Littlehampton
A population in the 78.9th percentile for household income yet only 3,300 residents across 9.59 square kilometres defines the paradox of Littlehampton: well-off, spacious, and deliberately low-density. The suburb sits in SEIFA decile 10 for both IEO and IRSAD, placing it among the most advantaged areas nationally, while its crime rate of 11.2 incidents per 1,000 residents signals a genuinely settled community. Owner-occupation is the norm, with 88.3% of households either owning outright or paying a mortgage, and 97.9% of dwellings are separate houses. The aging trajectory is the headline shift: the senior share rose 3.3 points over the decade while the working-age share slipped 0.5 points.
Population
3,300
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,086/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
55
Median house price data is not available for this quarter, but monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, which produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.2% against household income at the 78.9th percentile nationally. That ratio sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers are stretching less than in most comparable SA suburbs. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 97.9%, so apartment alternatives are practically absent. Bedroom count leans large: 50.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 42.0% have three, well above the national average for metropolitan areas. Outright owners at 34.9% and mortgage holders at 53.4% together account for 88.3% of households, which reflects stable, long-tenure residents rather than a churning buyer pool.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available for this quarter, but monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, which produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.2% against household income at the 78.9th percentile nationally. That ratio sits below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers are stretching less than in most comparable SA suburbs. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 97.9%, so apartment alternatives are practically absent. Bedroom count leans large: 50.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 42.0% have three, well above the national average for metropolitan areas. Outright owners at 34.9% and mortgage holders at 53.4% together account for 88.3% of households, which reflects stable, long-tenure residents rather than a churning buyer pool.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $360 and a vacancy rate of 5.3% frame the rental case clearly. The 5.3% vacancy is above the generally accepted tightness threshold of 3%, which limits rent growth potential in the short term compared to tighter SA markets. Renters make up only 11.7% of households, so the tenant pool is thin relative to owner-occupier demand. Development remains active at 45 applications in the past 12 months, dominated by detached dwelling construction, which means supply is still expanding. Population growth runs at 0.61% annually, adding roughly 119 people a year, with overseas migration the primary driver at a net 313 arrivals per year. That inflow supports steady long-term demand, though the low renter share means investors compete for a limited slice of the market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
264
Last 12 Months
55
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Littlehampton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Littlehampton Primary School
R-6 · 336 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, but the trajectory is aging: the senior share increased 3.3 points and young adult share fell 4.0 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 33.7%, which is 3.6 percentage points above the national average, consistent with a professional household base. Overseas-born residents at 14.7% sit 6.9 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting an Anglo-dominant profile: English ancestry leads at 1,602 residents, followed by German (402), Irish (354) and Scottish (351). Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above national, pointing to family-stage households rather than singles or retirees. Couples with children account for 1,283 families versus 721 couples without children, confirming the suburb skews toward child-rearing households despite the aging trend.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.9%
Houses
1.6%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split is dominated by owner-occupiers: 34.9% own outright and 53.4% carry a mortgage, leaving just 11.7% renting. That 11.7% renter share is low compared to the SA state average and reflects a suburb where buyers commit for the long term. Separate houses account for 97.9% of stock, with semi-detached at 1.6% and apartments at just 0.4%, so there is virtually no unit market. Four-plus bedroom dwellings make up 50.2% of the stock and three-bedroom homes a further 42.0%, confirming that large family homes dominate rather than entry-level or downsizer product. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 translate to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.2%, well below stress territory. Rent-to-income at 17.3% is equally comfortable for tenants, suggesting neither buyer nor renter faces significant financial pressure relative to income levels at the 78.9th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$886
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.3%
Unoccupied
64
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.3%
Couples, no children
2,855
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry mix at 18.7% of employed residents (228 workers), followed by Education at 14.5% (177), Construction at 10.1% (123), Public Administration at 9.6% (117) and Professional/Technical at 8.5% (104). By occupation, Professionals number 402, Managers 269, Clerical and Admin 227, Community and Personal Service 197, and Sales 158. The unemployment rate of 3.5% sits below most comparable regional SA benchmarks, and full-time employment reaches 59.4% of those employed. Participation at 64.6% is moderate, with 737 residents not in the labour force, partly because the aging trajectory is drawing more residents into retirement. Real incomes grew 20.3% over the decade, a stronger gain than many SA counterparts, and SEIFA IEO at decile 10 confirms the workforce skews toward high-education, high-wage occupations.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
10,959
Unemployed
568
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.4%
Part-time
37.1%
Participation
64.6%
Employed
1,615
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.7%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
14.7%
Dwellings
1,152
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 90.7% of residents driving to work compared to the national figure, reflecting the suburban setting and limited public transport at just 3.1%. Walking and cycling accounts for 1.4% of journeys. The crime rate of 11.2 incidents per 1,000 residents is low relative to SA averages and is consistent with the low-crime-rate identity signal in the brief. SEIFA IRSAD sits at decile 10, placing Littlehampton in the top tier nationally for socioeconomic advantage, and IRSD decile 9 confirms very low levels of relative disadvantage. Volunteering at 23.6% is high compared to national averages, signalling community engagement above typical suburban benchmarks. Only 3.6% of residents need daily assistance (115 people), which is low for a suburb with an aging trajectory and reflects a population that is still largely independent despite the median age of 40.
Drive
90.7%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.61%/yr
(+119 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.61% annually, adding around 119 people per year, with the medium forecast reaching 20,020 by 2031 from 19,142 in 2024. The primary driver is overseas migration at a net 313 arrivals per year, while internal migration runs at minus 97, meaning residents who leave are replaced by international arrivals rather than domestic movers. The 10-year population change of 7.8% is moderate, and gentrification is at early signs stage with a score of 23, supported by the population rising 10% since 2011 and strong overseas inflow. The suburb recovered fully from a COVID dip of 2.7%, now sitting 4.0% above the COVID low. Rent growth of 37.3% over the measurement period outpaced real income growth of 20.3%, a signal that housing cost pressures are building even if mortgage stress remains low at 19.2%.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+313
Net Internal / yr
-97
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +10% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +313/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
37
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
11.2
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Littlehampton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Littlehampton a good suburb to live in?
Littlehampton ranks in SEIFA decile 10 on both the IEO and IRSAD indexes, placing it among the most advantaged suburbs nationally. Household income sits at the 78.9th percentile and the crime rate is 11.2 incidents per 1,000 residents. The suburb is car-dependent at 90.7% driving, but offers large houses with 97.9% separate dwellings and a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 19.2%.
What is the median house price in Littlehampton?
Median house price data is not available for the current quarter. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.2% against household income at the 78.9th percentile nationally. Weekly rent averages $360 for the 11.7% of residents who rent.
What schools are in Littlehampton?
No schools are recorded inside the Littlehampton suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring areas. Despite this, the suburb has high educational attainment, with 33.7% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 3.6 percentage points above the national average.
Is Littlehampton safe?
The crime rate is 11.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 37 total crimes recorded, which is low by SA standards. SEIFA IRSD at decile 9 confirms very low relative disadvantage, and only 3.6% of the 3,300 residents need daily assistance. These indicators together point to a settled, low-risk residential environment.
Is Littlehampton good for property investment?
The investment picture has mixed signals. The vacancy rate of 5.3% is above the 3% tightness threshold, and renters make up only 11.7% of households, limiting the tenant pool. However, overseas migration adds 313 net arrivals per year, population grows at 0.61% annually, and rent has grown 37.3% over the past decade. Development is active with 45 applications in the past 12 months, adding to supply.
How is Littlehampton's population changing?
The population was 19,142 in 2024 and is forecast to reach 20,020 by 2031, growing at 0.61% annually. Overseas migration is the primary driver at net 313 arrivals per year, while internal migration runs at minus 97. The suburb recovered fully after a 2.7% COVID dip and is at early gentrification stage, with population up 10% since 2011.
How much development is happening in Littlehampton?
There were 45 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, with recent examples including single-storey detached dwellings and performance-assessed works. This level of activity is consistent with steady growth at 0.61% annually and reflects ongoing demand for new family homes in the suburb's predominantly detached house market at 97.9%.
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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