Oakden
Covering just 1.87 square kilometres, Oakden recorded a median house price of $1,025,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 28.5% from $797,700 a year earlier, one of the sharper single-year moves in Adelaide's northeast. The suburb's profile is shaped by an unusually well-educated population: university qualifications reach 43.2%, which is 13.1 percentage points above the national average. Detached houses dominate at 82.2% of dwellings, density sits at 1,916 people per square kilometre, and the median age of 42 is 2 years above national.
Population
3,583
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,462/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
26
Median House
$1.0M
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price hit $1,025,000 in 1Q 2026, up from $797,700 in 1Q 2025, a 28.5% rise in 12 months. That pace is fast even by Adelaide standards, so buyers should stress-test whether it reflects a genuine demand shift or a thin-market sample effect. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,501, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is 82.2% separate houses, with semi-detached at 14.3% and apartments at just 3.6%. Three-bedroom homes account for 60.9% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes for 22.7%, suiting families more than downsizers. Outright owners at 32.5% and mortgage holders at 36.1% together represent a majority of stable, owner-occupied tenure.
For Buyers
The median house price hit $1,025,000 in 1Q 2026, up from $797,700 in 1Q 2025, a 28.5% rise in 12 months. That pace is fast even by Adelaide standards, so buyers should stress-test whether it reflects a genuine demand shift or a thin-market sample effect. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,501, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is 82.2% separate houses, with semi-detached at 14.3% and apartments at just 3.6%. Three-bedroom homes account for 60.9% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes for 22.7%, suiting families more than downsizers. Outright owners at 32.5% and mortgage holders at 36.1% together represent a majority of stable, owner-occupied tenure.
For Investors
The 31.4% renter share provides a reasonable tenant pool, and weekly rent of $283 is lower than the SA median, pointing to affordability-driven demand rather than premium positioning. Against the $1,025,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 1.4%, thin for an investment case built on income. Vacancy sits at 5.4%, above the 3% equilibrium benchmark, which signals some softness in immediate rental demand. Development activity recorded 25 applications in the past 12 months, including land divisions and new dwellings, suggesting incremental but not high-volume supply additions. The 28.5% price growth over one year is the strongest argument for capital gains, though a single data point over one year is insufficient to confirm a sustained trend.
Development Activity
Total DAs
126
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+23.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Oakden iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Heritage College Incorporated
R-12 · 437 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure, consistent with an established, family-oriented suburb that is not in active demographic rejuvenation. Overseas-born residents reach 35.1%, which is 13.5 percentage points above national, reflecting meaningful cultural diversity for a suburb this size. English ancestry leads at 1,024 residents, followed by Chinese (339), Italian (281) and Scottish (261). The top non-English languages are Mandarin (64 speakers), Cantonese (55) and Punjabi (45). University qualifications at 43.2% run 13.1 points above national, and the largest occupational group is Professionals (422 workers), aligning with the educated workforce profile. Average household size is 2.4, slightly below the national average of 2.5.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.2%
Houses
14.3%
Townhouse
3.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between mortgage holders (36.1%), outright owners (32.5%) and renters (31.4%), a relatively balanced three-way distribution that is more investor-friendly than some comparable suburbs. The stock is almost entirely freestanding: 82.2% separate houses, 14.3% semi-detached and only 3.6% apartments, so the market is not exposed to apartment oversupply risks. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 60.9%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 22.7% and 2-bedroom at 15.2%. The median house price rose 28.5% from $797,700 to $1,025,000 between 1Q 2025 and 1Q 2026. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7% and rent-to-income ratio of 19.4% both sit below standard stress thresholds, meaning neither owners nor renters face acute affordability pressure at current income levels.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,501
Rent / wk
$283
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$649
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.4%
Unoccupied
80
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.5%
Couples, no children
2,759
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local industry mix at 22.1% of employed residents (252 workers), well above typical suburban shares, followed by Education at 13.0% (148) and Public Administration at 12.6% (143). These three sectors together account for almost half the local workforce and are largely recession-resistant public-sector employment. Professional and Technical services add 9.8% (112 workers). By occupation, Professionals lead at 422, followed by Clerical and Admin (241), Community and Personal services (208) and Managers (187). The unemployment rate is 5.9%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 53.7% is below typical levels, partly because the suburb has 1,216 residents not in the labour force, which at a median age of 42 includes a sizeable pre-retirement or semi-retired cohort.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.5%
Part-time
31.6%
Participation
53.7%
Employed
1,531
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.2%
Postgraduate
12.8%
Born Overseas
35.1%
Dwellings
1,396
Transport to Work
Transport is car-dependent: 84.1% drive to work, compared with public transport at 7.9% and walking or cycling at 2.8%, in line with Adelaide's broader pattern of low transit uptake outside the inner ring. At a population of 3,583 in 1.87 square kilometres, density of 1,916 per square kilometre puts Oakden in the mid-range for Adelaide's northeast rather than the high-density inner suburbs. Crime data shows 157 recorded incidents at a rate of 43.8 per 1,000 residents; no state-level comparison is available from this dataset to contextualise that figure. The volunteering rate of 16.6% and a need-for-assistance rate of 7.4% (254 people) are consistent with a stable, community-engaged suburb. SEIFA decile data is not available for this suburb, so no relative disadvantage ranking is provided.
Drive
84.1%
Public Transport
7.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
157
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
43.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Oakden compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oakden a good suburb to live in?
Oakden offers a stable, predominantly owner-occupied setting with 82.2% detached housing and a median age of 42. Mortgage-to-income is 23.7% and rent-to-income is 19.4%, both below standard stress thresholds. The university qualification rate of 43.2% is 13.1 points above national, reflecting a well-educated resident base. The main limitations are car-dependence (84.1% drive to work) and a 5.4% vacancy rate signalling some rental softness.
What is the median house price in Oakden?
The median house price in Oakden was $1,025,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 28.5% from $797,700 in the first quarter of 2025. Weekly rent averages $283 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,501, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7%.
What schools are in Oakden?
No schools are recorded within the Oakden boundary in this dataset. Families in this 1.87 square kilometre suburb rely on schools in adjoining northeastern Adelaide suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 43.2% holding university qualifications, which is 13.1 percentage points above the national average.
Is Oakden safe?
Oakden recorded 157 incidents in the crime dataset, giving a rate of 43.8 per 1,000 residents. No direct state or national comparison rate is available from this data source to rank that figure. Indirectly, the suburb's low housing stress indicators (mortgage-to-income 23.7%, rent-to-income 19.4%) and a volunteering rate of 16.6% are consistent with a relatively stable community.
Is Oakden good for property investment?
The 28.5% price growth from $797,700 to $1,025,000 over 12 months is the strongest short-term argument for Oakden as an investment suburb. However, weekly rent of $283 against a $1,025,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.4%, which is low, and the 5.4% vacancy rate is above the 3% equilibrium benchmark. The 25 development applications in the past year show incremental supply additions through infill.
How is Oakden's population changing?
Oakden's current population is 3,583 across 1.87 square kilometres. At 35.1% overseas-born residents, which is 13.5 percentage points above national, the suburb benefits from migration-driven demand. The median age of 42 is 2 years above national and the full-time employment rate is 62.5%, suggesting a workforce with a significant pre-retirement cohort contributing to stable but slow natural growth.
What languages are spoken in Oakden?
About 35.1% of Oakden residents were born overseas, which is 13.5 percentage points above the national figure. The most common non-English languages are Mandarin (64 speakers), Cantonese (55) and Punjabi (45), with Gujarati (32) and Italian (30) also present. Chinese ancestry residents number 339, making it the second-largest ancestry group after English (1,024).
How much development is happening in Oakden?
Oakden recorded 25 development applications in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a two-storey dwelling lodged in May 2026, a land division from 1 into 2 allotments, and a swim spa installation, all processed under SA's Performance Assessed or Accepted Development pathways. This level of activity reflects modest infill in an established suburb rather than large-scale redevelopment.
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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