Middleton
A vacancy rate of 58.2% tells the defining story of Middleton: more than half the dwellings sit empty most of the year, pointing to a coastal holiday destination rather than a permanent residential suburb. The 1,298 permanent residents skew significantly older, with a median age of 49, which is 9 years above the national figure. Household income sits at the 33.4th percentile nationally, below average, yet 46.6% of households own their home outright with no mortgage. Construction is among the top three industries here, accounting for 13.3% of local employment, and 47 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, reflecting ongoing holiday property investment in the area.
Population
1,298
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,330/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
52
No median sale price data is recorded for Middleton in this period, which reflects the thin, irregular transaction volumes typical of small coastal markets. What is available: monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than many metropolitan suburbs. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 98.1%, with semi-detached at just 1.3%, so buyers are effectively choosing between freestanding homes only. Bedroom sizes lean larger, with 49.3% three-bedroom and 33.1% four-plus bedroom homes, compared to the national mix where smaller dwellings are more common. Outright ownership at 46.6% outnumbers mortgage holders at 35.4%, suggesting many existing owners paid down debt over time or purchased when values were lower.
For Buyers
No median sale price data is recorded for Middleton in this period, which reflects the thin, irregular transaction volumes typical of small coastal markets. What is available: monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than many metropolitan suburbs. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 98.1%, with semi-detached at just 1.3%, so buyers are effectively choosing between freestanding homes only. Bedroom sizes lean larger, with 49.3% three-bedroom and 33.1% four-plus bedroom homes, compared to the national mix where smaller dwellings are more common. Outright ownership at 46.6% outnumbers mortgage holders at 35.4%, suggesting many existing owners paid down debt over time or purchased when values were lower.
For Investors
The 58.2% vacancy rate is the critical investor consideration. In a typical suburb vacancy above 3-5% signals oversupply; here the figure reflects a seasonal holiday market where permanent renters represent only 18.0% of households. Weekly rent of $283 is lower than the SA state median, which limits yield for year-round investors. Against this, 47 development applications in the past 12 months confirm active building interest, and Construction at 13.3% of local employment points to sustained trades activity. The 20.7% annual housing turnover rate means roughly one in five properties changes hands in any given year, higher than stable residential markets where turnover runs closer to 10-15%. Investors focused on holiday letting rather than permanent tenants will find more relevance in that seasonal demand dynamic.
Development Activity
Total DAs
289
Last 12 Months
52
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-14.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Middleton's median age of 49 is 9 years above the national average, placing it firmly among Australia's older coastal communities. The overseas-born share is 15.7%, which is 5.9 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born population. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (638), Scottish (142), Irish (121) and German (110) lead the counts. University qualifications at 30.2% align almost exactly with the national rate, roughly 0.1 percentage points above average, so the education profile is representative rather than concentrated at either extreme. Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below the national 2.5. Couples with children (401) and couples without children (384) are almost evenly split among the 984 families, consistent with an aging but family-present population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.1%
Houses
1.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure breakdown reveals a low-debt community: 46.6% own outright, 35.4% carry a mortgage and only 18.0% rent, compared to a national renting share around 30%. That high outright ownership rate is partly a function of age, as older long-term residents have had more time to pay off loans. The stock is nearly uniform in type, at 98.1% separate detached houses, which is unusually high relative to most Australian suburbs. Bedroom distribution skews large, with 3-bedroom at 49.3% and 4-plus at 33.1%, leaving smaller 1-2 bedroom dwellings at only 17.6% combined. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.6% and rent-to-income of 21.3% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning existing owners and renters are not under financial pressure from housing costs relative to their incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$283
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$708
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
58.2%
Unoccupied
723
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.0%
Couples, no children
984
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education and Healthcare each account for 15.5% of local employment (64 workers each), tied as the top industries, followed by Construction at 13.3% (55 workers), Public Administration at 9.0% and Retail at 6.5%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 119 workers, Community and Personal Services at 98, and Managers at 88, reflecting a service-oriented workforce typical of regional coastal areas. The unemployment rate of 3.3% is low by national standards, though the participation rate of 53.1% is below average, because 435 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older age profile where retirement reduces participation. Full-time employment accounts for 48.4% of employed residents, below what might be expected, with part-time workers (289) nearly matching full-time workers (271). Household income at the 33.4th percentile nationally reflects these part-time and retirement income patterns.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
48.4%
Part-time
48.3%
Participation
53.1%
Employed
560
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.2%
Postgraduate
5.7%
Born Overseas
15.7%
Dwellings
519
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 90.4% of residents driving to work, with only 5.9% walking or cycling, reflecting the low-density coastal geography and limited public transport typical of small SA townships. No schools are recorded within the Middleton boundary in this dataset, so families with children rely on facilities in nearby larger centres. The crime rate of 32.4 incidents per 1,000 residents gives an initial safety reference, though this figure should be interpreted cautiously for a small population of 1,298, where a handful of incidents can move the rate meaningfully. Rent-to-income at 21.3% and mortgage-to-income at 22.6% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning residents are not under financial pressure from housing costs compared to national stress benchmarks. The 24.4% volunteering rate suggests strong community participation by those who are permanent residents.
Drive
90.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
42
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
32.4
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Middleton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Middleton a good suburb to live in?
Middleton suits permanent residents seeking a quiet, low-density coastal lifestyle. The median age is 49, nine years above the national figure, and 79.3% of residents have stayed rather than moved, indicating a settled community. Housing affordability is manageable with mortgage-to-income at 22.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-offs are limited local services and no recorded schools within the boundary.
What is the median house price in Middleton?
A median sale price is not recorded for Middleton in this period, reflecting the thin transaction volumes of a small coastal market with 1,298 permanent residents. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and weekly rent is $283. Household income sits at the 33.4th percentile nationally, so affordability depends heavily on existing equity rather than borrowing capacity.
What schools are in Middleton?
No schools are recorded within the Middleton boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby larger centres. The local university qualification rate of 30.2% is near the national average, suggesting residents access education through regional and metro institutions rather than local facilities.
Is Middleton safe?
Middleton records 42 total crimes, giving a rate of 32.4 incidents per 1,000 residents. For a small population of 1,298 this rate should be read carefully, as a small number of incidents can shift it materially. The 5.6% needing daily assistance and 3.3% unemployment rate both point to a stable, low-disadvantage community by most indicators.
Is Middleton good for property investment?
Investment depends heavily on the strategy. The 58.2% vacancy rate signals a seasonal holiday market rather than a permanent rental one, with only 18.0% of households renting long-term. Weekly rent of $283 is below the SA median. However, 47 development applications in the past 12 months and active construction employment at 13.3% show ongoing building demand, and the 20.7% annual housing turnover is higher than typical stable residential markets.
How is Middleton's population changing?
Detailed forward projections are not available for Middleton. The current population of 1,298 has a median age of 49, which is 9 years above national, pointing toward an aging trajectory over the coming decade. The 79.3% stability rate indicates most permanent residents choose to stay, but the aging cohort will drive growing demand for health and aged-care services as time progresses.
How much development is happening in Middleton?
There were 47 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, notable for a suburb of only 1,298 permanent residents. Recent applications include a new detached dwelling, garage construction and a spa pool installation, consistent with ongoing holiday property improvement and new build activity rather than large-scale residential subdivision.
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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