents, which provides a reference point but should be read in context of a small population where individual events move the rate. The volunteering rate of 32.8% is well above national averages, pointing to strong social cohesion. Housing stress is low: mortgage-to-income at 22.7% and rent-to-income at 19.4% both fall below the 30% stress threshold, making day-to-day living costs manageable for most households at the 17.6th income percentile.
Drive
78.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
14.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
85
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
43.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kingscote compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kingscote a good suburb to live in?
Kingscote offers low housing stress, with mortgage costs at 22.7% of income and rent at 19.4%, both well below the 30% stress threshold. Volunteering at 32.8% indicates strong community participation. The trade-offs are a small population of 1,962, limited services compared to mainland centres, and household income at the 17.6th percentile nationally, reflecting the island's service-oriented economy.
What is the median house price in Kingscote?
A formal median house price is not recorded in this dataset for Kingscote. Available indicators show average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,083 and weekly rent of $214. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7% suggests purchase prices remain within reach relative to local incomes, though island location can add a premium not captured in these figures.
What schools are in Kingscote?
No schools are recorded inside the Kingscote suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb has a university qualification rate of 23.5%, which is 6.6 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with an economy based on healthcare, education and trades rather than knowledge-sector employment.
Is Kingscote safe?
Kingscote recorded 85 crimes in the reference period, a rate of 43.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. This figure should be read carefully in a small town of 1,962 people, where individual incidents have an outsized effect on the per-capita rate. Housing stress indicators are low, with rent-to-income at 19.4% and mortgage-to-income at 22.7%, factors that generally correlate with lower community tension.
Is Kingscote good for property investment?
The 20% vacancy rate is the key risk factor, well above typical investment benchmarks and reflecting the high proportion of holiday and seasonal properties on Kangaroo Island. Weekly rent of $214 is modest. On the other side, 37 development applications in 12 months show active building interest, and the island's tourism profile creates short-term rental demand that the long-term vacancy data does not capture.
How is Kingscote's population changing?
Kingscote has a stable but aging population of 1,962, with 79.6% of residents remaining at the same address over the census period. The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, and this trend is likely to continue as the aging resident base moves toward retirement. New population growth depends largely on sea-change migration and tourism-related housing demand rather than workforce expansion.
How much development is happening in Kingscote?
There were 37 development applications lodged in the past 12 months in Kingscote. Recent applications include construction of detached dwellings and outbuildings, consistent with steady incremental activity rather than large-scale development. This is moderate activity for a town of 1,962 residents, suggesting ongoing owner-occupier investment in the existing housing stock.
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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