Lewiston
At 79.9 people per square kilometre, Lewiston combines a 41.0 square kilometre footprint with 3,275 residents and a 99.6% detached-house profile. Household income sits at the 71.3rd percentile nationally, while the median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure. The suburb is more car dependent than many metropolitan areas, with 85.0% driving and just 0.2% using public transport. Compared with nearby Gawler and Two Wells, Lewiston has a lower-density, mortgage-led feel because larger homes and space shape daily life. An aging trajectory, 28.4 crimes per 1,000 residents and 13.1% turnover point to stability, although active growth signals are changing the profile.
Population
3,275
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,910/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
103
Lewiston suits buyers prioritising space: 99.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 56.3% have four or more bedrooms, compared with 3.5% with two bedrooms. That format fits couples with children, who make up 50.4% of families, but it can mean more upkeep and a stronger reliance on driving. Mortgage commitments average $1,690 a month and equal 20.4% of household income, while rent of $330 a week equals 17.3%. Both stress flags are false, yet 64.6% paying a mortgage versus 28.0% owning outright leaves more households exposed to rate changes than in an outright-owner suburb. Buyers should compare block size, commuting time and maintenance needs because detached housing is the defining trade-off.
For Buyers
Lewiston suits buyers prioritising space: 99.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 56.3% have four or more bedrooms, compared with 3.5% with two bedrooms. That format fits couples with children, who make up 50.4% of families, but it can mean more upkeep and a stronger reliance on driving. Mortgage commitments average $1,690 a month and equal 20.4% of household income, while rent of $330 a week equals 17.3%. Both stress flags are false, yet 64.6% paying a mortgage versus 28.0% owning outright leaves more households exposed to rate changes than in an outright-owner suburb. Buyers should compare block size, commuting time and maintenance needs because detached housing is the defining trade-off.
For Investors
Lewiston has a small rental pool, with 6.2% of households renting, weekly rent of $330 and a 3.8% vacancy rate. That combination may support tenant competition, but the narrow rental base can make demand more sensitive to individual listings than in a higher-renting suburb. Development activity reached 100 applications in 12 months, including a detached dwelling, a motor repair station and a shade house, signalling ongoing land-use change. Forecast growth runs at 2.23% annually and is driven by internal migration, creating a demand backdrop for investors who can manage a low-density asset. Rent growth of 27.7% is positive, but maintenance and land exposure are higher than for apartments, while yield still depends on the eventual purchase price.
Development Activity
Total DAs
679
Last 12 Months
103
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-30.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Lewiston has 3,275 residents and a median age of 42, which is 2 years above the national level. Its aging trajectory is visible in the household mix: couples with children account for 50.4% of families, couples without children represent 37.0%, and the senior share has risen 3.4 percentage points. University participation is 13.9%, or 16.2 points below the national comparison, while overseas-born residents account for 15.6%, 6.0 points below nationally. English, Scottish, German, Irish and Italian are the largest reported ancestries, led by 1,521 English responses. Compared with nearby Gawler and Two Wells, Lewiston has a more settled identity because 86.9% of residents stayed at the same address. No religion leads at 1,814 people, ahead of Christianity at 1,187.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.6%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Lewiston's housing is overwhelmingly detached and family-sized: 99.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 56.3% contain four or more bedrooms and 38.8% have three bedrooms. Tenure is mortgage-heavy, with 64.6% of households paying a mortgage compared with 28.0% owning outright, while only 6.2% rent. Mortgage costs represent 20.4% of household income and rent represents 17.3%; both stress flags are false, placing reported pressure below households flagged for housing stress. Weekly rent is $330 and the average monthly mortgage figure is $1,690, but a sale-price median is needed to judge purchasing value. Compared with more compact housing markets, Lewiston trades apartment choice for land and storage because only 0.4% of dwellings are apartments. Its 79.9 people per square kilometre also sits below the intensity of built-up suburban areas.
Mortgage / mo
$1,690
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$330
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$766
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.8%
Unoccupied
43
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.4%
Couples with children
37.0%
Couples, no children
11.6%
Single parent
930
Total families
Economy & Employment
Lewiston's economic base is tied to practical services and production. Healthcare accounts for 18.1% of industry employment, followed by construction at 13.1%, manufacturing at 10.8%, education at 9.0% and public administration at 7.7%. That mix helps explain why trades are the largest occupation group at 344 people, ahead of clerical and administrative workers at 236 and labourers at 232. The unemployment rate is 3.8%, participation is 66.1% and full-time employment is 61.1%, indicating a stronger work orientation than a purely retirement-led area. Household income of $1,910 a week sits at the 71.3rd percentile, although the education profile is below national levels, with 13.9% university educated. The contrast between high income ranking and low university share likely reflects trade, industrial and public-sector pathways rather than degree-heavy employment.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
1,783
Unemployed
67
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.1%
Part-time
33.6%
Participation
66.1%
Employed
1,716
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.9%
Postgraduate
2.4%
Born Overseas
15.6%
Dwellings
1,096
Transport to Work
Livability in Lewiston is strongest for households comfortable with driving and space. Car driving accounts for 85.0% of journeys, compared with 0.2% by public transport and 1.1% walking or cycling, while 9.6% work from home. That pattern can suit residents with flexible work or multiple vehicles, but makes daily access more dependent on road connections than in transit-oriented suburbs. Safety is a relative positive, with 28.4 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents and 93 total incidents. The IRSAD score is 958 at decile 4, below the income and employment decile contrast of 9 for IER, showing that overall advantage is mixed rather than uniform. Volunteering is 12.5%, and 6.7% need assistance, so local support networks remain relevant.
Drive
85.0%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
9.6%
Population Forecast
+2.23%/yr
(+182 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is active but not purely a new-development story. The forecast trend is 2.23% a year, with internal migration the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 24.1% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.4 percentage points and the young share down 1.8 points, so expansion is occurring alongside a maturing resident base. Gentrification is also rated Active, with a score of 58, and affordability improved from 43.1% in 2011 to 37.9% in 2021. Development activity reached 100 applications in 12 months, which can increase housing choice and services because land-use change is still occurring. Compared with a static established suburb, Lewiston has stronger momentum, but investors should allow for an aging demand profile and the 99.6% detached-house format.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+11
Net Internal / yr
+312
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +53% since 2011, Net internal migration +312/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 44%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
93
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
28.4
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lewiston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lewiston a good suburb to live in?
That depends on whether you value space and quiet over transit access. Lewiston has 3,275 residents across 41.0 square kilometres, 99.6% detached houses and a crime rate of 28.4 per 1,000 residents. Car dependence is high at 85.0%, so it suits households comfortable driving.
What is the median house price in Lewiston?
A current median house price is not available, so buyers should compare recent comparable sales rather than rely on a single benchmark. The housing market is almost entirely detached, with 99.6% separate houses, and 56.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. Mortgage costs average $1,690 monthly.
What schools are in Lewiston?
Families should verify nearby school options and enrolment zones against the exact address rather than assume a local option. Lewiston has 3,275 residents across 41.0 square kilometres, and 85.0% drive while 0.2% use public transport, so school travel planning is important.
Is Lewiston safe?
Lewiston recorded 93 incidents, equal to 28.4 crimes per 1,000 residents. That provides a useful baseline for comparison, but safety can vary by street, time and offence type. The suburb's 13.1% turnover rate and 86.9% staying rate indicate a relatively settled population, which can support familiarity between neighbours.
Is Lewiston good for property investment?
Lewiston may suit investors seeking detached homes in a growth corridor, but the strategy has trade-offs. Rents average $330 a week, vacancy is 3.8% and only 6.2% of households rent, while 100 development applications were recorded in 12 months. Forecast growth is 2.23% annually, driven by internal migration, but a purchase price is needed to calculate yield.
How is Lewiston's population changing?
Lewiston is on an aging but expanding trajectory. The wider area's population change is 24.1% over 10 years, forecast growth is 2.23% annually and internal migration is the primary driver. At the same time, the senior share rose 3.4 percentage points and the young share fell 1.8 points, so growth is occurring alongside an older age profile.
Is Lewiston seeing new development?
Yes. Lewiston recorded 100 development applications over 12 months, including a detached dwelling, a motor repair station and a shade house. This activity may gradually broaden services or land uses because planning change is still occurring. With 99.6% of homes detached, development is more likely to affect low-density housing and semi-rural amenity than apartment supply.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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