Murray Bridge East
A median age of 47, seven years above the national figure, tells much of Murray Bridge East's story. This small SA suburb of 1,196 residents holds all its dwellings as separate houses, a 100% detached rate unusual at any scale, with 44.6% owned outright and just 10.3% renting. All four SEIFA indexes sit at decile 1, the lowest advantage tier nationally, yet mortgage-to-income runs at only 20.9% and rent-to-income at 17.4%, both below stress thresholds. The suburb shows early gentrification signals, with population up 9.2% over the decade and rent growth of 29.7% in the same period.
Population
1,196
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,439/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
No median house price data is recorded for Murray Bridge East in the current period, which limits direct market benchmarking. What the brief does show: monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, a relatively low servicing figure, and mortgage-to-income sits at 20.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold compared to many metropolitan markets. The entire dwelling stock is separate houses, so buyers are not competing in a mixed-typology market. Bedrooms lean large, with 52.5% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 37.2% having 4 or more, which is notably higher than the national average for outer suburban areas. Outright owners at 44.6% outnumber mortgage holders at 45.1%, suggesting long-established ownership patterns rather than heavy speculative turnover.
For Buyers
No median house price data is recorded for Murray Bridge East in the current period, which limits direct market benchmarking. What the brief does show: monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, a relatively low servicing figure, and mortgage-to-income sits at 20.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold compared to many metropolitan markets. The entire dwelling stock is separate houses, so buyers are not competing in a mixed-typology market. Bedrooms lean large, with 52.5% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 37.2% having 4 or more, which is notably higher than the national average for outer suburban areas. Outright owners at 44.6% outnumber mortgage holders at 45.1%, suggesting long-established ownership patterns rather than heavy speculative turnover.
For Investors
Weekly rents of $250 and a 10.3% renter share create a thin tenant pool, which limits yield potential for investors compared to larger regional centres. The vacancy rate of 8.5% is elevated, indicating softer rental demand. However, rent grew 29.7% over the decade, well above inflation, suggesting underlying tightening in a supply-constrained, all-detached market. Development activity sits at 16 applications in 12 months, mostly home improvements and one land division, rather than new dwelling supply. Population growth of 9.2% over 10 years combined with overseas migration adding approximately 227 residents annually to the broader Murray Bridge area provides a structural demand tailwind. The low mortgage repayment figure of $1,300 per month implies low entry costs relative to eastern capital markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
106
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Murray Bridge East carries a median age of 47, which is 7 years above the national median, and the trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.8 points over the decade while the young share fell 2.1 points. Overseas-born residents account for just 6.8% of the population, which is 14.8 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly locally-born community. Ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic: English (560), German (186) and Scottish (110) lead, with a German presence reflecting the historic Lutheran settlement patterns of the Murraylands region. Average household size of 2.4 is marginally below the national average. University qualifications at 14.8% are 15.3 points below national, consistent with the suburb's decile 1 IEO score for educational opportunity.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every dwelling in Murray Bridge East is a separate house, 100% of stock, which is well above any metropolitan benchmark. Tenure splits between mortgage holders at 45.1% and outright owners at 44.6%, with renters representing only 10.3%, far below the national renter share. Bedroom distribution skews large: 3-bedroom homes account for 52.5% of stock and 4-or-more-bedroom homes for 37.2%, compared to typical suburban medians where 3-bedroom is dominant but 4-plus rarely exceeds 25-30%. Weekly rent of $250 is low by SA state standards, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300. No current median sale price is recorded, though the low repayment figure and affordable SEIFA context suggest values remain accessible relative to metropolitan SA.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$689
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.5%
Unoccupied
42
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.0%
Couples, no children
916
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 20.1% of the local workforce (69 workers), followed by Education at 11.7% (40 workers) and Construction and Other Services both at 9.3%. By occupation, Managers (84), Community and Personal Services (82) and Professionals (81) are the three largest groups, a reasonably balanced mix compared to the low SEIFA decile 1 classification. The unemployment rate is 4.5%, slightly above SA state averages, and the participation rate of 58.1% reflects the older median age of 47, with 341 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment runs at 61.2% of those employed, which is decent for a small regional suburb. Household income at the 43.6th percentile nationally is below the median nationally but consistent with what the SEIFA scores indicate.
Unemployment
6.4%
Labour Force
9,028
Unemployed
579
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
34.3%
Participation
58.1%
Employed
570
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.8%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
6.8%
Dwellings
447
Transport to Work
Car dependence in Murray Bridge East is near-total, with 89.9% of residents commuting by private vehicle, well above the national average, and only 0.8% using public transport. This reflects the regional character of the suburb and its limited transit connections compared to metropolitan areas. The crime rate of 37.6 incidents per 1,000 residents across 45 recorded incidents provides limited comparative context at this population size. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 1 nationally, indicating the highest level of relative disadvantage compared to most of Australia, though mortgage-to-income at 20.9% and rent-to-income at 17.4% suggest day-to-day housing costs remain manageable. Volunteering sits at 22.3%, above typical metropolitan rates, indicating strong community participation for a suburb of this size and profile.
Drive
89.9%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.15%/yr
(+230 people/yr)
EstablishedMurray Bridge East's population grew 9.2% over the decade to reach 1,196 residents, above the national average growth rate for established suburbs. The broader Murray Bridge area shows stronger momentum: the regional forecast projects the population reaching approximately 20,427 by 2027 and 21,346 by 2031 from a 2025 base of 19,938, driven primarily by overseas migration of 227 net arrivals annually. The suburb's gentrification score of 24 to 25 places it at the early signs stage, supported by internal migration of 70 net arrivals per year to the broader area. Affordability has remained stable, with the ratio shifting only from 41.3% in 2011 to 40.3% in 2021. Real income growth of 8.2% over the decade shows modest but steady economic improvement.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+227
Net Internal / yr
+70
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +17% since 2011, Net internal migration +70/yr, Strong overseas inflow +227/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
45
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
37.6
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Murray Bridge East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Murray Bridge East a good suburb to live in?
Murray Bridge East suits households who prioritise affordability, space and an established community over urban amenity. Mortgage repayments average $1,300 per month with a 20.9% mortgage-to-income ratio, well below the 30% stress threshold. All homes are separate houses with most having 3 or 4 bedrooms. The trade-off is a decile 1 SEIFA score nationally and near-total car dependence at 89.9% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Murray Bridge East?
No recorded median sale price is available for this period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, suggesting values are accessible by SA standards. Weekly rent is $250 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 20.9%, both low relative to national benchmarks, pointing to an affordable entry point compared to metropolitan markets.
What schools are in Murray Bridge East?
No schools are recorded within the Murray Bridge East boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in the wider Murray Bridge area (postcode 5253). University qualifications among residents sit at 14.8%, which is 15.3 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the regional and vocational-trades character of the local workforce.
Is Murray Bridge East safe?
The suburb recorded 45 incidents with a crime rate of 37.6 per 1,000 residents. At a population of 1,196, this total is modest in absolute terms. Mortgage and rent stress are absent, with housing costs well below the 30% income threshold for both owners and renters, which is consistent with a stable, low-turnover community where 86% of residents have not moved in the past five years.
Is Murray Bridge East good for property investment?
The low $250 weekly rent and elevated 8.5% vacancy rate are caution flags for yield-focused investors. However, rent grew 29.7% over the decade, and population in the broader Murray Bridge area is forecast to reach 21,346 by 2031. Entry costs are low given monthly repayments of $1,300, and the all-detached, no-new-supply development profile can support medium-term capital preservation.
How is Murray Bridge East's population changing?
The suburb grew 9.2% over the past decade to 1,196 residents. The demographic profile is aging, with the senior share up 4.8 points and the young share down 2.1 points since 2011. The broader Murray Bridge region receives approximately 227 net overseas migrants annually, supporting area-wide growth projected to reach 21,346 by 2031 under medium forecasts.
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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