Murray Bridge
Murray Bridge stands out as a sizeable regional centre with 15,043 residents, a median age of 42 that is 2 years above the national figure, and housing dominated by separate houses at 85.4%. Its household income percentile is 12.8, while rental vacancy is 10.5%, creating a different affordability and risk profile from Adelaide markets. Compared with nearby Tailem Bend, the suburb's 5 government schools and healthcare-led economy support a broader day-to-day service base. Mobility is moderate, with 79.0% of residents staying at the same address, so change is present without rapid churn.
Population
15,043
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,005/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
192
Homebuyers are choosing a detached-dominant market, with 85.4% of dwellings separate houses and another 13.4% semi-detached. Three-bedroom homes account for 57.1% of stock, while 22.6% have 4 or more bedrooms, giving families more choice than apartment-focused locations. The typical monthly mortgage repayment is $1,083, compared with weekly rent of $240, and mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income ratios are 24.9% and 23.9%. Both housing stress flags are false, which supports manageable holding costs for many households. Current sale prices should still be checked by address because property values can vary across the suburb.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a detached-dominant market, with 85.4% of dwellings separate houses and another 13.4% semi-detached. Three-bedroom homes account for 57.1% of stock, while 22.6% have 4 or more bedrooms, giving families more choice than apartment-focused locations. The typical monthly mortgage repayment is $1,083, compared with weekly rent of $240, and mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income ratios are 24.9% and 23.9%. Both housing stress flags are false, which supports manageable holding costs for many households. Current sale prices should still be checked by address because property values can vary across the suburb.
For Investors
Murray Bridge has a substantial rental base, with 40.7% of households renting and weekly rent recorded at $240. A 10.5% vacancy rate is higher than conditions in a tightly supplied rental market, giving tenants more choice and creating a leasing risk for investors. Rent growth of 29.7% is higher than real income growth of 8.2%, which may support rental returns but also signals affordability pressure. There were 196 development applications in the past 12 months, although activity includes alterations and ancillary accommodation rather than only new dwellings. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver. With no current median sale figure, gross yield cannot be calculated responsibly from rent alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,183
Last 12 Months
192
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Murray Bridge
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Fraser Park Primary School
Murray Bridge North School
Murray Bridge South Primary School
Murray Bridge High School
Murray Bridge Special School
Demographics
Murray Bridge has a median age of 42, which is 2 years above the national figure. University attainment is 14.8%, or 15.3 percentage points below the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 16.0%, 5.6 points below nationally. Average household size is 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national measure, helping explain the strong presence of smaller households and couples without children. English ancestry is recorded for 5,844 residents, followed by German at 1,786, Scottish at 1,177 and Irish at 907. No religion is the largest recorded affiliation at 7,011, compared with 5,821 identifying with Christianity. With 79.0% staying at the same address and 21.0% turning over, the suburb is more settled than highly mobile urban areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.4%
Houses
13.4%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Murray Bridge is strongly detached in character: separate houses represent 85.4% of dwellings, compared with 13.4% semi-detached homes and only 0.6% apartments. Three-bedroom properties make up 57.1% of stock, while 4 or more bedrooms account for 22.6%, so family-sized housing is more common than compact formats. Tenure is split between 29.0% owned outright, 27.2% with a mortgage and 40.7% rented. Renting therefore exceeds either ownership category, which can support investor demand but also increases exposure to vacancy movements. The 2.2-person average household is below the national comparison, helping explain why a large detached stock can coexist with relatively modest household sizes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,083
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$240
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$574
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
702
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.5%
Couples with children
43.1%
Couples, no children
22.7%
Single parent
3,782
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Murray Bridge's leading industry at 23.4%, employing 690 people, followed by manufacturing at 9.5% and 281 workers, education at 9.3% and 274, retail at 8.4% and 248, and construction at 7.9% and 233. This mix supports essential local services because healthcare, education and construction serve both residents and the wider regional catchment. Labourers are the largest occupation group at 1,332, followed by community and personal service workers at 889 and trades at 699. Unemployment is 7.7%, participation is 47.6% and the full-time employment rate is 55.7%. Personal weekly income is $574 and household income is $1,005, while the household income percentile is 12.8. All four SEIFA measures rank in decile 1, indicating lower socioeconomic conditions than higher-ranked areas.
Unemployment
7.7%
Labour Force
5,951
Unemployed
460
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.7%
Part-time
37.6%
Participation
47.6%
Employed
5,491
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.8%
Postgraduate
2.4%
Born Overseas
16.0%
Dwellings
5,965
Transport to Work
Murray Bridge has a density of 576.1 people per square kilometre and a strongly car-oriented daily routine: 82.2% of residents drive, compared with 0.2% using public transport. Walking or cycling accounts for 4.1% and working from home for 4.2%, so access to a private vehicle is more important than in transit-oriented suburbs. Five local government schools cover 3 primary schools, 1 secondary school and 1 special education school. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb streets. The crime rate is 96.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 1,447 total incidents, making safety a material consideration. Socioeconomic conditions rank in IRSAD decile 1, below higher-ranked locations.
Drive
82.2%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
4.2%
Population Forecast
+1.15%/yr
(+230 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is forecast at 1.15% a year across the wider area, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. The demographic shift is labelled Aging: the senior share has increased by 4.8 percentage points, while the young share has fallen by 2.1 points. Population change across the wider area is 9.2% over 10 years. Rent growth of 29.7% is higher than real income growth of 8.2%, which may pressure affordability even though the affordability trend is described as Stable, moving from 41.3% in 2011 to 40.3% in 2021. The gentrification score is 24 and the stage is Early signs, pointing to gradual change rather than a mature uplift cycle.
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
1,447
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
96.2
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 compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Murray Bridge a good suburb to live in?
Murray Bridge suits households seeking a regional centre with 5 government schools, detached housing and established services. Driving is important because 82.2% of residents commute by car versus 0.2% by public transport. The 96.2 incidents per 1,000 crime rate and IRSAD decile 1 ranking should also be considered.
What is the median house price in Murray Bridge?
A current median house price is not available for Murray Bridge. Buyers should compare recent sales by street, dwelling condition and property type, noting that 85.4% of homes are separate houses and 57.1% have 3 bedrooms. Typical monthly mortgage repayments are recorded at $1,083.
What schools are in Murray Bridge?
Murray Bridge has 5 local government schools covering 3 primary schools, 1 secondary school and 1 special education school. The local options include Fraser Park Primary, Murray Bridge North, Murray Bridge South Primary, Murray Bridge High and Murray Bridge Special School. Check the exact enrolment zone before signing a lease or contract.
Is Murray Bridge safe?
Safety conditions warrant careful consideration. Murray Bridge recorded 1,447 total incidents and a crime rate of 96.2 per 1,000 residents. Prospective residents should compare recent local conditions around the exact street, property type and travel routes rather than relying on a suburb-wide figure alone.
Is Murray Bridge good for property investment?
Murray Bridge has a large renter base at 40.7%, weekly rent of $240 and rent growth of 29.7%. However, the 10.5% vacancy rate is high for landlords seeking tight leasing conditions, while 196 development applications may add competition. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but yield needs a current purchase price.
How is Murray Bridge's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is forecast at 9.2% over 10 years, with annual growth of 1.15% driven primarily by overseas migration. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 4.8 percentage points and the young share has fallen 2.1 points. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 24.
What development is occurring in Murray Bridge?
Murray Bridge recorded 196 development applications over 12 months. Recent examples include dwelling additions, ancillary accommodation, verandahs and carports, so the activity count includes alterations as well as potential housing changes. Buyers should check each property's planning history when assessing future amenity or competition.
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 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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