Lobethal
With 86.4% of residents staying put in the five years before the 2021 Census, Lobethal is one of South Australia's most settled communities, a fact that shapes nearly every other metric. The median house price of $755,000 sits well above the SA state median despite household income landing in the 48th percentile nationally. Crime is recorded at 13.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, lower than most comparable Adelaide Hills towns. The IRSD decile of 8 places Lobethal in the upper tier for relative advantage nationally, and only 6.5% of the population needs daily assistance. At 26.19 square kilometres with just 2,534 residents, density is a sparse 96.7 per square kilometre.
Population
2,534
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,529/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
60
Median House
$755K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $755,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 6.3% from $710,000 a year earlier, a growth rate that outpaced many metropolitan benchmarks. Separate houses account for 90.6% of the stock, so apartment-style alternatives are almost non-existent at just 0.5%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.5%, and 30.9% have four or more bedrooms, reflecting the family-oriented character. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,473, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. With 34.5% owning outright and 50.1% on a mortgage, ownership rates are high compared with national averages, consistent with the suburb's stable, long-tenure resident base.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $755,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 6.3% from $710,000 a year earlier, a growth rate that outpaced many metropolitan benchmarks. Separate houses account for 90.6% of the stock, so apartment-style alternatives are almost non-existent at just 0.5%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.5%, and 30.9% have four or more bedrooms, reflecting the family-oriented character. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,473, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. With 34.5% owning outright and 50.1% on a mortgage, ownership rates are high compared with national averages, consistent with the suburb's stable, long-tenure resident base.
For Investors
The rental market in Lobethal is thin: only 15.4% of households rent, and weekly rent averages $310. Against the $755,000 median, that implies a gross yield of roughly 2.1%, below what many investors seek. The vacancy rate of 6.7% is elevated, signalling limited rental demand relative to supply. On the positive side, 55 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, indicating ongoing renovation and improvement activity. Net internal migration of 70 persons per year and overseas arrivals of 41 per year both support gradual demand. The forecast population growth of 0.67% annually, or about 67 persons per year, is modest compared with faster-growing outer suburban corridors, meaning capital growth rather than rental yield is the primary return lever.
Development Activity
Total DAs
302
Last 12 Months
60
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+5.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lobethal iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Lobethal Lutheran School
R-6 · 78 students
Lobethal Primary School
R-6 · 148 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is confirmed by the senior share rising 7.4 points and the working-age share falling 3.4 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 24.6%, which is 5.5 points below the national rate, reflecting the area's blue-collar and trades employment base. Overseas-born residents at 15.3% sit 6.3 points below national, consistent with the strongly Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile led by English (1,078), German (456), Irish (201) and Scottish (179) backgrounds. The German count is notable, reflecting the town's historical Lutheran settlement. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure, and 30.0% of families are couples without children, typical of an aging population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.6%
Houses
8.6%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is weighted toward ownership: 34.5% own outright, 50.1% carry a mortgage and just 15.4% rent, a split that stands in contrast to the national renter share of around 30%. Separate houses at 90.6% of all dwellings make this firmly detached-dominant territory, with semi-detached at 8.6% and apartments at only 0.5%. The three-bedroom configuration is most common at 48.5%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 30.9%, and two-bedroom at 18.4%. House prices rose from $710,000 to $755,000 between the first quarter of 2025 and first quarter of 2026, a 6.3% increase over 12 months. Rent-to-income is 20.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress benchmark, and mortgage-to-income at 22.2% is similarly affordable relative to other SA Hills markets.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,473
Rent / wk
$310
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$759
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
69
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.0%
Couples, no children
2,011
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing sector at 19.3% of workers (158 people), followed by Education at 12.2% (100), Manufacturing at 10.9% (89), Construction at 10.5% (86) and Public Administration at 8.1% (66). By occupation, Professionals lead at 222, followed by Community and Personal Services at 174 and Labourers at 161, a broader spread than professional-dominant metropolitan suburbs. The unemployment rate of 4.0% is close to the national average, and the full-time employment rate of 59.2% is moderate. Household income sits in the 48th percentile nationally, below the median, yet SEIFA IRSD decile 8 and IRSAD decile 6 indicate the area is not disadvantaged in structural terms. The IER decile of 8 is notably higher than the IEO decile of 6, meaning residents have above-average economic resources relative to their education and occupation levels.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
5,722
Unemployed
173
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.2%
Part-time
36.8%
Participation
58.5%
Employed
1,158
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.6%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
15.3%
Dwellings
963
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 89.4% of residents drive to work, and only 1.0% use public transport, one of the lowest rates in the Adelaide Hills because scheduled bus services are limited. Walking and cycling account for 3.7% of commutes, plausible given the compact town centre. Crime is recorded at 13.4 incidents per 1,000 residents per year, lower than many comparable SA regional towns. The IRSAD decile of 6 reflects a moderate-advantage profile nationally, while the IRSD decile of 8 places the suburb in the upper tier for relative disadvantage, meaning serious deprivation is rare. Volunteering reaches 24.8% of residents, well above typical metropolitan rates, pointing to a highly engaged community. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby Adelaide Hills institutions.
Drive
89.4%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.67%/yr
(+67 people/yr)
EstablishedThe forecast population growth rate of 0.67% per year, or about 67 additional persons annually, is modest but consistent. Over the past decade Lobethal grew 4.8%, a slower pace than the broader Adelaide metropolitan area. The medium forecast reaches approximately 10,265 residents by 2031 when aggregated across the SA2 area, drawing on balanced migration flows: internal migration averages 70 net arrivals per year and overseas migration 41. The gentrification score of 9 places the suburb in the not gentrifying category, which is expected for a long-established rural town with 86.4% of residents staying five years or more. Affordability has held steady, moving from 41.7% in 2011 to 40.3% in 2021, with no sharp pricing-out effect despite the 6.3% annual price rise.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+41
Net Internal / yr
+70
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +70/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
34
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
13.4
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lobethal compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lobethal a good suburb to live in?
Lobethal scores in the IRSD decile 8 nationally, indicating low relative disadvantage. Crime runs at 13.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, and 86.4% of residents stayed put for five or more years, signalling strong community satisfaction. The main trade-offs are limited public transport and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Lobethal?
The median house price is $755,000 as of the first quarter of 2026, up 6.3% from $710,000 a year earlier. Weekly rent averages $310, and average monthly mortgage repayments are $1,473, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Lobethal?
No schools are recorded inside the Lobethal suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Adelaide Hills towns. Despite this, 24.6% of residents hold university qualifications, 5.5 points below the national average, reflecting the area's trades and healthcare employment base.
Is Lobethal safe?
The recorded crime rate is 13.4 incidents per 1,000 residents per year, which is low compared with broader South Australian benchmarks. The suburb scores IRSD decile 8 nationally, placing it in the upper tier for relative advantage, and only 6.5% of residents require daily assistance.
Is Lobethal good for property investment?
House prices rose 6.3% in 12 months to $755,000. However, rental yield is limited because only 15.4% of households rent and weekly rent averages $310, implying a gross yield near 2.1%. The vacancy rate of 6.7% is elevated, and annual population growth of 0.67% is modest, so the investment case depends primarily on capital growth in the Adelaide Hills market.
How is Lobethal's population changing?
The suburb grew 4.8% over the past decade and is forecast to grow at 0.67% per year going forward. Net internal migration averages 70 arrivals and overseas migration 41 per year. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 7.4 points and the working-age share down 3.4 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Lobethal?
55 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, including work on the heritage-listed Former Lobethal Woollen Mill and residential additions and alterations. The activity reflects the established renovation cycle typical of an aging suburb with 90.6% separate house stock rather than new dwelling 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 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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