SA 5014 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Queenstown

At just 0.77 square kilometres, Queenstown packs a population density of 2,515 people per km2, well above most suburban South Australia. Household income sits at the 18.1st percentile nationally, making this one of Adelaide's lower-income pockets, yet the median house price recorded $779,500 in the first quarter of 2026, which is high relative to those income levels. The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, signalling an established, aging resident base with 81.3% of residents having stayed in the same address over the prior five years, well above typical metropolitan turnover.

Queenstown urban fabric map

Population

1,943

Median Age

43.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,115/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

31

0.77 km²· 2,514.6 people/km²· Family income $1,680/wk

The most recent recorded median house price for Queenstown is $779,500 (1Q 2026), a sharp fall from $1,060,000 in 1Q 2025, representing a 26.5% decline over one year. That steep drop deserves scrutiny given the small suburb size and low transaction volumes, so buyers should verify with recent comparable sales. Stock is predominantly separate houses at 56.6% and semi-detached at 39.3%, with apartments just 4.1%. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 49.0%, with two-bedroom homes at 36.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,463, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.3%, above the standard 30% stress threshold, meaning many owner-occupiers carry a meaningful financial load compared to household income in the 18th percentile nationally.

For Buyers

The most recent recorded median house price for Queenstown is $779,500 (1Q 2026), a sharp fall from $1,060,000 in 1Q 2025, representing a 26.5% decline over one year. That steep drop deserves scrutiny given the small suburb size and low transaction volumes, so buyers should verify with recent comparable sales. Stock is predominantly separate houses at 56.6% and semi-detached at 39.3%, with apartments just 4.1%. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 49.0%, with two-bedroom homes at 36.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,463, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.3%, above the standard 30% stress threshold, meaning many owner-occupiers carry a meaningful financial load compared to household income in the 18th percentile nationally.

For Investors

The rental market shows a 38.5% renter share, higher than the national average, with weekly rent at $270. That rent against a $779,500 median implies a gross yield near 1.8%, modest but not negligible in a low-cost-entry context compared to inner-city alternatives. The vacancy rate of 7.9% is elevated and indicates soft rental demand, so investors should factor in potential vacancy costs. Development activity is moderate at 29 applications in the past 12 months, dominated by minor works and land divisions rather than significant new supply. The low-income profile of residents means rent growth is constrained, and the 26.5% price fall over one year raises questions about whether prior pricing reflected genuine demand or thin-market volatility.

Development Activity

Total DAs

198

Last 12 Months

31

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+10.7%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Garage / Carport / Shed
15
Deck / Pergola / Patio
10
Renovation / Extension
8
Tree Removal
8
Subdivision
6
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
5
Swimming Pool / Spa
3
Commercial / Industrial
2

Schools in Queenstown iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Alberton Primary School

ICSEA 1002 Primary Government

R-6 · 262 students

Demographics

The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, pointing to an older, settled population. About 24.0% of residents were born overseas, which is 2.4 percentage points above the national rate, and ancestry is Anglo-leaning with English (636 residents), Irish (161) and Scottish (136) the leading backgrounds, followed by Italian (142). Non-English languages are modest in scale: Greek (28 speakers), Russian (24) and Italian (17) are the main ones. University qualifications reach 27.4%, which is 2.7 points below the national rate, consistent with the trade and service-sector employment mix. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, reflecting the older demographic and couples-without-children households, which make up 28.4% of families.

Age Distribution

0-14
13.7%
15-24
10.4%
25-44
27.3%
45-64
26.7%
65+
22.1%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
4.6%
2 bed
36.5%
3 bed
49.0%
4+ bed
10.0%

Dwelling Structure

56.6%

Houses

39.3%

Townhouse

4.1%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 28.1% Mortgage 33.4% Rent 38.5%

Tenure splits show 28.1% of households own outright, 33.4% carry a mortgage and 38.5% rent, a renter-heavy profile compared to national averages. The price-history data shows $1,060,000 in 1Q 2025 falling to $779,500 in 1Q 2026, a 26.5% decline, though the small suburb size means this figure can be sensitive to a handful of transactions. The housing stock is dominated by separate houses (56.6%) and semi-detached dwellings (39.3%), with apartments at only 4.1%. Three-bedroom homes represent 49.0% of stock and two-bedroom 36.5%, a composition aligned with the smaller household sizes averaging 2.1 persons. Rent-to-income sits at 24.2%, just under the 30% stress threshold, while mortgage-to-income at 30.3% crosses it.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,463

Rent / wk

$270

HH Size

2.1

Personal Income / wk

$623

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

7.9%

Unoccupied

77

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

24.2%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

30.3% stressed

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Greek
28
Russian
24
Italian
17

Ancestry

English
636
Other
214
Irish
161
Italian
142
Scottish
136
German
122

Household Composition

28.4%

Couples, no children

1,365

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the dominant employer at 21.7% of the local workforce (119 workers), followed by Education at 11.5% (63 workers) and Public Administration at 9.7% (53 workers), meaning more than 40% of employed residents work in public-sector-adjacent industries. By occupation, Professionals (157) and Community/Personal Service workers (142) lead, with Clerical/Admin at 134. The unemployment rate of 6.1% is above the national average, and the participation rate of 52.2% is low, with 671 residents not in the labour force, which reflects the older age profile where many are beyond peak working years. Full-time workers account for 60.7% of employed residents. Household income at the 18.1st percentile nationally means the local economy supports below-average spending power.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

60.7%

Part-time

33.2%

Participation

52.2%

Employed

819

Occupations

Professionals 157
Community/Personal 142
Clerical/Admin 134
Labourers 97
Managers 81
Sales 75
Machinery/Drivers 67

Top Industries

Healthcare 21.7%
Education 11.5%
Public Admin 9.7%
Retail 7.8%
Construction 7.1%

University

27.4%

Postgraduate

4.3%

Born Overseas

24.0%

Dwellings

903

Transport to Work

Car dependency is high: 88.1% of residents drive to work, compared to the national figure, and only 3.7% use public transport, reflecting limited transit access relative to more central Adelaide suburbs. Walking and cycling account for 3.6% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring postcodes. Crime rates stand at 52.5 incidents per 1,000 residents based on 102 reported incidents, a figure that warrants comparison with broader western Adelaide benchmarks when making location decisions. About 9.5% of residents (178 people) require daily assistance, above the national average, which aligns with the older median age of 43. The rent-to-income ratio of 24.2% keeps rental costs below the stress threshold for most tenants.

Drive

88.1%

Public Transport

3.7%

Walk / Cycle

3.6%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

102

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

52.5

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Queenstown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 22%
Household Income
Bottom 18%
Rent Level
Top 48%
Apartments
Top 49%
Renters
Top 17%
Uni Educated
Top 40%
Public Transport
Top 46%
Born Overseas
Top 22%
Density
Top 5%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Queenstown a good suburb to live in?

Queenstown suits buyers and renters looking for relative affordability in Adelaide's western corridor. The most recent median of $779,500 and weekly rent of $270 are accessible compared to many metropolitan suburbs. The main considerations are a 6.1% unemployment rate above national average, a car-dependent commute pattern (88.1% drive) and limited transit options with just 3.7% using public transport.

What is the median house price in Queenstown?

The most recent recorded median house price is $779,500 in 1Q 2026, down from $1,060,000 in 1Q 2025, a 26.5% decline. Given the small suburb size of 0.77 km2, median figures can shift significantly with few transactions. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,463, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 30.3%.

What schools are in Queenstown?

No schools are recorded within the Queenstown boundary (postcode 5014) in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs within the western Adelaide area. The local university qualification rate is 27.4%, which is 2.7 percentage points below the national figure.

Is Queenstown safe?

Recorded crime totals 102 incidents, giving a rate of 52.5 per 1,000 residents. This figure should be assessed in the context of western Adelaide broadly, as suburb-level crime rates can vary significantly by category. About 9.5% of residents (178 people) require daily assistance, above the national norm, reflecting the older median age of 43.

Is Queenstown good for property investment?

The rental yield is modest: $270 per week rent against a $779,500 median implies a gross yield around 1.8%. The 38.5% renter share is higher than the national average, providing a reasonable tenant base, but the 7.9% vacancy rate signals soft demand. The 26.5% price fall over one year is a significant risk flag for investors, though small-suburb medians can be volatile.

How is Queenstown's population changing?

No formal population forecast is available in this dataset. The current population is 1,943 across 0.77 km2. Residential stability is high, with 81.3% of residents remaining at the same address over five years, and turnover running at 18.7%. The older median age of 43, which is 3 years above national, suggests natural population change will be modest rather than growth-driven.

How much development is happening in Queenstown?

There were 29 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a community title land division, a rear verandah addition and a significant tree removal application. The mix is mostly minor residential works rather than large-scale new supply, consistent with an established suburb where 56.6% of dwellings are already separate houses on a 0.77 km2 footprint.

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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