Renmark
Four SEIFA indexes all land in decile 1, the most disadvantaged tier nationally, yet household incomes are not in freefall, sitting in the 13.3rd percentile while local rents stay low at $200 a week. That combination shapes the town: a Riverland service centre of 4,705 residents where Healthcare employs 20.2% of workers and Agriculture another 12.1%. The median age of 44 runs 4.0 years above national, the trajectory is aging with the senior share up 7.1 points over the decade, and the housing stock is 79.5% separate houses on a low density of 319 residents per km2. A 10.3% vacancy rate points to soft rental demand rather than scarcity.
Population
4,705
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,017/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
49
A median house price is not recorded for Renmark in this dataset, but the affordability indicators all read favourably. Monthly mortgage repayments average just $975 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers carry far less debt pressure than in metropolitan markets. The stock suits families: 79.5% of dwellings are separate houses, apartments are only 3.3%, and three-bedroom homes dominate at 56.9% with four-plus bedroom houses at 17.4%. Because 35.4% of residents own outright against 25.8% with a mortgage, much of the town is held debt-free by established owners. The main caution for buyers is the SEIFA decile 1 standing across all four indexes, which tends to cap capital growth compared with higher-advantage areas.
For Buyers
A median house price is not recorded for Renmark in this dataset, but the affordability indicators all read favourably. Monthly mortgage repayments average just $975 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers carry far less debt pressure than in metropolitan markets. The stock suits families: 79.5% of dwellings are separate houses, apartments are only 3.3%, and three-bedroom homes dominate at 56.9% with four-plus bedroom houses at 17.4%. Because 35.4% of residents own outright against 25.8% with a mortgage, much of the town is held debt-free by established owners. The main caution for buyers is the SEIFA decile 1 standing across all four indexes, which tends to cap capital growth compared with higher-advantage areas.
For Investors
Renmark leans toward rental cashflow over capital growth, and the data sets out both sides. Renters make up 38.9% of households, a deep tenant pool, but the 10.3% vacancy rate is high and signals that supply outpaces demand. Weekly rent of $200 is low in absolute terms, though rent has grown 33.3% over the decade, faster than incomes rose. Development activity is modest at 46 applications in 12 months, mostly verandahs, carports and shed extensions rather than new dwellings, so little fresh supply is entering. Population support is thin: net overseas migration adds 69 residents a year while internal migration removes 4, leaving annual growth at 0.52%. With all four SEIFA scores in decile 1, the investment case rests on yield and low entry cost rather than appreciation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
335
Last 12 Months
49
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+32.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Renmark iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's School
R-6 · 260 students
St Francis of Assisi College
7-11 · 228 students
Renmark West Primary School
R-6 · 124 students
Renmark High School
7-12 · 414 students
Renmark Primary School
R-6 · 219 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national figure, and the town is aging: the senior share rose 7.1 points while the working-age share fell 3.3 points over the decade. Only 18.9% of residents were born overseas, 2.7 points below national, and university qualifications reach 20.2%, which is 9.9 points below national, consistent with a trade and agriculture economy. Ancestry is Anglo and German-leaning, led by English (1,709), German (525) and Irish (296). The largest non-English language is Punjabi (132 speakers), ahead of Greek (66), reflecting seasonal horticultural labour. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national, and couples without children make up 35.0% of the 3,310 families, slightly more than couples with children at 1,059, a profile that fits the older age structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.5%
Houses
16.2%
Townhouse
3.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits across thirds: 35.4% own outright, 25.8% carry a mortgage and 38.9% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to long-held, debt-free housing rather than a churn of recent buyers. The stock is overwhelmingly low-density, with 79.5% separate houses, 16.2% semi-detached and just 3.3% apartments, and three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 56.9%. A median house price is not published for the town, but affordability metrics are comfortable: mortgage-to-income sits at 22.1% and rent-to-income at 19.7%, both below the 30% stress line. The 10.3% vacancy rate is high and reflects soft demand on a footprint of 14.74 km2 housing 4,705 people, which keeps both purchase and rental costs low relative to metropolitan SA.
Mortgage / mo
$975
Rent / wk
$200
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$602
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.3%
Unoccupied
228
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.0%
Couples, no children
3,310
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in service and primary sectors: Healthcare leads at 20.2% (207 workers), Agriculture follows at 12.1% (124) and Education at 11.4% (117), with Manufacturing at 8.7% and Retail at 8.6%. By occupation, Labourers are the largest group at 451, ahead of Community and Personal Service workers (251) and Managers (232), which mirrors the horticultural and care economy of the Riverland. Unemployment runs at 7.5%, above national, and the participation rate is just 48.6% because 1,694 residents sit outside the labour force, a direct consequence of the older age profile. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 1, the lowest advantage tier, with IRSAD at 858 and IEO at 859, though real incomes still grew 20.3% over the decade.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
2,224
Unemployed
138
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.7%
Part-time
33.8%
Participation
48.6%
Employed
1,783
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.2%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
18.9%
Dwellings
1,987
Transport to Work
Renmark is heavily car-dependent, with 84.2% of commuters driving and only 1.1% using public transport, typical for a regional town where 6.1% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded inside the 14.74 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in the wider Renmark Paringa area. The crime rate is 70.8 incidents per 1,000 residents from 333 recorded offences, a figure to weigh against the town's decile 1 IRSAD standing. On the support side, 9.5% of residents (419 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the older median age of 44, and volunteering runs at 16.2%. Housing costs stay manageable, with rent-to-income at 19.7%, below the stress threshold, which helps offset the lower income base.
Drive
84.2%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
6.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.52%/yr
(+29 people/yr)
EstablishedRenmark is classified as established and slow-growing, with annual population growth of 0.52%, about 29 people a year, and a 10-year change of 4.6%. The medium forecast lifts the SA2 population from 5,418 in 2026 to 5,561 by 2031, a gentle continuation of recent gains from 5,380 in 2023 to 5,541 in 2025. Overseas migration is the only positive driver, adding 69 residents a year against a net internal outflow of 4. The gentrification reading is not gentrifying with a score of 19, so no rapid demographic upgrade is expected. Affordability has improved over the decade, from 29.6% to 26.7% of income, lower than most markets, while rents climbed 33.3%, a pattern of modest, steady expansion rather than boom.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+69
Net Internal / yr
-4
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011, Accelerating: 1% → 12%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
333
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
70.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Renmark compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Renmark a good suburb to live in?
Renmark suits buyers seeking affordability over capital growth. Housing costs are low, with rent-to-income at 19.7% and mortgage-to-income at 22.1%, both below the 30% stress line. The trade-offs are a decile 1 SEIFA standing across all four indexes and a 7.5% unemployment rate, above national.
What is the median house price in Renmark?
A median house price is not published for Renmark in this dataset. As proxies, monthly mortgage repayments average $975 and weekly rent is $200, both low by metropolitan standards. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold, signalling an affordable market.
What schools are in Renmark?
No schools are recorded inside the 14.74 km2 Renmark boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in the wider Renmark Paringa area. Education employs 11.4% of the local workforce (117 workers), the third-largest industry after Healthcare and Agriculture.
Is Renmark safe?
Renmark recorded 333 offences, a crime rate of 70.8 per 1,000 residents. This sits alongside a decile 1 IRSAD score, the lowest advantage tier nationally. About 9.5% of residents (419 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the older median age of 44.
Is Renmark good for property investment?
Renters make up 38.9% of households, a deep tenant pool, but the 10.3% vacancy rate is high and points to soft demand. Weekly rent of $200 has grown 33.3% over the decade, yet with annual population growth of just 0.52%, returns depend on yield rather than capital appreciation.
How is Renmark's population changing?
Population growth runs at 0.52% a year, about 29 people, with a 4.6% rise over 10 years. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 7.1 points and the working-age share down 3.3 points over the decade. Overseas migration adds 69 residents a year against a net internal outflow of 4.
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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