Moana
Its 3,316 residents have a median age of 40, matching the national figure, while 89.3% of homes are separate houses and the household income percentile is 56.5. Crime sits at 21.1 incidents per 1,000 people, supporting a low-crime profile. Compared with nearby Seaford and Maslin Beach, Moana's key distinction for buyers is its strongly detached, owner-occupier-oriented housing mix rather than an apartment-led profile.
Population
3,316
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,631/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
63
Median House
$1.1M
First quarter 2026
Moana suits buyers seeking a conventional family home, but the entry point is substantial. Housing is concentrated in 3-bedroom properties at 47.0% and 4-bedroom-plus homes at 37.4%, while separate houses account for 89.3% of dwellings. The listed monthly mortgage figure is $1,625 and mortgage costs equal 23.0% of household income, below the stress threshold. With 49.6% of households paying a mortgage and 31.9% owning outright, competition for detached stock can remain firm compared with a more renter-heavy suburb. Buyers should compare renovation needs, commute costs and insurance alongside the headline price.
For Buyers
Moana suits buyers seeking a conventional family home, but the entry point is substantial. Housing is concentrated in 3-bedroom properties at 47.0% and 4-bedroom-plus homes at 37.4%, while separate houses account for 89.3% of dwellings. The listed monthly mortgage figure is $1,625 and mortgage costs equal 23.0% of household income, below the stress threshold. With 49.6% of households paying a mortgage and 31.9% owning outright, competition for detached stock can remain firm compared with a more renter-heavy suburb. Buyers should compare renovation needs, commute costs and insurance alongside the headline price.
For Investors
Moana has a relatively small rental base, with 18.2% of households renting compared with 31.9% owning outright and 49.6% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $330 and vacancy is 9.7%, so leasing conditions may be less secure than in a tightly held, high-demand rental market. Development activity is notable at 63 applications over 12 months, including dwelling additions and verandah works. A 1.42% annual growth trend and Balanced migration suggest steady rather than speculative demand, making property condition and tenant appeal important to returns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
396
Last 12 Months
63
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+16.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Moana's population of 3,316 has a median age of 40, equal to the national comparison, but its trajectory is aging because the senior share has increased by 4.2 percentage points while the young share has fallen by 1.4 points. The overseas-born share is 25.0%, 3.4 points above the national figure, while university attainment is 25.8%, 4.3 points below it. English ancestry is most common at 1,758 people, followed by Scottish at 350, Irish at 303 and German at 221. No religion accounts for 1,951 residents compared with 1,149 identifying with Christianity. Household size is 2.5, matching the national comparison, and 77.6% of residents stayed at the same address, indicating lower turnover than a highly mobile suburb. Compared with nearby Seaford and Maslin Beach, Moana presents as a mature, established community with a strong Anglo-leaning profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.3%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
8.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Moana is a detached-house market, with 89.3% of dwellings separate houses, 8.3% apartments and 2.5% studios or one-bedroom homes. The typical property has 3 bedrooms at 47.0% or 4 bedrooms and more at 37.4%, which aligns with the suburb's 41.6% share of couples with children. Ownership is split between 31.9% outright owners, 49.6% mortgage holders and 18.2% renters. Mortgage costs equal 23.0% of household income, while rent costs equal 20.2%, both below the stated stress flags. Compared with an apartment-oriented market, the larger detached stock creates more space but also a higher capital hurdle.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$330
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$810
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.7%
Unoccupied
137
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.6%
Couples with children
41.3%
Couples, no children
16.4%
Single parent
972
Total families
Economy & Employment
Moana's employment base is led by healthcare at 21.9% or 249 workers, followed by construction at 13.3% or 152, education at 12.8% or 146, public administration at 8.3% or 95, and manufacturing at 7.0% or 80. Occupations are similarly spread across professionals at 317, trades at 304, community and personal services at 254, clerical and administration at 230, and managers at 172. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, participation is 65.5% and full-time employment is 56.5%, supporting a stable working base. Household income of $1,631 per week sits at the 56.5th percentile, above the midpoint. SEIFA results are mixed: economic resources rank in decile 6, education and occupation in decile 4, and disadvantage in decile 5. That gap indicates moderate resources without a top-decile professional profile, because trades and service roles sit alongside healthcare and education employment.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
1,766
Unemployed
71
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.5%
Part-time
37.4%
Participation
65.5%
Employed
1,695
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.8%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
25.0%
Dwellings
1,267
Transport to Work
Moana is strongly car-oriented: 81.0% of workers drive, compared with 2.4% using public transport, 1.2% walking or cycling and 10.9% working from home. That pattern supports households with private vehicles but makes daily access more dependent on road connections than in a transit-led suburb. Recorded crime is 70 incidents, or 21.1 per 1,000 residents, consistent with a low-crime profile. Socioeconomic results are mixed rather than uniformly high, with SEIFA deciles of 4 for education and occupation, 6 for economic resources, 5 for disadvantage and 4 for advantage and disadvantage. The strongest practical fit is for residents who value detached housing, relatively stable tenure and a quieter routine. Buyers should compare commuting time, vehicle costs and access to services before choosing an address.
Drive
81.0%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
10.9%
Population Forecast
+1.42%/yr
(+165 people/yr)
EstablishedMoana's outlook is positive but measured, with an annual growth trend of 1.42% and migration described as Balanced. Population change across the wider area runs at 16.3% over 10 years, indicating sustained expansion rather than a short burst. The shift trajectory is Aging, supported by a 4.2 percentage point increase in the senior share and a 1.4 point decline in the young share. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 33, while real income growth is 6.4% and rent growth is 20.8%. Compared with a rapid-growth market, these indicators point to gradual change driven by established households, rising prices and selective reinvestment. The main opportunity is improving housing quality and amenity without losing the suburb's established detached-home character.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+80
Net Internal / yr
+79
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +24% since 2011, Net internal migration +79/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 15%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
70
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
21.1
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Moana compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moana a good suburb to live in?
Moana suits households seeking detached housing and a car-oriented routine. The median age is 40, separate houses account for 89.3% of dwellings, and recorded crime is 21.1 incidents per 1,000 people. Compared with more transit-focused suburbs, daily life is likely to be easier for households with access to a vehicle.
What schools are in Moana?
Families should verify nearby school options, enrolment zones and travel times for the exact address before buying. Moana's transport pattern is car dependent, with 81.0% of workers driving and only 2.4% using public transport. Compared with a school within walking distance, a farther option could add regular travel and vehicle costs.
Is Moana safe?
Moana recorded 70 crime incidents, equal to 21.1 incidents per 1,000 residents. That supports a low-crime profile, although individual streets and property security still matter. Compared with a higher-crime urban setting, the overall rate is a positive livability signal, but buyers should assess lighting, access and activity around the specific home.
How is Moana's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 16.3% over 10 years, with an annual growth trend of 1.42% and Balanced migration. Moana is also on an Aging trajectory: the senior share rose 4.2 percentage points while the young share fell 1.4 points. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 33, suggesting gradual change rather than a sudden population shift.
What development is occurring in Moana?
There were 63 development applications in the past 12 months, including dwelling additions, verandahs and a Centenary Verandah. This pattern points more toward ongoing property improvement than a single large project. Compared with a precinct dominated by major new construction, the activity is more incremental and consistent with Moana's established housing stock.
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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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