Moonta Bay
A 36.3% vacancy rate is the defining number for Moonta Bay, signalling a coastal town where a large share of dwellings sit empty for much of the year as holiday homes rather than permanent residences. The median age of 59 is 19 years above the national figure, making this one of the most aged communities in regional SA. Household income sits at the 14.2nd percentile nationally, and SEIFA indexes place the suburb at decile 2 for both IRSAD and IRSD, reflecting genuine economic constraint alongside the retirement lifestyle. Population has grown 23.2% over the decade, driven primarily by internal migration of around 162 residents per year.
Population
2,633
Median Age
59.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,033/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
116
No current median house price data is available for Moonta Bay, consistent with thin transaction volumes in a small coastal community of 2,633 people. What the data does show is that 55.9% of households own their home outright, well above national norms, while only 25.9% carry a mortgage and 18.2% rent. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.1%, just below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in the 14.2nd percentile nationally. Detached houses account for 95.3% of the stock, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 50.8% and four-plus bedroom dwellings a significant 35.5%, suggesting buyers are not trading down in size even if they are simplifying their lifestyle.
For Buyers
No current median house price data is available for Moonta Bay, consistent with thin transaction volumes in a small coastal community of 2,633 people. What the data does show is that 55.9% of households own their home outright, well above national norms, while only 25.9% carry a mortgage and 18.2% rent. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.1%, just below the 30% stress threshold despite household income in the 14.2nd percentile nationally. Detached houses account for 95.3% of the stock, with three-bedroom homes the most common at 50.8% and four-plus bedroom dwellings a significant 35.5%, suggesting buyers are not trading down in size even if they are simplifying their lifestyle.
For Investors
The 36.3% vacancy rate presents a structural challenge for investors seeking reliable rental income, as it reflects a market dominated by short-stay holiday letting rather than long-term tenancy. Weekly rent averages $260, lower than the SA state median and reflecting the modest income base of permanent renters. Rent grew 25% over the period, outpacing real income growth of 12.9%, which has compressed affordability from 51.8% to 46.6% of household income. Development activity is active with 111 applications in the past 12 months, including new detached dwellings and extensions, suggesting ongoing owner-occupier investment in the area. Net internal migration of 162 residents per year supports steady demand from sea-changers and retirees relocating from urban centres.
Development Activity
Total DAs
729
Last 12 Months
116
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-4.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 59 places Moonta Bay 19 years above the national figure, among the most pronounced age gaps of any SA coastal suburb. The aging trajectory has accelerated, with the senior share rising 11.0 points and the working-age share falling 6.1 points over the decade. Only 12.2% of residents were born overseas, which is 9.4 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry runs heavily Anglo-Celtic with English (1,207), Scottish (254) and German (253) the leading ancestries. University qualifications reach just 16.2%, which is 13.9 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting the retiree and trade-worker profile. Average household size is 2.2, compared to the national average of 2.5, consistent with the dominance of couples without children, who make up 52.4% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.3%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 95.3% of dwellings, higher than most SA suburbs, because this is a traditional coastal town with almost no apartment or medium-density development. Outright ownership at 55.9% is significantly above national norms and reflects the retiree demographic who have paid off mortgages over time. Three-bedroom homes are the plurality at 50.8%, with four-plus bedroom properties at 35.5%, so the stock runs larger than the household size of 2.2 would suggest. The 18.2% rental share is comparatively low, and at $260 per week the rent-to-income ratio sits at 25.2%, within affordable range. The vacancy rate of 36.3% stands well above state and national norms, confirming that a substantial portion of the dwelling stock is used as non-primary holiday accommodation.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$553
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
36.3%
Unoccupied
632
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
52.4%
Couples, no children
1,946
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry sector at 24.9% of local workers (114 people), followed by Education at 16.6% (76) and Construction at 12.9% (59), a pattern typical of regional service towns serving an aging population. The labour force participation rate is just 38.3%, far below the national average, because 1,227 residents are not in the labour force, primarily retirees. Unemployment at 7.8% is elevated compared to national figures, and the full-time employment rate among those who do work is 54.3%. SEIFA places the suburb at decile 1 for IEO (education and occupation) and decile 2 for IRSAD (advantage and disadvantage), consistent with a low-skilled, low-income economy. Real incomes grew 12.9% over the decade, below most metropolitan centres, leaving limited capacity for discretionary spending.
Unemployment
6.5%
Labour Force
2,166
Unemployed
141
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.3%
Part-time
37.9%
Participation
38.3%
Employed
809
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.2%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
12.2%
Dwellings
1,106
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total, with 92.3% of residents driving to work, compared to a national average closer to 65%, because Moonta Bay has minimal public transport, with only 0.5% using it. The crime rate of 19.0 incidents per 1,000 residents is low in absolute terms, recorded across 50 total incidents, which is consistent with the low-crime identity signal. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in nearby Moonta and the broader Copper Coast area. The IRSAD decile of 2 indicates relative disadvantage compared to the national average, though this coexists with low housing stress metrics: rent-to-income at 25.2% and mortgage-to-income at 29.1% both sit below the 30% stress threshold. Volunteering is high at 22.3%, nearly double the participation seen in many urban suburbs.
Drive
92.3%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.81%/yr
(+106 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has expanded 23.2% over the past decade, reaching 2,633 permanent residents, and forecast growth of 1.81% per year adds roughly 106 people annually. The medium forecast projects the broader area reaching 6,437 by 2031. Internal migration is the primary engine, with an average annual net inflow of 162 residents, mostly retirees and semi-retirees making permanent sea-changes to the Copper Coast. Overseas migration contributes a modest 14 residents per year. Gentrification is classified as early signs, with a score of 32, supported by sustained population growth of 36% since 2011 and the sustained internal migration flow. The aging trajectory means demand will increasingly come from lifestyle-motivated movers rather than employment-driven growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+14
Net Internal / yr
+162
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +36% since 2011, Net internal migration +162/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
50
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
19.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Moonta Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moonta Bay a good suburb to live in?
Moonta Bay suits retirees and lifestyle seekers more than young families or career-focused residents. The median age is 59, which is 19 years above the national average, and 55.9% of households own their home outright. Low crime (19.0 per 1,000), affordable housing stress ratios and a 22.3% volunteering rate point to a stable, community-oriented place. The trade-off is limited employment, with a participation rate of just 38.3% and no local schools.
What is the median house price in Moonta Bay?
Current median house price data is not available for Moonta Bay due to low transaction volumes in this small coastal town of 2,633 residents. Weekly rent averages $260, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.1%. Rent grew 25% over the past decade, outpacing the 12.9% real income growth recorded over the same period.
What schools are in Moonta Bay?
No schools are recorded within the Moonta Bay suburb boundary. Families rely on schools in nearby Moonta and other Copper Coast townships. The suburb has a university qualification rate of 16.2%, which is 13.9 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the predominantly retiree and trade-worker population rather than a young family demographic.
Is Moonta Bay safe?
Moonta Bay records a crime rate of 19.0 incidents per 1,000 residents across 50 total incidents, which is low for a South Australian coastal community. The IRSAD decile 2 indicates socioeconomic disadvantage relative to national norms, but low crime rates suggest the community does not face the safety pressures sometimes associated with higher-disadvantage areas.
Is Moonta Bay good for property investment?
Investment returns are mixed. Rental yields are constrained by a $260 weekly rent against an undisclosed purchase price, and a 36.3% vacancy rate reflects heavy short-stay and holiday letting rather than stable long-term tenancy. On the positive side, rent grew 25% over the period and net internal migration averages 162 residents per year, supporting steady demand. The 111 development applications in the past 12 months show active owner investment in the area.
How is Moonta Bay's population changing?
The permanent population has grown 23.2% over the decade to 2,633 residents, with annual growth running at 1.81%, or roughly 106 people per year. Internal migration is the main driver at a net 162 residents per year, mostly retirees making a permanent coastal move. The aging trajectory is pronounced, with the senior share rising 11.0 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 6.1 points.
How much development is happening in Moonta Bay?
There were 111 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including new detached dwellings, swimming pools and verandahs. The activity reflects ongoing investment by owner-occupiers and lifestyle buyers rather than large-scale development. With 95.3% of the stock already separate houses and a 36.3% vacancy rate, new supply is modest and focused on incremental improvements to existing properties.
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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