Meadows
Meadows stands out for its compact population of 1,717 spread across 42.42 sq km, while 98.3% of homes are separate houses. That combination creates a low-density, car-oriented setting: 82.4% travel as car drivers and only 0.5% use public transport. Household income is at the 73.8th percentile, yet the median age of 39 is 1 year below national, so the profile is not purely older or rural. Compared with nearby Mount Barker, Meadows presents a smaller, more detached setting, supported by 81.1% resident retention and a 9.3 per 1,000 crime rate. Its appeal is strongest for buyers wanting space and local stability rather than frequent transit.
Local council: Mount Barker
Population
1,717
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,964/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
43
Homebuyers in Meadows are choosing a strongly detached housing format, with 98.3% separate houses and 45.2% containing 4 or more bedrooms; a further 46.9% are 3-bedroom homes. That mix suits households seeking yard space or room to work from home, especially as 11.5% work from home. Holding costs look manageable in aggregate: the typical mortgage payment is $1,645 per month and mortgage costs equal 19.3% of household income, with no mortgage stress flag. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, the trade-off is less dwelling variety and more reliance on land, maintenance and driving. Use recent comparable sales, land size and property condition when setting a budget because a current suburb median is not available.
For Buyers
Homebuyers in Meadows are choosing a strongly detached housing format, with 98.3% separate houses and 45.2% containing 4 or more bedrooms; a further 46.9% are 3-bedroom homes. That mix suits households seeking yard space or room to work from home, especially as 11.5% work from home. Holding costs look manageable in aggregate: the typical mortgage payment is $1,645 per month and mortgage costs equal 19.3% of household income, with no mortgage stress flag. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, the trade-off is less dwelling variety and more reliance on land, maintenance and driving. Use recent comparable sales, land size and property condition when setting a budget because a current suburb median is not available.
For Investors
Meadows has a small rental sector, with 11.0% of occupied dwellings rented, weekly rent of $343 and a 3.3% vacancy rate. That limited rental base can support owner-occupier stability, but it may also reduce tenant depth compared with a high-turnover regional centre. Rents have grown by 25.0%, which can improve gross income for landlords, while 43 development applications in 12 months show ongoing local activity. Recent examples include a function-centre change of use, a verandah and an inground pool, rather than a clearly dwelling-led pipeline. Compared with apartment markets, the strategy is more exposed to detached-house maintenance, insurance and resale liquidity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
302
Last 12 Months
43
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-6.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Meadows
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Meadows Primary School
Demographics
Meadows has a median age of 39, which is 1 year below the national figure, while 22.9% of residents hold university qualifications, 7.2 percentage points below national. Overseas-born residents make up 11.5%, 10.1 points below national, supporting an Anglo-leaning profile reflected in English ancestry at 794 people, followed by Scottish at 185, German at 169 and Irish at 128. Average household size is 2.7, or 0.2 above national, with couples with children accounting for 45.7% of families and couples without children 41.4%. Compared with nearby Mount Barker, Meadows presents a more settled local identity, with 81.1% staying at the same address and 18.9% turnover. That stability likely reflects established households and family housing rather than rapid resident churn.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.3%
Houses
0.8%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Meadows' tenure profile is mortgage-heavy: 56.2% of households are paying off a home, versus 31.1% owning outright and 11.0% renting. That pattern points to established owner-occupiers carrying debt, while mortgage costs at 19.3% of household income and rent at 17.5% remain without stress flags. The dwelling stock is unusually consistent, with 98.3% separate houses and only 0.8% semi-detached homes. Bedroom supply is weighted to family formats: 46.9% are 3-bedroom homes and 45.2% have 4 or more bedrooms. Compared with apartment-led suburbs, Meadows gives buyers more choice in detached formats but less tenure and dwelling-type diversity. Use recent comparable sales, site attributes and renovation needs because a current median house price is not available.
Mortgage / mo
$1,645
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$343
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$917
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.3%
Unoccupied
20
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.7%
Couples with children
41.4%
Couples, no children
11.3%
Single parent
497
Total families
Economy & Employment
Meadows' employment base combines care, building, education and public administration. Healthcare is the largest industry at 15.7% with 93 workers, followed by Construction at 12.8% and 76, Education at 11.1% and 66, Public Administration at 7.4% and 44, and Professional/Technical at 7.1% and 42. Occupationally, Trades lead with 174 people, ahead of Professionals at 157 and Managers at 129. Unemployment is 3.0%, participation is 67.0% and full-time employment is 61.3%, supporting household income at the 73.8th percentile. Compared with that income position, SEIFA is much weaker: IEO decile 2, IER decile 1, IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 1. The gap suggests earnings are not fully translating into broad education, resources or access advantages.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
909
Unemployed
27
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.3%
Part-time
32.4%
Participation
67.0%
Employed
882
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.9%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
11.5%
Dwellings
592
Transport to Work
Daily life in Meadows is highly car dependent: 82.4% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.5% using public transport and 2.1% walking or cycling. At 40.5 people per sq km, the spread-out setting helps explain why driving is central, while the 11.5% working-from-home share may soften commuting pressure. Education access includes 1 local government primary school, Meadows Primary School; families should confirm enrolment zones, year levels and secondary options for the exact address. Safety is a relative strength, with 16 recorded incidents and a rate of 9.3 per 1,000, lower than high-crime locations. Compared with transit-oriented suburbs, Meadows trades public transport frequency for a detached, low-density setting. Its IRSAD decile of 1 signals substantial socioeconomic disadvantage, so practical amenity can vary by household resources.
Drive
82.4%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
11.5%
Growth Outlook
Meadows' growth outlook is positive but uneven. The annual trend is 2.37%, higher than a no-growth baseline, while migration is labelled Balanced rather than driven by one dominant stream. Across the wider area, population change reaches 44.8% over 10 years, giving the suburb a stronger momentum signal than its established classification alone suggests. Gentrification indicators are mixed: the main score is 27 at the Early signs stage, but the shift measure records a score of 19 and labels the stage Not gentrifying. Rent growth of 25.0% and an Improving affordability trend add to the case for gradual change. The Mixed trajectory and senior-share increase of 2.0% imply growth is being absorbed by both established and newer households rather than a single demographic wave.
Population trend: Mount Barker council area
Meadows sits in the Mount Barker council area. These are the council area's residents, not Meadows's.
Residents 2025
45,111
Growth, 5 yr average
+3.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+3.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
16
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
9.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Meadows compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Meadows a good suburb to live in?
Yes, if you value detached housing and a settled setting. Meadows has 1,717 residents, 98.3% separate houses and a 9.3 per 1,000 crime rate, while 82.4% drive, so car access is important for daily life.
What is the median house price in Meadows?
A current suburb median is not available to quote, so compare recent Meadows sales by land size, condition and bedroom count. The housing mix is 98.3% separate houses, with 46.9% 3-bedroom and 45.2% 4-or-more-bedroom homes.
What schools are in Meadows?
Meadows Primary School is the local government primary school listed for the suburb. Check enrolment zones, year levels and secondary options for the exact address, especially because 82.4% of residents drive and only 0.5% use public transport.
Is Meadows safe?
Meadows records 16 incidents, equal to 9.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. That is a low rate compared with high-crime locations, although normal precautions remain sensible for vehicles, outbuildings and homes.
Is Meadows good for property investment?
Meadows may suit investors seeking detached housing and rent exposure, but the lack of a current median price makes yield testing essential. Weekly rent is $343, vacancy is 3.3%, renting is 11.0% and 43 development applications were recorded in 12 months.
How is Meadows's population changing?
Meadows has 1,717 residents today. Across the wider area, population change is 44.8% over 10 years and the annual trend is 2.37%, with migration labelled Balanced. Gentrification is at an Early signs score of 27, so change is positive but not uniform.
What development is occurring in Meadows?
Development activity is visible but not clearly dominated by new housing: 43 applications were recorded in 12 months, including a function-centre change of use, a verandah and an inground pool. Check each proposal's status and timing before making a property decision.
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).
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