Macclesfield
With a median age of 47, Macclesfield skews 7.0 years older than the national figure, which explains much of what the data shows. Spread across 37.46 square kilometres at a density of just 37.7 people per km2, it is a low-density rural suburb of 1,413 residents in the Adelaide Hills. Nearly every dwelling is a separate house (99.5%), ownership rates are high at 39.8% outright and 53.1% on mortgage, and only 7% of residents rent. Household income sits at the 52.8th percentile nationally, an average position that reflects a workforce heavily weighted toward healthcare and a relatively self-reliant ownership culture rather than high-income employment.
Population
1,413
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,605/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
40
Median house price data is not available in current datasets for Macclesfield, but the cost structure still tells a clear story. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500 and rent runs $308 per week, both well below metro Adelaide levels. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income at 19.2% is similarly relaxed. The stock is almost entirely separate houses (99.5%), with 47.7% three-bedroom and 36.3% four-plus bedroom dwellings, pointing to larger family-sized homes rather than entry-level product. Buyers comparing to the broader SA market will find affordability relatively solid, though limited price history makes trend analysis harder than in denser suburbs.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available in current datasets for Macclesfield, but the cost structure still tells a clear story. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500 and rent runs $308 per week, both well below metro Adelaide levels. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income at 19.2% is similarly relaxed. The stock is almost entirely separate houses (99.5%), with 47.7% three-bedroom and 36.3% four-plus bedroom dwellings, pointing to larger family-sized homes rather than entry-level product. Buyers comparing to the broader SA market will find affordability relatively solid, though limited price history makes trend analysis harder than in denser suburbs.
For Investors
Macclesfield's investment profile is shaped by its 7% renter share, the lowest of any tenure category, with weekly rent at $308. Against most comparable rural Adelaide Hills communities, the rental pool is thin, which limits yield-based strategies. The vacancy rate of 7.5% is elevated compared to tight urban markets, reflecting the low renter demand and the suburb's self-owning demographic. Development activity is moderate with 38 applications lodged in the past 12 months, including ancillary accommodation and outbuilding works. A low annual turnover rate of 14% confirms that residents stay rather than churn. The investment case is more about long-term capital preservation in a stable owner-occupier market than short-term rental returns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
188
Last 12 Months
40
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+60.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Macclesfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Macclesfield Primary School
R-6 · 79 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 sits 7.0 years above the national figure, and the household composition reinforces this: couples with children (424 families) and couples without children (398) dominate, with no recorded one-parent families. Average household size is 2.4, just 0.1 below national. Overseas-born residents make up 13.5%, which is 8.1 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile led by English (712), German (183) and Scottish (181). University qualifications reach 32.0%, which is 1.9 points above national, a modest but positive education premium. Volunteering sits at 28.5%, notably above typical suburban rates, which reflects the community-oriented character of small rural towns.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.5%
Houses
0.5%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely detached: 99.5% are separate houses, and 0.5% semi-detached, with no apartments recorded. This compares to national averages where apartments represent a significant share of total stock. Bedroom distribution skews large, with 47.7% three-bedroom and 36.3% four-plus, suggesting established family homes on rural-sized lots. Ownership rates are strong: 39.8% own outright and 53.1% hold a mortgage, while only 7.0% rent. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6% is below the 30% stress level. Weekly rent averages $308, below the SA state median. No recorded median sale price in current data limits direct price benchmarking.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wk
$308
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$791
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
45
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.7%
Couples, no children
1,147
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local employment base at 22.7% (116 workers), more than double the share of any other sector. Education (10.5%) and Construction (10.2%) follow, with Public Admin at 7.4% and Agriculture at 6.8%. By occupation, Professionals (160) and Managers (121) lead, reflecting the healthcare and public service tilt. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, in line with national benchmarks, and the participation rate is 60.9%. Full-time employment accounts for 55.1% of employed residents. Housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income at 21.6% and rent-to-income at 19.2% are both well below the stress thresholds, suggesting wages and housing costs are reasonably matched even at the 52.8th income percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.1%
Part-time
40.9%
Participation
60.9%
Employed
700
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.0%
Postgraduate
6.4%
Born Overseas
13.5%
Dwellings
549
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total: 91.3% of residents drive to work, compared to a national average that includes far higher public transport use, and only 0.6% use public transport. This is consistent with a rural setting 37.46 km2 in area with no recorded public transport frequency. The crime rate of 17.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 24 total recorded incidents, is low in absolute terms, though the small population base means individual events move the rate. Need-for-assistance rates are low at 2.8% (38 people). No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in current data, so families rely on nearby Hills townships. The volunteering rate of 28.5% stands out as a positive livability signal, above typical metropolitan benchmarks.
Drive
91.3%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
24
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
17.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Macclesfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Macclesfield a good suburb to live in?
Macclesfield suits buyers who want a rural lifestyle in the Adelaide Hills with low housing stress. Mortgage-to-income is 21.6% and rent-to-income 19.2%, both below typical stress thresholds. The crime rate is 17.0 per 1,000 residents and 99.5% of homes are detached houses on larger lots. The trade-offs are near-total car dependency (91.3% drive) and limited public services.
What is the median house price in Macclesfield?
A current median sale price is not available in this dataset for Macclesfield. As a cost reference, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500 and weekly rent averages $308, both below metro Adelaide levels. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.6% suggests housing remains relatively affordable for local incomes.
What schools are in Macclesfield?
No schools are recorded within the Macclesfield suburb boundary in current data. Families typically travel to nearby Adelaide Hills towns for schooling. Despite this, the local education level is solid: 32.0% of residents hold a university qualification, 1.9 percentage points above the national average.
Is Macclesfield safe?
Macclesfield recorded 24 total incidents, producing a crime rate of 17.0 per 1,000 residents. In a population of 1,413, the absolute numbers are low. Only 2.8% of residents (38 people) require daily assistance, and the high outright-ownership rate of 39.8% is associated with stable, long-term communities.
Is Macclesfield good for property investment?
The rental market is shallow: only 7.0% of residents rent and the vacancy rate is 7.5%, making yield-based investment harder than in higher-renter suburbs. Weekly rent averages $308. The suburb suits long-term capital strategies in a stable owner-occupier market with 38 development applications in the past 12 months showing moderate building activity.
How is Macclesfield's population changing?
Macclesfield has a stable, low-turnover profile: 86% of residents stayed at the same address during the Census reference period, and the annual turnover rate is just 14%. The median age of 47 is 7.0 years above national, suggesting an aging demographic rather than rapid household-formation growth. No forward population forecast is available in current datasets.
How much development is happening in Macclesfield?
There were 38 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include ancillary accommodation, verandah and outbuilding works, pointing to incremental upgrades on existing rural lots rather than large new-dwelling supply. This moderate rate is consistent with a stable community of 1,413 residents spread across 37.46 km2.
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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