Mccracken
A median age of 64 tells the defining story of McCracken, 24 years above the national figure and one of the highest in regional SA. This is a retirement-oriented coastal pocket of 2,076 residents where 55.3% own their home outright, debt-free, and 80.3% have not moved in five years. The flip side: household income sits at the 12.9th percentile nationally, because most residents are post-workforce, and the 21.1% vacancy rate reflects holiday and seasonal use rather than weak demand. Development applications in the past 12 months numbered 30, with detached dwellings and outbuildings dominating, consistent with steady, low-density growth.
Population
2,076
Median Age
64.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,006/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
32
No current median price data is available for McCracken, but the housing profile signals an affordable and stable market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,250, well below national urban benchmarks, and mortgage-to-income sits at 28.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 87.9% of dwellings, above the SA state average, with semi-detached making up the remaining 12.1%. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant type at 57.2%, with 4-plus bedrooms at 25.4% and two-bedroom at 15.1%. Owner-occupiers who have paid off their mortgage outnumber those still carrying debt by more than two to one, which reflects the retired demographic buying later in life rather than speculation.
For Buyers
No current median price data is available for McCracken, but the housing profile signals an affordable and stable market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,250, well below national urban benchmarks, and mortgage-to-income sits at 28.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 87.9% of dwellings, above the SA state average, with semi-detached making up the remaining 12.1%. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant type at 57.2%, with 4-plus bedrooms at 25.4% and two-bedroom at 15.1%. Owner-occupiers who have paid off their mortgage outnumber those still carrying debt by more than two to one, which reflects the retired demographic buying later in life rather than speculation.
For Investors
McCracken's investment case is cautious. Weekly rent averages $300, modest compared with most coastal SA markets, and the 21.1% vacancy rate is well above typical thresholds for rental viability, because a significant share of properties serve as holiday homes rather than long-term rentals. Only 20.3% of dwellings are rented, against a national average of roughly 31%, limiting the tenant pool. On the demand side, 30 development applications in the past 12 months signal continued building interest, and the stable owner base (80.3% same address for five years) keeps turnover of established stock low. Investors should price in elevated vacancy and lower rental yields than comparable regional centres.
Development Activity
Total DAs
214
Last 12 Months
32
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+23.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
McCracken skews older and Anglo by national standards. The median age of 64 is 24 years above the national figure, which is the sharpest such gap you will find in SA coastal suburbs. Overseas-born residents make up 19.1%, which is 2.5 percentage points below national. Ancestry is predominantly English (1,070), Scottish (242), Irish (218) and German (195). University qualifications reach 23.4%, which is 6.7 points below the national average, consistent with a retiree cohort that pre-dates mass higher education. Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below national, because 51.2% of families are couples without children at home. Volunteering is notably high at 26.3%, above typical community rates, reflecting the time-rich retired population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.9%
Houses
12.1%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split in McCracken is distinctive: 55.3% own outright, 24.4% carry a mortgage and only 20.3% rent, compared with the national rental share near 31%. Outright ownership at 55.3% reflects retirees who bought and paid off homes decades earlier. Separate houses dominate at 87.9%, with semi-detached at 12.1% and no apartments recorded. The bedroom profile centres on three-bedroom homes at 57.2%, with 4-plus at 25.4%. The 21.1% vacancy rate is high relative to most SA suburbs and points to a secondary holiday and seasonal use layer on top of the permanent resident base. Monthly mortgage costs of $1,250 are affordable relative to comparable coastal markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,250
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$538
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
21.1%
Unoccupied
248
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.2%
Couples, no children
1,535
Total families
Economy & Employment
McCracken's economy is shaped almost entirely by retirement rather than employment. The labour force participation rate is only 32.9%, compared with national averages above 60%, and 1,131 residents are classified as not in the labour force. Among those who do work, Healthcare leads at 27.1% of employed persons (103 workers), followed by Education at 11.3% and Retail at 9.2%. Community and personal services is the top occupation at 101 workers, with professionals (94) and sales (82) next. The unemployment rate is 7.7% among active participants, but this figure is small in absolute terms: only 47 people. Household income sits at the 12.9th percentile nationally, which is low but explained by the post-retirement income profile rather than structural disadvantage.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
43.0%
Part-time
49.3%
Participation
32.9%
Employed
565
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.4%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
19.1%
Dwellings
924
Transport to Work
McCracken is designed for car ownership: 86.5% of residents drive to work, compared with the national average of roughly 65%, and public transport use is just 0.7%, consistent with a suburban coastal location without rail access. Walking and cycling accounts for 5.3% of commutes. Crime is low at 26.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, below typical urban SA figures. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families with children rely on neighbouring areas. Rent-to-income sits at 29.8%, just below the 30% stress mark. The high volunteering rate of 26.3% and stable residential base suggest a cohesive, settled community, though services targeted at an aging population with 12.7% needing daily assistance will be central to liveability long-term.
Drive
86.5%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
5.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
55
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
26.5
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mccracken compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is McCracken a good suburb to live in?
McCracken suits retirees and those seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle. A crime rate of 26.5 per 1,000 residents is low, 55.3% of homes are owned outright and 80.3% of residents have not moved in five years, indicating strong community stability. The trade-off is limited public transport (0.7%) and no schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in McCracken?
Current median house price data is not available for McCracken in this period. As a proxy, monthly mortgage repayments average $1,250 and rent averages $300 per week, both modest compared with metropolitan SA. The 55.3% outright ownership rate suggests established long-term values rather than recent speculative activity.
What schools are in McCracken?
No schools are recorded inside the McCracken boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. University qualifications among residents reach 23.4%, though this is 6.7 points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly retired population rather than a lack of local education access historically.
Is McCracken safe?
McCracken recorded 55 total crime incidents, giving a rate of 26.5 per 1,000 residents, which is low relative to typical SA suburb benchmarks. The low resident turnover rate (80.3% same address) and small permanent population of 2,076 also contribute to the settled, low-incident environment.
Is McCracken good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent averages $300 but the vacancy rate of 21.1% is high, with many properties used seasonally rather than as permanent rentals. Only 20.3% of dwellings are rented, below the national average. Positive signals include 30 development applications in 12 months and a stable owner base, but yields are likely modest.
How is McCracken's population changing?
McCracken has 2,076 residents in 2.25 square kilometres, with growth driven by retirees rather than young families. The median age of 64 is 24 years above the national figure. Participation in the labour force is only 32.9%, and 1,131 residents are not in the labour force, meaning natural household formation from the existing base is very slow.
How much development is happening in McCracken?
There were 30 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including detached dwellings, outbuildings and verandahs. Most are Performance Assessed or Accepted Development categories. This pace reflects steady infill in an established low-density suburb rather than large-scale expansion, consistent with the 87.9% separate house composition.
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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