Middleton
Middleton stands out for combining a median age of 49, a 58.2% vacancy rate and a 2.67% annual growth trend within a population of 1,298. The age profile sits 9 years above the national comparison, while 98.1% of dwellings are separate houses, giving the locality a strongly detached, low-density character at 36.6 people per square kilometre. Compared with nearby Goolwa and Port Elliot, Middleton reads as a smaller residential setting with more obvious holiday or occasional-use housing. Overseas migration is the stated growth driver, although the longer-term trajectory is Aging and the gentrification score is 0.
Local council: Alexandrina
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
43
Middleton suits buyers seeking detached housing and a quieter setting, but the market needs careful address-level checking because a current median house price is unavailable. Separate houses account for 98.1% of dwellings, while 49.3% have 3 bedrooms and 33.1% have 4 or more, creating a practical choice for couples, families and downsizers. The typical mortgage payment is $1,300 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 22.6% of household income, compared with rent at $283 per week and 21.3% of income. Household income sits at the 33.4th percentile, below the midpoint, so borrowing capacity may be more constrained than the detached housing profile suggests.
For Buyers
Middleton suits buyers seeking detached housing and a quieter setting, but the market needs careful address-level checking because a current median house price is unavailable. Separate houses account for 98.1% of dwellings, while 49.3% have 3 bedrooms and 33.1% have 4 or more, creating a practical choice for couples, families and downsizers. The typical mortgage payment is $1,300 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 22.6% of household income, compared with rent at $283 per week and 21.3% of income. Household income sits at the 33.4th percentile, below the midpoint, so borrowing capacity may be more constrained than the detached housing profile suggests.
For Investors
Middleton presents a mixed investment case because rental demand indicators are offset by an exceptionally high 58.2% vacancy rate. Only 17.9% of households rent, while weekly rent is $283 and rent growth has reached 19.3%, so income potential may depend heavily on whether a property can attract stable, year-round tenants rather than occasional occupants. The 21.3% rent-to-income ratio is below the 22.6% mortgage-to-income ratio, but that does not remove vacancy risk. Forty-five development applications were recorded over 12 months, indicating ongoing property activity. Compared with a tightly held long-term rental market, the vacancy figure points to more variable occupancy, and the gentrification score of 0 signals no current gentrification stage.
Development Activity
Total DAs
296
Last 12 Months
43
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-31.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Middleton has an older resident base, with a median age of 49 that is 9 years above the national comparison. Household size is 2.3 people, or 0.2 below the national figure, reflecting the strong presence of couples without children, who represent 53.3% of families. University attainment is 30.2%, just 0.1 percentage points above the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 15.7%, or 5.9 points below it. English ancestry is recorded for 638 residents, followed by Scottish at 142, Irish at 121 and German at 110. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 755, compared with 437 identifying with Christianity. The 79.3% residential stay rate supports a relatively settled community, while the Aging trajectory is consistent with the 3.2-point rise in the senior share.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.1%
Houses
1.3%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Middleton's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 98.1% separate houses, 49.3% containing 3 bedrooms and 33.1% containing 4 or more. A current median house price is unavailable, so buyers and sellers should compare recent nearby sales rather than rely on a single headline figure. Ownership is more common than renting: 46.3% own outright and 35.2% have a mortgage, compared with 17.9% renting. The 58.2% vacancy rate is much higher than the renting share, which may reflect holiday homes or dwellings used intermittently and can make suburb-wide price signals less consistent. Housing costs appear manageable on the available measures, with mortgage costs at 22.6% of income and rent at 21.3%, and neither stress indicator flagged.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$283
Census 2021
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
37.4%
Couples with children
53.3%
Couples, no children
9.0%
Single parent
366
Total families
Economy & Employment
Middleton's employment base is led by Education and Healthcare, each representing 15.5% of industry employment and 64 workers, followed by Construction at 13.3% and 55 workers, Public Administration at 9.0% and 37 workers, and Retail at 6.5% and 27 workers. The occupational mix is similarly broad, led by Professionals at 119, Community and Personal Service workers at 98, Trades at 93, Managers at 88 and Clerical and Administrative workers at 65. Education and Healthcare rank above Public Administration and Retail, helping spread employment across services and construction. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, participation is 56.1%, and part-time employment at 289 exceeds full-time employment at 271. Household income is at the 33.4th percentile, while real income growth is negative at -2.8%, creating a weaker income position than the occupational mix alone might suggest.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
611
Unemployed
19
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
45.8%
Part-time
48.8%
Participation
56.1%
Employed
592
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.2%
Postgraduate
5.7%
Born Overseas
15.7%
Dwellings
519
Transport to Work
Middleton is strongly car-oriented: 76.0% of residents drive to work, compared with 5.0% who walk or cycle, while 15.8% work from home. That pattern is understandable across an area of 35.46 square kilometres with density of 36.6 people per square kilometre, but households should budget for regular driving. Families should plan school access through nearby Goolwa or Port Elliot and confirm enrolment zones against the exact address. Recorded crime totals 42 incidents, equivalent to 32.4 per 1,000 residents, so current Fleurieu and South Australian comparisons are sensible before making a safety judgement. Community participation is supported by a 24.4% volunteering rate, while 5.6% report needing assistance. Compared with a compact urban suburb, Middleton requires more reliance on private transport but provides a lower-density residential environment.
Drive
76.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
15.8%
Growth Outlook
Growth across the wider area is running at 2.67% annually, with population change of 65.3% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the population trajectory is labelled Aging, so expansion is occurring alongside a changing age structure rather than a clear youth-led shift. The senior share has risen by 3.2 percentage points, while the young share has fallen by 1.9 points and the working share by 2.1 points. Rent growth of 19.3% is higher than the 2.67% annual trend, which may increase investor attention even as vacancy remains elevated. Affordability is broadly Stable, moving from 65.1 in 2011 to 65.0 in 2021. Compared with a gentrifying market, Middleton's gentrification score of 0 and stage of Not gentrifying point to growth without clear renewal-led displacement.
Population trend: Alexandrina council area
Middleton sits in the Alexandrina council area. These are the council area's residents, not Middleton's.
Residents 2025
31,427
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit residents who value detached housing, a settled community and a quieter low-density setting. The population is 1,298, the median age is 49 and 98.1% of dwellings are separate houses. Compared with a denser urban suburb, daily life is more car-dependent, with 76.0% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Middleton?
A current median house price is unavailable for Middleton. The suburb is dominated by separate houses at 98.1%, with 35.2% of households paying a mortgage and 46.3% owning outright. Buyers should compare recent local sales and property condition rather than rely on a headline median.
What schools are in Middleton?
Families should plan school access through nearby Goolwa or Port Elliot and confirm the enrolment zone for each address. Middleton has a population of 1,298 and a car-driver share of 76.0%, so school travel is likely to be more practical by car than on foot or bicycle, where the comparable share is 5.0%.
Is Middleton safe?
Middleton recorded 42 crimes, equal to 32.4 incidents per 1,000 residents. That figure should be compared with current Fleurieu Peninsula and South Australian benchmarks before drawing a firm conclusion, because a small population and a 58.2% vacancy rate can make local rates more sensitive to seasonal activity.
Is Middleton good for property investment?
Middleton requires a careful investment strategy rather than a simple rental-growth assumption. Weekly rent is $283 and rent growth is 19.3%, but vacancy is a very high 58.2% and only 17.9% of households rent. Forty-five development applications in 12 months also point to active property turnover, while the gentrification score remains 0.
How is Middleton's population changing?
Growth across the wider area is forecast at 2.67% annually, with 65.3% population change over 10 years and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased by 3.2 percentage points, while the young share has declined by 1.9 points.
What development is occurring in Middleton?
Forty-five development applications were recorded over the past 12 months. Examples include a replacement agricultural building, a verandah and demolition of an existing dwelling followed by construction of a two-storey detached house with a freestanding carport. The 98.1% separate-house share means most activity is likely to reinforce the existing detached housing pattern.
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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