Monash
Spread across 213 square kilometres in the Riverland region of South Australia, Monash carries a population of just 1,110 residents at a density of 5.2 people per km, one of the more sparsely settled localities in the state. The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, reflecting a pronounced aging trajectory where the senior share has grown 10.6 points over the past decade. Despite modest household incomes at the 46.5th percentile nationally, SEIFA scores sit at decile 8 across all four indexes, above the national average, because low debt costs and outright ownership keep financial pressure low. Healthcare employs 26.3% of the local workforce, far above its typical share in comparable rural towns, anchoring the local economy.
Population
1,110
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,488/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
No recent median house price is available for Monash, a reflection of the thin transaction volume typical of small rural localities with only 1,110 residents. What the data does show is that housing costs are very manageable relative to income: mortgage-to-income sits at 17.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income is just 15.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,148, among the lower figures seen in SA. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.5%, with 37.7% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, and semi-detached homes making up the remaining 3.5%. Outright owners account for 40.9% of households, compared with 46.2% carrying a mortgage, a pattern consistent with long-term residents who bought well below today's national price levels.
For Buyers
No recent median house price is available for Monash, a reflection of the thin transaction volume typical of small rural localities with only 1,110 residents. What the data does show is that housing costs are very manageable relative to income: mortgage-to-income sits at 17.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income is just 15.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,148, among the lower figures seen in SA. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.5%, with 37.7% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, and semi-detached homes making up the remaining 3.5%. Outright owners account for 40.9% of households, compared with 46.2% carrying a mortgage, a pattern consistent with long-term residents who bought well below today's national price levels.
For Investors
The investment case for Monash is constrained by scale. Weekly rent averages $230, and the 11.8% vacancy rate is elevated, reflecting surplus supply relative to the small renter base of 12.9%. Only 19 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, with activity focused on single dwellings and agricultural buildings rather than residential density. Net internal migration runs at minus 6 persons per year, offset partly by overseas arrivals of 40 annually. The medium population forecast points to a gradual decline from 5,573 in 2026 to 5,558 by 2031. Investors considering Monash should weigh the affordable entry costs and low mortgage stress against a thin resale market and a high vacancy rate that is above the state average for comparable rural localities.
Development Activity
Total DAs
125
Last 12 Months
21
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-8.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Monash iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Monash Primary and Preschool
R-6 · 101 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 sits 7 years above the national average, and the aging trajectory is steep: the senior share has risen 10.6 points while the working-age share fell 6 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 15.2%, which is 14.9 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the area's industry base in healthcare, manufacturing and construction rather than knowledge-intensive roles. Overseas-born residents account for 10.3% of the population, 11.3 points below the national rate. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, with English (476) and German (155) leading, followed by Scottish (78) and Greek (71). The low turnover rate of 15.8% means 84.2% of residents stayed in place over the five years to the 2021 census, pointing to a strongly settled, long-term community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.5%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses dominate the housing stock at 96.5%, with virtually no apartments and only 3.5% semi-detached dwellings. This is a suburb where 37.7% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 52.4% have three, reflecting the agricultural setting and larger land parcels typical of Riverland towns. Outright ownership at 40.9% is notable because it reduces financial vulnerability: mortgage-to-income at 17.8% and rent-to-income at 15.5% are both below stress thresholds, and monthly repayments average $1,148. The 11.8% vacancy rate is elevated compared with metropolitan norms and signals that supply exceeds the current local demand. Tenure splits show a mortgage-dominant market at 46.2%, somewhat higher than the outright-owner share, suggesting younger household formation is still active despite the aging population trend.
Mortgage / mo
$1,148
Rent / wk
$230
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$755
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.8%
Unoccupied
57
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.7%
Couples, no children
912
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the leading employer at 26.3% of workers (85 people), a share well above what would typically anchor a town of this size, likely driven by aged-care and primary health services for the region's older demographic. Manufacturing follows at 13.6% and Construction at 12.1%, with Public Administration and Education each at 7.7%. By occupation, Labourers (107) edge out Managers (103), with Community and Personal services workers at 84. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, slightly below the national average, and 65.7% of employed residents work full time. Participation sits at 64.0%, held down by the 280 residents not in the labour force, which corresponds to the high median age of 47. SEIFA scores across all four indexes sit at decile 8, placing Monash above the national median despite household incomes at only the 46.5th percentile.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
2,878
Unemployed
124
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.7%
Part-time
30.6%
Participation
64.0%
Employed
578
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.2%
Postgraduate
1.9%
Born Overseas
10.3%
Dwellings
424
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total at 93.0% of commuters, with only 4.0% walking or cycling and no measurable public transport use. This is expected given the 213 km area and sparse density of 5.2 per km. No schools are recorded within the Monash boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in nearby Riverland towns. The crime rate is 19.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, below the metropolitan averages seen in larger SA suburbs, consistent with the low-density rural setting. The IRSAD score sits at decile 8, above the national average for relative advantage and disadvantage. Volunteering is high at 21.2%, above the national rate, pointing to active community participation. Only 6.1% of residents (65 people) need daily assistance, despite the older median age of 47.
Drive
93.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.05%/yr
(-3 people/yr)
EstablishedMonash is in a slow-decline phase. Annual population movement is minus 0.05% (roughly minus 3 persons per year), and the medium forecast projects a gradual fall from 5,573 residents in 2026 to 5,558 by 2031. The 10-year population change was positive at 4.1%, so the recent reversal is relatively new. Internal migration is a net drain at minus 6 per year, partly offset by overseas arrivals of 40 annually. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage reads not gentrifying, consistent with an established agricultural community rather than a suburb undergoing demographic transformation. Affordability has actually improved slightly, falling from 44.4% in 2011 to 41.1% in 2021, meaning housing has become more accessible relative to incomes, even as rents grew 13.9% over the period.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+40
Net Internal / yr
-6
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
22
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
19.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Monash compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monash a good suburb to live in?
Monash suits those seeking low-cost, spacious rural living in South Australia's Riverland region. SEIFA scores sit at decile 8 nationally across all four indexes, above the national average. Mortgage-to-income is 17.8% and rent-to-income 15.5%, both well below stress thresholds. The trade-offs are near-total car dependence (93%), no public transport, and an aging population with the median age at 47.
What is the median house price in Monash?
No recent median house price is available for Monash due to low transaction volume in this 1,110-person locality. Indicative affordability data shows monthly mortgage repayments average $1,148 and rent averages $230 per week. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 17.8%, among the lower levels in SA, suggesting purchase prices are modest relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Monash?
No schools are recorded within the Monash boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Riverland towns. The suburb's university qualification rate is 15.2%, which is 14.9 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the area's workforce concentration in healthcare, trades, and agriculture rather than professional roles.
Is Monash safe?
The recorded crime rate is 19.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 22 total incidents, which is lower than metropolitan SA averages. The IRSD decile of 8 indicates low relative disadvantage compared with the national average, and only 6.1% of residents (65 people) need daily assistance, suggesting a stable, low-pressure community environment.
Is Monash good for property investment?
The investment fundamentals are mixed. Entry costs appear low with monthly mortgage repayments at $1,148 and rent at $230 per week, but the 11.8% vacancy rate is elevated and the renter share is only 12.9%. The medium population forecast shows a gradual decline to 5,558 by 2031, and net internal migration runs at minus 6 per year, limiting demand growth for rental properties.
How is Monash's population changing?
Monash had a 4.1% population increase over 10 years but is now in slight decline, with annual movement of minus 3 persons per year. The medium forecast projects a fall from 5,573 in 2026 to 5,558 by 2031. The aging trajectory is pronounced, with the senior share rising 10.6 points over the decade, and the working-age share falling 6 points over the same period.
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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