Moorak
With 74.1% of residents identifying as male, Moorak registers one of the most skewed gender ratios found in any Australian suburb, a figure that points to the dominance of agricultural and trade-based employment across its 73.3 km2 footprint. The 1,412 residents earn household income at the 75.2nd percentile nationally despite a relatively low university qualification rate of 19.9%. Separate houses account for 91.8% of dwellings, and 87.9% of residents did not move in the five years to the Census, giving the suburb an unusually stable, owner-occupied character compared to metropolitan benchmarks.
Population
1,412
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,006/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median house price data is not recorded for Moorak in current datasets, but the mortgage picture is affordable relative to income. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 91.8%, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 55.1% and 4-plus bedroom homes representing a substantial 37.9% of dwellings. Only 6.4% of households rent, compared to much higher renter shares in state capital suburbs, indicating a strongly owner-occupied market. With 44.4% owning outright and 49.2% on mortgages, Moorak appeals to buyers seeking detached housing at manageable debt levels rather than speculative price growth.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not recorded for Moorak in current datasets, but the mortgage picture is affordable relative to income. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 91.8%, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 55.1% and 4-plus bedroom homes representing a substantial 37.9% of dwellings. Only 6.4% of households rent, compared to much higher renter shares in state capital suburbs, indicating a strongly owner-occupied market. With 44.4% owning outright and 49.2% on mortgages, Moorak appeals to buyers seeking detached housing at manageable debt levels rather than speculative price growth.
For Investors
Moorak's rental market is thin, with only 6.4% of households renting and weekly rent at $250, lower than the state median. The vacancy rate sits at 4.4%, above typical investment-grade thresholds, signalling limited rental demand in the area. Net internal migration runs negative at minus 54 per year while overseas migration adds 34, producing a small net negative flow. Population is forecast to decline modestly from 1,412 at a rate of 0.4% per year through to 2031. Development is low at 11 applications in the past 12 months, mostly agricultural buildings, consistent with a rural area with minimal residential construction pressure. Investors should weigh the low yield environment and population trajectory against the mortgage-belt stability and 24.1% volunteering rate, which signals community cohesion.
Development Activity
Total DAs
96
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Moorak iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Moorak Primary School
R-6 · 117 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 sits 2 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is confirmed by a senior share that grew 6.0 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.2 points. Overseas-born residents account for just 9.4% of the population, which is 12.2 percentage points below the national average, making this a strongly Anglo-leaning community. The leading ancestries are English (315 residents), Scottish (106) and German (73). University qualifications at 19.9% run 10.2 points below the national figure, consistent with an economy weighted toward healthcare, construction and agriculture rather than knowledge-sector employment. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above national, reflecting the prevalence of family households: 293 couples with children compared to 190 couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.8%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 91.8% of the stock, above typical South Australian benchmarks for rural-fringe areas, and 3-bedroom homes are the dominant type at 55.1%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 37.9%. Median house price data is unavailable for this suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,400 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.1%, comfortably below stress levels, and rent-to-income at 12.5% is also low. Outright ownership at 44.4% is high, indicating a settled, long-term population rather than a churn of recent buyers. The 6.4% renter share is below state and national averages, reinforcing the owner-dominated character of the market. Vacancy at 4.4% is moderate, reflecting limited turnover rather than structural oversupply.
Mortgage / mo
$1,400
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$817
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.4%
Unoccupied
12
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.2%
Couples, no children
651
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry mix at 15.7% of workers (38 people), followed by Construction at 14.5% (35) and Agriculture at 12.0% (29), a combination typical of rural service centres. Education at 10.7% and Retail at 9.1% round out the top five. By occupation, Managers (66) and Professionals (63) are the largest groups, with Clerical/Admin (55) and Labourers (51) close behind. The unemployment rate is low at 2.6%, with 230 employed full-time and 146 part-time. The SEIFA IEO score sits at decile 4, below the national midpoint for education and occupation, which is consistent with the 19.9% university qualification rate. Real income growth of 20.1% over the decade indicates that wages have strengthened even as the workforce profile has aged.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
2,739
Unemployed
63
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.2%
Part-time
36.2%
Participation
30.5%
Employed
376
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.9%
Postgraduate
1.2%
Born Overseas
9.4%
Dwellings
257
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 90.5% of residents driving to work, above most South Australian benchmarks, consistent with the 73.3 km2 rural footprint and minimal public transport options. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary. The crime rate of 17.0 offences per 1,000 residents is low in absolute terms, with only 24 total recorded crimes, which ranks below typical metropolitan suburb crime rates. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Moorak at the national midpoint for advantage and disadvantage. Volunteering at 24.1% is notably high compared to national figures, suggesting a strong community participation culture. Rent-to-income at 12.5% and mortgage-to-income at 16.1% both indicate that housing costs are not a financial burden for residents.
Drive
90.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.4%/yr
(-19 people/yr)
EstablishedMoorak is on a slow contraction path, with annual population change at minus 0.4% and a 10-year decline of 3.7%. The medium forecast projects population falling from around 4,700 to approximately 4,523 by 2031. Internal migration is the main drag at minus 54 per year on average, partially offset by overseas migration of plus 34. The gentrification score of 43 registers as early signs, driven by real income growth of 20.1% and rent growth of 58.5% over the period, even though formal gentrification signals are absent. Affordability has edged up from 22.4% in 2011 to 24.0% in 2021, a stable trend that limits downside but also caps speculative upside. The aging trajectory and negative internal migration are the structural forces to watch.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+34
Net Internal / yr
-54
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
24
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
17.0
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Moorak compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moorak a good suburb to live in?
Moorak suits those seeking a rural lifestyle with low housing costs. Mortgage-to-income sits at 16.1% and rent-to-income at 12.5%, both well below stress thresholds. Household income ranks at the 75.2nd percentile nationally. The main trade-offs are high car dependency at 90.5% and a lack of recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Moorak?
A formal median house price is not available for Moorak in current datasets due to low transaction volume. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400, and rent averages $250 per week. Only 6.4% of households rent, compared to much higher renter shares in capital city suburbs.
What schools are in Moorak?
No schools are recorded within the Moorak suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area likely access schools in nearby centres. University qualifications among residents reach 19.9%, which is 10.2 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the area's trade and agriculture employment base.
Is Moorak safe?
Moorak has a low crime rate of 17.0 offences per 1,000 residents, based on 24 total recorded crimes for the area. The IRSD decile of 5 places it at the national midpoint for relative disadvantage, and only 2.8% of residents (20 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a stable, low-risk community.
Is Moorak good for property investment?
The investment fundamentals are modest. The rental market is thin at 6.4% renter share with weekly rent of $250. Vacancy is 4.4% and population is forecast to decline at 0.4% per year to around 4,523 by 2031. Rent growth of 58.5% over the decade shows past income growth, but the small rental pool limits ongoing yield expansion.
How is Moorak's population changing?
Population is declining slowly at minus 0.4% per year, equivalent to about 19 fewer residents annually. Internal migration averages minus 54 per year while overseas migration adds 34. The 10-year change was minus 3.7%, and medium forecasts project continued gradual decline through to 2031 as the suburb follows an aging trajectory with a senior share that grew 6.0 points over the decade.
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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