Ottoway
With 39.6% of residents born overseas, 18 percentage points above the national figure, Ottoway is one of Adelaide's more internationally diverse working-class pockets, yet its $860,000 median house price sits well above what household incomes in the 26.5th percentile nationally would comfortably support. The suburb covers just 1.31 square kilometres at a density of 2,120 residents per km2, and 73.8% of dwellings are separate houses, a detached-dominant stock that keeps supply constrained. Unemployment at 8.5% runs above typical urban benchmarks, pointing to a workforce concentrated in manual and service roles rather than knowledge-economy jobs.
Population
2,783
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,221/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
41
Median House
$860K
Median 1Q 2026
The median house price reached $860,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 5.1% from $818,500 a year earlier, a solid gain for an area where household income sits at the 26.5th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, though that margin is narrower than it looks given incomes well below state and national medians. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 73.8%, with semi-detached at 22.5% and apartments only 3.7%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 53.2%, followed by two-bedroom at 27.3%, so buyers looking for a standard family home will find reasonable choice. Outright owners represent 27.6% of occupied dwellings, mortgage holders 37.4% and renters 35.0%.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $860,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 5.1% from $818,500 a year earlier, a solid gain for an area where household income sits at the 26.5th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, though that margin is narrower than it looks given incomes well below state and national medians. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 73.8%, with semi-detached at 22.5% and apartments only 3.7%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 53.2%, followed by two-bedroom at 27.3%, so buyers looking for a standard family home will find reasonable choice. Outright owners represent 27.6% of occupied dwellings, mortgage holders 37.4% and renters 35.0%.
For Investors
A 35.0% renter share gives landlords a substantial tenant pool, and weekly rent of $275 reflects the suburb's affordability profile compared to the broader Adelaide metro. Against the $860,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 1.7%, below what most investors target, so the investment case leans on capital growth rather than income. The vacancy rate of 5.4% is elevated, signalling some softness in rental demand relative to supply. Development activity is meaningful, with 35 applications lodged in the past 12 months including land divisions creating new allotments, which points to gentle densification pressure. Rent-to-income at 22.5% keeps tenants financially comfortable and reduces default risk, a positive for landlords.
Development Activity
Total DAs
212
Last 12 Months
41
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+7.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ottoway iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's School
R-6 · 154 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3 years below the national figure, giving Ottoway a relatively younger age profile than average. Overseas-born residents at 39.6% run 18 percentage points above national, the single most distinctive demographic feature of the suburb. Ancestry is led by English (594 residents), followed by Vietnamese (527), Other (386), Filipino (204) and Italian (155), reflecting settlement patterns from multiple migration waves. University qualifications reach 26.7%, which is 3.4 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with an occupational mix skewed toward trades and manual labour. Average household size is 2.6, marginally above the national figure, and couples with children account for 854 of 2,154 families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.8%
Houses
22.5%
Townhouse
3.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is detached-dominant: 73.8% separate houses, 22.5% semi-detached and only 3.7% apartments, a profile that limits the type of speculative supply that typically erodes prices. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 53.2% of homes, two-bedroom 27.3% and four-plus bedroom 17.2%, skewing toward family-sized accommodation. Tenure splits to 37.4% mortgaged, 35.0% renting and 27.6% owned outright. The median house price grew from $818,500 in the first quarter of 2025 to $860,000 in the first quarter of 2026, a 5.1% gain over 12 months. Mortgage-to-income at 26.6% and rent-to-income at 22.5% sit below stress thresholds, suggesting current cost burdens are manageable despite incomes below national medians.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,408
Rent / wk
$275
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$555
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.4%
Unoccupied
58
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
18.4%
Couples, no children
2,154
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 25.6% of workers (174 people), a proportion well above what the suburb's income and education profile would typically predict, likely driven by proximity to Port Adelaide medical facilities. Manufacturing follows at 10.6% (72 workers) and Construction at 9.5% (65 workers), reflecting the suburb's industrial corridor context. By occupation, Labourers lead at 233 workers, followed by Community/Personal service roles at 187 and Professionals at 136. The unemployment rate of 8.5% is notably higher than the South Australian state average, and the participation rate of 54.8% is low, with 875 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment accounts for 59.2% of those employed, suggesting those who do work are mostly in stable arrangements.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.2%
Part-time
32.3%
Participation
54.8%
Employed
1,159
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.7%
Postgraduate
5.6%
Born Overseas
39.6%
Dwellings
1,013
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 82.8% of residents driving to work, with only 4.9% using public transport and 2.2% walking or cycling, which is typical for a low-density suburb without a rail connection. The crime rate of 69.3 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated compared to lower-crime Adelaide suburbs, a practical consideration for residents and buyers. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring areas. The need-assistance rate of 8.7% (231 residents) is above average, consistent with the lower-income profile. Rent-to-income at 22.5% and mortgage-to-income at 26.6% keep housing costs below stress thresholds, an advantage for a suburb where household income sits at the 26.5th percentile nationally.
Drive
82.8%
Public Transport
4.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
193
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
69.3
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ottoway compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ottoway a good suburb to live in?
Ottoway suits buyers who want a detached house at accessible prices relative to inner Adelaide. The suburb has a younger median age of 37, a strongly multicultural population with 39.6% born overseas, and housing costs below stress thresholds. Trade-offs include an unemployment rate of 8.5%, a crime rate of 69.3 per 1,000 residents, and high car dependence with only 4.9% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Ottoway?
The median house price in Ottoway was $860,000 in the first quarter of 2026, up 5.1% from $818,500 a year earlier. Weekly rent averages $275 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.6%.
What schools are in Ottoway?
No schools are recorded within the Ottoway suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 26.7%, which is 3.4 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce concentrated in trades and manual roles.
Is Ottoway safe?
Ottoway records a crime rate of 69.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is elevated compared to lower-crime Adelaide suburbs. There are 193 total recorded incidents across a population of 2,783. Prospective residents should factor this into their assessment alongside proximity to services and affordability.
Is Ottoway good for property investment?
Ottoway has a 35.0% renter share and a $275 weekly rent, giving a gross yield near 1.7% against the $860,000 median, which is low. The vacancy rate of 5.4% signals some rental softness. However, prices rose 5.1% in the 12 months to the first quarter of 2026, and 35 development applications in the past year indicate ongoing interest. The investment case relies on capital growth rather than yield.
How is Ottoway's population changing?
Ottoway has a population of 2,783 across 1.31 square kilometres. Resident stability is high, with 84.2% of residents not having moved in the past year and a turnover rate of only 15.8%. The suburb's strong overseas-born share of 39.6%, which is 18 percentage points above the national figure, suggests ongoing demand from migrant families as a primary driver of population replenishment.
What languages are spoken in Ottoway?
With 39.6% of residents born overseas, Ottoway is significantly more international than the national average of around 21.6%. The top ancestry groups after English (594 residents) include Vietnamese (527) and Filipino (204). Languages spoken at home include Greek (26 speakers), Cantonese (23), Punjabi (22) and Italian (19), reflecting the suburb's layered migration history.
How much development is happening in Ottoway?
There were 35 development applications lodged in the past 12 months in Ottoway, including multiple conventional land divisions creating new allotments from single titles and a swimming pool application. This level of activity in a suburb of only 1.31 square kilometres signals gradual densification and owner investment in the existing housing stock.
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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